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Thanks, Orson. I've never heard the phrase used, but know of its existence, though not the subtleties, 'it's..' or just 'not...'.

Re Yorkshire & cricket...
I was working in a hotel in Birmingham in the mid 80s. TThe general manager walked into the bar where I worked and asked me " You like cricket don't you ? " Yes, I said. " So you know what Fred Trueman looks like " Er, yes, I replied, of course. " Good, because he's in room 420 and we need to move him to another room " ! Seemed a very nice bloke.

Hi Malcolm,

I managed to see Fred bowl for Yorks in the mid 60s - I was about 15 and it was the summer holidays. He was nearing the end of his career but still ran in fast - I was pleased to see him play because he was, and still is, a hero of mine.

Fred was born at Scotch Springs Lane, Stainton in the south of the County - I was born just down the road at Sandbeck, in a farm labourer`s cottage on the Earl of Scarbrough`s ( not Scarborough) Estate, not far from Roche Abbey. Mum new the Trueman family and told me they were even `rougher` than we were!
Chris Waters ( Yorkshire Post Cricket writer ) wrote an excellent biography of Fred which gives a good account of his life and character.

Hi tyke
He retired to a little hamlet (not even a village) near us, called Flasby. There's a great bronze statue of him by the canal in Skipton.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g209940-d11403228-Reviews-Freddie_Trueman_Statue-Skipton_North_Yorkshire_England.html

Hi Chrise

I love Skipton - I`ve had a nice drink in the `Woolly Sheep` more than once. This was a few years before the statue - if lockdown ever ends I`ll talk my mates into having a cultural trip to Skipton to see it - we travel by train so no parking/driving problems.

Point of trivia - Fred`s daughter married Raquel Welch`s son, although, sadly, the marriage only lasted a couple of years.

Tyke

I stayed at a hotel in Bolton Abbey, Skipton for a meeting about 25-30 years ago and the staff told us that the marriage had recently taken place. They told me that I had the same room as Raquel. I wasn't sure if they were winding me up, but you have confirmed it. I have always been proud that I have slept in the same bed as Raquel Welch.

Jigjag

I can remember Brian Johnston winding Fred up on TMS about the wedding. I think Fred invited Raquel & family to stay with them for the weekend ( that`s what I call `something for the weekend`) but Raquel`s management team felt she and her entourage might be too large to squeeze into the Trueman residence.

Tyke Jigjag

I wonder how they met - at a cricket match? seems unlikely.

Nice to see clues in Times in the last few days for 20/20, clipper, and spear after discussions here, and Wigan today!

Grunger

It can`t have been easy for Raquel to meet someone as famous as Fred Trueman !

Yes it does seem as though the Forum has an influence on crossword compilers - we had a few interesting posts from `ASetter` I remember.

Tyke

That must have been before I started looking at this thread. I have not noticed anything from "asetter" in recent times, but Jigjag commented the other date that there had been a discussion re a barbers story. That must have been about a year ago.

It was very kind of Jigjag to allow her to share his bed. It was probably a large one. I assume all Yorkshire members were invited, I mean to the wedding not the bed.