AddThis SmartLayers

Editor abused by Castro lookalike as debate turns sour

Seeing double . . . 'Fidel Castro' protestor and below the real former Cuban leader

Britain’s longest serving editor was verbally abused by a Fidel Castro lookalike at the end of a newspaper-sponsored debate on the possible break-up of the United Kingdom..

Largs & Millport Weekly News boss Drew Cochrane found himself the target of a ranting heckler who cornered him twice outside the auditorium to ruin a generally good-natured Question Time-style public discussion on Scottish independence.

When the long-standing editor challenged his accuser to give him his name, he replied: ‘I’m Fidel Castro.’

Drew, who organised and chaired the debate, later decided to “name and shame” the heckler in a first person piece revealing that his real name was Dick.

The veteran editor, who last month announced his plans to retire after 40 record-breaking years at the helm of the title, said he had tried to adopt a ‘David Dimbleby’ approach to overseeing the referendum meeting which attracted more than 400 people.

He said: “The man in the middle refereeing is normally the bete noir of the drama. Such is human nature when emotions run high.

“However, at football, the abuse tends to stop at the final whistle, apart from the odd fanatic who takes it too far.

“And, unfortunately, so it proved on this occasion. There I was having a post match analysis with friends in the foyer when an over-zealous nationalist, eyes a-popping, burst in to our little huddle to point his finger and shout ‘You were a terrible chairman’.”

Drew thought that might have been an end to the trouble but the man who answered to the name of the world’s most famous 20th century revolutionary leader came back at the editor again as he was leaving the building.

He re-iterated his chairmanship rebuke and then stormed at Drew: “And you are a fat so and so . . .”

Drew joked: “Now, if my wife had heard that, she would no doubt have taken his side. ‘You see, I told you to cut out the caramel wafers.’

“And surely, my ‘Yes’ assailant knows that the Scottish Government has new legislation against any kind of discriminatory abuse whether it be for gays, race, gender or portly gentlemen.”

“So, I’m naming and shaming you, Fidel, because you soured my night which I thought had gone well.

“Mind you, I doubt you have any shame about shouting at people that you don’t agree with. By the way, his real name is Dick . . .”

Question Time panel: From left, Brian Wilson, Jackson Carlaw, editor Drew Cochrane, Dr Philippa Whitford and Robert Crawford

 

2 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • September 10, 2014 at 10:44 am
    Permalink

    Another headbanging Scottish nationalist zealot who wants to break up Britain…there are so many of them around just now.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)