EURO/UK TOUR 2025 | Part 6

MONDAY, JUNE 23

Wimbledon is buzzing in the build-up to the All-England Grand Slam tournament which starts next Sunday. From Wimbledon High Street in The Borough of Merton to Southfields in adjoining Wandsworth, the Wimbledon colours are everywhere, and there are staff – and some players – at shops, restaurants and pubs. Wimbledon is our home for the next four nights as our Euro/England trip draws to a close.

We have been staying at Faversham in the 14thC Sun Inn. The lady who comes to service our room is from Inniskillin in Northern Ireland while the chap who serves breakfast is from County Antrim. We get a train from the Kent brewing town to London’s Victoria Station before the getting the Tube to Southfields. Our Airbnb is in a terrace house with the owners living upstairs. The husband is ex-Army, and an ex-rugby union player, married to a lady of Peruvian descent. He greets us wearing a Sinai diving t-shirt. Their 15-year-old son is part of the Saracens Rugby Union Academy.

Marie and I explore Wimbledon Park which was home to Streatham and Mitcham Rugby League Club in the 1930s. A billboard in the park points out that match opponents included Rochdale Hornets from Lancashire who were accompanied by their most famous fan, singer, Gracie Fields. Streatham and Mitcham were backed by rich property developer, Sydney Parkes who signed two former All Blacks – George Nepia and Charlie Smith. The stadium closed in 1955. Next stop is the Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon, and Australians feature prominently given our rich tennis history. Next stop is Wimbledon High Street and a drink at The Dog and Gun – 18 pounds if you don’t mind, for a beer and a glass of house wine.

Learn of the passing of former New South Wales winger, Don Pascoe and former Western Suburbs Sydney and Penrith winger, Russell Mullins. Queensland Rugby League contributor, Michael Nunn has a Q & A with former Souths Magpies’ Indigenous forward, Richo Hill. Richo, one of my favourite players because of his tremendous skill with the ball, said he watched Scooby Doo as part of a pre-game ritual.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton Sports Centre is an amazing, somewhat sobering experience – so many tennis hopefuls doing their best to climb the ladder. Watching them prepare meticulously for matches, knowing full well the odds are against them, makes you realise the international tennis scene is not all glitz and glamour. Here and at Ilkley in Yorkshire, we have seen competitors arrive and leave by public transport.

Marie and I arrive at Roehampton by walking across Putney and Wimbledon Commons, with a morning tea stop at the Windmill Cafe. Walking through a rough area of Roehampton is not something I would like to repeat after dark. On arrival at the tennis we head for Show Court One where Australia’s (former Russian) player, Daria Saville is playing a Hungarian. I hate to say it, but “Dasher’ doesn’t really have a dig and goes out in straight sets. Marie and I have one drink before leaving, and they are out of Camden Ale, so I have to settle for a Stella, while Marie tucks into a cider. Staff at the tennis are all so friendly.

We get a bus back to Wimbledon, passing Rosslyn Park Rugby Union club where future Australian rugby league Test fullback, Ken Thornett played in 1959-60 while on a working holiday in London. In his book ‘Tackling Rugby’, Thornett – who had come from Sydney union club, Randwick – said the standard of club rugby union in England did not impress him. He signed with Leeds Rugby League after four months in London, and worked as a wool sorter in Joseph Dawson’s Woolen Mills in Bradford. These days London Broncos Rugby League use Rosslyn Park as a training base. On the bus a lovely Asian lass offers me her seat. It’s funny, there was a column in the Daily Mail today, written by a 71-year-old (12 months younger than me) who said he started to realise he was ‘getting on’ when people offered him their seats on public transport. In Wimbledon High Street we enjoy drinks at the Rose and Crown, before having an Indian meal. Not bad, although my lamb is as tough as an old boot.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25

At appropriately named ‘Drop Shot’ Cafe there are IBM chaps having their caffeine hit before heading to Wimbledon to set-up for the All-England tournament. Marie and I watch ‘Changing of the Guard’ from The Mall, standing beside a tour group from Daytona Beach in Florida. Some of their comments are – well – what you might expect from Yank tourists on their first visit to London – almost child like.

Walk through St James Park to Houses of Parliament where there are anti-Brexit and pro-Palestine demonstrators, with a Brexit protester playing loud music. In St Stephens’ pub we are forced to stand, things are so busy, and, like us, most of the patrons are tourists. But we are joined by a local couple who have been married 51 years, after meeting when they worked at the Greater London Authority. He is of Polish descent, while she has Irish roots (maiden name Coffey). They express their displeasure at the way former Conservative Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher disbanded the authority in favor of smaller councils. They also are critical of London Mayor, Sadiq Khan and his green policies. They had to crush their perfectly good Ford and buy an hybrid vehicle, otherwise they faced a 12 pounds 50p daily travel bill. We also chat to American chaps, one from Mississippi, the other from Alabama, although he has lived in the UK for five years after previously residing in Germany.

