I saw this today, a quote from John Waters the wacky film director
“The only insult I’ve ever received in my adult life was when someone asked me, “Do you have a hobby?” A HOBBY?! DO I LOOK LIKE A FUCKING DABBLER?!”
As a child I was desperate to have a hobby. It seemed to define everything you needed, to be thought clever or at least worthy of inclusion in my family. My parents had hobbies, my brother had more hobbies than molecules but me… nope, none. I think my parents saw a hobby as a way to get me to stop asking them, as children do, to join in some make believe game. My brother was self contained and I was needy; he had hobbies and I didn’t. Quod erat demonstrandum.
But the Archaeologist, bless him, had no time for sport. Hated it. Despised it. When he won a full scholarship to public school (I didn’t; let’s not go there) he had to have all sorts of sports kit. 8 years later when he left for uni I’m pretty sure my mother took it all back still in its original wrapping.
Since I discovered sport I’ve loved ever stupid, pointless, exhilarating, heart stopping, muscle tearing moment. It hasn’t exactly defined me but ask me about a year and I’ll tell you how England got on at cricket first and then move onto, say, my wedding or the birth of a child.
I was reminded of this at the weekend as I visited Wells. a picturesque cathedral city in the West Country with the Vet as part of some Mother’s Day shenanigans for the Textiliste. While the two ladies were arguing about cardigans I say this long bronze metal strip on the pavement and approached to see what it was.
Mary Rand. She’s it. My earliest sporting memory alongside Ann Packer and Lynn Davies. But it is the long jump in a world record by Mary Rand that sticks out.
I was 7 at the time of the Tokyo Olympics and had no clue what they were but I caught something of the fever that surrounds British successes. Dad shhed when the radio news came on, waiting on a sports bulletin. He smiled broadly for something that made little sense to me then. There was a grainy black and white photo of Mary in the paper, hair flying, leading with her small black shoes. Was she friendly or austere; funny or serious; chatty or monosyllabic? No idea she was just a hero who inspired me. More than the World Cup winners 2 years later, more than the cricketers from 1968 onwards when I found the sport of gods.
And today it was brought home to me again.
I played a tiny part in a local preservation project that came to fruition after 7 long tiring years for the committed team behind it.
The Herne Hill Velodrome hides behind residential houses a mile away from my home.
can’t see it, can you?
there you go…
It first hosted track cycling in 1891 and was the site of the first event at the 1948 London Olympics. Bradley Wiggins, our most decorated Olympian started his track cycling career here and countless others learn about the joys of the bike here today.
600 yards! How old fashioned!
and now looking lovely..
In the late 80s and early 90s it nearly closed and it was only the proximity of the 2012 Games in London that stimulated the renaissance.
Starting with raising funds to relay the then condemned track the Friends went on to install floodlights, build a training track for small children and today open a magnificent new pavilion and changing rooms.
They even managed to include some of the original pavilion’s features.
60,000 people use the facilities now, including disabled riders and those with special needs. Many schools use it. Because the banking is not the vertiginous 45 degrees of an Olympic velodrome but a more manageable 30; because it is outside and made of tarmac not wood; because it encourages participation for 2 to 92 – truly it is open to all.
Me? I did some of the initial legal grunt until I put down my quill and handed on the baton but it was others today getting the plaudits rightly. And others, young and old, being inspired to a love of sport. There’s a lot to recommend it.
TanGental 
I don’t know what to say about that read other than it was profoundly satisfying 🙂 ! Thank you.
I am 2 years older and know of Ann Packer now but, like you, I did pick up on Mary Rand and Lynn Davies as my first memorable sportspeople, and also Cassius Clay (then) and West Ham United, although I defected to Chelsea in 1969).
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Catsuit Clay stuck when he fought Henry but whether that was the first or second time I’m not sure now. I think West Ham resonated first on the Big Match about 1968. And Chelsea with the Leeds Fa cup final on a beach when I thought Ian Hutchinson awesome. Mick Jones and Eddie grey too come to that.
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Hutch, my hero!
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and well done to all re. the revival of the velodrome!
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I’ve just spotted the spell check for cassius coming as catsuit Clay. That would have been an image
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Bravo, Geoff! Sports are my passion, knitting is one of my hobbies, and writing is work (plus passion)!
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Fascinating – but what I really want to know is the outcome of the cardigan discussion.
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Ah well as a mere male I was not privy to that…
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Hah! You mean you couldn’t give a toss about the cardigan debate 🙂
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This was fascinating His Geoffleship !
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Odd how we get to things
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Indeed!
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Apart from cricket, sport leaves me yawning and reaching for an opiate, any opiate…. But give me ‘hobbies’ and I’m avidly interested 🙂 However I do think that little memorial to the long jump is very clever, it would be impressive to look at and to try one’s own jumping ability against – just for a laugh. I would be interested in that momentarily!
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There you go… the seed is there….
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😀 I got so carried away with the thought of doing a long jump, I forgot to mention your velodrome thingy – which I thought was a great community effort. So wonderful that it is a resource for all!
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Mary really could leap, couldn’t she? Always lovely to see an old sport facility being put to good use!
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It is really great and the number of users astonishing
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Wow you know your sport Geoff.. anything to take your mind off cardigan chat!
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Gracious yes. Had that been a hobby – avoiding cardigans – back when I might never gave needed sport
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That discussion, was it anything about cardigan corgis?
I’m with The Archaeologist and loathed sport at school. I’d do anything to get out of it. However, I do enjoy watching the odd bit of games, but if it clashes with anything like Dr.Who, then it’s no contest.
Nice tour and great to read about the hidden gems in your society, Geoff.
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Ah yes a few jewelsfor sure
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The velodrome is a fantastic facility! Wow!
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It’s going to go from strength to strength
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Such a good read, a post that includes the past, the prevent and even the future of the importance of sport in your life.
I did think, for a millisecond, when I saw the entrance to the velodrome between the houses that it was no more, and that it had become a car park or supermarket. I’m so glad that isn’t the case!
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Ow, that would have been dreadful. Happily not the case
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I love to read a post like this, where I’m right there, ooh, thank you for letting us tag along. Dropped by from Suzie’s #BigUpYourBlog #SocialSaturday but always glad to be here. Hope this weekend treats you kindly.
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Thanks a lot Donna. It’s been v relaxing…
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I love the way you all rallied to keep the Velodrome.
I am not that good at sports, sadly! 🙂
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It was worth doing
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