Michael O’Brien waited until half-time at Twickenham for his famous streak fifty years ago
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Fifty years ago on Saturday, a bearded Australian became the first person to streak at a big British sporting event. Decently, Michael O’Brien waited until half-time at Twickenham before his naked gallop. The policeman who covered him with a helmet, which O’Brien now owns, kindly let him touch the opposite stand to win his bet, then did the paperwork for the fine quickly enough for him to be in his seat for the second half. A different age. The first streaker in The Times was in 1799 when we reported that a man had been arrested for a bet of ten guineas to run naked through the City, though I suppose Lady Godiva was 700 years ahead of him.
Thelma Besant, the late Queen’s make-up
