YOU grab Sue Barker when you can. That kind of lady and I pounced in London, just before she left for Beijing in the BBC's considerable caravan.
You don't see many interviews with Sue. Recalcitrant she ain't. Not with a smile like that. But she doesn't hang about before briefing interviewers with "I'm a very private person."
Where she'll willingly have a word is when you talk muscular dyst
rophy. She is patron of several sports-related charities but she is "most focused" on MDUK.
It will bring her to Edinburgh as distant as March but prior to embarking on Olympics duty she wanted us to be aware now that, as president of the campaign, she'll come up for the Orchid Ball on March 7 in the Chesser Corn Exchange.
The former Wimbledon star took over the presidency 18 months ago from Dickie Attenborough (now honorary president). "We met by chance. I was sitting next to him at a Chelsea match – I'm not exactly a fan but he's a season ticket holder there – and we got round to the muscular thing, something I've relied on throughout my tennis career, and to this specific charity. Edinburgh's been particularly good for the campaign and, in any case, I've rarely managed to visit the city."
Says Fife-based Alan Noble, organiser of the Orchid Ball from its inception: "The 21st anniversary of the ball falls next year and it will also be the 50th anniversary of the MD Campaign, so we'll have plenty to celebrate come March.
"We raised thousands over the years at the Sheraton and Lord Dickie graced most of them. Sue's ideal for the big night – First Minister Alex Salmond has also accepted our invitation – and, besides, we'll have room for up to 900 at Chesser compared to the Sheraton's 300. We want people to get the date in their diaries now. Meantime they'll get details at 01592 743346."
Afterwords . . .from Sir George Martin, the renowned record producer: "I'm a great believer in humanity. I went to a Frank Sinatra recording in the Fifties. Now, Frank sometimes sang out of tune and he did things that maybe he could have improved. But he sounded great. Some people sing in tune and sound bloody awful. I like a little mistake, a little bit of humanity, and you got that with the Beatles."
Sinatra out of tune! I can't believe it.
The full article contains 407 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
