THE Diary was delighted to hear that former York student Han Seung-soo had been named prime minister of his native South Korea.

As reported in The Press earlier this week, Dr Han, who gained a Phd in economics at the University of York in 1968, becomes the second such student to go on to political greatness, following in the footsteps of Aníbal Cavaco Silva, who was Portuguese prime minister for ten years and is now president.

Alas here in Britain, such political greatness seems to elude York's sons and alumni.

Conservative David Davis, who was born and brought up in the city, has twice lost out in his attempts to become leader of his party, while Labour's Frank Dobson, another son of York, could have been London Mayor several years ago, but lost out to Ken Livingstone.

For the Liberal Democrats at least, York's Vince Cable did lead his party - but only on an interim basis until the election of Nick Clegg.

So until the day when York can boast a Prime Minister here in the UK, we can only doff our cap to Dr Han and wish him the best of luck.


All Hearts...

WITH York City on top form once again, there is surely no need for local football fans to be heading off to follow other sides. But The Diary has some sympathy for the Scottish expats who continue to do so - and who have been gaining some national media exposure in the process.

The York Hearts Supporters Club, founded by The Press's own Gavin Aitchison, regularly sends bus-loads of die-hard fans up to Edinburgh to watch their side.

A recent run of dire results however has given the group little to celebrate, leading to a regular barrage of angry phone-calls and text messages to that great football fans' agony aunt - the 606 phone-in on Radio Five Live.

After Hearts had lost to Rangers in the CIS Cup on Wednesday night, the show ended with the message: "If you want someone to feel sorry for, spare a thought for Gavin and York Hearts on the M74, who say: It's not even February and our season is over'."

Perhaps they should get themselves along to KitKat Crescent instead.


Missing Posh

WELL, she didn't meet Baby, Ginger, Scary, Posh or Sporty, but she did get to meet Posh's dad. The Press reported last week how tireless charity worker Teba Diatta hoped to have her photo taken with the Spice Girls in Manchester last weekend.

The 26-year-old Acomb woman's bid was part of a challenge by the Running for Life charity to meet 100 celebrities and help raise £100,000 to assist impoverished people in Senegal.

Speaking after returning to York, Teba told how she had been unable to meet any of the girl-power icons, but she did sneak past security to speak to Victoria Beckham's father, hand him a copy of The Press article and ask him to pass it on to his daughter.

Teba says he passed the cutting on to his wife. She is now waiting for a response, and also hoping to travel to America where the girls are set to perform shortly. Further details can be found at www.runningforlife.co.uk