I am the son of the interviewer, my late father Anthony Clare, and I have never heard this recording. So I want to thank you so much for uploading this. It is appreciated more than you can know.
Hi Sebastian. I didn't know him personally but your dad was a great broadcaster and, judged solely by his work on this programme, a very likable and interesting guy. Do you know that apart from another two or three on RU-vid there are 29 of these programmes to be had on iTunes? All great.
Well put, Fin - my father (and mother, for that matter) were from a rather 'West British' social milieu, and so cricket was not particularly alien to them. As a child my dad collected cricket annuals, and he used to play cricket with me when I was growing up too. Indeed, experiencing the Ashes of 2005 with him is one of my cherished memories. He would have been very proud to see Ireland beat England in the 2011 World Cup, and even prouder still to see us become a Test nation.
He died way too young, which must have been a terrible shock to all. Since finding these 'Chair' eps on iTunes I've worked my way through them all twice and will continue to repeat. Good as it is that the programme should be memorialised in this way, it's a shame they can't upload everything they have. I remember some classic ones that aren't included. Something reassuringly sane about that voice and intelligence that rivets me every time, which is of course the mark of the great sound broadcaster. Power to you.
+ Sebastian Clare ... Hi Sebastian. Was listening tonight to a podcast in which your dad popped up in a cameo role. Are you familiar with the Elaine O'Hara case?
I've always wanted to hear this. Geoffrey is quite unexpectedly forthcoming here but I'm sure he inadvertently reveals one of his greatest weaknesses as a captain. Dr. Clare suggested that being a good captain involved getting the best out of the "troops he was given" instead of the troops he wanted. Geoffrey said straight away "Well I didn't want them...". I thought that spoke volumes.
A very good point that. I have nothing but admiration for Sir Geoffrey and can fully understand why he says that he is misunderstood but you make a great point regarding what might be his own understanding of one his own weaknesses and why is was perhaps as not as good as a leader as some of the leaders he criticises who understood the importance of getting the best out of all those that they were actually leading.
Fantastic sparring between the two. Feel like ive gone ten rounds. Thought Sir Geoffrey gave a very good account of himself and much of what subsequenlty happned inh is life is in keeping with his approahc to life outlined here.
I think some people enjoy disliking Geoff boycott, I doubt he cares, and he's no worse than the rest of us to be honest, of course he's not perfect, and can come over as a difficult person, but what a batsman, I like geoffrey boycott, sorry to you boycott haters!
interesting upload. always liked Boyc's and relate to him a lot. really respect Anthony Clare too. i feel AC possibly went a bit too abrasive with him too early on and got him on the defensive. it'd be interesting what with all the more modern mental health stuff and labels like ADHD, OCD and autism to know which of these Boycs had. i've only found out relatively late in life about my slight autism (aspergers) . parts of that i can see in Boyc's. he's quite right about the straight talking stuff being interpreted as rude. the extra subtlety is that "normal" people might pick up on the visual clues or "social cues" that people were offended and would stop or tone them down, whereas people like GB or me wouldn't. it's not surprising he's then on the defensive, fed up of being accused of being rude.
Presumably the wonderful Dr Clare didn't know what an epic womaniser Boycott was. This fact, given how Boycott replies when Dr Clare touches on the subject of women, indicates, to me anyway, that Boycott was playing with him here.
