Kindness shown by another McClaren

The sad death of veteran BBC rugby commentator Bill McLaren brought back memories for Toby Greenwood, senior partner at solicitors Cooper Son & Caldecott in West Street, Henley.

He recalls visiting a friend in Hong Kong about 15 years ago and spent one night watching the horse racing at the Sha Tin course.

He was sitting next to Bill’s wife, Bette, who was unsure about how to lay a bet. Being a gentleman, Toby obliged and spent the evening running back and forth between the bookies and Mrs McLaren.

During one conversation, Toby mentioned that his son Nicholas’ favourite player was Scotland full-back Gavin Hastings. Two weeks later, an envelope addressed to Nicholas landed on Toby’s doormat. Inside was a signed photo of Hastings - courtesy, of course, of Mrs McLaren.

Incidentally, McLaren had many fine moments at the microphone but one of my all-time favourites was his description of All Black Jonah Lomu: “I’m no hod carrier, but I would be laying bricks if he was running at me.”