SIR BOB GELDOF

It being New Year's Day and all, I wanted to pick a SPIRITUAL WEIGHTLIFTER of truly heavyweight proportions. Someone who in the past year did their damndest to make a difference to the world. Who was not prepared to take 'NO' for an answer and who really and truly believes in what he says and does.

It was uncanny that in deciding who to pick after seeing the bells in this morning, in fine company (and who can ask for more than that?) my neighbours Miranda and Paul and their children as well as my wonderful kids and beautiful wife, Liz.

As we were winding down and sat in front of the telly watching a documentary about the making of the LIVE8 concert in July 2005, it struck me that Bob Geldof was the person I would pick. {particularly because of his part in the Make Poverty History campaign (see new 'skyscraper' badge at left hand side!).

The documentary was truly enlightening as it showed how his dogged determination ensured that the event was a great success, although personally I feel it was partially ill-conceived.

Seeing him battle with the immensity of heart-of-gold-but-tempestuous promoter Harvey Goldsmith in trying to get another band (The Killers) onto the already over-capacity running order, was a revelation. His attitude of 'I don't care about the problems, just make sure it happens' might not always go down well with people, but in this case it is as refreshing as having a bucket of icecubes pured down your back.

When the people who run Hyde Park (where the Live8 London leg was held) hassled him about the finishing time, he simply said that if they closed it down early he'd send letters to the 2012 Olympic venue voting committee saying that if the UK couldn't feasibly run an event for 200,000 people in Europe's largest urban space, what chance had they of runnijng a successful Olympics. Needless to say that empty threat or not, Bob won the day.

On of his most notable achievements was the role he played in getting Pink Floyd to reform for one memorable 20 minute slot, for the first time since their acrimonius fall out over 20 years previously.

I don't agree with all he has done or said, nor do I share all of his viewpoints, but in my opinion he is an example of the common man who has stood up and been counted throughout his life, and for me there can be no better exponent of SPIRITUAL WEIGHTLIFTING than he!