With the death just announced of Olympian and World’s Strongest Man Geoff Capes I recall being in an almost box sized room with him alongside 1966 World Cup hero Martin Peters and renowned England opening batsman cricketer Colin Milburn.
All three huge sporting heroes of that time were in Clacton to chat to holidaymakers or coach kids at Butlins where I had a six month stint as a press officer.
Geoff arrived in a huge car but when he climbed out at 6 feet five inches tall and 25 stone plus for me to greet him his size made his car appear like a mini fortunate to have fit him in it at all!
At the time I recall it was like meeting Popeye’s adversary Bluto.
Colin Milburn an opener for Northants and his country, was a great sport and character and enjoyed a bevy or two. I propped up a bar one night with him before he went on stage to sing ‘Green Green Grass of Home,’ with the bar’s resident drums and organist. But before that he would perform his party trick.
He’d been in a serious car smash and lost an eye, which cost him his cricketing career. The Big Fella would take out his glass eye lay it on the bar and await the mixed reaction. There was always much hilarity..