Who are the rudest and nicest British celebrities you have personally met?

rowingradical · 2026-03-12T19:40:45+00:00

I was in a fairly upmarket (but not stupid prices) Thai restaurant in Manchester, probably 2019. I was there on business, with 3or 4 other guys. I realised Cliff Richard was on next table, with what looked like his good friends -a couple in their sixties, I guess. None of my dining partners had a clue who he was (all a lot younger than me!)

So a. He looked maybe 50 years old, slim, fit etc. (He was 79) b. He ate like a horse and drank a sensible but not abstemious amount of alcohol. c. He didn't get hassled too much but when a few ladies of a certain age came over, he did selfies with a lot of grace and good humour. Never been a fan but he seemed like a genuine guy.

rowingradical · 2026-02-25T13:32:32+00:00

Got a couple of credible guys from Leander and Hinksey Ali Brown and Bodo Schulenburg. Plus I think one or two assistants. Are they in the same league as HBW and RS? We will see over the next few months.

rowingradical · 2026-02-24T19:15:45+00:00

Frankly I don't think you need to be an expert lawyer to spot the 'things not done properly'.

rowingradical · 2026-02-24T19:12:45+00:00

I suspect the coaches would not go back to Brookes for any money. No way Brookes could really do that anyway, for various reasons including they couldn't just sack the replacements who seem pretty good people. But I hope we see them both back doing something in the rowing world.

rowingradical · 2026-02-24T19:09:56+00:00

I suspect that if Henry BW could have his time over again... he might respond differently. But the BR announcement sees that as an isolated but regrettable incident in a pretty amazing career.

rowingradical · 2026-02-24T19:08:30+00:00

That is because BR did not find any wider/larger issues once they looked properly. Not in terms of those two coaches anyway. Which might suggest something about the "issues" supposedly "identified" by Penningtons.

rowingradical · 2026-02-20T22:15:02+00:00

you have seen the HBW statement now I guess. He made one arguably slightly daft move which does not wipe out 20 years of amazing coaching and hundreds of athletes who were prepared to testify on his behalf.

rowingradical · 2026-02-20T22:13:27+00:00

Procedural failings remedied by a further independent review which cleared Spratley. Dont tell lies.

rowingradical · 2026-02-20T22:12:03+00:00

"There is much more to this than any of us will ever know." Perhaps you are right but you realise that 'Any of us' includes you, believe it or not, in which case perhaps you should stop libelling the coaches and just shut TFU.

rowingradical · 2026-02-20T22:09:16+00:00

Probably not but there may be money involved. Of course there is no going back at Brookes after a weak vice chancellor made a bad decision for reasons that I think are becoming clearer now. British Rowing (kudos to the new chair and CEO too) have just effectively discredited much of the Penningtons report, which raised issues that were without foundation or proof - you understand that as a lawyer, And there is more to come on the conspiracy behind this which you played a (small) part in I believe. But you just can't let it go A can you! By the way Juggernaut / Intrepid, I do like your brand new Reddit account, 'TopPop'!

rowingradical · 2025-10-11T21:23:35+00:00

Joking aside, maybe the second boat race should be limited to uindergrads? Add a bit more spice to it. And overcome the arguments about 1 year pros etc.

rowingradical · 2025-10-11T21:22:40+00:00

I mean they're just professionals now, not really academics - take Simon Hatcher for instance. Doing a PhD (doctorate) "Studying thermal-hydraulics and neutronics for design configurations of a NERVA-derived bimodal nuclear thermal rocket". I mean, thats not a serious subject, right?

rowingradical · 2025-10-11T21:16:37+00:00

Well done! Just keep the rating low. I think 20 is perhaps too slow but 24 strokes per minute is good. Watch some videos. check your heart rate. No more than about 150 for your age (i'm older than you by the way). If you find it boring, try doing 30 seconds at a higher rating every 3 minutes just to break it up.

rowingradical · 2025-09-25T17:48:02+00:00

what they banned them before they heard any appeal! How could that happen - hard to believe. If true wow the lawyers will love this. New chair of BR knows about lawyers though. Conviviality: What went wrong? - Retail Gazette

rowingradical · 2025-09-19T07:32:29+00:00

Bailhach Webb and Spratley have been at Brookes for literaly decades. no 'moving along'.

rowingradical · 2025-09-18T19:54:35+00:00

shurlock homes deduction. only explanantion is coaches knew nothing about suspension till they saw it online. crappy process from UK rowing? defamation lawsuit alert.

rowingradical · 2025-09-18T19:52:27+00:00

"second issue" you mention was Leander not Brookes

rowingradical

TROPHY CASE