"IN HIM, THE STRENGTH OF A BILLION BLACK DAUGHTERS AND SONS ."

The British Basketball fraternity was rocked last week with the sudden death of BBL Chairman Ed Percival.

Writer and broadcaster Lemn Sissay MBE has been elected as the next Chancellor of The University of Manchester.

Obviously, living in and around Manchester every one knew Tony WILSON. He was a television star on Regional station Granada and he was legendary in the Manchester area for discovering punk, introducing it to Manchester and launching the Madchester music scene.

The Joy that it is. New additions for 2015. Continuing one of my favourite features on mikeshaft.com.

For the last few years I have had the pleasure of being on the air at BBC Radio Manchester on Boxing Day. As usual we looked at some of the people who had passed away in 2014.

Mickey Clifford, one of the legends of the Chester Sporting scene, passed away on November 18th aged 71.

Recently I received this wonderful letter from one my favourite people in the world. I thought you might like to read it. I hope it inspires you.

Well it has to be said that there are days I thought I would never see. And this has to be one of them. Garnet Gayle has retired from competitive basketball.

Recently, the great and the good of British Basketball got together to pay tribute to one of Basketball's Good Guys - Garnet Gayle, on his retirement. This is the mikeshaft.com un-official Photo Album. All Photos by Ian Smith.