The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 13

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1988 3 $13 If you want to keep ahead, get a helmet Cricketers were once mocked for wearing them. After this week's serious accident, they are bound to be more widely accepted, writes CHARLES DE LISLE THE BALL which nearly killed the young West Indian Philip Simmons on Thursday horrible reminder that a batsman who chooses not to wear a protective helmet is risking his life in the brutal modern game. Batting in murky light on a lively Bristol wicket, the carefree Simmons simply did not see the ball from Gloucestershire's David Lawrence. It hit him on the side of the head and he needed a life-saving operation to remove a blood clot on his brain. Yet that delivery was neither as quick nor as short-pitched as many that Simmons's teammates will cannon down at England's batsmen in the five-Test series which begins next week.

Simmons is one of a handful of Test batsmen fellow West Viv Richards, Richie Richardson and Gus Logie among them who spurn the helmet. glass fibre constructions, available variThese, ety of colours, are specifically designed to give protection against the dangerous short ball which is a legitimate part of every fast bowler's arsenal. Blow stops play: Philip There is no doubt that, but for the introduction of helmets, exactly 10 years ago, many eters would have suffered appalling injuries or even death. Not surprisingly, all of England's batsmen will be suitably armoured, some of their helmets having visors or grilles to protect the face, when the 90 mph bouncers start to fly at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Even allowing for England's lesser firepower, it will be no surprise if more of the West Indians don helmets in the wake of the Simmons accident.

Even Viv Richards, probably the world's best batsman, finally Full throttle with a gilded Hell's Angel CHARLES LAURENCE joins a multi-millionaire and friends at play in Far Hills, New Jersey THE Capitalist Tools, a motorcycle gang like no other, throttles up and hits the highway in the classic two-by-two formation of motorised marauders. At their head, astride a roaring Harley Davidson, is Malcolm Forbes, two years shy of 70, multi-millionaire publisher Forbes financial magazine, compiler of the Forbes 400 list of America's richest folk, archpriest of free enterprise and stocks and shares. It is perfect weather for what motorcyclists call a "poker Our only regret is the absence of Miss Elizabeth Taylor, Forbes's unlikely new friend. Only the day before, she had flown back with him from Bangkok aboard his private jet, but this morning her lavender custom-painted motorcycle, Elizabeth Taylor's Passion, a Forbes gift named after her synonymous perfume, rests forlorn, engine cold. Leader of the pack, Forbes owns the Capitalist Tools; his personalised number plate, MSF for Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, adorns each of the 30 motorcycles in the cavalcade.

They been wheeled like polo ponies from the stables at Timberfield, Forbes's New Jersey mansion. Emblazoned' on bright red denim waistcoats along with a winged motorcycle, the gang's name is intended as no irony on the prospect of 30 thoroughly respectable, mostly middle-aged friends, aquaintances and employees of the man universally known as "The Chairman" taking off for a Sunday, jaunt looking like a runaway chapter of Hell's Angels. It is taken from the copyrighted slogan of the magazine- Forbes, the Capitalist Tool A lifeline for Moore? THE NOTICEABLE improvement recently in the spirits of John Moore, the beleaguered Social Services Secretary, follows the realisation that the Government's review of the NHS may make it difficult for the Prime Minister to sack him or demote him this summer. Some MPs believe that if he can spin out the review chaired by Mrs Thatcher herself well into the late summer or early autumn it will give him longer to restore his battered political reputation. The Prime Minister's more hawkish advisers are pressing for a speedy conclusion of the review by July, and are urging that she should grasp the nettle of splitting up the DHSS into separate health and social security ministries.

The Trade and Industry Minister, Kenneth Clarke, is being actively promoted by members of the PM's review board to take over the role of a hived-off Ministry of Health. This would mean the minimum Cabinet disruption as he is already a member of the Cabinet as Lord Young's deputy at the Department of Trade and Industry. Clarke is a former Health Minister and has the necessary combative nature to take on what one Minister described as the two toughest trade unions the Government has ever had to deal with the British Medical Association and the hospital consultants. Moore, meanwhile, would stay on as Secretary of State for a much-diminished Ministry of Social Security. However, he is fighting back, and his friends say that if the review does not reach conclusions until the autumn just before the party conference in CURIE Simmons at Bristol relented when facing Malcolm Marshall, the world's fastest bowler, earlier this year.

