BOMBS, TRAGEDY AND AN ELEPHANT

Alan Hurndall with episode three of his South East London memories

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Alan Hurndall, having made his break into journalism finds himself back in South East London - he's not taking bets but there is plenty happening.

With the kind permission of our pals at Star Sports we are able to being you a print version of interviews Alan recorded for the betting firm's website.

A full video version of Alan's chats with our own Tales of the Betting Ring raconteur Simon Nott is available through Star Sports Betting People, but here is a taste of Alan's further adventures

SN: Last time we talked about everything that led up to your career as a very successful journalist. You've said more than once that you were in the right place at the right time. This next bit might not sound like the right place at the right time, but when you joined the Croydon Advertiser, the IRA blew up your local pub and a policeman was murdered – two separate incidents.

AH: I was lucky. I'd gone from the Press Association to the Croydon Advertiser as a junior reporter. I met my wife there – which turned out to be one of the biggest bonuses of my life. After a couple of years, they asked me to become Chief Reporter of the Caterham and Warlingham edition. I was only about 20 or 21 - very young - but they said, “Nothing happens in Caterham. It's all planning inquiries and greenbelt rows.”

So I said 'fine'... and within a couple of weeks the IRA blew up the Arms Pub, injuring several soldiers. Not long after that, a police officer was gunned down in the street. For leafy old Warlingham and Caterham it was extraordinary. They became major stories and that tended to follow me. Wherever I went, there always seemed to be a big one.

SN: Not least the elephant in Deptford High Street.