In 1960 My Wife Fancied Teaching Children

My Jane was always interested in learning  and education.   She enjoyed teaching our three children to read every evening while putting them to bed.   She often found that they had dozed off while listening to her.    On nearly every day  she has read one of the better newspapers and there were few days in which she has not solved a crossword puzzle  or weeks when she has not read a classic novel or a  book  on Health, Disease, Climate, Weather, Earthquake, Classical Literature,  History, Geography, Science, Agriculture, Botany,  Zoology,  Birds,  Insects or  a  Biogeography.

 In 1957 Jane enrolled on the three year course at Coventry   Teacher Training College.   After qualifying she taught classes of up to thirty nine infants  at three Warwickshire schools.   During nineteen years service  she never had a pupil  who failed to learn to read  and she was highly complimented by  superiors and parents.

       In celebration of the sixty sixth anniversary of our marriage  we have had a wonderful meal  from our eldest son Walter and his wife Nuala from Dublin  who is a consultant in radiology  and their three lovely girls Siobhan, Lucy and Hannah..    I also enjoyed an extra pint of Guinness and  thought I deserved it for the feat of  reaching my ninety third birthday.    I must admit however  that all credit for my survival is due to the special one who gave us two other rare good sons  Warwick and Simon.    We are proud to say that they also found  great wives - Fiona who gave us Eleanor and Rebecca  and  Lyn who gave us  Judith; Ruth and Neil.
Later  when I was falling asleep I felt sad when I recalled names of old friends  who were not so fortunate. They were called away earlier.

We were pleased to receive cards, letters and E-mails from a number of survivors here and in Ireland and a few from America and Australia.  I must mention one  friend who is as old as myself and equally poor.   Ever since we reached ninety he has sent me a score for my birthdays.  We share the good fortune of having a unique woman a year older than we are.
I am referring to a rare couple  I told you about  some months ago -- Les and Gwen Fowler of Luton.   You may remember the photo of  Les I showed you.   He was wearing the medals he was awarded  for his five years service under  Field Marshal Montgomery with the Eighth army in the Western desert.
Les first came to me with an injured greyhound in 1970.  He and Gwen continued to be regular clients  until I moved away from Rugby in 1992.    They always brought a present of some fruit or flowers grown in their
garden.  It was a pleasure to see their patients.   They had only four kennels and that enabled them to have the time to keep their runners in prime condition.   They were ever so kind to them  and preferred to race
them on independent tracks where they were not locked up to bark, fret or worry for hours.   They won races with several of my young dogs at Luton,  Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Northampton, Earls Barton,    Norwich and Rye House.  When I could no longer afford  to keep those winners  I sent them to trainers at  NGRC tracks who would have customers for them.
 I can remember the names of some  that I bred in 1978  from Jimsun  the Derby winner .  One called Wheatfield Dove - after winning at Earls Barton - went to Harringay where she was in the care of a good trainer called Ted Parker who had been a client of mine for some time.   I sent  W. Karen and W.Anna
to Mrs Janet Tite at Hackney because her Dad  Tom Stanley - the popular promoter at Rayleigh - was a friend of mine.   I sent W. Tench to trainer Maxen at Watford  which was then controlled by the G.R.A.
 I sent W. Pearl to Romford where she was in the care of  trainer George Carr another respected friend.    I can't remember the name of one I sent to another decent trainer there called Terry Duggan.   I also admired the managers  there at the time.
Some years later however there was collusion there - between a manager and two trainers.    This offence was almost unknown on independent tracks -- It would be too obvious.   But where there was a large attendance it was not uncommon.    In this case the promoters  Coral bookmakers were said to be anxious to have the Police called.    But to curtail the scandal   the NGRC decided that   withdrawal of the three licenses  would be sufficient. !
I recommended Les Fowler to a few decent owners who were not afraid to risk a big bet when they felt confident that their dog had been properly prepared.   When their dogs won Les got the presents that he deserved.   My Kildare friends Sean & Anne Coughlan were the most famous patrons Les ever had.   Their fame was due more to their racehorses than their good greyhounds.   The foal they bred from Bens Pearl and Indian Ridge in '92 became the world famous Ridgewood Pearl.   Her wins incliuded the Curragh Guineas,  the Coronation Cup, the Champion Stakes,  the Prix du Moulan and the Breeders Cup Mile at Belmont Park.
Here are names of some prolific winners trained by Les :-  Bunny Richard,   Shamimar,  Julie Susie,  Captain Clipper,  Count Mara  a black dog by Quiet Spring and Tudor Reflection &  Kyle Hill Jed  a brindled dog by Kerry Valley and White Whale.  I  particularly remember the last two  because they were outstanding runners and I put them to sleep when they were in their teens.    Les  - shedding tears - buried them in his garden and put a cross over their graves.

I have been unable to write anything for you during the last week  because my Jane has been in Castlehill hospital for an operation.   She has been very brave about it and is making a quick recovery.   We feel very grateful to the surgeon and all the doctors and nurses for their skill and care.

I  am delighted to be able to tell you that my Jane is making good progress thanks to the Beverley nurses who visit her daily.   She has been very brave in tolerating pain without complaining.   She has resumed her daily drives on her scooter with Charley on her knee to the library for lunch.   Next week I hope to write something of particular interest to greyhound fans.

 We feel fortunate to have lived so long  while so many lives are cut short  or end before reaching adulthood.  Yesterday's newspapers made me wish I had made better use of my time when I read of the funeral of the teenager who while suffering cancer for four years raised millions for charity.

      Those of you who are interested in greyhounds would have expected .me to say something about the .greyhound Derby which was staged at Wimbledon.   It certainly deserved a mention if only for the fact that the owners of the winner got a record prize of two hundred thousand pounds.    For this generous amount everyone in the sport felt indebted to William Hill Bookmakers.  To prove that there were no regrets about the award by this sporting company .. they have promised an extra fifty thousand to the winner of the next Derby.   The record prize must attract even more entries from Ireland.    It may also tempt owners of high class performers from European or American tracks. .

