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p.j.j.roberts

p.j.j.roberts

Not entirely work-related, but here is a memory... For a few years in the mid-nineties, an annual evening cricket match took place between "Engineering" and the "Rest of City", in Regent's Park. Raoul got wind of the game, and sent me a message asking if he could play for Engineering (I was skipper). Of course, I was delighted and Raoul duly took his place in our side, taking the trouble (and expense) to kit himself out with new immaculate flannels, crisp white shirt and gleaming white boots. I gently enquired what was his strongest suit and very quietly and modestly received the news that he "turned his arm over a bit" This was noted. We batted first and posted a high score. To be honest, we had a few lads who played representative/club cricket so runs piled up rather easily. Can't recall who spanked the runs, they were shared, but to this day I can still remember a Prof from CUBS bowling the widest wide I have ever seen in 60 years of playing, coaching and watching cricket. Our turn to bowl. We quickly started to run through the rather feeble batting of the opposition so before long I tossed the ball to Raoul. He duly obliged, sending down some cunning off-breaks and snaffled last man. VC was absolutely delighted. We adjourned to "The Rocket", our watering hole on the Euston Road. Raoul sportingly got the first shout in (and a couple more I think, the mind is a tad hazy now) and a splendid time late into the night was had by all. The next day at City I was walking along the corridor and bumped into our VC. Our eyes met and there was a smile exchanged - no need for words. On a personal note, in 1996 I received my MBA from the VC at the Guildhall Graduation Ceremony. We shook hands and Raoul whispered in my ear: "not a bad wicket, was it? Congratulations Peter" Priceless. Peter J Roberts City, 1987 -

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