Allan Herron

[Terry]

I am reading a book on the Faces & it refers to(on Page 332) a very expensive phone link Rod Stewart made to a certain Allan Herron from the U S to Hampden Park to receive live commentary on the World Cup Qualifier against Czechoslovakia in 1974.Is it this forums AH?

[Rob W]

No, our Heron has one 'r' not two.  Which is true, but of course could be the very same, though since 1999 when we all met, you'd think this would have leaked.

Mind you, having accompanied Heron with one 'r' to the Jags, he does spend a considerable amount of time on his phone;-)

[Allan Heron]

Allan Herron was a very well known sports journalist in Scotland, and I was often asked when I was younger if I was him.  If it was an attractive young woman and I thought a positive answer might assist, I would happily fib. 

I was at a funeral a couple of years ago and we found ourselves sitting to this elderly gentleman and my wife was chatting to him.  I heard her say "Oh, my husband's called Allan Heron too".  It was the self-same journalist so I was able to say hello.  He didn't mention Rod Stewart and I didn't mention his occasional assist in my love life 

[Rob W]

It's going to be one hell of a shock when your Mrs finds out that after all these years, she's been married to the wrong fella 

[Mark Oakley]

When I first migrated to Dorset from Manchester to handle PR for the Poole-based Sea LIfe Centre network - there was a Mark Oakley covering Bournemouth FC for the local Echo! As I had only recently crossed the forbidden bridge from jouirnalism into PR, my boss was convinced I was moonlighting every Saturday afternoon. And when my namesake moved to work in Paris some six months later and someone else's by-line appeared on match reports no amount of persuasion would convince my boss that this was not simply a result of her finally burdening me with too much work.
My boss's name was Alex Pike by the way....and other subsequent colleagues have included a Fisher, Fish, Crabbe and even a Turbot!

[Arjayay]

..... no amount of persuasion would convince my boss that this was not simply a result of her finally burdening me with too much work.

I don't follow - Why would you want to convince your boss that she had not given you too much work ??

[Rob W]

Oakers. Forgive me for correcting a journalist, albeit an ex journalist. But

It's not Bournemouth FC. Never has been. Since 1971 or thereabouts, it's been AFC Bournemouth. Prior to that, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. The Cherries have been my second team since 1966.

Are journalists, who should be the masters of the English language, allowed to begin a sentence with 'and'?

And... referencing names,  my real favourite footy team, recently in the squad had two Popes and a Bishop

Well that passed a couple of minutes until Coronation St starts. That's Coronation St, modern day Shakespeare.  Yes it is. Honestly 

[rockprof]

Arj, I think the boss was convinced our Oakers was the other Oakers, and our Oakers couldn't convince her he wasn't the other Oakers...on the subject of having other peoples names, I have the misfortune of sharing that of Lennon's assassin. If there are any Dr Crippens or Fred Wests among us, I think its time to speak up.... 

[Barry Island]

Speaking of namesakes I had the embarrassment of having to explain that I was not Ian Donaldson the white supremacist frontman of Skrewdriver! I know it isn't nice to speak ill of the dead but he was not someone I wanted to be associated with in any way, shape or form so, as you can imagine I was mortified and changed my name to Barry Island in recognition of the resort being the first place I ever got served in a pub!

[Mike Morgan]

Oakers. Forgive me for correcting a journalist, albeit an ex journalist. But

It's not Bournemouth FC. Never has been. Since 1971 or thereabouts, it's been AFC Bournemouth. Prior to that, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. The Cherries have been my second team since 1966.

Are journalists, who should be the masters of the English language, allowed to begin a sentence with 'and'?

And... referencing names,  my real favourite footy team, recently in the squad had two Popes and a Bishop

Well that passed a couple of minutes until Coronation St starts. That's Coronation St, modern day Shakespeare.  Yes it is. Honestly 

Second team! Hang your head in shame Rob!

[Rob W]

Mikey, when I say second team, I mean a team I take an interest in. I want them to beat whoever they are playing unless either it's us, or it benefits us if they lose. Absolutely no loyalty whatsoever. I bleed White and Royal Blue blood as does my lad.

I rest my case M'lud 

[Mark Oakley]

Are journalists, who should be the masters of the English language, allowed to begin a sentence with 'and'?

Depends on the medium somewhat...but they are actually. 'But' too, good journalism being more to do with using common vernacular than adhering to strict grammatical rules.