In what is being widely hailed as an early sign of optimism for the London Olympics, Jake Wallis Simons (32), was writing in a café yesterday when he managed to spell the word “manoeuvre” correctly, without the use of a spellcheck. As word spread, people started applauding the writer wherever he went, celebrating his magnificent achievement. “It was a magical day,” Simons recalled afterwards. “I don’t know how it happened. It’s all a bit of a blur.”

According to a chap called Steve, the owner of the cafe, it was “one of those days when you know something special is going to happen.”

“Rain had been forecast,” he said, “but as it turned out, it was sunny. We had more customers than usual, and they were all giving us hefty tips. There was a tangible feeling of bonhomie in the café. I think all these things contributed to Simons’ success. It was a charmed afternoon. And of course, he has been training very, very hard.” While his staff applauded, he immediately sought Simons out, in order to shake him by the hand in congratulations.

“The problem with ‘manoeuvre’ is the order of vowels,” said Dr Johnson, professor of linguistics at Fernham College, Oxbridge. “These days, the general standard of spelling has plummeted and people struggle with words like ‘badinage’ and ‘echt’, not to mention ‘stultify’ and ‘reconstitution’. Words with complex vowel patterns are way out of the reach of your average writer of today.”

The last documented time that “manoeuvre” was correctly spelled without the aid of a spellcheck was in March 1884, by Charlotte Dickens, Charles’ little-known sister. According to documents, her reaction was to “reward myself with a pint of good ale and a plate of meat.” And she was likewise met with applause wherever she went.

“I don’t know how I did it,” Simons reiterated once the celebrations have died down. “My general approach is to punch the vowel keys at random. Normally this produces abberations such as ‘maneuvre,’ manoeuevroe’ and ‘maneueuoueuvroiue.’ But this time it actually worked! It has made me completely reassess my opinions about creationism – the monkeys on the typewriters and all that.”

Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, did not comment that Simons’ extraordinary achievement is just what the UK needs at the moment. “Not only does it give a ray of light in the blackness of the London Riots,” he did not say, “but it is a great morale boost for the upcoming Olympics. I wish him, his kin and people like them every success.”