Ted doesn't live in Wigan now, owd Arbuth, but in Eccles just near me. The documentary was brilliant if only for the line "My name is Ted Edwards. I will not die." And he didn't. Two strokes later he is somewhat reduced but still battling on.

He has problems walking and talking nowadays but still managed to climb the highest point in the Canaries (If I remember rightly) a couple of years back and is still taking on beurocracy by fighting Salford council over stupid planning issues even as we speak!

His book about the Sahara experience - The last oasis - is, IMHO, a masterpiece and the recollections of his solo trek across Iceland, "Fight the wild island" is equally ebthralling. But my lasting memory of Ted will always be standing outside the Duke of York in Eccles one cold wet night, with Ted clothed in flat cap, clogs and full length Arab cape, while a young Bobby made enquiries about a recent spate of car thefts. There must have been half a dozen of us with 'chin warmers' (this was a folk club remember) and the only description Mr Plod had was the perpetrator had a beard! Teds response "and did anyone mention the bat cape?" had everyone, including the policeman, in stitches.

Well, I guess you had to be there...;-)

You can still find Ted around the area - I last heard he frequented the Jazz nights at the Drop Inn in Monton and he still makes the occasional visit to Swinton.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome