Last Thursday, 31 st October 2013, family and friends gathered in Birmingham to say goodbye to a member of one of the legendary Basketball families of Birmingham and the UK. His name was Allan Wilford. The Euloguy was given by his son Richard who has kindly given permission for us to reprint it here. We at mikeshaft.com send our condolences and best wishes to Del, Richard and the rest of this Basketball family.

Throughout 2013 BBC Radio Manchester will be raising money to help cancer patients at The Christie. In addition to raising £1,000,000, The Christie and BBC Radio Manchester aim to raise further awareness of cancer and help transcend the warmth of The Christie across the region.

Back in December of 2011 one of my dearest friends Deborah Hollamby passed away. Listeners to Sunday Breakfast on BBC Radio Manchester will know that Deborah was a regular presenter on the programme looking over the religious press and bringing us a synopsis.

This Thursday 14th February at 13:00UK The New SUNSET Radio will give you another chance to hear one of our favourite interviews from back in the day. It is with Manchester Music legend the late Tony Wilson. This is the interview mentioned in this tribute to Tony written after his death in 2007. Take a listen. I hope you like it.

Legend is one of those terms used to describe players who tend to have been around a long time but occasional along comes someone who is not around for that long a time but who had such an impact that the term Legend fits him perfectly.

Well she has been playing basketball at the very top level for the past 12 years in one of the best programmes in the British game, The Sheffield Hatters. But Lisa Hutchinson-Mann recently announced her retirement from he game after failing to get selected for the Great Britain Olympics squad.

The basketballscotland staff team are all deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our good friend and colleague, Stevie Duff, 44, who passed away on Tuesday 29th May 2012. Stevie has made an overwhelming contribution to the Scottish basketball community for many years, with many notable achievements, just some of which are listed in the brief synopsis below.

I can’t honestly say when it was that I first heard of Luther VANDROSS, but I do know that I loved his voice as soon as I heard it.

This week Head Coach Chris FINCH will lead his Great Britain team in two of their biggest games EVER. They are both against Switzerland. I wanted to write an article about Chris whom I have known for years. In fact I can remember him in his playing days.

I have to tell you that when I heard the news that Pete was seriously ill I was absolutely devastated. Pete is someone who you thought would always be there. This was my presentation at the funeral of my friend Pete Jacques on the 28 April 2010.