[2] In 1954, as a member of the National Union of Journalists, Manning wrote a harsh piece on ‘non-journalist’ sports writers, which brought him into conflict with Norris McWhirter 1925-2004 and his twin brother Ross.
[3] In 1966, he wrote a noteworthy piece [4] on the climatic problems facing Olympic athletes: 'I am sorry Mexico City is 7,500 ft. above sea level.
I also regret that it is cold in Iceland, hot in Malaya, high in Nepal, inflationary in France, communist in Russia, earth-quakey in Chile, oily in Iraq, sandy in Egypt, intolerant in Ireland, foggy in Britain, revolting in West Africa, Democratic in the United States, malarial in the Congo, humid in Jamaica, indeterminate in Mali and another day altogether in Fiji.'
In 1967 Manning was noted for bringing to the attention of the public the part played by performance-enhancing drugs in the death of Tom Simpson (1937–1967) during the Tour de France.
In the 1955 general election, Manning stood as the Conservative candidate for Parliament in Enfield East against the Labour Party's incumbent Ernest Davies in a two-person contest.