Random Memory #5

A family friend was, for a short time, “bullfighting correspondent” for the Daily Telegraph. Although never taking part in bullfights himself, he was an aficionado and spent much of his time in the Camargue. He was friends with several cattle breeders, and owned a couple of Camarguais horses. He used to ride out with the local cowboys (gardians) when they were rounding up the cattle. Many of the bulls are exported to Spain as fighting bulls.

The 1974 film of Alistair MacLean’s Caravan to Vaccarès takes place in the Camargue, and features a Provençal-style bullfight. The part of the Westland Widgeon helicopter pilot in the film is played by Graham Hill...