We enjoy a Ploughman’s lunch at the Clarence Pub, sitting beside a keen photographer who is involved with the Naval Cadets and supports West Ham. From Westminster we head to Trafalgar Square, then The Tower of London, followed by Monument (to the Great Fire). A chap of West Indian extraction gives up his seat for me on the Tube back to Southfields. Gad. I really am showing my age. Marie and I have one drink each (Cider and Camden Ale respectively) in the Old Fields Pub (11 pounds 30p) while watching tennis, only to have a rough looking mob of blokes convince bar staff to change channels so they can watch England v Netherlands under-21 soccer. It seems like it’s always soccer season over here.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

Coffee with my London based fellow rugby league scribe, Steve Mascord at Drop Shot. One of Steve’s many roles is work for a British radio station which broadcasts nothing but rugby league. They take Sydney Radio station 2GB’s feed of NRL games, and use North Queensland based commentator, Jason ‘Costo’ Costigan to call some Super League games off TV. Jason is calling three games this weekend, including the Central West Grand Final in Barcaldine. Steve, who will go to Hull for Rovers’ game against Warrington, said it can be difficult calling games outside Super League when it’s hard to identify players by sight. He recalls the BBC’s Ray French calling a French club game between Pia and Carcassonne and getting the teams the wrong way round. Steve did the same thing calling a Widnes v London Broncos game, because the sides changed their advertised playing strips. Steve and his Irish wife (from Clonmel) are off to Wembley tonight to see Guns and Roses.

In keeping with the rugby league theme, Marie and I attend ‘Tina The Musical’ at Aldwych Theatre in Covent Garden. When the talented lass playing Tina sings ‘Simply the Best’ at the end of the show I keep waiting for images of rugby league heroes like Andrew Ettingshausen, Cliff Lyons and Allan Langer to appear on the big screen behind the stage given the song is best known in Australia for its backing to rugby league promotions. We had had lunch at the Prince of Wales pub where a listless barmaid (with tatts and a ring in her nose – not that there is anything wrong with that) informs me the real ale taps have shut down. Lager it is. After the show we visit our last London pub on this trip – the White Lion – followed by excellent Thai meal at a nearby restaurant.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

Goodbye England. We fly from Heathrow to Singapore. French wine is advertised on the drinks list, but there is none, which is pretty slack, given we are in Business Class. Have to settle for an Australian red with my meal. I can get it any time.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Our daughter, Melanie meets us at Singapore Airport. After checking into our hotel we explore the immediate area, starting with morning tea at Little Farms, which boasts lots of Australian and New Zealand produce. There is a street sausage sizzle outside the Australian owned Butcher Box. In the evening we visit Melanie’s friends, Kristy (ex Wavell High) and Matt (ex-Uk) before dining at the home of two more friends, Sarah Daly (ex-workmate of Melanie’s and now an Employee Experience Director) and husband, Brendan, a hotel group G-M. They are brilliant company, as is their son, Henry, who is wearing the Italian Football Team’s  shirt. Our BBQ steak is excellent as is the red wine. Can’t forget the chocolate pudding, which also hits the spot. Brendan attended Riverview College in Sydney. Sarah is ex-Castle Hill and supports the Parramatta Eels. Dinner is interrupted by a fly over by Singapore Air Force, practising for Independence Day celebrations.

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

Our tour of Fort Canning’s ‘Battlebox’ World War II bunker is excellent. One can just imagination the thoughts running through the minds of those in the bunker as they realised Singapore was about to fall to the Japanese in 1942. Marie’s Uncle, Ray Geraghty from Casino, who was honoured for his bravery, was executed by the Japanese. He was just 17. My uncle, Les Kelly from Lismore, was captured and spent three and a half years as a POW. I read about our former Australian Prime, John Gorton, a pilot who was shot down by the Japanese and badly injured. He was evacuated from Singapore on the merchant vessel Derrymore, but it was torpedoed and he had to be rescued by the HMAS Ballarat.

From Fort Canning we walk to the Boomerang Bar on the banks of Singapore River. The St Kilda v Freemantle AFL game has its devotees, while at our end of the bar it is the Cowboys v Titans from the NRL. There is a large group of dedicated Cowboys’ supporters near us and they leave elated that the Cowboys got away with a narrow win. A cab delivers us at Jumbo Seafood at Marina Bay Sands, and the obligatory chilli mud-crab is our choice from the menu.

Leatn of the passing of former Tweed Shire Council Clerk, Ron Spence, aged 102. I covered many Tweed Shire Council meetings at Murwillumbah during my time at the Daily News (1971-75) when he was deputy shire clerk. He was distinguished man and always willing to help a battling young journo. There has been a shark attack at Cabarita Beach, with the shark following rescuers to shore. I was a surf life saver at Cabarita for a few years in the early 1970s. I recall one shark sighting, with one of our members – I have a feeling it was Bill Rabjones – sent out on a surf ski to chasse it away.

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