I would like to congratulate Bruno Berwick, Ron Mills and Rick Holloway on the performance of the brave winner Salad Dodger.   Commiserations seem due to the connections of the other five finalists who went so far.  I thought Mark Wallis deserved to be complimented on his runner Aero Nemesis giving the best performance on the card for the final after being eliminated from the semi-final.   The lasting memory of the event is likely to be with the innumerable disappointed supporters of the beaten favourite Mind The Net.
At the first turn as has happened to so many on this narrow track  he was crowded and baulked  and almost all who saw him or backed him were silenced.
When the White City in London was given away  everyone I knew to be interested in fair play for owners and greyhounds wanted the Derby to be staged at Sheffield.
I have spent  most of my life studying the causes of injuries and means of prevention.and treatment..   I suggested changes that would be beneficial.  My only major success was the replacement of turf by sand for surfaces.  That took ten years of  letters, articles and lectures on  injuries sustained on surfaces that were too hard, too soft or - gave no grip -- all at my own expense.  My first convert was not a promoter.  He was an owner of top class dogs who were in my hospital.   His name was Joe Haden.    He paid for my weekly adverts "Sand those Bends".   After five we had our first convert.   Leo Craven the Kings Heath promoter telephoned me and asked where he could get suitable sand.  His call made the main Headline in next day's Sporting Life.  A day later  I had a similar request from Bob Becket at Bletchley Independent.  After Bob had sanded his track  he adopted the name Milton Keynes and joined the NGRC.   My friend Tom Stanley was also swayed to sand Rayleigh after a holiday in Las Palmas where he had an evening at the "dogs".

.  In 1955, ten years after I became a Vet  I became concerned about the incidence of  Hock and Wrist  injuries on the turns that were far to sharp for safety.   Of every fifty hocks that I treated  it was rare for one to have been broken on a straight.    After I retired   I was able to make my long-planned three  six-week tours of regions in the Antipodes where I could see tracks with a safer radius.

    This outer drawing is of the usual horse racecourse. enclosing two of our typical greyhound tracks  with turns that are too sharp for top-class runners.    The circular track with a radius of seventy five metres  could provide up to  99% safety for all but our giant greyhounds.  
Every person who reads this sentence -- after comparing my circular track with the two of the usual shape -- must be concerned about the greyhounds who are baulked or bumped, suffer broken hocks or wrists, or  rupture  muscles or tendons.   The GBGB  are said to be keeping records of the numbers injured .    Over the last five years I have been wanting to know their statistics but I have been referred  to four other officials and learned nothing.     What surprises me is that some of these divertors have -- like myself -- taken an oath to put the welfare of our patients first.

Paul & Brian

Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell two of the distinguished Warriors  who after a fiercely contested game in Paris  brought  the Six Nations trophy to Ireland in 2014.

They were born in 1979.    O'Driscoll was first heard of as a star Gaelic player but nobody was surprised when he took up Rugby.   His Dad Frank and his two uncles Barry and John had all worn the Irish jersey.     Brian became captain when the great Keith Wood retired.   He richly deserved the honour.   He was to become Ireland's most capped player with 103 caps.

Brian sustained severe injuries from two of the All Blacks players in 2005 soon after the start of the first test in Christchurch. It happened after the ball had been cleared out of the ruck.   Brian was carried off on a stretcher and the authorities took no disciplinary action.  But some months later the International Rugby Board after viewing footage  - ruled that such dangerous tackles have no place in the game.  Brian is the most capped player in the history of rugby union  and the highest try scorer in Irish rugby. Among the great scoring centres  he is the highest ever. He graduated from U.C.D. with a Diploma in Sports Management.  Among his many awards is an Honorary Doctorate from Dublin City University. 

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Paul  O'Connell was famous as a swimmer before he revealed his talent on rugby fields.   He made his debut with Ireland in 2002.  In the absence of his mate Brian through injury in 2004  he captained the team to win the triple crown.   He also helped to win the Six Nations  two years later.   His height gave him an advantage in line - outs  but probably made falls more risky .   It was a long way down for him and when he tried to rise he often felt pain in an ankle or knee or to his back.  He always felt
frustrated when an injury forced him to miss a big game.

He scored the last try at Landsdown Road before it was closed.   When Brian was injured again in 2007  Paul led the team that played against France  on the Gaelic pitch at Croke Park.    Similarly in 2009 he captained the Lions team  that toured South Africa.   At a big function in Limerick  in 2012 Paul was awarded the Freedom of Limerick City.   Paul and his wife Emily have a lovely baby boy.   I never met them and they could never have heard of me but I was interested to hear that they called him Paddy.  I wish them all good luck and I hope the little fellow grows up to be as strong as his Dad. 

Early in 1949 I commenced practice with Jane at Clondalkin near Dublin.   Walter was born there and we were happy for two years until we felt it would be advantageous for us to move back and bring up our family in Britain.  We purchased a little farm near Rugby.
 Soon after we settled in our new home I learned that the game of rugby was ' born ' there in 1823 when William Webb Ellis in a game at the school picked up the ball and ran with it.   To commemorate the ' birth' this bronze statue by Graham Ibbeson of the ball being carried was erected near the school.


