THIS ISLAND LIFEWHEN most people make mistakes at work, their failings usually become known only to their superiors and immediate colleagues.
However, when we journalists mess up — which we are liable to at any moment — the evidence is there for thousands (sometimes millions) to see.
I’m not talking about everyday errors in grammar and spelling, which continue to increase by the year in all sorts of publications and remain unforgivable. No, I’m referring to the amusing misprint, the ambiguous headline or the inadvertent double entendre. Show me a journalist who says he or she has never stumbled into one of these elephant traps and I’ll show you a liar.
Even this esteemed organ is not immune and a headline said to have appeared in the Sixties has gone down in Island newspaper folklore. You may recall that, for a few years around that time, the Island hosted an Easter cycling festival. It was a reasonably spectacular event and attracted some of the country’s leading riders.
They were utterly fearless and I remember thinking, while covering the event, the only thing between them and painful excoriation was a lot of luck and a little spandex.
Falls were not uncommon, however, though few suffered the fate which befell one particular rider (whose name escapes me) as he came hurtling down Cowleaze Hill one morning.
He misjudged the bend at the bottom and careered head-first into the pile of aggregate which was always kept there for emergency use in wintry conditions.
He landed in an inelegant heap and, to pile embarrassment upon ignominy, his dentures flew out.
Undeterred, he retrieved them, wiped them on his shirt, replaced them in his mouth and, amazingly, went on to triumph in the race.
The CP headline the following week read: "Cyclist gritted his teeth and rode on to victory."
You have to bear in mind this newspaper was not renowned for its sense of humour in those days, so there was no way the pun was deliberate. Had it been, the editor at the time would certainly have expunged it from his pages without a second thought.
If you enjoy this sort of thing, you may like to turn up at Newclose County Cricket Ground on Thursday, March 18, when I’ll be giving an illustrated talk entitled What I Meant to Say Was…
It will feature a collection of the sort of headlines, misprints, articles and amusing advertisements from all over the country which has made working in newspapers such a pleasure over the years.
The evening, which begins at 7.30pm and includes a fish and chip supper, will cost £10 and all proceeds go towards the upkeep of this marvellous facility.
You can book by ringing 01983 824575. Everyone is welcome.
Will nobody snap up these Jewels in IW crown?
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| The Wight Jewels are ready to challenge the world — with help. |
I TEND to reserve my greatest admiration for those skilled in something I’ve tried my best to accomplish but would be unable to master in a million years.
For this reason, I have nothing but respect for pianists, people who manage to eat oysters without throwing up, cha-cha-cha dancers and those deluded individuals who support Southampton FC rather than that model of economic propriety and commercial acumen — Pompey.
But among those I have always held in the highest esteem are ice-skaters. I’ve tried this perilous pastime twice and neither occasion was considered an unqualified success.
I spent a total time on the ice of approximately 23 seconds — 19 of them on my backside.
This is why I’m delighted to join the chorus of hallelujahs surrounding the achievements of the Wight Jewels, the Island synchronised figure-skating team who are representing Britain in the world championships in Sweden next week.
Just think about that for a moment. A group of Island girls aged between 12 and 17 are so good at what they do they are actually representing their country against the rest of the world.
It’s an accolade so rare it’s unlikely ever to be repeated by another Island sports team — yet they are struggling to find a sponsor.
Even in these straitened times, surely some IW company can see the benefit of being officially associated with these talented young ladies?
Success in sport never comes easy, especially when it is achieved at world level.
The girls are so dedicated they have been known to travel to the nearest international-sized rink at Basingstoke to train at the only available time — between 11pm and 2am!
So what will a generous and far-sighted firm (or individual) get for their money? Well, for a start they will earn the eternal gratitude of the club’s 180 members and hundreds of other associated family and friends.
The Wight Jewels’ profile is sky-high and the potential for sustained success is there because the club has two other younger teams moving up through the ranks.
The least any company or individual will get is success by association, the appreciation of thousands of potential customers throughout the Island — and a big, public thank-you in this corner of the County Press.