John Gibson: Poor sods, they'd had a long wait

Published on Friday 25 September 2009 09:11

WHAT the archaeologists who've dug up 290 skeletons at a Leith trams excavation site haven't told you is that they were all wearing green and white jerseys. All brandishing HIBS FOR THE CUP banners.

Fancy that! Five hundred years ago. Still up for the Cup and, presumably, before the casuals had even been heard of. Or did they all die of exposure waiting for a tram?

Funny old game, football. You just never know what it'll throw up. For instance, the latest goss is that cries of "come back, Mixu, all is forgiven!" have been rolling down towards Easter Road from Arthur's Seat. Cannae be true.

Still crusading

RUSTIC rock 'n' rollers from many blue suede shoes ago packed Royal Musselburgh Golf Club last weekend on two nostalgia nights in memory of Tam Paton and the Crusaders, the band that drew capacity Edinburgh crowds to Fountainbridge Palais, The Gamp, The Place and Bungy's.

Says a sentimental Pat Dixon, the band's rhythm guitarist/harmony vocalist: "We hadn't played together in 45 years, it just seemed a good idea to round up the guys . . . lead guitar Frankie Connor, bass guitar Ronnie Fraser, vocalist Rod Reynolds, who came over from Canada, keyboardist Roy Goudie. And, now living in Stirlingshire, Danny Street really wowed the 60 per cent female audience with his classy vocals.

"Great seeing some drape suits and dirndl skirts again on two reunion nights that raised money for Chest, Heart & Stroke, Scotland. Would we do it again? Always a chance, if we live that long."

Paton, 70, died of a heart attack in April.

Stirring the pot

KEITH Floyd, while he's still in mind, talking about the younger generation of TV chefs: "I find their shows utterly appalling. They debase the whole subject of cookery. And I'm afraid some very good chefs end up making complete prats of themselves." Blumenthal among them? Surely no.

Afterwords . .

. . . Sir Michael Caine, 76, tells us: "I never think about ageing because if you think about it, it happens. And I'm fairly good with looking after myself and my diet, although it falls by the wayside occasionally."