However, the helmet is no guarantee against injury. At Lord's this week, Graham was hit in the face just below his helmet; in 1986 in the West Indies, Mike Gatting, also helmeted, had his nose broken by la Marshall bouncer. More batsmen are now being hit on the head in each English season than in the entire 1950s and 1960s put together. There is far more short-pitched bowling, batting technique is not as good, and some wickets offer unreli- the pay for lunch, even to the riderto couple who arrived in a brand new Porsche. His resident mechanic fires The Chairman's chosen steed and checks the strap on his safety helmet.

The local cavalcade police leaves patrolman in style. has turned up to drink coffee and swap jokes with mechanic Dave Stein, and switches flashing blue lights to lead the way on to the main road. He halts the traffic to wave the motorcyclists through. The pace settles to a steady 60 mph pedestrian on a powerful motorcycle, but the America's 55 "Some of restricted don't really know how the handle Highways. big I would keep your distance," advises Stein.

At the first stop, by some traffic lights, several stall. Blue smoke rises from the engine of a Harley-Davidson: it is pumping oil from a missing engine screw. Amid wry comments on the reliability that goes with the in the USA" tag, Stein burrows into his tool kit, finds a screw and quickly staunches the flow. Among the machines is a Hesketh, one of the rarest motorcycles on the road, the product of PET PETERBOROUGH ROUGH October it would be difficult for Mrs Thatcher to move him and put in someone who has not been part of the review. Tories believe it is essential for the Government to come forward with a credible package of NHS reforms at the conference if there is not to be renewed trouble in the party over the future of the health service.

Affairs, an introduction agency for married men only recently opened in Melbourne, Australia, is doing a roaring trade. The owner, Norma Jean Murphy, says that far from breaking up marriages her service "strengthens and renews marital bonds" and she insists: "They just someone to communicate Abracadabra and was coined in boastful defiance of the Marxist sneer. Running a private motorcycle gang is just as eccentric in America as it would be in Britain. On the complex ladder of American social status, Forbes ranks high lot of money, old money, WASP (Scottish) heritage, Ivy League, decorated World War 2 officer, collector of art and owner of 12 Easter eggs, "two more than the while riding a motorcycle is distinctly blue low. Once a year, a group of Capitalist Tools makes a Friendship Tour of distant land.

They have ridden through Russia to Moscow the peripatetic unofficial diplomat affixed a Capitalist Tool tie to the collar of a rural Russian mayor through the Middle East to Pakistan and through North Africa to Egypt. This year the tour is to Turkey. There philosophy to all th this, explains Piers Butler, a young Englishman working for the Credit Suisse bank in New York and a regular Capitalist is to make a lot of money and then to enjoy it in your own individual way, and at the same time share the with other people. That's why we are here riding Malcolm's bikes," he says. TODAY the alleys of Istanbul and the open roads of Anatolia remain in the future and the "poker run" is confined to the suburban streets and radartrapped highways of Jersey.

It begins with a briefing from Forbes, a little late after his flight from Thailand. "We have only one rule," he says, "don't overtake The Chairman." An assistant hands out each ONE OF the -profile members of the Cabinet, the Agriculture Minister, John MacGregor, will emerge from the closet tomorrow night and assume the of a television magician. MacGregor, known in the farming world as Mac the Knife, will don the conjurer's traditional white tie and tails for part of Anglia Television's contribution to the weekend charity Telethon. His assistant for the evening will be a local beauty with the stage name of Miss Telethon, who will assist MacGregor in a series of old time music hall routines. It is rumoured that a Ministry of Agriculture white mouse could also make an appearance.

