WHILE watching gymnastics at the London Games, and seeing former Olympians in attendance, I was reminded of two instructors at the Army School of Physical Training, which I attended in 1957.

I decided to check on the web for more recent history. I could find nothing on Nick Stuart but the other, Dick Gradley, appears to be a local celebrity – still rowing with the York Rowing Club at 80 years of age. How come I haven’t read about him in The Press – surely he is well worth a mention?

I wish I had owned a video camera in those days. When these two demonstrated how not to perform when in the boxing ring, acting as seconds, it was better than any slapstick comedy I have seen on television in all the years since.

Happy memories, Dick.

Ken Barnes, North View, Catterton, Tadcaster .

Editor’s note: We did indeed run a story about Dick Gradley back in March, when he turned 80, as the file picture reproduced here shows.