Phil B,
The policy of 'Darwen'Lancs, council,of not naming any of it's war dead on memorials came to light in May last year, when councillor Terry Burton, President of the Association For Veterans of Foreign Wars, approached the council to request the name Jack Banks, one of the yougest soldiers killed in the 2nd WW aged 16,be engraved on the memorial. They refused.
Jack Banks forged his age to enlist. He was only 15. When his parent's discovered what he had done, they threatened to expose him if he was posted abroad.
Because of the secrecy surrounding 'Opperation Overlord'. They only learned of his departure after his death.
Having learned all this, Terry Burton, undaunted by the councils attitude,decided to go it alone by enlisting the help of non politically motivated people in a tribute to this young lad killed on D-Day.
The townspeople backed the project, and ignoring the coucil, gave their full support. Thwaites Brewery joined in and produced two special brews called "Liberation Ale" and "Lancaster Bomber Ale" the latter accompanied by a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of the famous aircraft, the initial batch being manufactured by the Lancashire firm of A.V.Roe & Coe(AVRO).
Learning of all this activity taking place bypassing them. The council, undoutably thinking of future elections,did a quick U turn and volunteered their officer. Now it was their turn to be politely but firmly rebuffed, although some of their help was accepted out of common respect.
A special parade of 300 people marched throgh the town, led by the King's Division Normandy Band. They assembled around the War Memorial, where a service was given by 93 year old Canon Markham,the Army Chaplain, who laid young Jack to rest so many years ago.
Children from Jack's old school, Holy Trinity, laid a wreath and his postumatly awarded campaign medal. A buffet was held in the school and a plaque installed on the wall in Jack's memory.
The school was presented with a CD -Rom compiled by Caroline Croxen of the War Graves Commission and entitled "One Boy". Canon Markham read out the letters that he had originally sent to Jack's family in 1944 and Terry Burton announced the creation of a Jack Banks memorial trust for Academic Excellence to be awarded annually within the school.
A fitting event to a young lad who died fighting for freedom and justice.

On this day in 1703 England was hit by severe gales, known as the Great Storm, in which 8,000 people died.

1789 The American holiday of Thanksgiving was celebrated nationally for the first time.

1976 Catholicism ceased to be the state religion of Italy.

Tina Turner,US singer, is 67 today.(And I should have been back at work an hour ago!)

Ron.

quote:

Originally posted by RonW:
Tina Turner,US singer, is 67 today.

Ron.

According to the Torygraph she's a mere 66...



...and that's just her bust measurement.

Having heard their town being described as 'The ugliest town in England'. The councillors of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, decided to brighten up the town's drab appearance.
Inspiration led them to order a purpose built 40ft totem-pole with a 4ft narrow boat on top and rocket fins at the bottom. No one has decided what precisely it represents, but the design was forwarded by a councillor I. Bent, from the Craptree and Drossmore estate.
The cost, including installation-£25,000.
Having had it installed at the main entrance to the shopping Mall, the council have now been informed by their planning department that it is an obstruction to Fire engines, Ambulances, etc, and must be removed, not only for safety reasons, but because they never applied for planning permission! With the exception of the names, this is a true story!
Do you think that Ellesmere Port being John Prescott's home town might have some significance?

On this day in 1582 William Shakespeare, aged 18, married Anne Hathaway.

1914 Britain's first policewomen went on duty, at Grantham, Lincolnshire.

1967 French President Charles de Gaulle rejected British entry into the Common Market.
Stating "England is insular and maritime,---her nature, her structure, her economic position differ profoundly from those of the continentals"
He was right! So why not leave them to enjoy themselves without our three million pounds an hour!.

Ron.

Ron.

I've been working in China for the past days. What a transfomation since I was here last, just over a year ago. There was so much to see in this ancient civilisation, that every bend in the road beheld some new suprise.
Alas, not now. The cheap American looking plastic and glass skyscapers have taken over, complete with gaudy neon lights and loud music. The gauntlet has been thrown down and bad taste has won. Everything is so artificial, Macdonald's can be found everywhere.
However, some things don't change---The great devide between the extremely rich and the extremely poor is more in evedence than before.
So what happened to communism? The nane still exists, but has no bearing on modern China.
The goverment still rule with cast iron dicipline, yet it is camouflaged by 'The Good Life' apart from which, life is very cheap on this continent.
I wouldn't recommend a holiday here, and I personally have no desire to return.

On this day in 1697 St Paul's Cathedral, London, was opened, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren.

1919 In Britain, Lady Nancy Astor was elected in a by - election as the first woman Member of Parliament to take her seat.

