Behind the scenes: Lambie rescues stranded colleague; In the North.

Byline: Tom O'Ryan

When Frank Wakefield-chief telephonist for the Press Association on the northern racing circuit for more years than many of us care to remember-collapsed and died in Paris in October while making his annual pilgramage to the Arc, few could have imagined the subsequent complications in giving this popular character the send-off he so thoroughly deserved.

Having died intestate in a foreign country, and with no known next of kin, the task of bringing Frank's body back to Britain suddenly became a mammoth challenge. But it was one which James Lambie (remember

him from The Sporting Life?) undertook with diligence, determination and tenacity on behalf of his old friend.

To give a detailed account of the complex nature of French bureaucracy, the to-ing and fro-ing, passing of the buck and the very real possibility that Frank would end up in a

pauper's grave

somewhere in France, would fill the whole of this page. Top marks,

therefore to Jamie, who was with Frank when he died, and who played an absolute blinder in succeeding in his quest

to be with him to the bitter-sweet end.

Frank's final farewell took place at York Crematorium a couple of weeks ago when former press colleagues, bookmakers and friends were among the 40 or so mourners who heard

Jamie deliver an address which perfectly characterised the dapper little man, who had lived life to the full during his 70 years.

For someone who had lived inYork and who regarded the local

racecourse as hallowed ground, it was entirely fitting that Frank's ashes have since been scattered over the finishing line at the famous Knavesmire. A heart-warming end to a heart-rending tale.