EMOTIONAL TIES Robert Elms on the little things that mean the most - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Celebrity EMOTIONAL TIES Robert Elms on the little things that mean the most By You Magazine - April 7, 2019 Writer and broadcaster Robert Elms on Crombies, cool tunes and the photo that pulls on his ‘brash boy’ heartstrings. Emma Croman Emma Croman My parents, Eileen and Albert, met dancing at the Hammersmith Palais as teenagers. My father died when I was six, and my mum a few years ago. It sounds mawkish, but I miss them every day. I keep this photo on my desk, so they’re still watching me. Emma Croman My 200-strong collection of reggae ‘sevens’ [seven-inch singles] was mostly handed down to me by my elder brothers Reggie and Barry, who were very cool. We grew up in Notting Hill in the 1970s, where there was a large Afro-Caribbean community. Emma Croman I’ve always loved bikes and have quite a collection of them. This one by Tom Donhou is totally bespoke and I use it every day. I’ve never owned a car. I’ve always thought you only need two machines in life: a bicycle and a radio. Emma Croman I started out as a music journalist; The Face was the first publication I worked for. I wrote the feature ‘Hard Times’ in 1982 – it launched my career and still gets quoted as an influential piece of pop-culture writing. This reminds me of being that brash boy about town. Emma Croman My wife and I bought this bowl in Colombia on our honeymoon 24 years ago. It is at least 500 years old, from Mayan times – a museum-quality piece of pre-Columbian art. It’s beautiful without being flash and reminds me of that fantastic time. Emma Croman I’m a lifelong supporter of Queen’s Park Rangers. My dad took me to my first match when I was five, and then died later that season, in 1966. I’ve kept going religiously and now I take my son. This plaque has no monetary value, but it’s very sentimental to me. Emma Croman When I was a kid, there was nothing cooler than a velvet-collared Crombie coat, but I couldn’t afford one. So when I first made some money from my writing, I went straight to the Crombie shop and got this. It was the most expensive thing I ever bought. Emma Croman I used to read this book endlessly to my children [Alice, now 28, Alfie, 22, and Maude, 19]. I can recite every word. It takes me back to that idyllic, exhausting time of having young children. I wasn’t ever sure if I’d have them, but it’s the best thing I’ve done. Interview by Charlotte Pearson Methven Robert’s new book London Made Us: A Memoir of a Shape-Shifting City is published in hardback by Canongate, price £16.99. To order a copy for £13.52 until 21 April, visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640; p&p is free on orders over £1 RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR 50 of the best celebrity Halloween costumes of all time Shirley Ballas ‘ Strictly gave me back my hope’ Davina McCall discusses how men can help women going through the menopause Popular in Celebrity Beauty vlogger Nic Chapman opens up about her diagnosis and troubled August 22, 2017 Quickfire with Strictly veteran Anton Du Beke December 5, 2017 Yolanda Kettle reveals what it’ s like playing the other woman February 12, 2018 The billion-dollar baby club The celebrity children living it large April 15, 2018 Tom and Giovanna Fletcher talk married life and working with your June 3, 2018 Jacqueline Gold ‘ I want to give women confidence’ July 15, 2018 Quickfire Comedian Alex Horne on Gary The Gorilla losing his trousers August 26, 2018 ‘ I’ m probably overindulgent with him’ Elizabeth Hurley reveals the most important September 30, 2018 One s best friends The Queen’ s corgis and their doggy dynasty October 28, 2018 Ruth Wilson will play her own grandmother in this new BBC November 21, 2018 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved