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Graeme Obree
Last week I went to see _The Flying Scotsman_, and I've just finished
reading Obree's autobiography. I thought the film was a little simple-minded, particularly about his mental illness, but it was moving and warm-hearted and painted a sympathetic portrait of a troubled man. The book is not going to win the author any literary prizes, but it's very honest and clearly Obree's own voice (rather than that of some back-page tabloid ghost-writing hack). He has an odd trait of using a distinctive word or phrase in successive sentences, as though he felt he had not quite finished the job of wrestling it onto the page. It's not unlike his own struggle with his achievements, and the feeling that anything he attained remained elusive all the same. He is frank and utterly unself-pitying, even when writing about the bleakest times. I can't actually say I read the book with enjoyment, which seems a too-frivolous word. But I warmed to him greatly, and his openness and straightforwardness attest to the same courage that accompanied him on his often desperate endeavours on the track and road. The book ends in 2003, after a series of hospitalisations, and on a quiet note of optimism. I hope he has managed to find the happiness and balance which seems to have eluded him for much of his life, but anyone who has to fight such a cruel illness is never going to attain that easily. It's his birthday on Tuesday; he'll be 43. Happy birthday. Daniele |
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Graeme Obree
D.M. Procida wrote:
Last week I went to see _The Flying Scotsman_, and I've just finished reading Obree's autobiography. I thought the film was a little simple-minded, particularly about his mental illness, but it was moving and warm-hearted and painted a sympathetic portrait of a troubled man. Saw the movie too, and have flagged the book on my "To Read" list. I wondered if he might be better off riding HPVs. The current (IHPVA) Hour record is set by a 49 year old so he's clearly not too past it at 43, and he wouldn't have the Luddites Of Lausanne trying to disqualify him for being different at every turn. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#3
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Graeme Obree
On Sep 10, 5:03 pm, Peter Clinch wrote:
D.M. Procida wrote: Last week I went to see _The Flying Scotsman_, and I've just finished reading Obree's autobiography. I thought the film was a little simple-minded, particularly about his mental illness, but it was moving and warm-hearted and painted a sympathetic portrait of a troubled man. Saw the movie too, and have flagged the book on my "To Read" list. I wondered if he might be better off riding HPVs. Yeah, but you wonder than about everyone :-) James |
#5
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Graeme Obree
He was on the bicycle island recently and the buzz is that he is
going back into training. |
#6
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Graeme Obree
Sandy Morton wrote:
He was on the bicycle island recently and the buzz is that he is going back into training. I was impressed that the Argentine chaps that won the Olympic Madison were older than me, about the same age as GO, so being over 40 is not necessarily a deal-breaker... Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
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Graeme Obree
He passed me in a ten one night (GD10 Westferry) going so fast I
nearly got off cos I thought I'd stopped. |
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