Rest in Peace El Tel

 

News today that the footballer/manager/author Terry Venables has died. He was the captain and star of the first QPR team I ever followed, then the manager of my beloved team before he was poached by Spanish giants Barcelona. Known for his wit as well as his sporting intelligence, he led the R's to heights they'd not previously reached (an FA Cup Final!). Thank you for all the great memories.

Learn more about his life here.

Venables features, kind of, in a story about my sister's first time at Loftus Road. One of the visiting players on the field had been hit by the ball in a delicate part of his anatomy. The crowd started to chant, "In the balls, in the balls, in the balls!" The young and innocent child looked up at her father with her big blue eyes and asked, "Daddy, what are they saying?" He replied promptly, "they are singing the name of the manager!"

Rabbi Albert H Friedlander z"l

 

Albert doing his best Victor Mature impersonation at Stonehenge in the days when people were allowed to climb all over the stones and touch everything. People often remember his wisdom and his kindness. Also his sense of humour. It had a goofy side, however that maybe was less obvious outside his family life. Today, on the 19th anniversary of his death, I am missing that.

Meanwhile, a previously-unseen shot of us together I recently received from N (including my original panda friend). Focusing on happy memories. 

Buon Compleanno Mamma!

Today Evelyn would have celebrated her 83rd birthday. It's hard to believe that it's already almost 4 years since she left us. I took this photo on her 70th birthday, when we went to a spa in North Wales for a few days. It reminds me that whilst the difficulties of our relationship remain in the past and fade, the work we did together to move forward remains foremost in my memory. I look at this image & feel blessed for what we were able to develop. Buon compleanno Mamma!

 

Happy Memories on Father's Day

Thanks to N, I have a new collection of slides and photos from our family life together. Although for us, as N likes to say, it is Dead Dads Day, I am enjoying looking through them and seeing pics of interactions I don't really remember. Glad for these happy memories!

From One Auntie to Another

Yesterday my beloved Auntie Dorrit z"l would have been 98 years old. She is still part of our lives through the friends we continue to share, the objects in our home that once were hers, and the example she gave of how to be an aunt. This is particularly poignant as I was recently given my first opportunity to be an aunt myself. I hope I will do her proud!

 

It's Albert HaGadol's Birthday Today!

My darling father was born 96 years ago today, as was his beloved brother Charles (also in the pic is their big sister Dorrit and the Friedl hair). My mother used to call him Albertus Magnus, although all he knew of the whereabouts of the Philosopher's Stone was what was written in the Harry Potter books. Since his newborn grandson now shares the name Albert, I thought it fitting to distinguish him thus. Greatly missed and always loved.

Ron Phillips RIP

Was more than saddened to hear the news today that Ron Phillips died recently. As Club Secretary of Queens Park Rangers FC, he had the habit of giving photo passes to aspiring young photographers, and printing their pics if they were decent. As one who benefited from this scheme, Ron had a massive influence on the trajectory of my career, and I will always be grateful for his kindness. 

These pics were taken at the Baron's Court Theatre in 2015 when MP, MH & I interviewed Ron for a fanzine. I wonder if the memoir he showed us will ever be published - he certainly had some great QPR stories. Meanwhile, two particular contributions he made to the club history were the checkered programme covers and the removal of the apostrophe from the club's name. May he rest in peace, and my condolences to his family and friends.

Cheers, Mr Motson!

News just coming through from London that the commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77. That is pretty young these days. I am really sad to hear this - he was such a lovely man. Above I have shared a letter that he wrote to me many years ago. You can see how kind he was. It so happened that we met at the Wimbledon pre-season photoshoot. Mr Motson asked if I would take a pic of him holding the FA Cup (won by Wimbledon the previous season) that he could give to his dad. I said I'd take one of him if he'd take one of me for my dad! The photo of him is in storage, but here is the one he took of me, glorious 1980s hair 'n' all. My condolences to his loved ones, and may he rest in peace.

Vale Vialli

 

Another dead footballer you may say, nu? Gianluca Vialli was certainly a great success in Italy, helping Sampdoria to win its first ever Scudetto, and after a then record transfer fee to move to Juventus, being part of their Serie A winning team as well. Despite his strong link to The Team That Must Not Be Named, he was a speedy and acrobatic player who scored some fantastic goals. So he is, and will always be, part of national and international football history.

Having just watched some of the tributes to Vialli on Italian TV today, I would also say that he was a great communicator off the field throughout his football career, a talent that he was able to transfer to management, and ultimately commentary and punditry.

Vialli's hope, however, was that his fight against the pancreatic cancer that ultimately killed him would inspire others in their own struggles, and give them hope. And this is why I'm writing about him today. His book "Goals:  Inspirational Stories to Help Tackle Life's Challenges", co-written with Gabriele Marcotti & published in 2020, might be of interest to you or a friend.

And if you would like to make a donation for further research into pancreatic cancer:

Pancreatic Cancer UK, Lustgarten Foundation, National Pancreas Foundation (US)

Here are some of his goals for you to watch.

His career details

May he rest in peace & may his memory be a blessing.