But I don't want to look like I'm trying to compete with proper artists, like Ronnie Wood."* Proof, if it were needed, that the sprightly Sir Trevor McDonald, 64, has still got lead in his pencil. The veteran newsman has admitted to having the musical taste of a teenager."I didn't get to Live8, because I was in America interviewing George Bush," he told me at a fundraiser for the charity Harvest Help."I did go to Hyde Park recently with my son [Jack, 16] to watch the Red Hot Chili Peppers, though. I'm really into Snow Patrol as well; I've got their CD in the car and would love to see them live."Sir Trev makes an unlikely follower of cutting-edge music. They were fantastic, and we had a really good spot to see them.
He'll show a collection of paintings used on his latest CD collection, Blue Guitars.It completes a remarkable comeback for Rea, who was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. Yesterday, gossips heard that Hichens, Harrison & Co, Sound's broker, was steering its clients into the stock. Hichens, Harrison, by the way, has also fared well since its recent flotation. At 83.5p yesterday, it is up 67 per cent from its May placing price.MKM Group, an organiser of special offers on behalf of newspapers, said its founders had given it £350,000 to plug a financial hole until a £1m placing it hopes to tie up by the end of the month. Its stock was unchanged at 6p, despite news it had settled a legal dispute with Express Newspapers over a botched cruises promotion, with investors preferring to wait for the refinancing.. In Britain, the sports brand Umbro conjures up for many people the memory of their first football boots, shin pads and replica shirt.
This model has helped it expand across the globe in what is a growing market. Sports apparel is growing at 2 per cent a year, while sports footwear is increasing by 8 per cent. In the US, where football is almost a minority sport, Umbro has been pushing its generic sports footwear brands, and has secured a major deal with the retailer, Footlocker. From being stocked in only 200 shops last year, it is now in 2,000 outlets, with potential for many more.But Umbro is predominately a football brand, and after listing in May last year, it was dealt a blow from the loss of the contract to produce replica shirts for Chelsea. It did secure a severance fee of £24.5m, and the deal to produce shirts for Chelsea does not end until 2006. This is Chelsea's centenary year, when replica kits will be hot property.Umbro has also signed a five-year deal to sponsor Glasgow Rangers, and has a smattering of other top UK football teams.And of course, 2006 is also World Cup year. Being hosted in Germany, the greatest of all football contests will have prime time exposure with British fans.