In the twelfth century there were laws banning football in parts of Britain.
History books tell us that the statute of Galway mentioned football in 1527.
I also read of a game in 1712 between a team from Louth against another from county Meath.
I was also interested to hear that students at Trinity college played the Webb
Ellis type of football from about 1860.  Although catching and kicking remained the main type of ball game in Ireland rugby and soccer were being introduced at a number of schools.
The game called Soccer that allowed nobody but the goalkeeper to handle the ball was being played and attracting spectators in a growing number of countries.
It received a great boost from Glasgow in 1937.   149,415 people paid to see England play Scotland at Hampden Park  and about another twenty thousand were said to have burst in without tickets.   There was also guesswork about the attendance for the 1950 World Cup final  in Rio de Janeiro.  Stewards at the Maracana stadium estimated that it was close to two hundred thousand.

The G.A.A. Gaelic Athletic Association controls the amateur  football and hurling for men and also promotes the minor competitions for the under eighteens.   The rules were registered in 1887 and within a year  the first All Ireland football championship was won by a team from county Limerick .
Women control their Camogie matches.    One of the most sensible rules was that the goalkeeper's jersey must be of a different colour to that of the other 14 players.   Apart from hitting the ball the hurling stick is used for picking it up  from the ground to the fist in order to throw it in the air before striking it.   If there is any clear space a player may choose to run with the ball balanced on the stick.   Anyone wishing to see the fastest and most skilful game in the world  should see our Hurling Final at Croke Park on a dry September day.

 In 1961 a record crowd of over 90,000  attended the All Ireland football final  between Down & Offaly.   Kerry have won an amazing thirty six football championships.  Dublin are in second position with twenty four.  At hurling  three  counties have proud records.   Kilkenny were champions thirty four times,  Cork won thirty times and Tipperary were close up with twenty six.

During my time Donegal always had a few outstanding footballers who were selected for the team representing Ulster in the Railway Cup competition.    It was not until 1992  that we had a county team good enough to win our first All Ireland Championship.    Our successful manager then  was Brian McEniff from Bundoran and Anthony Molloy from Ardara was the Captain.   Manus Boyle from Gweedore scored nine of the eighteen points which gave us the historic win over Dublin.  The margin was four points.
 Up to that time the manager just aimed to train players to catch and kick the ball as quickly and as accurately as possible.   As time passed competitions became more professional.  After another twenty years  we got a new manager called Jim Mac Guinness with a degree in sports psychology which helped him coach players with a scientific approach.   He taught our 2012 team to hand-pass the ball at speed to a position from which it would be easier to score against Mayo in the final at Croke Park.  Our captain Michael Murphy from Glenswilly and McFadden from Dunfanaghy each scored a goal & four points.    Other points were added by Bradley, Gallagher and McGlynn to win the match by four points.    Our Simon drove Jane and me to see the eagerly awaited match on Television by courtesy of the Irish Club in Leeds.     We thought that Lacey and the two McGee brothers  made major contributions to the result.
I was interested to hear that  Mac Guinness has since been invited to assist manager Neil Lennon in coaching the young players signed by the Celtic club in Glasgow.   He appears to be an honest and intelligent man and I wish him good luck.

This picture shows Colm Mc Fadden scoring one of the points that won the 2012 Semifinal.   I was interested in him because he is from Dunfanaghy -- one of the first places  where I kicked a ball.

Among the friends I made in the veterinary college there were a few famous names from the GAA world.   For the greatest I have to say  his name was Nicky Rackard.     He was not just outstanding in a team of great footballers.   With a hurling stick he was a genius.    He was so popular that everyone wanted to shake his hand.  He was a real nice guy and he was kind.   One day while jumping for the same ball he hit me and he was very sorry because I was sore for a week.  He got a taste for the Guinness and when he qualified and set up in practice too many people wanted to treat him.   He eventually became an alcoholic.  Fortunately he had the willpower to resist the temptation.   He then went around Ireland helping people whose health had suffered.   He convinced many to take the pledge.   He was known as Cuchulainn's Son and Tom Williams wrote the song about him.   All too soon he suffered a cruel blow.  Cancer took him away when he had so much inspiration and goodness to give to the thousands who admired him.   There is a statue of him in Wexford town where he will never be forgotten.

Here is the mighty Nicky flanked by his brothers Billy and Bobby who were also talented at both football and hurling.

This is Christy Ring the Cork genius whose brilliant career lasted longer than poor Nicky's.

Christy won  8 All Ireland medals and 2 runner-ups AND 18 Railway Cup medals  ?
                                                   He scored 33 goals and 208 points.
                                                         X      X      X      X      X      X
  During the next fortnight
   I' m going with Jane & Charley to Sheriff Hutton to care for the fowl & Pepper - the whippet of Simon & Lyn who are going to Berlin to see Ruth - their daughter.
                               Take care,  Be lucky and Don't let the gangsters get you down.

Jane and I are now back home in Beverley after our holiday in Sheriff Hutton near the stables of the famous racehorse trainer Michael Easterby.   Simon and Lyn were very
pleased to find Ruth happy and well and they thoroughly enjoyed their stay with her. While we were in their cottage  I found a picture of our 1942  football team  in the Dublin veterinary college and took a few photos from it.
Kneeling on the left is Jarlath Canavan who will be remembered by many surviving fans who were thrilled by him while playing for Galway or Connaught.   In and around
Tuam Jarlath established a successful practice which has been carried on by Francis his son.
When  in Galway in '05 I was anxious to see my old friend.   When I called I was very sorry to be told by his wife that he had lost his sight.   Francis said he was with a local friend and I must wait while he fetched him.   He also said he would not mention my name.    When his Dad got out of the car  I was talking with Mrs Canavan  some distance away.  I noticed that he was listening intently.   We had not met for thirty years and he was still twenty yards away when he said,  " It's Paddy from Donegal I hear". We had a warm and hour-long reunion.   Unfortunately I had to refuse their plea that  I should stay  for the night.   Four years later  I was very sorry to hear of his passing.  He was only a year my senior and he surely was one of the better guys I knew.

