p14,15,16 Trade talk 11/17/08 10:54 AM Page 14
TRADE TALK - Sports Retail
SGB
Sports and Outdoor www.sgb-sports.com
Jack meets…
A man with a Golden Ball
Unlike all the Elvis Presley ‘look-a-likes’ this man, Bob Hope, really is a star in his own right. Jack Lynes,
our man about the trade, hopes that the excitement that Bob engendered when they met will be shared
by all who read his column – and that they will be encouraged to knock again if the first knock does not
open the door.
G
ood news, we know, does not sell newspapers. But as I am free to ‘tell it like it is’ and
cannot be bribed or coerced to do otherwise, I devote this first statement to unstinted
praise of the transport system on the day that I went to see Bob Hope in Newington, Kent.
The train from Victoria was clean, comfortable, exactly on time both departing and
arriving, and the journey smooth. Even the ticket inspector, well mannered, cheerful and smart.
The fare was reasonable too and being the only one to alight, and Bob being the only driver
looking out for the ‘guy from SGB’ we met without any problem and I was soon to see the
surrounding orchards and to reminisce about hop picking and the fact that Bitter was currently
less popular among today’s beer drinkers. Before we reached the warehouse and offices in
Newington, there was a welcome coffee and cake nearby and a
chance to check out the ‘Life before Molten’ of Bob Hope.
Bob (Robert John) was born in Coventry. His
mother was in the WVS and his father a Durham
coal miner and part-time fire fighter. They
lived in a one-room ‘digs’ and he had a
three-mile walk to and from his Primary
school every day. There he was an
enthusiastic player in the cricket and
football teams. Later, aged 11 he went to
Ash Green High School where he took
part in every sports activity, cricket,
badminton, tennis, gymnastics, (he was a
schools international gymnast appearing in
London, Birmingham and Manchester)
trampoline and lest I forget, basketball, the
latter to become an essential party of his story. He
was somewhat less keen on Geography and Science
but proudly claims never to have failed a single exam.
With that, I can empathise. It seems that neither he nor I ever sat
for any. Apart from the occasional caning (ouch!), being regarded, he says, as “a bit of a rogue” at
school, he only turned ‘good guy’ when he was made House Captain and Prefect. Before leaving
school aged 16, he achieved the Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. During his last
14 NOVEMBER 2008
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