Autobiography

Recommendations

Info

But they were great memories; riding down to Skeggy on our motorbikes for my first proper holiday and away from home for more than a day for the first time in my short life. Yet in truth there is little more to tell of those four years of my life to the age of 21. It was just typical teenage boy experiences; playing football, discovering girls, going to work to earn enough money to pay for my beloved motorbike and playing my part in keeping the home together. They were interesting times. And the country was clawing its way out of recession and slowly, very slowly, opportunities were emerging. 124
CHAPTER TEN C10. HANK JANSON TO THE RESCUE I suppose if there was one person who changed my life it was an American private eye who went by the name of Hank Janson. He was smooth, smart, full of great one-liners, and made out with the ladies as if they were going out of fashion. He was a latter-day James Bond. He always solved his cases, and he put me on the road to riches, and he was, of course, totally fictional. When I finished my apprenticeship as a brickie my brother Ralph, who was by then a book and magazine salesman, told me that one of the shops he served had gone out of business and the landlord had told him that if we found the outstanding rent of two hundred pounds, we could have the shop and the stock left in it. It was too good a chance to miss, so I reluctantly sold my motorbike and borrowed the balance to pay for the lease and suddenly I was in my own shop on John Adam Street, just around the corner from Charing Cross station in the middle of London. The shop had very little stock and consequently sales were poor. I discovered why the previous owner had gone bust after taking just £37 in the first week. I wondered what I had let myself in for. The key to the future was obtaining credit so that I could keep the business going and 125
Page 1 and 2:
PURE GOLD MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Rags, Ri
Page 3 and 4:
CONTENTS THE STENCH OF POVERTY ....
Page 6 and 7:
PROLOGUE THE STENCH OF POVERTY Ever
Page 8 and 9:
mistaken for the unclean smell of f
Page 10 and 11:
CHAPTER ONE C1. ABJECT POVERTY One
Page 12 and 13:
And all this would never have happe
Page 14 and 15:
went through it all again and had t
Page 16 and 17:
It was a miracle none of us expecte
Page 18 and 19:
I used to have ultra violet light t
Page 20 and 21:
It would have been easier for my Mu
Page 22 and 23:
The noise on the wooden floor told
Page 24 and 25:
Grandma Miriam Occasionally we were
Page 26 and 27:
Ralph, Mum and Me, 1951 I was remin
Page 28 and 29:
would be in, stripping the wood and
Page 30 and 31:
would move from market to market. H
Page 32 and 33:
scream and shout at him when he ret
Page 34 and 35:
Christmas was always exciting for t
Page 36 and 37:
wheeler bicycle hidden for two days
Page 38 and 39:
The anti-aircraft guns were also be
Page 40 and 41:
It was draughty, cold and damp, and
Page 42 and 43:
The conditions on board were almost
Page 44 and 45:
CHAPTER THREE C3. ABUSED Cenci, mum
Page 46 and 47:
poke fun at him after he had passed
Page 48 and 49:
It certainly was in the cinema on a
Page 50 and 51:
CHAPTER FOUR C4. JEWS, JEWS AND MOR
Page 52 and 53:
allotted time and spent the rest of
Page 54 and 55:
everyone living in London was going
Page 56 and 57:
a young man going to my first black
Page 58 and 59:
and I wanted to know why. Maybe, I
Page 60 and 61:
That jerky black and white newsreel
Page 62 and 63:
newspapers like Redwatch and Storme
Page 64 and 65:
I had only looked on them with disg
Page 66 and 67:
will all end up coffee-coloured, an
Page 68 and 69:
looked up the VC awards in The Time
Page 70 and 71:
Thomas was in charge of the stowage
Page 72 and 73:
news that Roberts and Gould had eac
Page 74 and 75: For several years Thomas was presid
Page 76 and 77: incredible courage that it took to
Page 78 and 79: etween the two playgrounds. Everyon
Page 80 and 81: olled up, flexing his muscles, when
Page 82 and 83: together, and from that moment on w
Page 84 and 85: however, it had still not sold due
Page 86 and 87: Ralph and I were also pursued relen
Page 88 and 89: accomplish without dramatically inc
Page 90 and 91: 1958 Vauxhall Victor It was a telli
Page 92 and 93: Cessna aircraft and five-seater EC1
Page 94 and 95: (Bizarrely, many years later my fri
Page 96 and 97: Godfrey was permitted a monthly vis
Page 98 and 99: make up stories of where he was. I
Page 100 and 101: station to buy drinks and fruit fro
Page 102 and 103: CHAPTER EIGHT C8. RUN RABBIT RUN Fo
Page 104 and 105: noted by the coach and instead of s
Page 106 and 107: I remember it well as I watched on
Page 108 and 109: feet tall when he recognised me. Fo
Page 110 and 111: To this day I remember him calling
Page 112 and 113: I was naturally devastated, but I w
Page 114 and 115: To my surprise and delight, Johnny