Here is the Vets college of Ireland team with the famous stars  Jarlath Canavan,  Paddy Smith,  Weeshie Murphy and Nicky Rackard  I have been telling you about.   The sad and surprising facts are  that the one standing in space is myself  and that  somehow, I am the sole survivor.  The fittest and strongest of us was Weeshie the great defender who helped Cork to win the All Ireland in 1945.   I still remember the shock I felt in 1973 from the news that he had collapsed while watching a match at Croke Park!   It was a really cruel blow when he was about to be honoured with the leadership of the GAA. games.  I was pleased  to hear that his son Doctor Con was appointed medical officer to the Cork teams. 

Looking back on my long life  I must attribute it to my Dad and Mama.   They lived for me and my brothers and sisters.  Mama was a devout Catholic and Dad was always anxious to do what was right.   They were full of love, truth and goodness.    They were  concerned that  we had enough of a healthy diet, clothes to keep us dry and a warm bed.   They ensured that we took enough exercise to keep us fit.   We lived near

aunts Maggie and Cassie  (sisters to Dad) who helped to nurse us.   I remember learning to walk along the seashore where we inhaled the clean air from the Atlantic.    I was taught to eat and drink sensibly and to avoid becoming overweight.  Dad advised me to keep away from cheats and liars when I went to study in Dublin because I might be judged by the company I kept.

After I qualified and went to work for Vets in Britain I was very lucky to meet Jane.   I recognised her as the best woman in the world for me and for my children.   All of us appreciate and acknowledge the wonderful care and support all of us have enjoyed  from the N.H.S. everywhere we have lived.

I have never known a harder working man or a more honest person than John.  He was reared with a sister and nine brothers on a small farm in county Meath where they learned to be industrious.  At the age of ten with a brother and their collie they walked the 24 miles to the Dublin market with a score of bullocks.  If buyers were few and prices low they just had to walk them back home again.

Like many youngsters  John had to emigrate to Britain for the chance of a decent living.   He soon found it in Yorkshire and never spared himself.   Whenever John saw something that needed doing - he did it without a thought for his safety.  Once when assisting a J.C.B. driver  the bucket got wedged between rocks.   He instantly jumped into the hole and freed it.   As it moved he sustained multiple fractures that would have killed lesser men.   Brave doctors and nurses in Gobowen Hospital, Oswestry  recognised a fighting spirit.   After two months in intensive care and a further five recovering from many operations he was back at the work he loved.    No job was too small, too big or too dangerous.  Eventually with the help of one great woman called Clarice  he established a major site clearance,  demolishing,  construction, restoration,  road making  and building business.

Dog Walker

This is my Dog Walker in front of my Kennels at Church Lawford in 1960.  There are six greyhounds  with our own Whippet and Jack Russell who encouraged  young and lazy greyhounds  to keep going .   The time I kept them on varied from ten to thirty minutes dependent on the temperature and their fitness. On wet days they wore coats.   I often said I would put a canopy over them if one of them ever won a £1,000 race - but that day never came

There ALWAYS  had to be some one in attendance to switch off the electricity immediately one wished to urinate, defecate or got tired.   If it refused to walk, struggled to get loose or fell and got dragged around the consequences could  be fatal.    It was the brain-child of    Eddie Wray and its funding was by my friend John McConnell -- the one gutsy enough to risk going with me to see the safer tracks in the Antipodes.  It was such a pleasure to see those with roomy spacious turns and runners who were still sound at five or six years of age.

Good People and Friends we have lost in the last 2 months

I'm sorry that I have not been able to write anything during the last 2 months.  Christmas made demands on my time - contacting family and friends and secondly, I had to read through the book of my life story that I commenced twenty years ago and never finished.

I am not very well this evening but I hope to feel able to tell you about the good people and friends tomorrow.   I failed to keep this promise because  I got the sad news that my dear and unfortunate sister Eileen had passed away at eighty four.
She went peacefully in the excellent nursing home in St. Albans which she had to enter  in 2,002.
Our Walter arranged to pay for her care with the proceeds from the sale of her house
 Ever since,  she had regular visits by daughters Pat and Annette and occasionally by other family members.   I feel remiss and feeble in abandoning her over the past six years.   I found it unrewarding to see her when she became unaware of my presence.   My brother Father Raoul used to come from Dublin to see her until he too felt as I did.    Now he himself is in the good care of the nuns in Sybil Hill in Clontarf.    All of us love to see him whenever we get over there  and he feels happy because among his most frequent visitors are my cousin Tony Doohan and Bridie his good wife.
The dreaded malady that I hate to refer to is Alzheimer's.   A great deal has been learned about it but the medical profession are no nearer to finding a cure or preventative.  The dementia can affect the most intelligent and learned of people.   Newspapers have recently told us about a victim who used to be among the brainiest in the football world.
Readers of the sports pages will guess that I'm referring to the one and only  Jimmy Hill.  I got to know
this genius when he came to Coventry and trained our team to attract over 50,000 spectators and reach the first division.  He also forced promoters to reward players with a decent wage and spectators with comfortable seating.    I still remember the danger we faced while standing with our children on the packed, muddy, slippery and steep terrace during exciting moments of big games against the Wolves and other rival teams in the second division.