1994 Norwegian voters rejected membership of the European Union in a national referendum.

Ron.

if the west wasnt full of toadying capitalists we could make more of a statement on human rights? why is the olympics going to be there? remember Tibet? why do we hear so much noise about human rights and so little action. the chinese and less than courteous to the japanese and the taiwanese but have nothing to boast about themselves - there progress is on the backs of the blood of hundreds of thousands if not millions of their people.
why are they oppressing fallun gong it is no threat to the state its just fear of not being to control what people think.

Saffron, I am in full agreement with your views.
Sadly, the West ignored the invasion and oppression of Tibet when it happened(Tibet has no oil, nor has Zimbabwe). Today is too late, it would be a nuclear war, which China, with its 1.1 billion population, wrongly believes it can win.
They fail to realise that there are no winners in a nuclear war, the world dies.
What will transpire when China eventually attacks Formosa(Taiwan) is anyone's guess.It depends on whether America honours it;s treaty or not.
However, I fear nuclear war is inevitable when the religious fanatics from Iran endeavou
If so, they must be living in r to wipe Israel off the face of the earth,which they are now promising to do. Do they really believe that the Israelies, who alrady have the 'bomb' will stand idly by and let it happen? If so, they must be living on Cuckcoo island.

On this day in 1829 Under British rule, suttee (whereby a widow commits suicide by joining her husband's funeral pyre) was made illegal in India.

Ronnie Corbet is 75 today.

Ron.

I wrote the above in haste, and as usual when I do so, I aquire a couple of lines of 'Mumbo Jumbo'. However, talking of such, I read in the 'British News ' section of the local paper. That the experts of 'Mumbo Jumbo'---MP's, have the green light of greed before their eyes again.
Though they insist the the rest of us accept no more than a 2% pay rise.this rule does not apply to them. These hogs of greed want 15%.
If it were possible, I would pay the small group of genuine men and women what they receive now, and no more.
The rest of the rabble would receive what they merit.---£1-00. per annum.
I see they also want us, the masses, to pay contributions all of our working lives, work until sixty nine,then scrape along on a pittance for the last few years of our lives,(if we live that long) whilst they themselves are the only people in GB with a guaranteed inflation proof pension, paying an enormous sum long before they reach retirement age.
I honesly loath and detest them.
Also in the headlines is our Tony--'I give you my word that not a penny of our EU rebate will be surendered. It is safe with me!.
I offer no comment.

On this day in 1917 The Quebec Bridge, the world's longest cantilever, over the St Lawrence River, was opened - 87 lives were lost during its construction.

1961 At the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Henri Matisse's painting Le Bateau , which had been hanging upside - down for 46 days, was hung the right way up.

2000 French and Kenyan scientists unearthed the fossilized remains of humankind's earliest - known ancestor, dating back 6 million years, in Kenya. Christened ` Millenium Man ´ , the find predated previous discoveries by more than 1.5 million years.

One notable birthday two days ago, was Andy Williams, he is 75.

Ron.

On this day in 1783 The first executions at Newgate Prison took place.

1863 Tom King of England defeated American John Heenan, becoming the first world heavyweight champion.

Kirk Douglas, American actor, is 87 today.

I read this whilst in Singapore, you might find it interesting:-

Nearly 1000 year old Anglo-Saxon door

A study by English Heritage of Westminster Abbey found the country’s only door surviving from the Anglo Saxon period. The oak door to the Chapter House outer vestibule dates back to the time of Edward the Confessor, the Abbey’s founder, who was born 1,000 years ago this year.


The Chapter House, in the east cloister, dates from the 1250s and is one of the largest in England. When it was used as a working abbey, the monks would have met there every day for prayers and to read a chapter from the rule of St Benedict and discuss the day’s work. The King’s Great Council first assembled here in 1257. This was effectively the beginning of the English Parliament. The House of Commons regularly used the room in the 14th century, before they transferred to the Palace of Westminster. After having been a repository for government records from the 1540s it was restored in Victorian times by Sir Gilbert Scott.


Analysis


Using a technique called dendrochronology the door was analysed which provided a result that the timber was felled between 1032 and 1064AD, years before the Norman Conquest.


The door is made of five vertical oak planks, held together with three horizontal battens, or ‘ledges’, and iron straps. The battens are recessed into the planks, so that the door is flush on both faces. According to English Heritage experts, medieval doors have a flat ‘front’ face and a ‘back’ which has projecting ledges and braces. The construction of the Westminster door is unique, and shows that it was intended to communicate between two spaces of equal importance.


The boards were cut from a single tree and the visible rings on them represent growth during the years from AD 924 to 1030. Because the bark and some of the sapwood was trimmed away when the planks were made into a door, the exact year of felling cannot be determined, but it can be calculated as falling within the period 1032-1064. A date in the 1050s for the manufacture of the door is most likely.