Page 116 and 117: CHAPTER NINE C9. SLAVE LABOUR When
Page 118 and 119: of fruit in the market (ironically,
Page 120 and 121: speak on the telephone, he stays ov
Page 122 and 123: journey on our bikes as I set off w
Page 126 and 127: provide some additional stock, so t
Page 128 and 129: The same surge in customers happene
Page 130 and 131: had no qualms about ‘taking a cha
Page 132 and 133: still couldn’t believe two men ha
Page 134 and 135: against authority had begun and con
Page 136 and 137: The problem with fighting against t
Page 138 and 139: improved dramatically, so what are
Page 140 and 141: involvement in anything else. Needl
Page 142 and 143: the premises were worth more. So I
Page 144 and 145: there’s a surprise) with him and
Page 146 and 147: Luck has always played such a big p
Page 148 and 149: Elsewhere, Henry Cooper challenged
Page 150 and 151: George Cornell, 1965 It was early M
Page 152 and 153: was run jointly but separately by t
Page 154 and 155: It was only much later that the ful
Page 156 and 157: and his wife Joan in their new prop
Page 158 and 159: 2005 general election when, speakin
Page 160 and 161: I married my first girlfriend, Bery
Page 162 and 163: discover on a day of betrayal I wil
Page 164 and 165: transfer, so for the second time yo
Page 166 and 167: ‘They are not worth the paper the
Page 168 and 169: The door had closed, and I was lock
Page 170 and 171: Harder still was sitting with Beryl
Page 172 and 173: I now hate him with a vengeance. He
Page 174 and 175:
the call - the orders had already b
Page 176 and 177:
the two knights of the road and not
Page 178 and 179:
‘I’m finished in the bathroom,
Page 180 and 181:
sitting in the public area of the l
Page 182 and 183:
up in her eyes as she recounted thi
Page 184 and 185:
eplied that this time it would be f
Page 186 and 187:
shattered when they said that Ann-M
Page 188 and 189:
ight to publish erotica and defende
Page 190 and 191:
former secretary Sue Caron. It was
Page 192 and 193:
It is a triumph to have emerged wit
Page 194 and 195:
ecause he had a young son and these
Page 196 and 197:
Just a few months before my court c
Page 198 and 199:
scenes would have to be removed for
Page 200 and 201:
The Pathetic Lord Longford On top o
Page 202 and 203:
The passing of time has clearly vin
Page 204 and 205:
Judge King-Hamilton threw down his
Page 206 and 207:
The jury found the book Lady Chatte
Page 208 and 209:
There was no possibility of receivi
Page 210 and 211:
Judge Bernard Gilis. He was no bett
Page 212 and 213:
Perhaps I should sign this long cha
Page 214 and 215:
uphill section untouched. I wanted
Page 216 and 217:
The postcards so saucy they were se
Page 218 and 219:
From the early 1950s, tens of thous
Page 220 and 221:
He added: ‘They are a vivid illus
Page 222 and 223:
CHAPTER FIFTEEN C15. OVER MY DEAD B
Page 224 and 225:
purchased another freehold in the Q
Page 226 and 227:
it. It was always important that th
Page 228 and 229:
Not only that, female agents were s
Page 230 and 231:
an extraordinary rate and we had to
Page 232 and 233:
In those early days it was difficul
Page 234 and 235:
companies on the net, but none of t
Page 236 and 237:
council could take this action desp
Page 238 and 239:
I am extremely proud of my daughter
Page 240 and 241:
have been horrified, as she was ter
Page 242 and 243:
eating lunch with Mark’s wife Sue
Page 244 and 245:
and our friendship was flourishing,
Page 246 and 247:
would succeed, we followed that thr
Page 248 and 249:
Malta Air Rally Winner 1980 On arri
Page 250 and 251:
experienced. I heard nothing from h
Page 252 and 253:
for him to tell her to put on her l
Page 254 and 255:
had been held back as the drama unf
Page 256 and 257:
feeds, and an AD (airworthiness dir
Page 258 and 259:
Many years later after retiring fro
Page 260 and 261:
It was hugely rewarding flying smal
Page 262 and 263:
of, ‘in pursuance of excellence
Page 264 and 265:
I will be driven in the Phantom to
Page 266 and 267:
The only flying incident I have bee
Page 268 and 269:
wrong tape, she’d been in the coc
Page 270 and 271:
‘Hello Dad, just got your message
Page 272 and 273:
Newspapers and next came our first
Page 274 and 275:
as saying, ‘I feel like General C
Page 276 and 277:
as their business acumen, determina
Page 278 and 279:
Apart from the Racing Post, it is t
Page 280 and 281:
Wednesday and a Friday paper, so we
Page 282 and 283:
A lot of people have their doubts a
Page 284 and 285:
It is all part and parcel of the bu
Page 286 and 287:
never fought I’d be ’ere in the
Page 288 and 289:
the horse his head and by the time
Page 290 and 291:
local people, with more money to in
Page 292 and 293:
the couple of occasions that my mot
Page 294 and 295:
Birmingham City’s St Andrews stad
Page 296 and 297:
have worked tirelessly to achieve i
Page 298 and 299:
It made us realise that when people
Page 300 and 301:
in the 1992/93 season and the game
Page 302 and 303:
confidence in Barry Fry. There was
Page 304 and 305:
famous stadium, only to miss out to
Page 306 and 307:
us but also for our mum and all our
Page 308 and 309:
manager, the players, the fans and
Page 310 and 311:
Barry made a quick decision and we
Page 312 and 313:
most wanted to see him in was the p
Page 314 and 315:
His rows with Karren Brady and Davi
Page 316 and 317:
It had been arranged for Jack Wisem
Page 318 and 319:
ouncing like a rubber ball. ‘You
Page 320 and 321:
financial ruin. As Barry confided i
Page 322 and 323:
necessary to move the club forward.
Page 324 and 325:
still adored. He is, to use an old
Page 326 and 327:
the end to stave off the threat of
Page 328 and 329:
It doesn’t come much crueller tha
Page 330 and 331:
ground. In his anger, he twice took
Page 332 and 333:
Trevor had now lost three semi fina
Page 334 and 335:
tried to contact him on the Saturda
Page 336 and 337:
know whether he wanted to put this
Page 338 and 339:
more like I was welcoming a new man
Page 340 and 341:
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE C21. WELCOME HOM
Page 342 and 343:
Premier League, but it was clear fr
Page 344 and 345:
He won us promotion after just six
Page 346 and 347:
Johnson and Paul Devlin (the Scotti
Page 348 and 349:
Arsenal away (although no one expec
Page 350 and 351:
again to sticking by measured judge
Page 352 and 353:
He made himself intolerable to work
Page 354 and 355:
us, with no one talking to him. I w
Page 356 and 357:
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO C22. THE FA CUP,
Page 358 and 359:
myself becoming embroiled, and in a
Page 360 and 361:
Henry realised that he hadn’t eve
Page 362 and 363:
When the cup is not being displayed
Page 364 and 365:
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE C23. LOSER TAK
Page 366 and 367:
financial blow that is only partial
Page 368 and 369:
Chopard diamond watch which I had b
Page 370 and 371:
We met them a number of times durin
Page 372 and 373:
cannot play for Birmingham City aga
Page 374 and 375:
from bottom. It was in the light of
Page 376 and 377:
When Carson Yeung launched his succ
Page 378 and 379:
sale of the 29.9% David Sullivan, R
Page 380 and 381:
£1. Everything has its price and a
Page 382 and 383:
there is no money there, they deman
Page 384 and 385:
facilities at their stadiums and th
Page 386 and 387:
using the cash to compete with each
Page 388 and 389:
and did more harm than good. Clearl
Page 390 and 391:
egain their lost and valuable statu
Page 392 and 393:
I can remember Douglas Craig, the c
Page 394 and 395:
there are kids playing football, wh
Page 396 and 397:
turnover of a £60-70 million for 1
Page 398 and 399:
house for dinner or we would meet u
Page 400 and 401:
the radio that the actor and singer
Page 402 and 403:
while; a thrill I could only have h
Page 404 and 405:
difference. Ken Bates had a fierce
Page 406 and 407:
thank you for coming and hopes, des
Page 408 and 409:
Spurs have a remarkable hospitality
Page 410 and 411:
chairmen in action, how they operat
Page 412 and 413:
then taken to the press room, and o
Page 414 and 415:
stories, especially when it is a cl
Page 416 and 417:
There are many successful managers
Page 418 and 419:
impatience. However the Prince took
Page 420 and 421:
At that time, relegated clubs recei
Page 422 and 423:
we needed fourteen votes to carry t
Page 424 and 425:
vastly experienced in the machinati
Page 426 and 427:
On the Thursday before our match at
Page 428 and 429:
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX C26. THE IMPORTA
Page 430 and 431:
are, and fatal, brain condition kno
Page 432 and 433:
sometimes at a restaurant, sometime
Page 434 and 435:
game - it was something I had not d
Page 436 and 437:
I replied, ‘Lesley, you look beau
Page 438 and 439:
young girl was bold enough to ask w
Page 440 and 441:
we finished our drinks and left. We
Page 442 and 443:
of dust. I saw beads of sweat appea
Page 444 and 445:
I decided to open the cover so that
Page 446 and 447:
experienced, right from the days of
Page 448 and 449:
For her 88 th birthday she went to
Page 450 and 451:
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN C27. DO YOU HA
Page 452 and 453:
While I was lucky enough to have be
Page 454 and 455:
hugely rewarding. I would say to so
Page 456 and 457:
a while it was obvious that it was
Page 458 and 459:
to America in 1966. Because of my t
Page 460 and 461:
confidence, just waltzing around an
Page 462 and 463:
the little terraced properties whic
Page 464 and 465:
from my vantage point I saw him ope
Page 466 and 467:
I am often asked if the figures are
Page 468 and 469:
more sophisticated wines such as Pr
Page 470 and 471:
It is a ritual that reminds me of m
Page 472:
West Ham United 2 Blackpool 1 With
show all

Autobiography

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?