SEnine
Saga city Herbaceous
has
become vaguely aware that a sporting contest is being organised in the area to take place some time next year.
The problem, of course, with Old Men of Great Sagacity is that whatever happens, they tend to have seen it all before.
Herbs learned at his father’s knee about a similar occurrence in London before the First World War and, from memory, it did sound more fun in those days.
Some of the relevance of the event seems to have been lost, he feels. For example, when did the ‘live pigeon shoot’ fall off the roster?
This could be revived, with some success, around his patch of Brussels
HERBACEOUS
sprouts which regularly get shredded by the fl ying vermin. And whatever happened to the ‘wheelbarrow race’?
These events actually have some
practical application - he believes it’s called ‘legacy’ - after the event itself has fi nished. The ability to commandeer and steer a barrow from plot to dung heap in no time fl at can be crucial when dodging spring showers on Pippenhall allotment site.
He suspects much of it is driven by television. This is no doubt why the ‘underwater swimming’ and ‘plunge for distance’ got red pencilled, in the days before waterproofed cameras.
Going back further into history, he learns that the event’s founding fathers had the right idea.
At Much Wenlock in deepest
Shropshire, the rightful birthplace of it all, they had a most useful discipline called ‘The Old Women’s Race For a Pound of Tea’. This could most usefully see a comeback, possibly allied with ‘The Old Man’s Grab for the Packet of Biscuits’, which could be taught in schools from an early age.
It isn’t only working class sports that have suff ered. For example, also gone are the croquet contest and the duelling pistols. No need for silver medals in that class, he thinks.
Anyway, in mid-summer he’s usually busy training for his own glory, the annual Sweet Corn of the Year championships. It’s the only contest in which the gold of the sport is as satisfying as the gold of the medal.
The Family Business that still off ers a personal service W. UDEN & SONS LTD
FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS ESTABLISHED 1881
Covering all areas Pre-paid Funerals Monumental Masons
Private Chapels of Rest 24 Hour Service
Branches also at:
Petts Wood, Dulwich, Forest Hill, Sidcup,
In the care of Nicholas & Matthew Uden New Cross & Camberwell
51 - 53 Passey Place, Eltham SE9 5DA Tel: 020 8850 2868
Never stop trying 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40