I arrived early on the first morning, positioning myself in that part of the Main Arena where the acoustics were crystal clear. And then I heard it, that elegant accent whose gentility epitomised all the old-fashioned decencies of the Ballsbridge show grounds. In those days, the judges were obliged to wear formal clothing during the Horse Show. For the men, this meant donning bowler hats – except, of course, for the Aga Khan Nations’ Cup competition, when they would be expected to wear a morning suit with top hat. Such decorum was an attempt to illustrate that in sport, as in life, etiquette matters. John Wylie’s polished voice was the perfect accompaniment to those timeless rituals. It was dignified without being pompous, commanding without being overbearing. To my young ears it sounded like something from another age, one in which people recognised the virtue of speaking well.

I arrived early on the first morning, positioning myself in that part of the Main Arena where the acoustics were crystal clear. And then I heard it, that elegant accent whose gentility epitomised all the old-fashioned decencies of the Ballsbridge show grounds.
In those days, the judges were obliged to wear formal clothing during the Horse Show. For the men, this meant donning bowler hats – except, of course, for the Aga Khan Nations’ Cup competition, when they would be expected to wear a morning suit with top hat. Such decorum was an attempt to illustrate that in sport, as in life, etiquette matters.
John Wylie’s polished voice was the perfect accompaniment to those timeless rituals. It was dignified without being pompous, commanding without being overbearing. To my young ears it sounded like something from another age, one in which people recognised the virtue of speaking well.