'If music be the food of love, play on,' as The Bard so eloquently asserted. As the son of a self-confessed veteran cosmic rocker, music enjoyed centre stage in the Bentley household of my youth. Indeed there wasn't much choice in the matter as we had music in plenty.
I remember sitting obediently in the lounge listening to Dad's much-prized vinyls. In what he euphemistically dubbed music appreciation, we got the lot! From Stravinsky to Pink Floyd and 10CC to Delius, the old man's passion ensured my brother Jim and I developed wide-ranging musical pallets.
While Jim embraced a predilection for heavy metal, grew his hair long and played in a band, my tastes remained more passive and mainstream. Nevertheless I was always keen to listen to what new sounds Jim was enjoying. His ability to find obscure musical acts never ceased to amaze me. I admit an element of hero worship did take place as I was the younger sibling!
"This track is by a post-punk hardcore band from Sweden who only released this album after they split up following the accidental suicide of the lead singer!" was a typical intro from Jim as he lowered the stylus onto the record of his latest favourite. At times it appeared Jim was more interested in finding a record so unique that nobody had ever heard of it than in the music. I must report his record collection was quite singularly astounding.
Just as Dad's music appreciation impacted on me, so did brother Jim's one-upmanship finding hidden gems to impress me. I too became something of a music anorak, digging out undiscovered treasures that I would delight in playing to friends as I loaded another audio offering into the tape player. The more incredulous were my peers, the more smug I would be!
In recalling my musical heritage, my thoughts turn to a player who retired last week following a glittering 10 seasons in the front line for Exeter Chiefs. I mentioned James Hanks in last week's column but felt two paragraphs didn't do justice to the service of this great man. Let there be no mistake, Hanksy was 'A Great Man' for the Exeter Chiefs.
I first saw his hulking frame limbering about as a sports scholar at Exeter University in 2004. At that time he still needed to add some meat to his bones but the raw material was already there in abundance.
As the incumbent second row partner of a certain Rob Baxter with the Chiefs at that time, I had little room for Hanksy as the self proclaimed lanky streak. Indeed, Rob and yours truly pretty much tied up the four and five jerseys, starting every game, and with ex-England international Dave Sims also in the mix, Hanksy played for the second team.
However, the young pretender put in the time and effort at training and earned his stripes over on the Cowick Barton playing fields when we didn't have the luxuries of today.
Come the 05/06 season with Rob swapping his shorts for a coach's whistle, there was a huge hole in the team. Rob had been 'The Man' on the field, calling the line-outs and leading from the front as the first into battle and the last one out. To be honest, if Rob had been allowed, I've little doubt he would've driven the bus. He was and still remains the role model and leader of Exeter Chiefs.
The chasm left in the team in the early weeks following Rob's retirement as a player was immense. A legend had left and wasn't easily going to be replaced. Then, three games into the season, with a home game against Cornish Pirates at the County Ground, James Hanks got the call. I remember sweeping down Magdalen Road to the St Luke's campus to pick him up, and even then as a 20-year-old his mature, laid-back nature was exceptional.
Stepping into the boots of one of the greatest Chiefs for one of the biggest home fixtures of the season left Hanksy nonplused as he hauled his huge frame into the passenger seat of my battered old Nissan Maxima.
I decided to impress the 20-year-old aspirant with my musical knowledge. Selecting a track I thought nobody would have heard, I clicked on the car audio. "Hey, that's God Made Me Funky by the Headhunters," he immediately responded, stealing my thunder. "I like this band!" I was bowled over by the man's musical knowledge, character and personality.
Hanksy went on to play a blinder and secure his spot as a first teamer for the following nine years, recording 192 games for the Exeter Chiefs. I had the honour and pleasure to partner him in the second row over 70 times. From our promotion to the Premiership right up to his final game against Bath, big Jim has been a mercurial player and lynchpin with the Exeter Chiefs.
In a climate where players list two, three, four and more former clubs, Hanksy has had just one for his whole career. I think that is something special and James is just that, special. Big Jim embodies the motto of the club, having given his all for the cause over 10 great seasons. I want to tip my hat to yet another legend of this club who won't make a fuss but needs one making for him. James Hanks, a true Chief, 'Always Loyal'.
A special mention must also be made to Tony Yapp, another of our old Boys who came off the bench for Taunton last week and kicked a conversion to take his national league points tally to 3,001.
Having started his career at Worcester 18 years ago, Slim opened his amazing points tally with a drop goal against Sheffield and went on to be a points machine for Bedford, the Chiefs and England A. Well done mate, there's still life in the old dog, hey?
Speaking of old dogs brings me to yours truly having the honour to captain Devon in this year's County Championship. We had a warm-up encounter with Graham Dawe's Cornwall at Launceston yesterday (Wednesday), before games against Somerset and Kent in the competition proper.
It's early days for the 2014 Devon team, but the squad is training well and we will be doing our best to fly the flag for the county on yet another national stage. Watch this space for news, opinions and updates on the County Championship.
And finally, as the Chiefs prepare for a do-or-die encounter with Harlequins this weekend, so too do Exmouth with their Devon Cup final with Newton Abbot.
On the back of a very tough season, a bumper crowd at the Imperial Ground this coming Saturday would certainly be a boost not just to the Cockles but also the All Whites as the county's highest ranked amateur teams battle for bragging rights in the off season.
Until the next time, stay safe and enjoy your rugby. And keep up to date on Twitter @ccbentos.
