What I’d like to do is give an account of two of my own brief meetings with one of the most popular blokes ever to represent my football club, and one of my own all time favourite players. He’s on a canny list with Shearer and Beardsley! I think they both confirm the feelings expressed by so many others about him as a person. My first experience of Pavel was back in around 1992 or 1993. I was working for the North East Ambulance Service at the time, taking patients to and from hospital appointments in Newcastle. A pretty mundane day was unfolding on the way to the RVI to be honest, but it was brightened when I spotted Pavel standing in
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the car park at the old A&E entrance for some reason. I must admit to having no regard for fellow road users or the passengers in my ambulance at this point in time as the danger inherent in slamming on the brakes seemed not to register. Completely star struck, I managed to wind down the window ( no leccy windows in those days man) and stutter a sentence asking if he was alright. Quickly sensing that I was causing mayhem in the entrance to A&E, Pavel quietly,politely and patiently told me he was fine and was just waiting for a friend. By this time car horns were being sounded behind me on Queen Victoria Road,
but Pav took it all in his stride and instantly calmed the situation by giving the people behind that massive smile of his and a thumbs up. Order restored for seconds as the next few cars did the same once they realised who it was! Eventually regaining some semblance of professionalism, I looked back at the bemused faces of my passengers. Expecting harsh words for the hold up I offered the only apology I could...” It’s Pavel man!!”... job done and no complaints about being late for appointments. He had that effect on people. My next encounter was at the height of the entertainers period. Hundreds upon
Anyhow, this didn’t put him off spending a good ten or fifteen minutes with my little nephew and posing for a photo at the end. A small thing, but those few minutes of his time have stayed with both of us all these years later...
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