When Hill left he had raised the image of Coventry.    My friend Noel Cantwell was tempted to come from Manchester to become manager.   While Noel succeeded in bringing the club up to sixth position  in the first division the versatile Jimmy turned to entertaining football followers everywhere with  "Match of the Day" until '98.
When we read of what some footballers earn and cost nowadays  it is interesting to compare the figures that Hill considered derisory.
When Cantwell agreed to leave West Ham for United he had  been earning £500 a week  and  he cost £29,500 which was then a record price for a defender.    As captain he led the team up the steps at Wembley in 1963 to receive the F.A. cup when they beat Leicester.   After leaving Coventry he went to experience management in New England.   On returning to Britain  he enjoyed successful years with Peterborough until he retired to become landlord of the New Inn.     But this good husband and father was to suffer cruel misfortune.   He was stricken with cancer and died in 2005.    Maggie his devoted wife was shattered and was lucky to have the support of daughters Liz and Kate.   I was glad that she recovered and was able to attend the recent funeral of that other great United defender  Bill Foulkes.
   Bill was one of the survivors of the Munich plane crash.    In his amazing career he turned out for 688 performances.  Maggie thought that Bill was like the husband she lost - men you could depend on - the sort I call -- as faithful as good dogs.
While I was growing up in Donegal  I got great pleasure  from playing the Gaelic variety of football which helped to give me strength and keep me fit.   I played for the county at minor level but although our standard was moderate I never had the skill to get on the senior team.   Best of my mates was Columba Mc Dyer from  Glenties.     Columba was not just the best among the minors I knew.   He was one of the greatest Gaelic footballers  I ever saw -- live or on television.   Among his many talents was jumping higher than opponents in catching high balls.
He attracted high praise  in 1942  when helping Ulster to win the Railway cup for the first time.
This was a competition for teams representing  the four provinces of  Ulster, Munster, Connaught and Leinster.   Donegal people were proud to have a member on that winning team.   I remember names of outstanding players like  Brian McEniff from Bundoran,  Hudie Beag Gallagher and Danny Gillespie from Gweedore, and Denis Ferry from Falcarragh but we never had more than two or three in any one year.

Columba was teaching in the county of Cavan which,  at that time,  had some of the best players  in Ulster.    For the All Ireland championship games players were eligible to play for the county they lived in.  The Cavan selectors persuaded Columba to declare for their side in '47.   In that season  GAA authorities in America invited those in Ireland to stage the All Ireland Final in New York's  Polo grounds  because it was the centenery of  Ireland's Great Famine  when one million died and another emigrated.    Of the desperate hungry people who left for America many did not survive the journey.  To this day most Irish people who go to New York visit Statin Island to say a prayer over the graves of grandparents, relatives or friends.

Those football finalists in 47 were Cavan and Kerry.   The Cavan team travelled by air while the Kerrymen came by sea.    The Kennedy family welcomed them with a banquet.     Cavan's captain  Mick Higgins  did not stay  with the team at the Commodore hotel.    As he had been born in New York  he stayed with relatives.    In the match Peter Donahue scored eight points from frees for Cavan.    Mick scored a goal and two points.   Columba added a point and  Cavan won by four points.
Columba and Mick were noted for being fair.   It was said of them : -  If all players were like them there would be no need of referees.   After retiring Mick was employed by several clubs to train their youngsters.   In 1972 he took charge of the Donegal team and they won their first Ulster title.   The experience helped them believe they could improve  and at last in 1992 they beat a great Dublin team to become All Ireland champions for the first time.
   I was shocked in 2001 when I heard of Columba's death at eighty in Letterkenny hospital.   He had so much vivacity and stamina that I thought he must outlive me by many years.

Mick and I had been partners in a number of racing greyhounds.    In 72 years  we never spoke an
unfriendly word.   I often enjoyed his hospitality and that of Mag and their wonderful family  firstly in Tullyvin and later in Virginia.   I 'm still sad to think that -- four years ago he died at 87 after a short illness.   The funeral showed how popular he was.   Three hours passed before the last mourner left the graveyard.
Famous Kenmare man Jackie Lyne -- one of Kerry's greatest stars wrote  :-  "The greatest forward I ever played against, bar none, was Mick Higgins."

The first Irish footballer I heard of being sold was Johnny Carey.   Johnny's exemplary behaviour won him Footballer Of The Year in 1949.   The only other player I remember getting this award   was Sir Stanley Matthews.  Johnny was two years older than me and I had seen him playing Gaelic and soccer.   He was going from St. James Gate in Dublin  to Manchester United for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds.   When war broke out I respected him as a brave man because he joined up to fight for Britain.  At that time I had a friend called John Smullen who also volunteered.    I had known him from our school days and I was very upset when I heard that he was killed in Italy.
After peace was declared Johnny returned to Old Trafford.   Sir Matt Busby appointed him captain because he was a leader and had   proved reliable in several positions.   In 1948 they won the F.A. cup final against Blackpool.    Johnny is remembered among the greatest bargains  in transfer dealing.    I never had the pleasure of speaking with him but I knew his brother Luke well during the two years we lived in Clondalkin.   Luke  had a general store in Chapelizod where we bought items weekly.   He liked to join us when we were going down the country with a greyhound to a track - and more so when I told him it had a chance.   He also liked his grub  and never went far without a parcel of sandwiches in his pocket.    On one journey  to Mullingar he was sitting beside our runner on the back seat.
Nearing the track I glanced in the mirror and noticed that Luke had dozed off and the dog's nose was hidden in the parcel.   I yelled "Luke" as I braked to get the dog out.   Too late !  there was not a crumb left.   When I weighed him at the track he was 2 & a half lbs up.   The decent Racing manager -- Billy Bligh was helpful.  " You are in the last race Paddy, Its a sprint and if you want to run him you can take him for a walk and give him a chance to empty and we will weigh him again."  The dog would not stand still enough for me to be able to read his weight  but Billy said " He has lost enough".     As I was  taking him to the traps  Luke came down from the stand and said " He looks fat and I won't be backing him".    The books were shouting 5 to 1 as the hare started.    When the traps opened he was first out and led all the way and Luke was sorry he did not have the confidence to risk his money!
Greyhound followers may be interested in my winner.  His name was Wheatfield Atom.    His  Dad Mountain Emperor had won the coursing Derby  and his mum Lenten Lady was a daughter of Rebel Light.     He weighed only 56 lbs but he was keen to chase anything that moved until his stamina ran out.

