He was from Harrow, where I grew up, and his sister was my primary school headmistress. There was a running track named after him where the local schools would compete. I dropped in to support my mates after school when about 15 or 16. Our PE teacher (“4 foot 2, eyes of blue, Arthur Peel is after you”- he was short but also played on the wing for Wealdstone, Hendon and England amateurs in the sixties) spied me and discovered that I had my kit, including ancient second hand spikes, with me. I protested that I was a cricketer (in summer) not an athlete, but somehow found myself running the 400 metres, which was a killer. Think I finished sixth, half dead, classic mistake of starting too fast. Arthur was delighted - “two more points lad”. Never went to a schools athletics competition again. When playing football for the school once I fell awkwardly and did my elbow in, but it didn’t hurt straight away. Overnight it froze completely and was agony, so went to see Arthur, who informed me that he had seen me fall and was surprised I could continue, but I was playing ok so he let me get on with it. He reckoned I had cracked my elbow, confirmed by x-Ray, couple of weeks in a sling. Just read that he died last year, still living in South Harrow. RIP Arthur. Or Mr Peel as I knew you.
My post above led me to remember Steve Brinkman, in the year above me at school and probably the best player Arthur Peel ever coached. He was the school hero, a wild but big and generous character, apprentice at Arsenal alongside David O’Leary, but never made it beyond reserve team football for a lot of London clubs, including QPR, probably because of lifestyle choices. Played non league (Wealdstone and Barnet amongst others) and coached (a hero at Dunstable, apparently). He died in 2001 aged 43, after his fifth heart attack. He had the first when he was 23. A belated RIP Brinkie. Us crap players were in awe of you.
Trevor Baylis - inventor of the wind-up radio making a difference to millions in poorer, less developed areas of the world - died in poverty... Mr Baylis was previously awarded the OBE for his radio, which he designed after seeing a documentary about Aids in Africa that suggested educational radio programmes could help tackle the spread of the virus. He had said he received almost none of the profits from the invention because people took advantage of patent laws to sell other versions of it. In later life Mr Baylis advised other inventors on developing their ideas, and campaigned against theft of intellectual property. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43290756
A sad story. We were planning to go and see the Levellers in Margate in June, but sadly the drummer's young son was hit by a bus and killed a few days ago. The Margate gig was scheduled for June 14th, which would have been the young lad's 16th birthday, so they have understandably cancelled it. RIP Alfie.
Alfie was hit by a bus on Brighton sea front at 1.00am two Saturday's ago, whilst returning home The Levellers were about to start a tour, release a new album and book and announce the line up of this year's Beautiful Days festival. All this has been put on hold....some including the Margate gig have been rescheduled...as Stroller says...it was to be the date of Alfies birthday. The Levellers have actually sent out a unreleased CD of an earlier concert to all people who had pre-ordered the book/CD..as an "apology" (!!!!!!!) for the cancellation and delay. As many of you know...I have followed the Levellers around the country for the last 15-20 years and for all the image they portray they are one of the tightest and most family orientated group. A complete and awful tragedy and a loss of a very young life....Rest in peace young Alfie
R.I.P. Sir Ken Dodd. One of the last all time great funny men. What I did find remarkable was he was born, lived and died in the same house in knotty Ash in Liverpool.
Ken Dodd a true legend...He so enjoyed entertaining people that his one man shows would go on long after the curfew. And with the voice of Angel. RIP
His obit on the BBC stated that in 1974 he held the stages telling jokes at a rate of 10 per minute for three hours!! Got him into the Guinness Book of Records but what a feat of memory. I dare say they were not all funny but still amazing skill.
A genius who lived an incredible life. As a physicis, I really admire his "breakthrough" and truely "out-of-box" theories. He and his work will be remembered for a very long time. R.I.P .
For those that enjoy a longer read, please take a look at summary of his work and discoveries:. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20160107-these-are-the-discoveries-that-made-stephen-hawking-famous It is amazing that he somehow did not win the Nobel Prize for Physics. Somehow, I don't think it matters with regards to his place in history. For me, he is along side Einstein for greatest theoretical minds.
In addition to his unquestionable genius, what I really admired was the tenacity of the man, struggling on with Motor Neurone Disease, having been given 2 years to live by medics in 1962. RIP
I liked the comments from his daughter who said that people should also remember he had a great sense of humour. Even with his deliberating disease, he enjoyed life. He loved the limelight whether he was in it or not. He was a guest star in many TV shows and loved it. He was a remarkable man, a genius.
Jim Bowen 80 RIP Bully! please log in to view this image http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43403178
