Clare McDermott

Clare and I covered boxing together at the 1962 Asian Games in Djakarta. He would watch one match and then write his report while I did the next match. Indonesian schoolboys hired as runners by our team leader, the redoubtable David Chipp, would then dash with our copy to the transmission centre. Clare gave me a tip which proved useful on boxing reporting assignments in the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and Italy - how to use your typewriter’s case as a helmet when bottles and other missiles start raining down on the ring. I doubt if today’s flimsy laptop cases would offer the same degree of protection. ■