Manchester born Albert Scanlon
Played
115 games for United
Scoring
34 goals as an outside left
He was one of the “Busby Babes”
Who sustained severe injuries
Following the Munich air disaster
It was a long road to recovery
And didn’t play until the next season
But
the injuries took their toll
When Debbie guided the Sloop into the mooring Daryn
jumped off onto the jetty and secured the boat fore and aft and then took
Debbie’s hand and helped her off.
“I really enjoyed that” he said
“Me too” she concurred and that was the moment when
they were face to face in the evening sunshine when he could have kissed her,
he wanted to, and she wanted him to, so before he lost his nerve, he kissed
her.
“That was wonderful” Debbie said “But…”
“There’s a but?” he retorted
“Unfortunately yes” she confirmed
“Oh,
there’s someone else” he
“No,”
she said emphatically
“What
then?”
“I’m just desperate for a pee” Debbie replied,
and they both laughed, then he grabbed her hand and ran down the jetty.
“Not
too fast” she giggled “I’ll wet myself”
After
she’d relieved herself in the Marina Lavatory and tidied her hair and makeup
she reappeared and found Daryn sitting on a capstan.
“Better?”
he asked
“Much”
she replied with a giggle
“I
thought we could eat at L'uccello Canto, if that’s ok with you” he said
“Absolutely,
that’s my favourite restaurant” she enthused and put her arm through his.
It
was dark when they left the restaurant after they had enjoyed an excellent meal
and a glass or two of wine and as they walked along the promenade he asked
“Did
you have a pee before we left the restaurant?”
“Yes,
why?”
“Because
I want to kiss you again” he said as he turned to face her
“And
I don’t want any interruptions”
“Oh
ok” she responded and then he kissed her in the moonlight, a prolonged and
passionate kiss which led to them making love that night aboard the Sea Nymph
in Sharpington Marina.
They started the next morning by making love again
before walking into Sharpington for breakfast, so it was midmorning by the time
they set sail and as the wind was against them it was a much slower crossing,
but they were happy with that, as they stood side by side at the helm.
It was late afternoon when they navigated their way
into the mouth of the Spanish River and while she was manoeuvring the sloop
alongside the quay, he received a text from Adam Jandrell.
“How would you like to go to dinner tonight?” He
asked
“I thought you were getting the last ferry” she
replied
“I was”
“But you’re not now?” she asked hopefully
“No, I’m staying another night” he replied
“So are you on for dinner?”
“Of course I am” she said and hugged him
“And if you play your cards right you could stay for
breakfast” he added
“Now you’re talking” she said and kissed him
After mooring the Sea Nymph they walked hand in hand
down the tow path to the carpark and shared a goodbye kiss.
Debbie was rushing home to clean herself up and get
into a posh frock ready for their dinner date, and her best underwear for
afters.
Over dinner he explained why he was staying on the
island for the extra night, it was because he was meeting with Project Manager
Adam Jandrell on Monday morning about some stonemasonry work on St Clara’s
Church.
“And you know what that means?” he said, and she
just looked at him blankly
“It means I’m going to be spending more time on the
islands” he said, and a smile played around her mouth
“How much more?” she asked suspiciously
“Months” he replied, and the smile spread over her
face
That night they made love in the comfort of a
four-poster bed at the Beaumont Manor Hotel, which felt like a special
celebration of their developing relationship which was now a burgeoning love.
The next day they said a very special goodbye in his
room before they went their separate ways, Debbie to Roman Water Farm and Daryn
to Spaniards Creek for his significant
meeting with Adam Jandrell on the site on the west of the river.
On the first Friday in May, Daryn Goldsmith was in
Spaniards Creek to perform the final inspection on the eastern Spanish River
site.
He was a stonemason by trade but doubled up as the
Islands Building inspector, which was scarcely even a part time occupation.
He
was forty-eight years old and was widowed, and on his first visit to the
island, fifty-year-old farmer Debbie Wilson reversed her car into his in the
Stephenson’s Supermarket carpark.
She
was deeply apologetic and insisted on exchanging details, even though he was
satisfied there was no damage.
Later
that day she phoned him and offered to buy him a coffee on the pretence of an
apology.
In
truth she wanted some romance back in her life whether out of desperation or
loneliness, so had decided to dip her toe back in the water and begin dating
and she saw the accident as providence.
So
they met at the Galleon Coffee shop in Spaniards Creek and made a very strong connection,
and apart from being attracted to each other they also discovered a shared love
of sailing.
They
had subsequently met for coffee or lunch every time he was on the island for an
inspection and a few more when he had just made the trip to see her.
However
they hadn’t really gone beyond the friendship phase even though there was a
distinct romantic vibe going on.
On the upcoming weekend, they both hoped that would
change, but he didn’t get to see her on Friday as she had a full day on the
farm, so he did all of his inspections and even had time to take a look around
the Church,
The Vicar even agreed to let him go up in the bell
tower so he could have a look at the masonry and spent a very pleasant hour in
conversation with her.
