George Vance is the custodian of an agricultural museum near Aylesbury. One day he receives news that will change his, and the British, way of life for ever.

To the embarrassment of his family, George is behaving as if he ruled the world, but he is Painfully ignorant about how to take his seat in the House of Lords.

The Vances' newly-inherited business, Noble Haddock Limited, is given a trial run on the beaches of North Wales but, in his thirst for power, George has paid scant attention to some of the important details in his life.