Category Archives: News

Who doesn’t enjoy a Carry On Film?

True, in this modern day they may be a little close to the knuckle with outrageous innuendo and a sprinkling of sexism. The Carry On franchise ran from 1958 – 1992. This British comedy saw 31 films. Produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas, a regular cast of stars included favourites Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtry, Barbara Windsor and Sid James.

One of my favourite films is Carry On At Your Convenience made in 1971. Sid James played Sid Plummer who worked at WC Boggs’ Lavatory factory in a time of industrial action and strikes. I remember the film had a gambling slant as the pet budgie, Joey, had the knack of tipping winning horses until Benny The Bookie (turf accountant) closed his account.

Sid Plummer said: ‘What kind of sportsman are you?’

Benny replied: ‘If I was a sportsman I’d be riding the horse!’

Anyway, it seems Sid James was a gambling man who wasn’t afraid to have a bet.

He loved to bet on the horses.

However, he was a gambling addict and largely unsuccessful. In fact, he lost ten of thousands over his lifetime. He was so prone to a bet that he asked his agent Michael Sullivan not to tell his wife how much he was earning so she wouldn’t know about his gambling losses.

In fact, James was notoriously tight-fisted because he was often in debt or looking to bet on the next ‘sure thing’.

He also loved to drink whisky and favourite brand Cutty Sark. By all accounts, it was his favourite because it was free!

Often referred to as a gentleman who loved the three ‘Bs’: Booze, Birds and Betting.

It was known that James would look for the next ‘bung’ and cash in hand to keep it from the tax man or suspicious wife. To get free cases of scotch he’d place brands on set or add unscripted mentions in broadcasts.

Sid James starred in 20 Carry On films.

He passed away on 26^th April 1976 aged 62.

After winning such a huge amount of money, many EuroMillions jackpot winners decide to remain anonymous, and the Weirs certainly considered doing the same, but if no one knew where their funding came from, sharing the blessings with others would be difficult.

With their average incomes, Colin and Chris lived a modest lifestyle during the majority of their marriage in the early 1980s but as a result of their big win, they will have now have savings that will last their entire lives, allowing them to spend as much money as they want – and also have extra for helping others.

In July, 2012, Chris realized that every single number on their EuroMillions ticket matched the results she found online. After calling Colin to double-check, she realized she hadn’t made a mistake. Knowing the fact that everything was going to change overnight, the couple talked about their win all night long.

Taking their winning lottery ticket to the lottery office the next morning, they collected nearly a quarter of a billion dollars – an amount that was unimaginable for them. All the locals ran to the store where the Weirs purchased their ticket after their story was published in the press, so they could try for their own chance at a successful win.

They retired from their jobs after devoting nearly twenty-four years each to their jobs shortly after collecting their fortunes.

They planned to visit China, Australia, Thailand, and Cambodia soon after winning and Colin purchased a box in the soccer stadium in Barcelona after their win. For now, Chris is content with their two-bedroom house in the quaint town of Redstone, but she does dream of building a second home in an exotic location though her heart will always belong to Largs, Scotland, where she and her husband lived in their first house.

 

 

Raised in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Oisin Murphy is the nephew of Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Jim Culloty. A graduate from the pony racing circuit, he became apprenticed to Andrew Balding in October, 2012, at the age of 17. In his first full season, Murphy rode 41 winners, including a four-timer on Ayr Gold Cup Day, which brought him to the attention of the wider racing public.

In 2014, Murphy rode 78 winners, including his first Group winner, Hot Streak, in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and won the apprentice jockeys’ championship. In his next four seasons, he rode 91, 115, 127 and 198 winners, having become number one jockey for Qatar Racing in 2016, before winning the Flat jockeys’ championship for the first time in 2019 with 168 winners, and riding 220 winners in the calendar year. He retained his title in 2020, riding 142 winners in a curtailed championship programme. Still only 25, Murphy already has 18 Group 1, or Grade 1, wins to his name, including the 2020 2,000 Guineas on Kameko.

For all his success, Murphy has fallen foul of the authorities more than once during his career. In June, 2019, he was barred from riding at a Salisbury fixture after failing a racecourse breathalyser and received a caution at a disciplinary hearing the following month. In November, 2020, Murphy received a riding ban – initially six months, but later reduced to three – from France Galop after testing positive for cocaine at Chantilly the previous July.