Meeting Jimmy McGregor
In our rooftop restaurant at Pacific Quay this morning I spotted Tony Currie talking to (another) broadcasting legend. It was none other than Jimmy McGregor. He's been in recording material for one of our new audio zones (details soon) but I took the opportunity to shake his hand and say hello. I also asked him if he was still walking the hills.
"Yes, " he said, "but the trouble isn't getting up the hills, it's getting back down again."
He explained that gravity tended to put a greater strain on his joints.
I told him the story of a friend who once sprained her ankle at the top of Ben Hope and discovered that the only way she could make it back down again was to walk backwards. It was either that or calling the emergency services and she was just too embarrassed to do that.
Jimmy seemed quite astonished by this story and sympathised with my friend because he knows that Ben Hope is a fair old climb. He seemed equally astonished when I told him that I had immediately sold this story to the Daily Record. This was in my early days as a journalist when I had little cash and few scruples.
"Shy Scots lass walks backwards down a mountain," I explained, "it was too good to resist."
