Last of the Summer Wine, or, How I learned to Love Top Gear.

Whoever cast Bill Owen, Brian Wild and Peter Sallis as 'Foggy, compo and Clegg' was a genius, they were a magical combination that was impossible to recreate when, one by one, they died, or became too ill to continue working. I believe that Peter Sallis is still with us, though very frail. The Top Gear trio of Clarkson, May and Hammond were also gifted with that rare ability to 'bounce off' one another in such a way that either, enthralled, or, infuriated the viewer. A bit like Marmite, you either loved them, or hated them. But, you couldn't ignore them, they were controversial, sexist, mildly 'racist' self opinionated and reckless. Compo was reckless, Foggy was self opinionated, and Clegg was,...well, Clegg was just Clegg. I live not so very far from where Summer Wine was filmed and I walk regularly over the hills, I sometimes as I daydream as I walk I half expect to see the indefatigable trio coming towards me on a go cart cobbled together from pram wheels and a wheelie bin! I'm now 68 and I think that I always expected to be part of a small group of eccentric pensioners when I retired who would always be looking to take on silly challenges like jumping from bridges into rivers, camping on hill tops, cycling the Trans pennine Trail, and generally having fun. Sadly, for me, it hasn't happened, I just haven't met any similarly minded fellow OAP's who are willing to have a go. I can't find anyone to go cave exploring with me (I was a registered cave leader, so they would be in safe hands) and no-one wants to take on a cycle challenge. I won't even suggest jumping into rivers, they would probably call the local mental health team! I can't say that I was ever a Top Gear fan, but they did do some awesome stuff, albeit backed up by production teams and a small army of 'security' people. However, if I had to choose between walking/riding/carting the hills with the mad pensioners, or burning tarmac with Clarkson and co, I would absolutely choose the former.