In September I had to attend the AGM of ELTEC
(East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council), and it became something of a duty when
I found out the venue was to be that other neighbouring ground, Ewood Park (dare I say
that name here)?
Of course I decided to wear the most Claret and
Blue tie I had, on the principle that I could not enter that place without making it clear
where my loyalties lay. It was the limited edition Wembley ‘94 version, just to
remind them that we’ve won at Wembley more recently than they have. I also wore my
London Supporters badge.
My older daughter, Carol, said that I really
should wear my Claret and Blue scarf, but I felt that was a bit too much for an MP!
The main item on the agenda was a forty minute
keynote address on ‘Industrial Competitiveness in East Lancashire’, being given
by Kevin Smith, the Managing Director of British Aerospace Defence Ltd, having sites at
Warton and Salmesbury.
When he rose to give his speech he began by
stating that he had had three injections in order to come to Ewood Park, as he was a
lifelong supporter of the Clarets. This genuine managing director then went on to say that
he could never face his father again if he stood in the boardrooms of Ewood Park without
wearing his Claret and Blue scarf.
At this point he promptly pulled out the scarf
and put it on, and went on to give his whole forty minute speech wearing his scarf. He
also had a Clarets cap set before him which he said he had worn at Wembley, but he chose
not to wear this purely on the grounds that it was warm and we were inside!
It just goes to show that Ewood Park will always
play a part in bringing out the best of true Clarets pride... and of course we can all
have room to reflect on their misfortunes in the European Cup!
Peter Pike MP (with thanks to
Jane Pike)
October-November 1995
