In Times of Trouble featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “I Look UpTo The Heavens.” recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson

The world is facing very troubled times of which today’s featured song “In Times of Trouble” is a reflection. However, in spite of so much darkness in the world, especially the tragic and horrific images we see of Ukraine, there are still “moments of sunshine” or to quote last week’s song “little bits of heaven keep breaking through.” So, for the next few weeks I want to celebrate some things that have made me smile and realise, despite everything, that there is still so much good in this world.
While Head of PE at Crofton School I tried to encourage an attitude of “play hard but play fair” and for a long time the PE noticeboard displayed a photograph (as featured) of a wonderful piece of sportsmanship by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, now of Top Gear fame, but then an English cricketer. It was back in 2005 when, in the Ashes, “Freddie” famously consoled Brett Lee after he and the Australian team had been narrowly defeated.
And fast forward to 2022 and the Wales v Italy Six Nations Rugby Union match in which Italy won by one point -21- 22. Welsh winger Josh Adams won the “player of the match” award, but he made the wonderful gesture of offering his award to the Italian fullback Ange Capuozzo, whose stunning break in the final minutes of the game led to Italy’s first Six Nations win after 36 straight defeats- they also had not beaten Wales since 2007.
Adams won man of the match for scoring a try which had put Wales 21- 15 ahead and earlier in the game he also made a superb tackle to deny Italy a certain try.
You can see how much x appreciated Adam’s gesture and even though he felt he could not accept the award it was still what the sports media are calling a “classy act of sportsmanship.”

Quote of the week