In debating great footballers many people would mention Sir Stanley Matthews C.B.E.     At the age
of thirty two he had been bought from Stoke by Blackpool for a fee of £11,500.   Jane and I first saw him on television two years after we set up home in Rugby in 1951.    Frank Williams the manager of Boots had a set and invited us to his home to watch the cup final.
With twenty minutes to go Bolton were leading by 3 goals to 1.  Then Matthews turned on his magical swerve to pass his marker with the ball and send over a cross from the vicinity of the right touch line.   Stan's ploy was  to move it instantly -- and in the opposite direction to the one his opponent expected.   In most of these encounters  the marker became imbalanced and sometimes fell.     From the first  the other Stanley -- Mortensen -- crashed the ball into the net.   Supporters went wild with excitement and hope.   Their noise was deafening when  the two Stans again combined to level the scores.  With time running out Matthews sent the ball into the square once again  and this time  Bill Perry met it -- to win the cup for Blackpool.    Nat Lofthouse who had scored the first goal for Bolton sportingly stood and applauded the victors.

Matthews won fifty four caps with England  despite sharing the position  with the other great winger Tom Finney  of  Preston.  To ensure he kept fit Stan wore sheets of lead in his boots while running on the beach on most mornings.  149,000 fans saw him play for England against Scotland at Hampden Park and he played his last  International  against them at forty two.    He was never booked or sent off.   He disliked heading the ball and never practised it.
Pele said of him " He taught us the way football should be played."
The Stoke directors felt sure  that he was not finished when he was released by Blackpool    They  paid  £3,500  for  him.  Then they paid him £50 a week-- double what he was on at Blackpool  for another four years.  People still visit Hanley just to see his statue.

My older readers would expect me to mention Doctor Kevin O'Flanagan.    Kevin had been studying medicine for two years in Dublin before I started on the veterinary course.   He had already established a reputation as a gifted athlete in junior games and sporting competitions.  I first saw him playing  in a soccer match for Home Farm on a Saturday and heard that he played for Dublin's Gaelic team next day although it was against the rules of the GAA..  Shortly afterwards he signed for Bohemians senior team.   Kevin had amazing energy, vigour, enthusiasm and stamina for athletics and games.   He played handball, football, rugby and tennis and practised running, swimming, high jumping or long jumping  at every opportunity without neglecting his study of medicine.   Johnny Carey and Kevin were selected to play for Ireland's soccer team for the same match.   They were delighted when Kevin's brother Michael was capped soon afterwards.
  When Kevin qualified he joined a medical team in London and was persuaded to sign for the Arsenal club.    He played for them for three years until an injury to his ankle forced him to retire.   He became doctor to the Irish Olympic team  and this led to him becoming President of the Irish Sports Medicine Association.   His popularity helped him establish a big practice in Fitzwilliam street in Dublin.   I was very sorry to hear in 2006 that he had died in hospital from a heart condition.
   Before moving away from my memories of outstanding footballers I should mention the genius from Mozambique whom I saw playing for Benfica against Manchester United in the 1968 European Cup final.    He is remembered  for his physique,  his speed and his strength, the power of his kicks  and his sportsmanship.  Near the end of the exciting match with the scores level Eusebio was in full flight with the ball and only the goalkeeper to beat.  The crowd went silent  ...  Could Stepney stop him.?   I remember the tension.    Yes Alex saved  and the gentleman with the fierce shot stood and applauded.

         I would now like to  mention a few good friends I have lost in recent months.
Many would expect me to name Patsy Byrne from Duagh in county Kerry because he was among the most famous.    His death was also a great shock to his good wife, daughter and sons,  brother and sisters and to all who were close to him in business and in sport.   He was only sixty four  and he was always so alive, so busy and so involved with his many problems and those of others in construction, horses, greyhounds, football and many other interests.
Patsy may have come from a poor place but was brought up to be honest.    He had the enterprise to work hard and the courage to take risks.    He fully deserved to be  the big and respected figure that he was.   Yet he remained modest.   Yes, Patsy will be remembered for a very long time.

Millions of visitors to London go to London Bridge for a close up view of the Shard.
Many of them are tempted to get in the Escalator to look down on the city.
Patsy did not just go up.   He helped to put it there for us. 

             Now I would like to say a little about another great footballer whose death was reported last week wherever there were newspapers .    He was among the really good and great people I wish I had known.   He was a year younger than me.   His charitable nature won him an OBE.    Later he got a CBE and finally he was knighted.   This rare gentleman was Sir Tom Finney  and his club was Preston.  He made five hundred and sixty nine appearances and scored two hundred and ten goals for them.    He never moved to a bigger or richer club where he might be in a team of better players who could win cups and championships.   He loved his club and their supporters.    He also felt rewarded in winning seventy six caps with England  and scoring thirty goals for them.
Born into a family of six and losing his dear and loving mother when he was four taught him to work hard for the rest of his life.   He chose football first and after school he began learning about plumbing.  When he was called up during the war  he was posted to Egypt to join  Montgomery's troops.  When he retired his brother Joe joined him in the plumbing business and it became very successful.
Sir Stanley Matthews  is quoted as saying that  " to control a game a player must have awesome qualities  and  those who have done it regularly can be counted on the fingers of one hand :--  Pele,  Best,  Maradona,  Di Stefano and  Sir Tommy Finney."

