Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As a not infrequent spectator at Hearts' Tynecastle games in the 1950s, allow me to add to Ivan Ponting's affectionately cheerful obituary of Johnny Hamilton (12 October), writes Tam Dalyell. It was well known in Edinburgh that before each game "Wee Hammy" would fastidiously take out his two plates of false teeth and place them carefully in a tumbler in his locker. This dressing-room ritual was also known to "Tiny" Wharton, the legendary and imposing 6ft 5in international referee.
During a derby match against Hibs, after Hamilton had put in, to use Ponting's phrase, "an energetic shift", Wharton showed a red card and despatched Wee Hammy back to the dressing room after 65 minutes with the words, "Mr Hamilton, the time has now arrived for you to be reunited with your teeth." Off the field trundled Wee Hammy. At a Scottish junior FA lunch some years later, when "Tiny" was my neighbour, I asked him exactly what had occurred. He replied, "To his great credit Wee Hammy went off with a smile, and even the usually taciturn Dave Mackay [who later starred for Spurs] emitted a rare laugh."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments