IT’S been a funny old week – one of highs and lows and ups and downs, really. It’s always sad when an old friend passes on and I got a call this week to say Barry Jones had died in St Richard’s Hospice.
You may not know Barry, but take it from me, he was one of the best. If you ever saw Worcester Male Voice Choir over the last 10 years or so, it would be safe to say Barry would be at the front conducting.
His official title was musical director, I believe, and he did a superb job with the choir, which has since been carried on by Nicholas Wright.
When I was first invited to be president of the choir, Barry had taken over as boss and I used to nip into rehearsals at the Bush in St John’s. He always amazed me with his calm exterior and I don’t think I ever saw him lose his temper.
I was in awe of the way he would take every section through a song. At times it didn’t sound great but then it would all come together and sound brilliant.
Barry will be missed by the choir and his many friends but most of all, of course, by his family.
The highs? Well, of course the rugby last Saturday and that first league win for the Warriors this season. I have to say it was very tense until the Warriors got that second try.
Full marks to the lads but also to the crowd at Sixways, who I thought were superb and made lots of noise, got behind the team, and made it a great atmosphere. It was good to see John Brain and I know he appreciated the warm welcome from the Warriors supporters, if not the result.
Six Nations this week so I suspect I may not move far from the telly on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. J P Pledger, grandson of this parish, visited on Monday. We took him swimming, and what great fun we had.
He has to get out of the habit of drinking the water in the pool, as it doesn’t taste nice, probably doesn’t do him good, and in the end will empty the pool
I am writing this on a train, well on a laptop actually as you can’t write on a train, unless you have a can of paint it seems.
I don’t get to go on the rails too often, but I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised the last two or three times I have.
I’m sure those who use it more often than me get very frustrated with the delays and cancellations, but speak as you find, and the service always seems good enough to me.
I bit off rather more than I could chew on Tuesday, when with Slimming Club weigh-in coming up, I decided on a long run round the southern link road.
In my car it doesn’t take long and it appears to be flat, but trust me, it is not flat and is in fact about 46 miles.
* Dave Bradley is BBC Hereford & Worcester sports correspondent.