windrush:
Do you recall the ‘Gentlemen of the Road’ that used to frequent the Highways, I used to see one pushing an old pram between Balsall Common and Stonebridge on the A452 most times that I went that route? Most Peak District driver’s will remember the tramp at Baslow, apparently an educated man who just ‘dropped out’ of society.
Pete.
Yes I remember him Pete, he had a makeshift hut in the hedgerow just before Stonebridge island on the A452.
He was a miner who’s wife died and he took to the road. When the crown hotel(iirc) was refurbed in coleshill high st he was asked to open it ,the weathervane featured a tramp and a dog they did an article about him in the b’ham mail,he lived in a tent on the roadside A452 the local villagers clubed together to buy him a shed and took him food and bits nbobs spoke to him a couple of times think his accent was yorkshire but never asked
Here’s one of my favourite road signs. It was taken by someone travelling in Africa, where clearly the authorities are not very good at animals. Robert
What about " The Dream " - a large sculpture of a girl’s head and face around junction 7 of the M62 ( on your right as you’re heading in towards Liverpool ). It looks like a giant white ■■■■■ sticking up through the trees.
When I was a kid (Late 80’s), on journeys to my uncles house in Market deeping (from Calne). Somewhere along the journey (Calne-swindon-oxford-silverstone-Northampton-corby-stamford-deeping) we used to pass a large crane that was lying flat along a ridge. I can’t remember where it was, but I know it was not far from Silverstone. Maybe left over from building the M40? It was there for a few years, then disappeared. Either due to it being removed, or the route we took changing, I don’t know.
Clunk:
When I was a kid (Late 80’s), on journeys to my uncles house in Market deeping (from Calne). Somewhere along the journey (Calne-swindon-oxford-silverstone-Northampton-corby-stamford-deeping) we used to pass a large crane that was lying flat along a ridge. I can’t remember where it was, but I know it was not far from Silverstone. Maybe left over from building the M40? It was there for a few years, then disappeared. Either due to it being removed, or the route we took changing, I don’t know.
Hiya Clunk… that sounds like big Geordie at Corby. you could see the jib from 10 miles away when the drag line was in use.the bucket is still there i think…the main part was taken to Russia work again. i think it was known about 18 people fell of the jib when climbing and died
when she was redundant.i think if you Google Big Geordie drag line then images you’ll see the machine. it was massive i walked up to it one
day in the earlier 80,s
Clunk:
When I was a kid (Late 80’s), on journeys to my uncles house in Market deeping (from Calne). Somewhere along the journey (Calne-swindon-oxford-silverstone-Northampton-corby-stamford-deeping) we used to pass a large crane that was lying flat along a ridge. I can’t remember where it was, but I know it was not far from Silverstone. Maybe left over from building the M40? It was there for a few years, then disappeared. Either due to it being removed, or the route we took changing, I don’t know.
Hiya Clunk… that sounds like big Geordie at Corby. you could see the jib from 10 miles away when the drag line was in use.the bucket is still there i think…the main part was taken to Russia work again. i think it was known about 18 people fell of the jib when climbing and died
when she was redundant.i think if you Google Big Geordie drag line then images you’ll see the machine. it was massive i walked up to it one
day in the earlier 80,s
Hi John,it was Sundew that was laid up at Corby,Big Geordie was up Larry Dunbars neck of woods it got burnt up about 10 yrs ago,sorry to sound picky but we don’t want the Geordie mafia after us!ta,Pete
Clunk:
When I was a kid (Late 80’s), on journeys to my uncles house in Market deeping (from Calne). Somewhere along the journey (Calne-swindon-oxford-silverstone-Northampton-corby-stamford-deeping) we used to pass a large crane that was lying flat along a ridge. I can’t remember where it was, but I know it was not far from Silverstone. Maybe left over from building the M40? It was there for a few years, then disappeared. Either due to it being removed, or the route we took changing, I don’t know.
Hiya Clunk… that sounds like big Geordie at Corby. you could see the jib from 10 miles away when the drag line was in use.the bucket is still there i think…the main part was taken to Russia work again. i think it was known about 18 people fell of the jib when climbing and died
when she was redundant.i think if you Google Big Geordie drag line then images you’ll see the machine. it was massive i walked up to it one
day in the earlier 80,s
Hi John,it was Sundew that was laid up at Corby,Big Geordie was up Larry Dunbars neck of woods it got burnt up about 10 yrs ago,sorry to sound picky but we don’t want the Geordie mafia after us!ta,Pete
Hiya knock me over with a feather all these years i,ve been mislaid…i did wounder why Geordie been down south, then i knew a
lot of Scots worked in Corby and tied it in with them(now i’ll upset someone else)i’ve been past the dragline god knows how many times as i worked out of Peterborough for years. thanks Pete todays lesson over…cheers John
I was up north for the first time in quite a bit a couple of weeks ago and was going through the road works where the A1 is being upgraded to
(M) standard.
I was disappointed to see that the house with the castellated front had been demolished on the s/b side just before the Catterick slip road .
I remember this building from way back when I was stationed at Catterick Camp doing my driving course in 1962.
bestbooties:
I was up north for the first time in quite a bit a couple of weeks ago and was going through the road works where the A1 is being upgraded to
(M) standard.
I was disappointed to see that the house with the castellated front had been demolished on the s/b side just before the Catterick slip road .
I remember this building from way back when I was stationed at Catterick Camp doing my driving course in 1962.
Aye its sad isn’t it all the old landmarks disappearing rapidly to say the least, But having said this I think IMO There is still some of them still about, I would like to think so anyway, Or am I just being a silly old bugger that started on long haul stuff in the 50s , And finds it very hard to give up, Even with this modern HAS,& VOSA lot breathing down your neck, Plus this drivers DCPC Stuff, For Christ sake dose this lot want us drivers work or just go to school & learn some more cacky from , As far as Im concerned from a lot of KNOB HEADS Who IMO, Wouldn’t know how to start a bloody wagon up never mind drive it, Of couse this is just my opinion as Im a retired long distance haulage man who ran a small family concern, , & I may add Im enjoying my retired years, Drinking Malts, Plus all the good things the the Doctors say are bad for you, Regards Larry.
