Listened to others project proposals then given the opportunity to talk about mine.
Told you before about the 'Age' thing, and when I mentioned it to son David on the way home last week he said I must meet Ron.
Ron Pankhurst is David's swimming coach, legendary in those circles. What's more, Ron is the same age as me. Born in '34; eighty one now and still active. 'Still' is one of those adverbs that I hate using and hate others using: "you still taking pictures?" they ask, "you still doing this, doing that......". As if you should have closed down by now, parked in some home, smiling blankly at each visitor before asking them to repeat what they've just said. "Hearing isn't what it was" you apologise, so they have to repeat that you've forgotten to do up your flies again.
Volunteer Ron coaches Salisbury Stingrays Masters' swimming team at Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury, the team that has won Wiltshire County Championship title five times in the past seven years, with cups and medals galore, and individual successes in both men and women events. The weekly training sessions at the Pool are invariably well attended, a tribute to the group's dedication.
I talked to Ron. Humorous man; caring, knowing. Spent a lifetime as an engineer. He listened to me, generally agreeing but modifying here and there.
We took some pictures, with Ron pointing out photo opportunities in the swimming lanes, modestly allotting emphasis on his people rather than himself.
We'll get lots of good pictures; shots of Ron at the pool, Ron at home, Ron in my studio, Ron flower arranging (he does that too), Ron being husband, father, grandad, friend, neighbour, pal. Ron being Ron.
Looking forward to that.
Must get a picture of Ron for you.
JB
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