Legend


Legend has it that the door was covered in the skin of a Middle Age intruder who was supposed to have been caught committing sacrilege in the Abbey, and was put to death, flayed and his skin nailed to the door as a deterrent to other would-be felons. Traces of skin were found during the comprehensive study but DNA tests have shown that it is not human at all but came from a cow.

Ron.

Roger, I reckon I did miss it . Going by memory, I cannot tell you what continent I was on during the beggining of August
On a more serious note. I am very concerned about Ann Wilkinson. Last time she was here she said she was quite unwell. Has anyone heard from her elsewhere? I hope she is alright.

Ron.

quote:

Originally posted by Ann Wilkinson:
WELL! I take 2 weeks off being extremely afflicted by a hiatus hernia (Does one actually die from it? I certainly thought I was going to!) and what do I find -
the thread was closed and when I eventually locate you all again Patzer is taking time out.

Ron someone at work has just had an operation for a hernia and will be off for 6 weeks and can do/lift/sit/sneeze nothing.
(you can die from complications of it, but the pain would get you to A&E sharpish)

Humus,
Thanks for that. I had obviously missed it, which is a common occurance if I am working long hours and lacking in time.
I have just checked the websites of both the Birkenhead News and the Wirral Globe. Not a mention of those mysterious blocks. It appears as if very few are interested in History or Archaeology in that area. How very sad, when the whole area is a minefield of both subjectes.
Some time ago, an old house in Prenton, overlooking Tranmere Rover's ground, was having a celler renovation. It was being carried out by the teenage son of the house. Whilst removing some old bricks for renewal, he discovered a cavity behind the wall. After removing more, a secret tunnel was exposed, cut out of the sandstone and sloping downwards going in the direction of Birkenhead Priory. Aquiring a torch, he proceeded along the tunnel for about 200 yards, but being alone, he became frightened of a roof fall and so returned. He informed his father of the tunnel when he arrived home. Together, the explored a further 100 yards and stopped at a slight roof collapse.
They returned, and the father decided that it was all too dangerous, so he bricked it up again. It has never been explored since. About a year ago, I saw the present owner working outside the house. So I asked him about it. He was familiar with the story and said the wall was still bricked up but he had no desire to investigate.
Further along the road, opposite St Catherines Hospital, was a group of old shops where an ancient 'Well' existed. We called it the Roman Well. I noted last time that I was home that the shops had all been bulldozed down and no sign of the Well. Obviously filled in because few people are now aware of it.
This, alas, is the sad state of our past in Birkenhead.

On this day in 1996 South Africa's President Mandela signed into law a new democratic constitution, completing the country's transition from white - minority rule to a non - racial democracy.

1998 In a joint effort by scientists around the world, the first genetic blueprint for a whole multicellular animal was completed. The 97 million - letter code was for a tiny worm called C elegans .

On this day in 1914 Actress, the late Dorothy Lamour was born. Many years later, in the Coba-Cabana club in Montreal, Canada. I gave her my seat and was rewarded with a kiss. Never forgotten it!.

Ron.

Unfortunately Ron i couldnt get there in daylight and these storys of lost places of intrest seem to be all too common as there is no £ in it or will cost developers/councils so they slow to act.

Returned to Shanghai for an urgent job. Will leave as soon as possible. It's an awful false city. A 3rd rate immitation, plastic New York.There also appears to be as many American conventions going on as in the original NY.
At present, numrous Americans are walking around with 'Gollywog' badges. I don't know what they represent. I asked one guy if it was 'Marmalade'. He just gave me a blank stare!
I gave up, too complicated.

On this day in 1769 Edward Beran of London patented venetian blinds.

1844 Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, was first used for a tooth extraction.

1991 Salman Rushdie, under an Islamic death sentence for blasphemy, made his first public appearance since 1989 in New York, at a dinner marking the 200th anniversary of the First Amendment (which guarantees freedom of speech).
A freedom proudly enjoyed by our grandparents, but now, alas, no longer enjoyed by the British people.
Say the wrong thing within three quarter of a mile of Parliment, and we face arrest. This is what has happened in the past week with two women who read out the names of the British dead in Iraq.
To thimk of the millions who have fought and died for the right to vebally express their views, only to have this RIGHT taken away by Blair and his cronies.

1282 Llewlyn ap Gruffydd, last native Prince of Wales died.

Ron.

On this day in 1896 Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London.

1955 British engineer Christopher Cockerell patented the first hovercraft.

Dionne Warwick, singer, is 64 today.

