Goodbye Mediba.......

Sad is perhaps the wrong word Arena, but I know what you mean.

Like you I regret the passing of a fine and unique man. His legacy will I trust far outlive any of us.

I was in the crowd at Twickenham on the last tour the Springboks made before all sporting links were blocked. I remember Tariq Ali and his supporters caused as much disruption as they could. We had flares thrown onto the pitch and I think (though cant quite remember) broken glass as well. But as rugby fans we where sat, mixed with S African supporters with not an iota of trouble or friction between us.

Like you I was bitterly opposed to Apartheid but genuinely felt that cutting all sporting ties was the wrong approach.

I was also very surprised that Mandela was ever let out of prison. The situation in S Africa at that time was so volatile that I feared one side or the other would kill him, then blame the others which would have caused a massive blood bath.

I was actually invited to open an office in S Africa around that time, a very good job indeed but turned it down as I really did not know which way things would go and was not prepared to risk my very precious family.