TOP 100 SPORT SITES
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| Cesc FÃ bregas declares open season Arsenal redrew the landscape of the Barclays Premier League, perhaps for the rest of the season, with a stunning second-half display against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium yesterday that propelled them to a deserved 3-0 victory. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
FA Cup live: commentary on all today's third round games For all today's scores and scorers, go to our Match Tracker service. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Fox Sports to televise Rampage games State Farm has agreed to serve as title sponsor for the Lone Star Faceoff, an inaugural intrastate series of American Hockey League games between the San Antonio Rampage, Houston Aeros and Texas Stars. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Victor Levitt obituary My father, Victor Levitt, who has died aged 91, will be remembered by those active in leftwing politics in north London before the second world war; at least two generations of schoolchildren whom he taught to swim; and many swimming coaches and teachers.He was born at the London hospital, now the Royal London hospital, in east London, to Jewish parents. By this time, his mother was in her mid-40s and suffering from ill health. His brother Fred had been born in Ukraine 18 years earlier, and a sister had died at 13. Another brother, Henry, was born in England in 1911 and became a leading trade union general secretary. The death of his father, when Vic was only 14, was made more bearable by Fred and his wife Rachel taking on responsibility for the family.In his teens Vic was politically active. He joined the Communist party and became a leading acolyte. His voice was heard almost daily at Spouters' Corner in Wood Green, north London, from the early 1930s onwards. He took part in anti-fascist demonstrations and was at the Cable Street riots in east London in 1936.Vic married Joclyn, my mother, four days after war was declared in September 1939, and he joined the RAF three days later. He passed a series of tests demonstrating outstanding aptitude as a potential pilot, but was repeatedly thwarted because of his activist history.Only after the MP for Wood Green asked questions on three occasions in parliament was Vic allowed to proceed to pilot training. He qualified among the elite at the RAF College, Cranwell, as a pilot and, unusually, also as a navigator. He ended the war as an instructor at Cranwell.Vic later qualified as a teacher. A passionate swimmer and born organiser, he persuaded the local council to create the new post of swimming teacher for the schools in Edmonton, north London, and to keep open the then Knights Lane swimming baths during the winter.The Edmonton swimming club was soon formed, as well as free summer holiday "learn to swim" campaigns for the public. Vic was also one of the founder members of the British Olympic Swimming Coaches Association. In 1970, he was appointed Hertfordshire county advisory teacher for swimming and he moved to St Albans.He retired in 1977 due to failing eyesight, but he and Joclyn kept busy with many local activities. They were members of the St Albans architectural and archaeological society. Vic was also a member of the St Albans probus club, for retired professional and businessmen, and of the Chiltern RAF aircrew association.When he was in his mid-80s, and registered blind, he researched and dictated his autobiography. It has just been privately published, aptly entitled Time to Call a Halt.I survive him, as do his daughters Freya and Vicki (we all became teachers), eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.TeachingSwimmingguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Martin Johnson insists Europe failings will not hurt England Martin Johnson warned against writing off England's RBS Six Nations title chances just because English clubs have struggled in Europe this season. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |