Ibbo, a friend who knew so many sporting greats
“Organised brawls could turn fans’ aggression in a peaceful direction and would serve as an example for English fans, who are undisciplined louts and poor fighters” “It’s called a wrap-up smear. You make up something. Then you have the press write about it. And then you say, ‘everybody is writing about this charge’. It’s a tool of an authoritarian” - US House leader Nancy Pelosi on President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that ex-President Barack Obama had his telephone tapped during the election campaign. “Donald Trump is making me gain weight. I start the day with liquids, but after the morning news, I eat pancakes smothered in maple syrup!” DEREK Ibbotson was one of the most positive people I have ever known.
As a former England Squash Junior No.1 and captain of the England team, Derek helped me with my off court training in a considerable way. As a world class competitor, I learnt many things from him and there was never a time when he would turn down my request to go training.
Of course he always had to win but that was OK since It meant I was the fittest junior squash player in the country and it kept Derek happy.
In 1976 I accompanied him to the Montreal Olympics where he was working for Puma the sportswear manufacturer. He readily introduced me to many sporting heroes: Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the “black power” saluters at the Mexico Olympics, Bob Beamon, the long jump world record holder, Teofilo Stevenson, the three-times Olympic gold heavyweight boxing champion to name but a few.
Everyone seemed to know Derek but I was forever grateful that he took me under his wing and looked after me in a paternal way. Derek was always having famous athletes to stay and train with him. We trained with Ian McCafferty, the Scottish 5,000 metre champion, just before the Munich Olympics, who would runround Greenhead Park where Derek and I waited at the last 200 metres to out run him but never did. Raelene Boyle, the Australian double silver Olympic 100 and 200 metre champion, was another regular visitor to the Ibbotson Training Ranch. At one stage Derek was chairman of squash at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. For one match he drove a