My dear Dad made many sacrifices so that my younger brothers and I might qualify for professions that could lead to comfortable lives.   With two of his brothers he had been a member of the Royal
Irish Constabulary and he remained loyal to Britain during the dark days of  the war with Germany.
 Sadly he died suddenly from a heart attack in '45 three months before I passed my final exam and the war ended.  Few of those who owned animals in Ireland at the time could afford Vets' fees.   Many of
Ireland's teenagers had to emigrate somewhere to find employment .
 I chose  the cattle - boat to Holyhead where I met a decent Roscommon man who was an agent for those being imported to feed the British people.   His name was Tommy Dolan and he had a very kind wife called Maureen.   They gave me supper and a bed for the night.   They knew a vet in Anglesey called LLoyd Williams who was in poor health  and they offered to introduce me to him next day.
 Yes,  he had more cattle, sheep and shire horses as patients than he wanted and I was taken straight away to treat a cow with "red water".
 I was willing to work long hours to send money to my mother for the fees of my student brothers
Tony (medicine) and Ted (veterinary).
I remember an evening when I was called to a foaling mare near Snowdon.    Returning to base near midnight the old Austin car with bald tyres skidded off the road.   I had no telephone  to call for help and there was no heater in the car.  I was soon very cold but when the snow began to fall I was afraid to get out and walk somewhere.   I stayed shivering until a Police car came and rescued me.
  A few months later that Austin gave me a fright and might have cost me my life.    I was doing more than 50 on the way to Menai Bridge.   After passing the town with 57 letters in its name  the steering collapsed  !   The car crossed the road making a hole in the hedge on my right before stopping about thirty yards - inside a level field -without doing major damage to me or itself.

In addition to the Dolan family  I made another generous friend called  Benjamin  who was Security Officer for the Dublin passenger ferry.   Food was rationed at the time but whenever he invited me to his home there was never any shortage on his table.  Then one Saturday he asked  if I would like a trip to Dublin for the week- end.    When I replied  that I could not afford the fare he said  he had a  complimentary ticket I could have.  When he escorted me on board  he had a box on wheels.    Food was rationed at the time  and he instructed me  to bring it to his brother's meat shop in Capel street where it would be filled up.   When the return boat docked in Holyhead Benjamin came to find me and walked off with me and my load.    The customs officer just waved us past with it. !


Just a month ago I was very sorry to hear of the loss of a great friend called  Kevin Smith in Dublin.    He was among Ireland's most popular and successful solicitors.    He had been brought up in  Butlersbridge county Cavan where I knew him and his dear brother Con who died twenty years ago.   He was famous for his great love of greyhounds and there was no more celebrated winner of the Derby  than his win thirteen years ago with "Climate Control".    During week-ends in the winter months Kevin was one of the most loyal supporters of coursing.   His good wife Mairead and their eleven children can count on the support of all of us  who were lucky to know them.

Another loss that saddened me in January was that of Bonk  the wonderful wife of Peter Walwyn MBE the champion horse trainer in 74 & 75.   I well remember their kind hospitality when I called on them at their busy home and stables in 1979.   I felt welcome and privileged  to experience their empathy with their horses and with their dogs.   Their dedication earned  their most rewarding day in racing  when  Pat Eddery rode the great Grundy to victory around Epsom Downs.   I feel sure Peter will get the support he deserves to enable him to carry on with his brilliant career.

I was interested in the Derby from an early age.   I used to listen to the commentary on the radio before I first attended it in 1946.   That summer  I took a job as locum for an equine veterinary surgeon in Cheam .
That job would have been the last I would ever take if I had not been  steeped in amazing good luck.
I responded to the advertisement because I wanted to have a day off in order to attend the great race - just a few miles away.   His name was  Frank Chamberlain  and he had been in practice on his own for over forty years.   I arrived late in the day and was surprised to hear that he intended leaving early next morning to attend a race meeting in Paris.  He told me the old Hillman car in the garage would be low in petrol but I would have no problem.   I have heard this many times since but it has never reassured me.
In fact I fear there may be trouble ahead.    He had an experienced lady practice manager who would take charge in the morning ; answer any and all questions, feed me  and give me money for petrol.
My only appointment for the fore noon was at Lingfield to castrate two colts.
It was a bright sunny morning when I got into the car, started the engine  and drove out  on a clear road.    After two hundred yards  as I was thinking about overtaking two cyclists  I  suddenly realised I HAD NO  BRAKES  ?  and  was terrified of  killing the cyclists !  There was a RED CAR COMING
TOWARD ME VERY FAST....The next Mini second was the most vital of my life..... Without it my time must have been up.    Fortunately  there was an area of grass verge on my right.... and I instantly turned the steering-wheel hard toward it. ....  Simultaneously I heard the screeching of the red car's brakes ....as I reached the safety of the verge.  I still remember that moment when I opened my eyes to see that car beside mine.

The other driver gave me a lift to a pub where he had a Scotch and I had a Guinness.   I thanked him many times for his prompt braking.   He thanked me  for getting out of his way and for avoiding the cyclists.    I thanked God for the luck and quick reactions he gave me.    It was  my worst ever fright.

I postponed the trip to Lingfield until I got the new brakes.   When Mr Chamberlain returned he was
very apologetic and blamed his last assistant for failing to report the brake problem.    He allowed me a day off  to see the Derby and doubled my pay for my three weeks work.   That and my enjoyment of Airborne 's win helped to dim my memory of that old Hillman.    But of course I can never forget it unless, like my dear sister Eileen, I get the dreaded Alzheimers.

