For 30 years I only knew Alastair Down's public persona - then, after 30 minutes, it was as if I'd known him forever

Unlike many colleagues and racing personalities who have paid eloquent tribute to Alastair Down, I hardly knew him at all. Our paths seldom crossed.

So I'm thankful I answered a phone call from an unknown UK number earlier this year. Alastair, out of the blue. 

He had kind and generous words to say about an article of mine. Mention of Ted Walsh was the catalyst for a rambling and nostalgic chat, meandering through decades of racing recollections. It became competitively anecdotal, although in a good way, since we were sharing stories about people we liked or admired.