Conkers

A couple of weeks ago I had a communication through Friends Reunited from one Danny Wallace - broadcaster, author, journalist, one-time flatmate of Dave Gorman and apparently, former schoolmate. He said he had something very important to tell me, and could I please email him. So, not without a little trepidation (the last time this happened the something very important was the news that a close friend I’d lost touch with had passed on), I dropped him a line.

This is what he sent me:

This is how the Loughborough Echo reported the final of the Holywell School Conker Championship in 1987.

CONKED OUT!

Delayed by other events, the annual conker championship at Holywell Primary School, Loughborough, between finalists Timothy Sismey and Daniel Wallace was declared a draw when, after thirty ‘strikes’ each, both boys had registered the same number of hits

As you well know, this was not actually the case. You won, and I came second. Your conker beat my conker (Brutus). You won a 24-pack of Toffifee and I merely got 8. It was patently the case that you were the true winner that day.

This is just another example of the media twisting a story to make it fit their own agenda.

It is time the truth was told.

I have written a letter to Andy Rush, editor of the Loughborough Echo, asking him to point out their mistake in the next edition, and add it to their list of corrections. Soon people will know of your victory.

I can only apologise for not having done this sooner. I trust the matter is now closed and we need never mention it again.

On a day when I was feeling more than a little fed up, this bit of silliness genuinely made me smile.

Posted on 01.25.07 to Life. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. One comment. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.