Having time to spare, before leaving China. I visited the International Toy Exhibition. God! Oh to be a child again!. Some fantastic toys.
However, they were beaten into the shade by an old traditional toy. The 'Hornby' train set. 'Hornby' and 'Meccano' are now owned by the Japanese, but manufactured in France and China. A photo of the Chinese ultra modern factory was on display. Somewhat in contrast to the old Victorian building that Frank Hornby had in Binns Rd, Liverpool. But he still produced superb trains.
However, they had on show the biggest train layout that I have ever seen in my life. It was absolutely fantastic. Suddenly, the years rolled by and I was a child again. I could have stayed for days.
There were towns,cities, rivers, mountains,bridges,aquaducts,valleys,farms,etc,
etc,etc. It went on and on. Truly magnificent.
You can keep all your modern push button toys. This was the real thing. Unbeatable!.
I near bought myself a new 'Hornby' train set using one of my Grandchildren as an excuse! Alas, it wouldn't work. But I wish they had let me 'have a go'.
If anyone is interested in a quiz question, then here is one. Where is a 'tree house' that is up to 60ft high?

Ron.

quote:

Where is a 'tree house' that is up to 60ft high?

Is it the 60ft high tree house in Alnwick Castle, Northumberland?
I haven't seen it but would like to go and have a look at many of the sights around there.

quote:

Originally posted by RonW:

However, they were beaten into the shade by an old traditional toy. The 'Hornby' train set. 'Hornby' and 'Meccano' are now owned by the Japanese, but manufactured in France and China. A photo of the Chinese ultra modern factory was on display. Somewhat in contrast to the old Victorian building that Frank Hornby had in Binns Rd, Liverpool. But he still produced superb trains.


Ron.

He used to live two miles away right by Maghull train station and its argued that the old signal box, wrought iron bridge and crossing gates were inspired by the station he saw every day.
ps. tourists used to come and see his house and signal box etc. but they knocked the box down, no presivation order no blue plaque, nothing.

Nice of you to worry Ron -but I am still around -haven't been that well but ticking over!

Also -as you might guess -Christmas if connected with a church can be quite busy -have just put 300 candles into their drip shields for our Christmas Eve Family Crib service and nativity play -add to that writing the nativity play (well I had a good crib, prpearing the carol service sheets, preparing the notice papers, etc, etc, etc and - there are always tragedy's at Christmas and this year is no exception, a young man and a young mum killed in separate incidents, it has been quite exacting.

Which leads me to the point that you can banish the word christmas (Cromwell tried) ban carol singing (Cromwell did) -but still more people are coming to church this year than for the last eight or nine. There are some things that are bigger than politically coirrect, souless, unimaginative .....?

Oh dear I sound tetchy must be tiredness -trust you are all well and thriving. I do trust I am not turning into 'disgusted of T. Wells but have just read that we have to get a licence to hold the annual and much loved Carols in the Square!!!

sorry about spelling but I was forbidden to enter and correct it

Don't worry Ann. Tis the season to be tetchy - up to Christmas Eve at about 5pm when it's too late and you may as well enjoy!

Just arrived home, three weeks later than I planned. At the last moment I was diverted to a job in Sydney, Australia.
Couldn't have arrived at a worse time.
With the 'selective' reporting of the British press, most of you will not be aware of the race riots in Sydney. Up to 5,000 people involved at one time. The usual story. Muslims versus the rest. Police road blocks, check points. mobile phone examinations, 2,000 police on the three beaches keeping people away, Churches attacked,police station shot at and a christian hall burned to the ground.
A not so Merry Christmas in Australia!.
Ann, nice to know that you are ok.
Humus, I remember that crossing in Maghull, but was unaware of it's significance. How sad that there is no plaque to Frank Hornby, a man of inventive vision. He was even an MP!. They obviously demanded better quality in those days.
He planned for the future, aquiring the best design engineer's in the country. One of the county's finest design engineers once worked for Hornby. Vic Mumby. Today, Vic could state his price anywhere in the world and they would be delighted to have him.
Must end, I have to attend the annual charity evening in Brimstage village.Then bed!

Ron.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. And seeing as the shortest day has now passed, thoughts may turn to Spring and the garden.
Therefore, with this in mind, I enclose a very beautiful poem for general enjoyment, whether you are a believer or not;-

A Garden Prayer

The Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world
And placed there an angel warden
In a garment of light unfurled
So near to the peace of heaven
The hawk might nest with the wren
For there, in the cool of the even
God walked with the first of men


And I dream that these garden closes
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses
Were laid by the hand of God
The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth
The dawn of the morn for glory
The hush of the night for peace,
In the garden at eve, say the story,
God walks, and His smile brings release


Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858-1932)



Ron.

Hope everyone tuning in had a lovely christmas day.
With all my offspring jetting off to friends abroad -we had a