ALL journalists worth their salt yearn for an “exclusive” – a story which no one else has got.

It is commonly known as a “scoop” and the best ones – those in the “Home Secretary claims expenses for porn films” category – are worth a lot of money in national circles.

Indeed, according to Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell last week, £300,000 was the absurd asking price from a Commons mole seeking to flog the expenses records of all MPs. But in the world in which local newspapers operate, there is no place for chequebook journalism. Unearthing exclusives relies on a reporter’s contacts and wit.

All of which brings me to Andy Richardson, who recently joined The Northern Echo’s sports desk as a mature trainee.

I returned from holiday last week to hear how Andy had been despatched to cover Newcastle Falcons’ press conference ahead of the recent Guinness Premiership game with top of the table Leicester Tigers.

The press conference was expected to feature Jonny Wilkinson talking about his much-anticipated return to the squad after six months out with a dislocated knee.

Due to another injury setback, Wilkinson had unfortunately been withdrawn from the squad and wasn’t available for press conference duties. Here’s what happened next… Richardson returns to his car – an old VW Polo that’s had more breakdowns than Jonny Wilkinson himself and is even more battered than the Home Secretary’s pride.

Our man is checking messages on his mobile when he is shunted from behind by another car – a rather posh C-class Mercedes.

He clambers out, ready to give the idiot who’d hit him an ear-bashing, only for – you’ve guessed it – Jonny Wilkinson – to emerge from the Merc and go into full charm mode.

“I’m so sorry, mate, completely my fault,”

says England’s World Cup hero.

Richardson quickly checks his car, sees there’s no real damage, smiles and says: “You do realise I’m a reporter for The Northern Echo, don’t you?”

“Oh bugger,” laughs Wilkinson.

“I’ll tell you what,” suggests Richardson, displaying the nifty footwork of an experienced fly-half, “give me an exclusive interview and we’ll say no more about it.”

And that’s how The Northern Echo bagged a scoop about Jonny Wilkinson’s intention to be fit for the Lions’ tour of South Africa in May – and how an England legend kept his no-claims bonus.

IN my last column, I wrote about 14-yearold leukaemia victim Harvey Gaydon, from Darlington, who was preparing to go into hospital for a bone marrow transplant.

Harvey went into Newcastle General Hospital the other day to begin his treatment.

He has a hard road ahead, with chemotherapy and radiotherapy before the transplant itself, followed by eight weeks in an isolation unit.

Waiting for Harvey when he arrived was the aforementioned Jonny Wilkinson, who’d met the young rugby enthusiast during a previous hospital stay.

Jonny had reorganised his schedule to be there, and spent a couple of hours reassuring Harvey. By all accounts, he was brilliant.

I honestly don’t think you could bump into a nicer bloke.

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