John Gibson: Still great chums, albeit in spirit

Published on Wednesday 11 November 2009 08:29

THEY were great chums, even when combative rivals on opposite sides of the political fence. So it's altogether fitting that Christine Richard will present a special award at the McEwan Hall on Saturday in memory of Elizabeth Maginnis.

Such was their enduring friendship that one-time rabid Tory Christine became staunch Labourite Elizabeth's agent in the 2007 Edinburgh City Council elections, when she won the Forth Ward.

Christine tells me: "Elizabeth was a larger-than-life lady who served the community for 22 years, up to her death last year. A true champion of the people, a major influence in the education field. She left this award as a form of bursary."

The first winner is Leither Clare Weir, three years a student at Telford College, who has been studying for a Higher National Diploma en route to a BSc in sports science. She has completed her HND in sports coaching. She is also a swimming coach.

She collects the award at Telford College graduation ceremony at the McEwan on Saturday.

Golden oldies

Not a word to the Quiz Police about this but I've been a poor sport and turned down an invite to a sports quiz night. I have, however, proffered to the chairman a couple of questions for his next big night. Old ones but good ones:

Which is the most widely spoken language on the planet? Give them a clue, it rhymes with Errol Flynn. And which famous figure in American folklore was half-man, half-beast?

Mandarin and Buffalo Bill. You've got to be old enough.

Let me eat cake

You knew, didn't you, that we've just had National Baking Week? Yummy! I got wired in. Scones galore. Sponges by the score. Enough cup cakes to choke a horse.

You'll be aware, too, that this is National Shove Yer Granny Off the Bus Week. Coming soon . . . National Stay Off The Wine Gums Week.

Afterwords . .

. . . Touched, so I am, over the concern expressed by my readers about my welfare in these troublesome times. No, I've not had swine flu. I did, though, have bacon flu and I've been cured.