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young dudes [girls too but mainly dudes] without focus or direction. If you're lucky maybe you'll find a mentor. This is my first in a series on mentors.

My brother Mike had a small soiree in Glasgow last year to celebrate his 58th birthday. He publicly thanked me for teaching him how to play cricket.It changed his life.

Whe I was 13 we heard that our school was going to have a new head of our history department. A guy called Bob Crampsey.

We all knew of him as an excellent Tv sports broadcaster and former BBC Brain of Britain. Nobody knew he was ex RAF and a master of history. I sttll have 4 years of history notes from his classes with Latin & French quotations and references. He taught us European culture - especially French and Latin. Hmmm I got a half French son...

Occasioally he'd take a Saturday off to coach our cricket team. He was always helpful and wise - told me I couldn't wear a red pullover on a cricket pitch even if I was the fastest and least accurate Catholic bowler in Glasgow

I'll always remember how amazed he was to catch me reading Vassilos Vassilikos political thriller 'Z'.

He was funny, clever and inspiring. In teaching Tai Chi I still follow his precepts. It ain't just about the physical - you need history & language too.