MacGregor is an old hand with the wand. During his university New Zealander Ewen Chatfield declared clinically dead for a few seconds in a Test, before making a full recovery. "Then, in 1976," Greig continues, "playing the West Indies at Manchester on the worst wicket I have ever seen, I was scared for the first time in my cricket life." Brearley believes the introduction of helmets has, if anything, increased amount shortpitched bowling. "If you acknowledge danger batsman by giving him a helmet, you also acknowledge the right of bowlers to bowl a lot of bouncers." is mentioning that, safer though batsmen now feel, bouncers can unsettle them considerably and virtually dry up the scoring, especially if the player cannot play the hook shot. "I would say a lot of batsmen who couldn't play fast bowling have been made by adds Brearley, saying it would be invidious to name them.

"Viv Richards doesn't wear one, but then he is a genius, He's so good that by not wearing one he gets the occasional reminder of his vulnerability, which he probably needs." Although Richards also likes the bravado of a bare head, he too has been hit. In 1981-82, facing the Australian bowler Rodney Hogg, he missed a hook shot and was struck on the head. He responded by hooking the next ball for a majestic six. 10 Collapse at the crease: Andy Lloyd at Edgbaston able bounce, turning batting into a lottery where player does not know if the crest ball is going to hit him on the nose or the ankle. Another Marshall was Andy Lloyd who, opening for England in his first and only Test in 1984, was hit on the head.

The ball had followed him like a missile as he tried desperately to avoid it. Although he was wearing a helmet, the blow severe that his cricket has not been the same since. At first players saw the helmet as something of a gimmick, but they now find it no more uncomfortable than a heavy cap. They 'Don't overtake the Lord Hesketh's quixotic but doomed attempt to revive the British motorcycle industry. Forbes has two.

They cost $20,000 each. "They rang me offer me the factory," says Forbes. "I told them I wanted the bikes, not the factory. I always know when a bike maker is going get a call offering me first The Tools are to join forces today with the Blue Knights, a club exclusive to of duty policemen, -built men on heavily-built motorcycles extensively fitted with trunks, backrests, radios and windshields. A barbequed lunch awaits at Dirt's Club in the tattered town of Bloomfield.

This, the Capitalist Tools admit, comes as something of a shock. Surely the boys-in-blue could have laid on something better Dirt's Club lives up to its name. Owner John Dirt, sporting a lurid psychedelic blazer, has hired a pallid, rinsed-blonde striptease artist who dances under a sign reading while a couple in 1950s' gear demonstrate vintage rock-androll to a crackling record on the rusting remains of a flattruck. while, is former candidate Lady Olga Maitland, the chairman of Families for Defence. Others include Peter Luff, the former head of Edward Heath's private office, and Oliver Letwin, formerly of the Prime Minister's policy unit.

Traitor's library KIM PHILBY'S death earlier month has robbed the bookshop, Sherratt and Hughes, of a valuable and colourful overseas customer. Philby maintained an account at the shop throughout his life under the alias of customer 2944322. The Bookseller, in its latest issue, discloses that when the spy died he left his account substantially in credit, and chronicles some of his purchases. naturally, was a great favourite, but Philby made other, intriguing choices. These include Talkative Man by R.

K. Narayan, Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles, and A. J. P. Taylor's tract on the master 01 Realpolitik, Bismarck.

My note about the Penzance express making an unscheduled stop at Reading last week has a precedent. Before the war the late Professor Cyril Joad was waiting on the station when a fast train stopped because of an adverse signal. Seizing the opportunity of getting to Paddington early, Joad boarded the train and then heard an irate porter yell: "This train doesn't stop here." Joad leant out of the window and called back: "That's all right, I'm not getting on it." Voices off WITHOUT wishing to steal James Naughtie's thunder as he prepares to take over as presenter of Radio 4's World at One Broken hopes: Mike Gatting in the West Indies cost about £60, or £80 with the polycarbonate visor or metal grille (though many cricketers get one free from a sponsor). Only with these extra fittings are they considered cumbersome or claustrophobic. Helmets go back to the 1930s, when Patsy Hendren, the England batsman, wore one made by his wife.

But it was not until the 1976 England- Indies series, that then England captain Tony Greig and his cerebral successor Mike Brearley became so alarmed at the increase in fast, short-pitched bowling that they went to a Not- Chairman', says Forbes BACK home, Forbes removes his helmet, grinning again, and says: "Well, I enjoyed the ride. I always enjoy a motorcycle ride. Why do I put together a group to ride with? I like people, and I like the chance to kick tyres and talk bikes." He rode his first bike at 48 and says that he now rides whenever he can, to make up for lost time. In tune with every motorcyclist, he explains that he has been hooked on the sense of riding in and not through a landscape, being out in the wind and the rain, using the element of danger to heighten the senses. He started when a chauffeur asked to borrow money to buy a bike.

No, he said, he would not lend money for something dangerous and anti-social. Try it, said the chauffeur. Forbes did: and bought five motorcycles within the next three months. Then he bought his own motorcycle shop and now he owns 75 machines, worth some $600,000. At first, his favourite restaurants in Manhattan objected when he parked a Harley Davidson outside their awnings and walked in with a crash helmet.

Now they He is, after all, a "good programme in the autumn, I feel bound to report that he was not the automatic choice for the job. Indeed, four other names were approached before Naughtie was finally courted. At the top of the wanted list, I am told, was Channel 4 presenter Peter Sissons, whose gravitas and debating skills would have adequately replaced those of Sir Robin Day who left the programme last June. Another favourite was thought to be Jon Snow, currently in Moscow for ITN. I understand that Sir John Jones, the former chairman of ICI, and Andrew Neil, the editor of the Sunday Times were also approached.

Deep voices ROCK music of an unusual type will be heard in Wales this weekend when a male voice choir and brass band descends 350ft underground to entertain an audience of 1,000. The Ystradgynlais Silver Band and Choir will perform in the Cathedral Chamber of the Danyrogof Caves in the Brecon Beacons. The caves, the largest underground network in Europe, cover 45 miles in all, with magnificent stalactites, although the acoustics of the chamber remain untested. A spokesman for the Brecon Beacons National Park told me: "I'm afraid you're speaking to perhaps the only tone-deaf Welshman in the world. I haven't a clue about acoustics." One word of warning to the silver band.

Last year a fibreglass brontosaurus in the caves for an exhibition became stuck. Euphonium players, beware. Horn of plenty A READER reports a sign near a footpath in the Lake District which says: "The goat in this field charges tingham firm to be measured for skull caps, similar to those produced to protect children suffering from epilepsy. Greig did not have a skull cap made, but Brearley acquired one which covered the vulnerable temple areas and fitted snugly under his cap. But it fitted even more snugly into his cricket bag, where it remained for a year until, facing the Australians, he plucked up courage to wear it.

predictably lampooned. A year later Greig renewed his search for a proper helmet, and, with his colleague Dennis Amiss, teamed up with an Aus- tralian company, Albion D. Soon, to the dismay of the traditionalists, the helmets were almost standard wear around the world and became the market leader. This year it expects to send about 1,300 helmets to Britain alone. Speaking from Sydney yesterday, Greig said he first thought seriously about the dangers when he bowled fulltoss to Graeme Watson, of Australia, 1971-72, and hit him on the bridge of the nose.

Watson nearly died from a blood clot and received 40 pints of blood. Four years later Greig saw the Pilgrims' punch-up A NORFOLK market town will be thick with incense and High Churchmen on Monday afternoon. In the narrow streets of Walsingham, 10,000 members of the Church of England, led by hundreds of priests in full Mass vestments, will pay homage to a statue the Virgin Mary. The procession will feature the Earl of Lauderdale and John Gummer MP in blue velvet mantles. The National Pilgrimage to Walsingham is more than just the High Church's annual junket.

With the numbers of pilgrims swelling each year, it is now one of the major events of the Anglican calendar. It is also the most controversial. As the procession passes the old town pump, the pilgrims will be confronted by the upraised Bibles and angry placards of a group of evangelical Protestants, some of them fellow Anglicans. There has been a small demonstration or "Walsingham Witagainst the Pilgrimage for as long as anyone can remember, but the intolerance has been natured both sides have been spotted discussing their differences over a pint. Recently, however, protest has grown.

There were scuffles and heckling last year and this year the Guardians of the Shrine the gentlemen in blue velvet have asked for extra police to keep the peace. For the placard-waving Low Churchmen, Walsingham is a betrayal of the Church of England's Protestant roots, an unforgiveable return to the darkness and superstition of the Middle Ages. Anglican Walsingham indignantly rejects charges of superstition, but its administrator, Father Roy Fellows, admits that it represents "an earthier, simpler type of devotion," aimed at getting behind the polemics of the Catholic-Protestant divide to Extra police are being called out for a church procession on Monday. DAMIAN THOMPSON explains an earlier and more authentic interpretation of Christianity. The original Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham was founded by an noblewoman, Richeldis de Faverches, whose evening prayers were interrupted one day in 1061 by an intense vision of the Virgin Mary, who transported her to Jesus's childhood home and ordered her to build a replica of it in Norfolk.

This she did, and throughout the Middle Ages Walsingham was second only to Canterbury as place of pilgrimmage. The ties of the Reformation. shrine in was one of the first casualAt the beginning of this century, Oxford Movement and the Roman Catholic Church made almost simultaneous rediscovery of Walsingham. Both opened churches there, and by the 1930s the town was busier than it had ever been in medieval times. Twenty years ago, the Anglican establishment kept well clear of the place; this year at least 10 bishops will join the procession and when the Lambeth conference of Anglican bishops meets this summer, more than 100 will be travelling to Norfolk to pay their respects.

Walsingham, in short, is becoming respectable and that, says Fr Fellows, may explain why the evangelicals have been getting angrier every year. "It was when the Archbishop of Canterbury, came and preached that they sat up and took notice," he says. Last year's trouble started even before the procession left the church. A protestor broke into the sacristy and refused to shift. When the procession did move off, demonstrators stood on both sides of the processional route at its narrowest point.

Canon Brian Brindley, a senior member of the General Synod, remembers seeing the Bishop of Norwich jeered and jostled as he led the procession through the gauntlet. "For a moment it looked as if they might try to rush at the statue," he recalls. One of the protesting Anglican clergymen the Rev Alan. Bowhill, attempted to remonstrate with a High Churchman, Fr. Martin Smith, from the next-door parish in Reading.

Fr Smith saved his reply -for the local paper, in which he accused Bowhill of "disgusting behaviour which frightened old ladies and the handicapped as they came to worship their Redeemer." Bowhill, a former policeman, sees things differently. "There. was a certain amount of brandishing of Bibles and we did attempt to engage people in argument," he says. "But if you ask me, the real problems was that many of the Anglo-Catholics had had far too much to drink." This last point is one which some pilgrims privately concede. "I wouldn't say anyone was drunk," said one priest.

"But a fair bit of drinking does go on." According to Fr Fellows, Walsingham is paying the price of its own success. At a time when faith is supposed to be in decline, more and more people long to go on pilgrimage, to get away from a sense of isolation in the inner cities and join strangers in celebrating their faith with the ageof incense, candles and statues. "The pilgrim spirit is he says. "It won't be stopped by a few angry slogans shouted in one afternoon a year." days he supplemented his income by entertaining children with his tricks since found his gift of anagidas useful adjunct to his political career. Lining up THE PROSPECT of a winnable tenure only a few short Tube stops from Westminster has produced a plethora of rumours about applicants for Conservative candidacy in the forthcoming Kensington by-election.

The local money is on Nicholas Freeman, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council. His antipoll tax stance, however, and dubious rumours of a plot to unseat the late incumbent, Sir Brandon Rhys Williams, have not helped his chances. One contender is fellow local, Tessa Keswick, a former councillor who fought Inverness at the last election. Among the erstwhile MPs in with a chance are Steven Norris, Piers Merchant and Michael Ancram. A good outside bet, mean- SUPREME SOVIET Con "Order! Order!" NO PRIMER.

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