FRR’S favorite Pro Team

As much as FRR loves his Indian Pale Ale[IPA] those basque boys love their [IPO] , still my favorite team

Spot the difference

A great new double act the George and Cadel show

As its Robbie Burns week have a nice plate of Haggis,Neeps and Tatties

The Peugeot Touraine ready for the am commute

Giving the lights a once over

The Sarecen Ventoux fitted with new Continental city ride puncture resistant tyres

The FRR bat cave

Bill McLaren a true son of Hawick and my first P.E. teacher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S617AieOPJo&feature=related

Bill McLaren to retire from the BBC

 

 

The Voice of Rugby – the legendary commentator Bill McLaren – will retire from commentary on Network BBC at the end of this year’s Six Nations championships after 50 years of service. His final commentary on BBC Network will be the Wales v Scotland game on Saturday 6 April, and for BBC Scotland, the Melrose Sevens on Saturday 13 April.Bill is the only non-player to be invested into International Rugby’s Hall of Fame, and has chosen to commentate on all of Scotland’s games this year.

Peter Salmon, Head of BBC Sport said: “Bill McLaren is a national sporting treasure. His knowledge of rugby union is unsurpassed. His love of the sport is undeniable. His first BBC contract was as a ‘speaker’ – the notion of match commentary hadn’t even been invented. BBC Sport and the whole of rugby union will miss him, and his record of 50 years may never be beaten. He has set records and standards, and we wish him and all his family a very happy future.”

Former Wales International for both rugby union and rugby league, and now BBC analyst, Jonathan Davies said: “When I was a youngster watching rugby on television, Bill was the voice. When I was playing for Wales, Bill was commentating on me. Now I’ve gone full circle and all of a sudden found myself commentating with him. I can’t believe it. It’s an honour and a privilege to work with someone who puts so much hard work and dedication into their preparation. He’s an incredible man, and to top it all, he’s a real gentleman.”

Gavin Hastings, former Scotland International said: “Bill has been a wonderful advert for rugby, and even non-followers recognise his voice immediately. Bill doesn’t realise what a big star he is. His line, ‘A day out of Hawick is a day wasted’, sums up the man; he is humble and generous. There is no doubt that he will be a great loss to the BBC, but also to rugby as a whole. He has a lot of fans all over the world and it must be a great comfort to take that forward into retirement.”

Bill McLaren was born in Hawick, Scotland in 1923. He was a devoted rugby player until he contracted TB while serving in Italy during the war. After the war he studied Physical Education in Aberdeen, which he went on to teach. It was through his junior reporting with the Hawick Express that he launched himself into a career of commentary, first on BBC Radio and then BBC Television.

In 1951, Bill auditioned at BBC Scotland to become a commentator. His first live commentary on a game was between old rivals Glasgow and Edinburgh in 1952. Internationally, he covered Scotland v Wales in 1953.

Although the commentating was keeping him busy, Bill continued to teach PE as well as coaching several rugby players, some of whom went on to play for Scotland – Jim Renwick, Colin Deans, Tony Stanger and Alister Campbell. Bill retired from teaching in 1987.

His most memorable sporting moments include watching his son-in-law, Alan Lawson, scoring two tries for Scotland against England in 1976, and Scotland beating England to take the Grand Slam title in 1990.

Although retiring from commentary Bill is completing a television series on The History of the Barbarians, and will do occasional reports for Rugby Special when it re-launches on 7 March. For profile and quotes on Bill McLaren, and audio commentary by the best-known voice in rugby, log on to www.bbc.co.uk/rugbyunion.

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Sad to here of Mr Maclaren’s death last week, he will always be Mr Maclaren to me as he was my first P.E. teacher and in some way gave me the love of sport. My dad and uncle played for Hawick Rugby Club in the 60’s my dad played prop, my uncle hooker, when i first met the great man his first question to me was ” Which Barker are you Stewies boy or Sams boy” like my dad and uncle he put me in the forwards, i played flank forward and terrorised the oposition scrum half and stand off.

To listen to his final interview on u/tube go to

BILL McLAREN – THE FINAL INTERVIEW PART 1

You have to smile

A long chain cycle however no flag is needed with this one. 

Light up the sky!

The Twit with the hat

 Mr John ‘Biffo Prescott  former deputy Prime Minister  wears a   cycle helmet to launch the 1997 transport policy, what good did you do Mr 2 Jags Prescott