Category: The Wordsmith
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Umpire Callaghan stops play
It is difficult to imagine that at the height of the Anti-Apartheid movement in the 1960’s sporting authorities such as rugby and cricket should still believe that it was acceptable to tour and play all white teams from South Africa. All white because black players were not allowed to take part in these major sporting…
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Strife
Strife noun: angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict A Wordsmith Post There has always been disagreement between Trade Unions and the Labour Party. Schisms of political interest, dogma and practical politics when Labour were in government. It still exists today. In the 1960’s the fluctuating economy was not helped by the Unions and…
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The Youth Vote
A Wordsmith Post In 1969 Peter Carver was 25 years old and a lobby correspondent in the House of Commons. This meant he was an accredited journalist sitting on the bench above the Speaker’s chair at the other end of the Stranger’s Gallery. Peter had left school at 15 and become a cub reporter on…
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Without a Flutter
A Wordsmith post Horseracing has been regulated for centuries by the Jockey Club. The associated betting industry which started on the racecourse was regulated by law. Cash betting could only legally be undertaken on the course. Off the course, betting could only be undertaken by credit account. An off-course punter could only place a bet…
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Peter, the Wordsmith
This story started in September last year during a conversation with my niece. I know that my late brother Peter would have been a treasure trove of memories and artefacts of family history, but I never found the time to speak with him specifically about this new strand of storytelling that I was thinking about,…