The only book I had in my school bag that was interesting to me was The Winter Kings by Ivor Herbert… its the only book that seemed to make any sense.

Some time after leaving school I actually got to speak to Ivor Herbert (only once) and asked him why Charlie Mallon was recorded as the trainer of 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Linwell instead of himself (Ivor)… he told me that because he was a journalist he couldn’t hold a licence to train so Charlie Mallon, who was Ivor Herbert’s Head Lad, held the licence for him… he added that being a journalist was in conflict of interests with being a trainer… I suppose most people know that story but at the time I didn’t and it was Ivor Herbert who told me the reason why.

“The Winter King’s” and this is the actual book that went to Adams School, Wem with me every day (along with a letter to Fred Winter asking if I could have some work experience at his Uplands yard, which never got sent because I went to The Dukes instead)… 40+ years ago

… it cost 30 shillings new and strangely enough it was published in 1968, the year I was born.