Not so long ago, Bill McLaren, and now Harry Carpenter – both consummate professionals. And although Harry Carpenter is probably associated with boxing more than any other sport, he commentated on almost every sport the BBC broadcast over the years, such was his natural flair.

Having now read all of the above I am happy to withdraw my comments about it being a set-up. It just shows how truth is often stranger than fiction. I still remain astonished that it could have happened.

Perhaps some of the more inventive forum members should submit some designs in his honour and the winner would be declared by democratic vote! Might be fun.:)

All of that is true, of course and he was a very generous man and bore little malice towards anyone – including Ken Dodd! He was the original lunatic “goon” and Spike fed off him in that original series. I think he was truly, originally inventive – in conversation his mind always ran about three times as fast as he could express the thoughts, and as with many “funny” people, he was usually very serious.

But he ws also a complex man and, as you know, became heavily involved in the paranormal, and that associated with the deaths of children, changed his open and engaging personality, to some extent. I did not know him in his later years after we had moved house, but will always remember him as an infinitely fascinating man with whom to spend a few hours conversing as well as one whose TV, stage and radio antics more often than not had me helpless with laughter.

eagle21 – sounds as though you are well aware of the appalling deficiencies of the UK’s NHS – and rightly so. You might be horrified to learn that of the 1.3 million employees over half are uninvolved in healthcare per se.

I like that…………:D

Andys

A National Health Service which WORKS and does not absorb vast amounts of taxpayers money for a poor return might be one of the things that define a civilised nation. How can we possibly sustain an organisation which is the third largest employer in the world to provide health care to a population of 50 million? Our NHS defines the current state of our country – we should be deeply ashamed of it.:mad:

My experience of socialist states in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union did not fill me with great enthusiasm………….and no one could go onto the streets to express their opinions!