In this world of unmitigated crap at the moment, it’s important, I think, to be reminded that some “normal” people have a story that is worth telling, and, dare I say it, a little inspiring. It’s not music related at all, but hey…
I present this Sky Sports feature, telling the story, in his own words of Paul Irons, who was the games teacher at my school, as featured in the video, while I attended from 1979 to 1984. During that time, whilst his reputation was fierce, he proved himself to be everything that a teacher should be, helping countless children to make the most of what they have, to look for the positives in all they see and above all, be good people. His father was a West Indian immigrant, who overcame his own problems to become the first black magistrate/JP in the UK, and be an amazing man in his own right, being awarded an OBE. Paul received an MBE in December 2018, for services to education (he is now Chair of Governors at Fernwood, having taught there from the early 70s, I think) and the reaction to the announcement on social media from literally dozens if not hundreds of ex-pupils was universally one of “Brilliant. About blinking time…” I took the time to go all old school on him, and make it a bit more personal from me, and wrote a letter to him, as we do see each other locally now and again (I was never much good at rugby, but his other sporting passion was cricket, and I was much more useful at that, so we played many a school team game with Sir in attendance).
He took the time to reply in kind, and it’s something I now treasure.
If you’re a rugby fan, there’s something in this for you (and I never knew that Miles Harrison, who I also played cricket with at our local club when we were kids, was such a “famous” commentator) but anyone can have a watch and witness a true gentleman, the perfect mix of work ethic, pride, trustworthiness, humility and positivity, often, as shown, in the face of some awful negativity. A much loved man.
PS Given that Miles must surely qualify as “famous”, that’s two famous people who went to Fernwood. The other being Line of Duty actress Vicki McClure.
Great stuff, bobness, thanks for sharing.
Vicki McClure will always be Ladine to me.
I don’t think Countries are racist per se but the people that inhabit them will have a population amongst them that are. That’s down to fear and ignorance, which should be relatively easy to solve you would think. Not so. Unfortunately Economics starts to rear its head and then you start to understand that money is a complete fabrication. Fair do’s. Let’s go with that. Greed is the opposite to money. Money is a construct of the human race to enable itself to evolve. Money is meant to move in as much hands as possible for it to be a success. Hoarding money and keeping this invisible thing adrift from everyone else is ultimately self defeating. Precious.