Talk of the Town: Sandy let athletes avoid the high jump

IT IS 40 years since Meadowbank opened. Older readers will remember previously there were two sporting arenas on the site, including a cinder athletics track.

In the 1950s and 60s the track was only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making it difficult to train unless you were like Bill Walker, currently head coach of Edinburgh Athletic Club.

Bill, now 72, has been recalling how the Meadowbank caretaker, Sandy Sandford, lived above the changing rooms and was known to turn a blind eye when athletes like himself climbed the perimeter fence to train out of hours – up to a point.

"Sandy was very good in allowing us to break the rules but always made sure the statutory two pence fee for use of the track was charged the next time we showed up on an official training night," said Bill.

Bollywood star surfaces for dad's birthday dinner

BOLLYWOOD Star Shahid Kapoor has been forced to keep his recent visit to the Capital low-key to avoid the adoring fans intent on tracking him down.

As the Evening News reported last week, the 29-year-old Indian superstar visited Edinburgh to scout for possible filming locations for Mausam, which is being directed by his father, Gandhi actor Pankaj Kapoor.

But the father-son pair emerged from hiding to make the day of staff at Amani restaurant in Bernard Street, Leith, when they turned up to celebrate Pankaj's birthday.

Surprised manager Imtiaz Hussain said: "It was an honour to host a special birthday celebratory feast."

In my head, son

SCOTTISH football fans have been warned, albeit indirectly, that the upcoming World Cup could harm their mental health.

Mental wellbeing provider The Priory is concerned that the highs and lows of following England could have genuine impacts.

And while they are concerned England's failure in South Africa could spark widespread depression down south, the same too could apply to Scots if the likes of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard enjoy success. You have been warned.

What really matters

THE implications of Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer's attempted takeover of Hibs 20 years ago, as recalled in our sports pages this week, spread far and wide.

Coinciding with the move was the Scotland rugby tour of New Zealand from where one reporter greeted the shock news, saying: "It's one thing returning to learn that somebody has run off with your wife. But for somebody to run off with your football club is altogether more serious!"