Two years later while I was working for a famous greyhound Vet in Liverpool I was equally delighted to get the opportunity of visiting an equally famous racecourse.   This time the Vet was Charley Elam, the venue was Aintree and the race was the Grand National.    It was first run in  1839 .    This time the winner was Sheila's Cottage and the jockey was A.P. Thompson.   I had first heard it broadcast in 1927 when my Dad bought a radio.   Our house was crowded with neighbours to hear the race being won by Sprig.   In  '55 I was thrilled to see the prize going to Ireland when the trainer was Vincent O'Brien and Pat Taffe rode the winner Quare Times.
 On outings to big race meetings Jane and our boys often came with me and we often had one or two friends like  Dentist John Brammar,  Boxer Johnny Williams,  Bill & Nuala Mannion,  Ray & Shirley Wisdom,  Ruth  mother  of Starter Michael Sayers,  Pete & Sheila Evans, John & Craya Black,  John McConnell,  John & Jane Spokes,  Inspector  Ossie Kerr and  our good neighbour Mr Cummins.
We also went to the '60 National won by Gerry Scott on Merryman and  to the '70 won by Pat Taffe on Gay Trip.    From coursing with greyhounds  I knew  the great trainer  Ginger McCain  and saw
 him win Nationals in  '73 & '74 when they were ridden by Brian Fletcher and again in  '77 when Tommy Stack had the ride.   I had to be there in 52 because another friend Dick Saunders was on the popular Grittar.   At 48,  Dick became the oldest rider to win the great test.  Most times I watched the
action from Beechers Brook.   In '52  I got a brilliant photo of Dick and his winner soaring over the big fence.   If I can still find it , I will use it here.    In '96  I felt drawn to one more National  when I saw that Rough Quest  the mount of Mick Fitzgerald was trained by Terry Casey.    Terry came from Rosapenna near my own old home.   His victory  was celebrated all over  and beyond our county.
Sadly and cruelly, all too soon  and at the age of  56  poor Terry was struck down by cancer.

I apologise for writing nothing in the last fortnight.

I just had to have a short break because --firstly those vital cells that control my heart rate and blood pressure were not performing at their usual rate --and secondly our Warwick who lives in London had accepted our invitation to spend his 60 eth birthday with us here in Beverley.    His wonderful Fiona and their two girls Eleanor and Rebecca came with him.    Simon and his wonderful Lyn came from Sheriff  Hutton.   Unfortunately their Judith, Ruth and Neil were unable to join us because of their work. Jill our adopted daughter was able to come from Leicester.   Two of our oldest friends here --Fred and Kerry Dobson only had to come from around the corner.    We live with Walter and his wonderful doctor Nuala and their musical girls Siobhan, Lucy and Hannah.   Two old Italian friends of Warwick and Simon since they were teaching in Alba thirty five years ago came all the way to be with us.  They are a very special couple.  Guido is a chemist and Carla is a lawyer.   They have a daughter -- Marta who is also a lawyer based in Luxembourg.

  We all sat around Walter and Nuala's big table for a delightful meal, good wine and a slice of birthday-cake.   Next evening in four cars we went to York for another enjoyable meal -- my first consisting of seven courses beside St. Cuthbert's Church.   Although we missed Judith, Ruth and Neil terribly, it still was one memorable event.   I was not well enough to be with the family on the trip to Flamborough Head.   This is a promontory with chalk cliffs and a white lighthouse with a black top built in 1669.    I like to go there and see see the thousands of protected sea birds who include auks, gannets, gulls, guillemotts, kittiwakes, puffins and razor bills.



      But my cardiac problem was minor compared to Gary Verity's.    Gary is the force behind the thousands of visitors attracted to Yorkshire's town and country sights.   He had to have surgery and all his fans were delighted to hear that it was totally successful.

A Literary Genius Over The Border -- In Derry.

    For the past two months I have been thinking about the loss of the famous poet and writer who was born eighteen years after me at Castledawson in my adjoining county.   He was only seventy four.  You will all know that his name was Seamus Heaney.    It seems so unfair that his health failed ;  he had so much to give to younger generations.   But we can take consolation from knowing that his words will
never be forgotten.

                                          Northern Ireland 's  Popular Genius With Words

     Seamus grew up on a farm with eight other children and his father was a cattle dealer.  In his later years he lived in Sandymount.   He was educated at St. Columbs catholic college in Derry.   Readers of his poetry considered that he got some of his inspiration from reading the works of Wordsworth.   He was appointed Professor at Oxford and at Harvard  and was awarded the Nobel prize for Literature.    His early poems were considered the best sine those by W.B. Yeats.    In his obituary  the Irish Independent called him one of the best known poets in the world.   The large funeral to Bellaghy was broadcast on television far and wide.

Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865  but was mostly associated with Sligo where his mother came from.  Yeats spent holidays on Howth at Balscadden House.  He was the first Irishman and member of the Senate to receive the Nobel Prize -- in 1923.  He died in France in 1939 and was buried there.   However  he had wished to be dug up after a while -- when he would be forgotten -- and buried again in his beloved Drumcliff.    I have never passed this church without stopping and entering the graveyard to read his epitaph on  the tombstone  -- " Cast a cold eye  on life,  on death   Horseman pass by ".   This was from his poem "Under Benbulben"

Benbulben's Dangerous Face Looking Down On Drumcliff

 This is an example of his mythical writing

We rode in sorrow, with strong hounds three,

Bran, Sgeolan, and Lomair,

On a morning misty and mild and fair.

The mist-drops hung on the fragrant trees,

And in the blossoms hung the bees.

We rode in sadness above Lough Lean,

For our best were dead on Gavra's green.

I climbed this spectacular mountain before I went to the top of  Errigal which was nearer to me.   The opportunity arose when I was at school.   The geography master took about twenty of us on an outing by bus.   We climbed from the easy south side ;  the other is very dangerous.   I still remember the wonderful view while he was telling us that it was formed three hundred million years ago.    He also

told us that the ancient warrior  Fionn Mac Cool lived where we were standing  in the third century.

This is Errigal.  At 751 metres it is the tallest of our Derryveagh mountain range.

This is a photo of myself taken by Jane after we had reached the top in June '76.
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I am pleased to report that at their meeting on November 13 Beverley Council rejected the application to conduct experiments on a further 2,000 beagles.   I would like to have herd the speakers but I was taken ill and had to leave after a few minutes.

               

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