My view on life by Malcolm Smith

In this feature a series of questions are put to members of the Group and their thoughts are recorded for the benefit/amusement/interest of other members. Everyone is asked the same questions and asked to submit answers either as a sentence or short paragraph

This article features Malcolm Smith

What is your favourite food
Easy one to answer. Curry is my passion closely followed by egg and chips

What is your favourite drink
I like real ales but not particularly strong ones - Pick of the pints at the moment is 'Shropshire Gold' bitter

What do you like most about people
The general decency that people possess - it's there in most of them

What do you like least about people
There are not many of them but I hate and ignore cynics - they have a view on life that seems to prefer finding fault with anything that's good and that can't be healthy - they are to be avoided because they can't or don't want to change. Next in line are bad manners - I happen to think bad mannered folk are in the minority though

Who was the biggest influence on your childhood
There have been many - I would single out my old Uncle Bob McKay - He suffered as a result of his army service. He served in the 'Gordon Highlanders' and was proud that he did his bit for peace. He also vowed that he would pay the wedding costs for his three nephews when they eventually married - he kept his word and paid for all three weddings and sadly died soon after I married my wife Kay

Whom, in the public arena, do you admire the most and why
Alex Salmond the first minister of Scotland - he's leading the fight for Scottish independence. He is  an exceptional and gifted speaker and would easily convince anyone that black was white. He could win any argument with his political opponents - of course he's completely wrong but it doesn't alter the fact that he's a great speaker

Who influenced you most in the field of music
Ronan O'Rahilly is my first thought because he founded 'Radio Caroline' and gave youngsters the music that they wanted and in so doing unlocked government control of what we listened to - as for recording artists here's a sample, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows. It's so broad I could go on and on

Name three records that mean a lot to you
That'll be the Day, Pretty Woman and Can't get no Satisfaction spring to mind. Asking for three is unfair because there are hundreds that I could choose for all sorts of reasons

Name three of your favourite television programmes
Last of the Summer Wine because it's daft and set in terrific scenery and two from the distant past, The Likely Lads and Top of the Pops in the sixties

Any radio programmes that particularly appeal to you
Sounds of the Sixties

What are your hobbies
I like anything to do with the canal system or should I say inland waterways, next are photography, walking and heritage matters

Do you have a favourite sport
Football, golf and formula1

Any sport you don't like
Yes, cricket, I'd rather watch paint dry or eat worms

What do you think of politics
I think it's great that we have the freedom so speak on just about any subject and I value the rights that I have that were hard won by past politicians and statesmen that cared about the people and the country rather than themselves as appears to be the case today

Do you have a favourite possession
Not really though I do regret not having medals that members of the family earned in the fight for freedom - they were in my care and I managed to lose them. I hope they may turn up one day

Name your favourite holiday destination
Everyone will think I'm daft - The canal between Wolverhampton and Birmingham stands out as a great holiday - it symbolises great engineering, architecture and history I've travelled extensively on the canals and they are now a great part of Britain's heritage

What advice would you give to others
Enjoy life with your family, respect others that may not share your point of view and avoid cynics

Name something you would like to do that would benefit others if you had the money
Open a sanctuary for donkeys and horses that have either been mistreated or have come to retirement age

What did you think of your education
I just couldn't be bothered - something I very much regret. I still remember my English master saying "You boy are an idiot" He was right of course