On Friday night he stayed at the Beaumont Manor and
after a healthy breakfast he drove down to Spaniards Creek and parked close to
the river and followed the tow path to where “The Sea Nymph”
was moored.
It was a 30ft Masthead
Sloop, wooden hulled and built on the island in 1934, but as beautiful as the
boat was, he thought the owner was even more so, when he caught sight of her
working on the boat.
Debbie’s
was a very tall and striking looking woman, with the sun illuminating her long
ginger hair, and he was greeted by her radiant smiling freckled face.
She was not as smartly dressed as usual, and was
sporting a pair of boating shoes, cut off denim shorts and a white T-Shirt.
“Come aboard” Debbie said and flashed him another
smile.
Once aboard they exchanged a kiss on the cheek, and
she said
“Stow your bag below, and you can help me get her
ready to sail”
“Aye aye skipper” he retorted “I’ll change into my
shorts while I’m down there, I feel a bit overdressed”
“Don’t be long though” Debbie responded
“You’re looking really good by the way” he added
just before he went below.
When he reappeared, he helped her prepare for
departure, he was an experienced sailor, so he knew what he was doing, he just
hadn’t sailed since before his wife got ill.
He cast off and jumped back aboard as she steered
away from the quay
“Here
put this on” she said offering him a bright orange buoyancy aid, and as they
got into the channel, she put one on herself.
It
was a beautiful bright morning, sunny with a light breeze, and after she raised
the sail, he watched her deftly handle the boat getting the
most out of the breeze until they were racing along and they virtually had the seas
to themselves apart from a couple of other vessels, a ferry and the Water Taxi.
He had missed sailing, he didn’t realise how much
until he was out on the sloop with Debbie, and the scenery was quietly
spectacular, and it was quite exhilarating with the wind blowing through his
brown hair and the spray cooling his face, and of course there was a gorgeous
woman at the helm with her ginger main streaming behind her.
All of a sudden, she turned to look at him and
smiled as if she knew what he was thinking, and she said
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yes, very much” he replied unsure what she was
referring to.
“Would you like to have a go?” she asked
“Can I?” he asked
Although the sloop was old it was supremely graceful
in the water, and it handled beautifully
So they stood shoulder to shoulder as the Sea Nymph
glided across the bay but then about an hour later the wind died away.
“Why don’t we put into Sharpington Marina for the
night” Debbie suggested.
“Good idea” he said, “But only if I can take you to
dinner”
“You’re on”
George Reginald Cohen MBE (22 October 1939 – 23 December 2022)
George Cohen was a one-club
player
Playing 459 games
at right back for Fulham
He will also be
forever immortalized
For winning the
World Cup with England in 1966
In which he played
in every minute
Of his country's six
games,
For which he was
inducted into
The English
Football Hall of Fame
England Manager, Sir
Alf Ramsey
Unequivocally called
Cohen
“England's
greatest right-back”,
While Manchester
United winger
George Best, claimed
he was
“The best
full-back I ever played against”.
His life was not
all glory however
He had more than
his fair share of illness and injury
And personal
tragedy in his life
But he was a true English
sporting hero
(31 December 1933 - 2 July 2024)
On hearing about
his passing
A statement from
United read:
“There were few
more perceptive
And precise
passers of a football
In England than Jeff
Whitefoot
During the
mid-1950s”
In April 1950,
Aged 16 years and
105 days,
Jeff Whitefoot debuted
as one
Of the original
Busby Babes,
A team that, in
the 1950s,
Took the First
Division by storm
Known for its youth
And exciting football
Under legendary
manager
Sir Matt Busby.
Jeff Whitefoot won
two
First Division
titles
As one of the Babes
In 1952 and 1956
He transferred to Grimsby
At the end of
1957.
Three months
before the
Munich air
disaster,
Which claimed the
lives
Of eight of his former
teammates.
How do you explain
Without science
fluff
What Ice is, to a child?
just say its Skid stuff!
Here comes a snowman
On blades of steel
Ice-skating across
the lake
He’s a snowmobile
HARRY GREGG OBE - (27th October 1932 – 16th February 2020)
Go now Harry
Lay down your keepers’
gloves
You’ve earned your
rest
Our tower of strength
Straight backed
Rugged and dependable
Hero of Munich
Take your place
Among your equals
And be at peace
Your strong facade
Oft betrayed
By sadness in your
eyes
The sadness of
survival
So, go now Harry
And join the Babes
The band of brothers
You’ve missed so much
And take your place
Among immortals
In the wake of tragedy
Harry Gregg arose
From the snow
And twisted wreckage
With no thought of
himself
Pulled survivors
From the burning plane
Assisted latterly
By Bill Foulkes,
Another heroic figure.
Though Harry thought
His actions
unremarkable
On that cold February
day
George best, said of
him
“Bravery is one thing,
But what Harry did
Was about more than
bravery,
It was about goodness”
Now the Hero of Munich
Has left us to mourn
his passing
As he has gone to join
the Babes
But he lives on in the
legend
It’s a Merry Christmas
If you didn’t know
Santa has delivered
An early Ho Ho Ho
We can again put on
An attacking show
Now Jose’s been given
The old heave ho
