Robin Cook Dies

Blimey, i was just reading on the BBC website that he had been taken ill. Switched websites and saw this. I always thought he was a bit of an oddbod, but as he was a racing fan I'll let him off.
 
Desperate news. A top man and a great ally to racing. One of the few racing politicians not in the pockets of the Big 3. Will be sorely missed.
 
Originally posted by Diminuendo@Aug 6 2005, 07:07 PM
Ardross did you get rid of Merlins thread and put my reply in here. That doesn't look too clever does it?
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DIM its o/k I posted mine a minute after this was posted so I did not see it as such.....

Must be stacks of R/C ... but no this is the horse loving EX CABINET MINISTER.. Dim who resigned after Blair said he was going to war and backing the yanks and the weapons of mass destruction etc etc........
 
Originally posted by Diminuendo@Aug 6 2005, 07:17 PM
Merlin I know who Robin Cook is.
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ho I could have sworn(BOLLIX :lol: ) I read an inquiry... is there another R/C may be I am seeing things ?????? :P :P I'VE had a hard day today!!!.......... :o

He was one of the very few that actually told the truth in this Labour party............R.I.P. ROBIN............
 
Very sad news. I saw him once at Ascot. He always seemed like such a nice chap too.
 
I met him once on a train north from Cheltenham that was going to Edinburgh and we sat opposite each other. He rang the airport from his mobile about a flight and was quite bashful when the operator who answered from the airline - asked whether he was " the Robin Cook " and that she wanted to tell him that she agreed with him about Iraq . I was pleased to able to tell him that I agreed with him too and we had a chat about whether Jair du Cochet would get round in the Gold Cup ( sadly of course he never had the chance )- it was Pillar day 2004 just before Alan died .


Terribly sad for Labour . The party's conscience
 
Very, very sad news. We could do with a few more politicians who follow their conscience as he did over Iraq. And a few more who appreciate the racing, too..
 
Couldn't agree with you more, Muttley, he was very impressive over the last year, and had, in my view, made up all the ground he lost with his earlier "ethical foreign policy" debacle.

He'll be genuinely missed in racing as well as in the political life of this country and Europe.
 
His speech in the Irag debate in March 2003 was that of a great parliamentarian. I hear that apparently McCririck was interviewed about him and very emotional and upset as although they were poles apart politically they were great pals.
 
Very sad news , I liked him and I agreed with his stance on Iraq . Amazing how life can pull a fast one on you . He was n't old . Very sorry for his family
 
Given his love of racing, it was a strange coincidence that he should die while walking on Ben Stack, eponymous Champion Chase hero of the early Sixties.
 
Tribute from Sporting Life

Racing has paid tribute to former Labour Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who died today after collapsing on a Scottish mountain.

Mr Cook, 59, was a staunch fan of the Turf and often represented racing's interests in political decision-making. He was also a regular contributor to the Racing Post in recent years.

Martin Broughton, chairman of the British Horseracing Board, said: "It is a true loss for racing.

"It was great to have someone of such an emanate standing in public life as a passionate supporter of racing and he was a terrific ally over the years.

"Robin was always ready to share a view, and be entertaining when sharing those views, but equally very serious when it was called for.

"Our sport has lost a true friend."

Channel 4 and At The Races pundit John McCririck was a close friend.

He said: "It is so hard to use the word 'was' about Robin. He was at Glorious Goodwood last week and we had a long chat then. It is so hard to believe.

"I am a right-wing Tory and he was on the left of the Labour party and we used to have some wonderful arguments together. There was never any bitterness and it is very hard to do that when you are so diverse in your opinions.

"He was great fun and had a terrific wit. He was a mate and he loved horse racing. He loved jumps racing far more than the Flat and he would always walk around the course at Aintree on Grand National day.

"He took a very keen interest in racing politics and there is absolutely no doubt that it was Robin who did more than anyone to initially start the campaign that prevented Ladbrokes taking over Coral in the late 1990s. He was the first to bring up how wrong it would be.

"He would have been a fantastic chairman of the British Horseracing Board. He would have been independent, impartial and would have brought all the sides together.

"He was so intellectually stimulating and your brain came alive when you were with him."
 
As McCririck suggests, he was no friend of the Big 3. They are one (probably the only one) racing constituent who will not miss him. I think that says it all about the man.
 
Homer's 2 post pretty much cover my thoughts.

I remember when the tories were in power some tabloid told him he had been voted the ugliest politician to which he replied "Ah yes, there's a lot of failing eyesight about since the government abolished the free eye test". :lol:

A top man.
 
Originally posted by Honest Tom@Aug 6 2005, 09:47 PM


I remember when the tories were in power some tabloid told him he had been voted the ugliest politician to which he replied "Ah yes, there's a lot of failing eyesight about since the government abolished the free eye test". :lol:

A top man.
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:lol:

I had the privilege to meet the great man a few times and he genuinely did have the common man's interests as heart. He was also someone who was prepared to change his mind if you put a well constructed point to him. He was an intellect but open minded. The punter only has Alex Salmond left now in Parliament. Meanwhile the Big 3 have an army of so-called 'racing' politicians ready to jump when required.

We really have lost one of the good guys.
 
Originally posted by Honest Tom@Aug 6 2005, 10:47 PM
Homer's 2 post pretty much cover my thoughts.

I remember when the tories were in power some tabloid told him he had been voted the ugliest politician to which he replied "Ah yes, there's a lot of failing eyesight about since the government abolished the free eye test". :lol:

A top man.
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:lol: :lol: TOM
 
Ugly, but straight-talking and had all my respect for his stance on Iraq. 59, no age at all to be popping off, poor bugger. Alex Salmond visited Brighton racecourse shortly after I'd started working there and bought my 80-odd year-old colleague and me a nice drink after racing. Very straight, too, he seemed, and anyone who isn't too snooty-boots to buy mere raceday staff a wee drinkie is also high on my Respect List.
 
A rare breed in today's political arena. What's all this 'ugly' business? When a man says something like that about, say, Margaret Beckett, he gets slaughtered for being sexist and irrelevant.
 
The timing of his tragic death could be seen by some as eye brow raising. He was due in parliament next week to give a talk on Iraq. I am sure the conspiracy theories will soon start circulating if they haven't already.

I thought he was a razor sharp politician with an amazingly dry sense of humour. I respected him immensely when he stepped down over Iraq. There were rumours he was due to return back to the front benches soon too.

RIP Robin and condolences to his wife Gaynor, and his family and friends.
 
Sad news & a shock too - I was channel-flicking when I came across the news that he was ill & it wasn't long before the news filtered through that he had died. It always seems more of a shock when someone who is still relatively young & physically active dies suddenly like this, condolences to his family & friends. Robin Cook was good for racing as well, it was good to have someone in the Government fighting for the good of racing.
 
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