BY
JIM BLACK
HE’S
26, tall and very presentable. He also happens to be one of Britain’s most
successful golfers.
Perhaps
I should quickly add that Cameron McDiarmid has only ten percent vision in his
right eye and none at all in his left.
Cameron,
you see, is a leading member of the Scottish Blind Golf Society and the
reigning Blind Open champion, playing off a handicap of 14.
Our
paths crossed the other month at a function in Glasgow. We met by chance when I
surrendered to age and aching bones.
Desperately
in need of a seat and spying an empty berth nearby I flopped down and breathed
a sigh of relief.
But
after several moments I became aware of a figure hovering over me and the
thought immediately occurred to me that I had just planted my rear in someone
else’s seat.
The
usual Glasgow response to such cheek is either a sharp comment or a sore face
but in the event I escaped unscathed.
Indeed,
when I apologised for my lack of manners, the young man insisted on me remaining
where I was.
I
admit that I couldn’t help noticing that my new acquaintance was visually
impaired.
Soon
we were chatting freely and as we had clearly both attended the annual PGA
lunch I assumed that he had some involvement in golf.
Introductions
made, the next 45 minutes turned out to be utterly fascinating as I listened to
Cameron explain what it’s like to be a blind golfer.
But
it wasn’t Cameron’s many and quite remarkable achievements as a golfer that
impressed me most.
It
was his humility, positivity and humbleness which struck me.
Not
a hint of bitterness at falling victim to cancer at the age of just 18 months
old and the subsequent consequences of that hellish disease.
Not
the least suggestion of self-pity or anger. “What would be the point in
becoming bitter?” he asked. “That would only impinge on the things I can do.”
There
were times when I felt a lump in my throat and also a sense of shame that I fly
off the handle at the least provocation, for no matter what further advances
are made in medicine, Cameron is resigned to never having his sight restored.
We’ve
arranged to meet up soon when I plan to interview Cameron in greater detail.
Meantime,
thanks Cameron for helping to at least partially restore my faith in human
nature and for also helping me appreciate a little more the importance of being
blessed with normal vision.
How
ironic then that out meeting took place at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow’s
William Street where two years ago almost exactly to the day I was the victim
of an incident that involved a member of the waiting staff spilling an entire
plate of food over me at the same event.
This
resulted in the ruination of my suit, shirt, silk tie and dress handkerchief at
a cost of several hundred pounds. It also utterly ruined the day as I was
forced to leave early rather than make a complete spectacle of myself sitting
in soiled clothing for the remainder of the lunch.
A
member of staff had made a half-hearted attempt to remove the grease stains,
but when my jacket was returned to me it was in a worse state than when it left
my keeping!
The
incident, I should add, was witnessed by no fewer than nine fellow journalists.
Yet, when I duly billed the perpetrators – the Hilton as it was a member of
that hotel’s staff who was responsible – for the items of clothing plus a dry-cleaning
bill I was reimbursed only for the latter charge.
The
general manager of the establishment explained by return that while he
regretted my inconvenience and apologised for the incident, he was unable to
reimburse me for the ruined article of clothing.
He
also explained that accidents do happen and rather arrogantly suggested I seek
advice from my own insurer.
I
met with the same response when I pursued the matter with that gentleman’s
successor at a later date.
Yet
when I sought the guidance of two associates who hold senior positions in the
hotel industry in Glasgow both assured me that they would not have hesitated in
accepting liability had the incident occurred at either of their
establishments.
It
seems reasonable to speculate therefore that while there appears to be no need
to fear being “trashed” without being forced to resort to legal process by the
city’s finer, more welcoming establishments,
it is advisable to take a change of clothing should you be planning on
dining at the Hilton.
In
reply, Mr Craig Gardner, the then general manager, closed by adding insult to
injury by saying: “I do hope that this unfortunate incident will not inhibit
your future use of our hotel and I do hope to welcome you back in the not too
distant future.”
Sir,
hell will freeze over before I visit any establishment in the Hilton group at
my own expense - other than as a guest at a function to which I am invited.
