GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

my key she did not replace it. She had very, very strict physical discipline. But

I could walk in any one of the six doors in my block of flats in every road or any

one of seven facilities and I had somewhere to go, then I had something to do

and I had someone to show me, that critical someone to show me, something

extended by way of family. I am a product of the community.

I decided that gold medals was not something I was going to pursue. Karate

was not an Olympic sport, it is now. It is amazing how you have ambition and

aspirations. Someone said, “Do you want to go to Tokyo next year?” I said,

“Yes, but I am not going as a commentator, I want to compete”. At 61 every

single one was going, “He is off his rocker”. Hold on that thought. But, do you

know something? It was not until Margaret Thatcher challenged me and she

said, “Don’t moan, because I don’t want to hear it. If you are going to complain,

do something about it” and within two to three weeks (I did not go to their party

conference, no, not me) I did get an appointment letter and it looked at sport in

the inner cities after the riots and myself and Clive Lloyd, Steve Ovett and a

whole host of civil servants and Ministers and business people went up and

down the country and we took evidence, we produced a report and before I

knew it I was now serving in public life.

So once I decided I was not going to run around in circles I decided I was

going to go to Hollywood, B movies. Work that one out! B movies, on the way

to Hollywood, I end up in Manchester, Moss Side. Your chart is always plotted

for you. There is no getting away from it, believe me. I learnt very quickly that

upon having seen those communities and heard the evidence nothing had

happened. Manchester were bidding for an Olympic bid. The software

between young people’s ears is the most powerful brain power they can have.

The late Gordon Richards who dealt with the first post-War disaffection of youth

said 99% of fitness is between the ears. That brain power is so important in

how we are able to cope with life. So many of our young people cannot cope

with life, because they are not a reflection of their society.

This is what you do, this is what you are about. That is why I am here. You

have worked out that young people are important, not only for membership but

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