Blogs

The memorial service for Ken Howard

Last Tuesday I attended the memorial service for Ken Howard which took place at St James Church Piccadilly and afterwards at the Royal Academy. The church memorial takes an hour into which time you have to fit in prayers and the life of the person, in the case of Ken a full and long one. An [...]

December 8, 2022 // 0 Comments

Ben Stokes & his captaincy.

When it comes to Ben Stokes and his suitability as England captain I willingly confess that I got it totally wrong. He is the finest all rounder we have produced since Ian Botham but his early career was troubled, there was little sign of cricketing nous and – as happened with Botham and [...]

December 6, 2022 // 0 Comments

Argentina & me

Everyone has a favourite country, neither of birth nor adoption, and mine is Argentina. It started some 50 years ago when a creative friend redefined park football with a fantasy team of South Americans called the Assassins FC de Montevideo supposedly on tour to Europe. It was more than fun but a [...]

December 5, 2022 // 0 Comments

Bath 12 Harlequins 19

I have watched almost all of the football World Cup games to date but with little enthusiasm. So the autumn internationals and last night Quins’ victory over Bath Rugby were welcome relief. Quins were without Marcus Smith, who sustained an ankle injury against South Africa and will not play [...]

December 3, 2022 // 0 Comments

White Lotus

White Lotus is a bit like peaches and cream, at first delectable but less tasty after a while. It’s probably meant to be watched in a binge stream. My old-fashioned approach is to watch it weekly at 9-00pm on Mondays after Mastermind and University Challenge. I am now into episode 7 and Tom [...]

November 30, 2022 // 0 Comments

The case for Eddie Jones.

Given that the Rust has been one of the most trenchant critics of England coach Eddie Jones you may be surprised by the title of this post. Of course the RFU are reluctant to sack him for financial reasons but – despite his many faults and failures – a case can be made to retain him [...]

November 29, 2022 // 0 Comments

World Cup thoughts

On the Rust we try to avoid replicating stuff from the back pages so I will not join in the chorus of criticism of Gareth Southgate for never bringing Phil Foden on in a dull performance against USA – except to say it was ever thus. In 1970 West Germany sent spies to the England training camp [...]

November 28, 2022 // 0 Comments

My father, NHS & modern medical practice.

It’s always interesting to find something new out about a parent and recently my brother informed me that our father was a founding doctor in the first NHS clinic at Woodberry Down, Hackney – now called the Sir John Scott. Aneurin Bevin, the Labour Minister in Clement Attlee’s government [...]

November 28, 2022 // 0 Comments

Sale 40 Harlequins 19

Ten years ago Sale Sharks’ Ryan Mills was preferred to Owen Farrell for England Juniors. After leaving beleaguered Wasps, Mills is now playing on a wet Manchester night in the Premiership Cup and Farrell is lining up for his 100th England cap against the All Blacks. I am here to report on Quins [...]

November 19, 2022 // 0 Comments

A private cellar tasting

Yesterday I attended a private cellar tasting organised by a local Wine School. I enjoy these events where participators bring their own choice of wine. Mine was a Slovenian red bottled by Dveri Pax which went down well. My neighbour, who was clearly a wine connoisseur and was anxious you should [...]

November 18, 2022 // 0 Comments

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ITV COVERAGE OF CHELTENHAM

March 14, 2026 // 0 Comments

I am in the camp of watching on tv rather than attending for the 3 Cs: cost , convenience and comfort. With the cost of travelling and attending Cheltenham and last [...]
Max Schmelling/ The Good German

March 4, 2026 // 0 Comments

In the unlikely event that I would be asked to nominate a Great Life on Matthew Parris ‘ show my choice would be the Black Uhlan Max Schmelling. In the 1930s thee [...]
The Tanner Report : Fulham 2 spurs 1

March 3, 2026 // 0 Comments

Prior to Fulham ‘s comfortable win over Spurs (2-1) I watched the big match Revisited featuring Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 i guess in the early 70s It would be foolish to [...]
The Six Nations

February 24, 2026 // 0 Comments

The Six Nations continues to throw up surprises. England could not bounce back against Ireland , a resurgent Wales gave Scotland à close game with the Millennium Stadium [...]
Brentford 0 Brighton 2

February 23, 2026 // 0 Comments

The heat is off Fabian Hürzeler with Brighton ‘s 1st win in 13 games. Club owner Tony Bloom was not at the G Tech stadium due to a long planned family engagement but had [...]