The Nottingham connection

No, this is not about Robin Hood, nor is it a conspiracy story, nor anything to do with old boys’ networking.

I was once told when working in a client’s office in Worksop, in the Midlands, that the people used to greet each other, ‘Morning duck (pronounced dook)!’ Not sure if they still do, nor if they did that in Nottingham.

In Yorkshire, in the old days, people greeted each other ‘Ebagum!’ and this was pointed out when Mugabe first came into the international scene some 30 years ago. Notice that it was spelt backwards from Mugabe!

Few days ago, a congratulatory advertisement placed by The University of Nottingham caught my eyes. The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and CEO Malaysia Campus… “are delighted that a distinguished alumnus of ours is now leading the nation.”

Another very high profile alumnus is our Sultan of Perak, who had been the Agong of Malaysia. The university is certainly well connected with the VVIPs of Malaysia, which explained their decision in setting up a campus here.

Under very normal circumstances, certainly not when discussing about the change in Perak government, if and when Sultan of Perak gets to chat with Najib, I am sure they have lots of things in common to talk about, being alumni of the University.

The university’s UK campus is often used by the Malaysian Students’ Department for various student societies’ events, like games and talks by visiting politicians. Coaches are provided to facilitate students from all over the UK to attend. Our then Sports Minister and Deputy Prime Minister were known to encourage such events, no expenses spared, to the extent of planning a sports complex in Brickendonbury!

I have fond memories of Nottingham because I used to write letters to my ex-classmate who would have been a contemporary of Najib, give or take a year.

I can still remember Florence Boot Hall, her hall of residence, because years later, I spent a few nights there taking part in a company in-house seminar. I presume Florence Boot was related to Boots, which has its headquarters in Nottingham.

My wife taught in a school in Nottingham for a year before taking up Dietetics in London. While in Nottingham she got to know my classmate better (before my time) and as fated, she was introduced to me just weeks after I arrived in Leeds in late 1973, when she was doing her six-month practical in St. James’s Hospital! 5 years later, our son was born in the same hospital!

(I am driven to write because some of the stories are meant for my children who would be reading them for the first time. Gone are the days when I could tell stories to them sitting in front me)

Hey, I almost forgot, my wife is an old pupil of Sultan Yussuf School, Batu Gajah, where our Sultan had his early education!
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