We were about to give up when we found the real Hurst at the Swan

MY knowledge of motor racing is so poor that I know more about Benny Hill than I do about Damon Hill. I’ve never liked driving fast, even before the potholes of Bucks made it impossible for anyone to go more than three miles an hour around here without breaking their car. However, I had the privilege of being pictured with Damon, the one-time Formula One world champion, when he was special guest at the Bucks Enterprise Awards in Marlow last Thursday. He seemed like a nice chap, although I wisely decided against engaging him in conversation about motorsport of which I know less than nothing. Call me an egomaniac if you like, but this photo has prompted me to begin a campaign to get into the Guinness Book of Records for collecting photos of myself with as many world champions as possible. So far, I haven’t got that many, but it’s an impressive list, which also includes:

• Former world boxing champ John Conteh, who I also met at the same business awards ceremony in Marlow when he was the star guest two years ago. We chatted about the sport, in particular my dad’s successful RAF boxing career, and I must say that John seemed suitably impressed;
• Olympic gold medallist Seb Coe, who I met at another business ceremony in Wycombe several years ago. For some reason, which I can no longer recall, I was the one giving the speech while the soon-to-be Lordship watched in the background. I got a special kick out of this because I used to be called Seb at school (honest) after my pals shortened Cohen to Coe;
• British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champion Henry Cooper who I met about a million years ago when I was a reporter in Slough at some kind of factory event. Strictly speaking, Sir Henry was not a world champ in his sport, but a) he once knocked down Cassius Clay in the ring and b) his ‘splash it all over’ after-shave commercials would probably have won some kind of world championships for cheesy adverts;
• Soccer legend Geoff Hurst, who scored the hat-trick which won England the World Cup in 1966. Sir Geoff took part in a Star stunt in 1996 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of our cup win after I had tried to form a team of readers who shared the surname with the 1966 side. I was able to join this side because of full back George Cohen, and we found every other surname apart from Hurst. We were about to give up when we found that the real Hurst was actually performing a show at the Wycombe Swan. He came onside with us for a bizarre front page picture in aid of charity.
• Can anyone beat my record of being pictured with world champions? Email me at scohen@london.newsquest.co.uk or the Star, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, HP10 9TY.

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