Boyd's photo diary. |
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Sat 30 Apr 2016
Last evening walk of the month along the old Lancaster Canal
towpath near Town Lane Whittle-le-Woods |
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Fri 29 Apr 2016
I returned to the
Solway Aviation Museum
by Carlisle Airport for another visit |
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Vulcan Bomber |
This evening was
the opening of the Chorley Photographic Society Annual Exibition
at Astley Hall |
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Some of the silverware |
Astley Park as I walked to the bus |
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Thu 28 Apr 2016
A
bit of snow on my morning walk through Whittle-le-Woods |
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Wed 27 Apr 2016
Last day of my cycle ride was into central London
Sphinx by Cleaopatra's Needle
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Along the Thames Embankment.
Cleopatra's Needle |
The 1850 bronze sculpture is by Thomas Thornycroft commerating
Boudicca (also known as Boadicea), queen of the British tribe
known as the Iceni, who led an ultimately unsuccessful revolt
against the Romans in AD 60-61.
An interesting local legend
says that Boudicca is buried beneath Track 10 at King's Cross
Station.
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Boudicca
(or Boadicea) Statue at Westminster Bridge
with Big Ben Tower |
Crossing Westminster Bridge |
On the drive home I saw the amazing
Dipley Mill.
The C.16th mill straddles the River Whitewater at Dipley, near
Mattingley.
Corn was ground here until 1921 when it was
converted to a private house. |
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Tue 26 Apr 2016
Big fields and big skies near Goldhanger |
Interesting architecture in Maldon
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Camp in Chestnut Wood |
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Mon 25 Apr 2016
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Sun 24 Apr 2016
On a bike-pack ride towards South London.
This is day one
along the
Basingstoke Canal.
Completed in 1794 and built to connect
Basingstoke with the River Thames at Weybridge. |
The centre of Woking.
I found it unfriendly to cyclists
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Riding a muddy trail through
Bolder Mere |
Carters Steam Fair
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These Galloping Horses were originally built by Robert Tidman &
Sons c. 1895 in Norwich. It is still powered solely by steam. |
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Sat 23 Apr 2016
St John’s Church |
Today (Sat 23 Apr 2016) is St George’s Day and his flag is
currently on display on St John’s Church and the flagpole by the
Whittle and Clayton-le-Woods War Memorial.
We commemorate St
George's day on the 23 Apr as that is said to be the date of his
death in 303 AD, 1,713 years ago. He never visited the British
Isles.
It is also the 400th anniversary of the death of
William Shakespeare (1564 – 23 April 1616)
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Whittle and Clayton-le-Woods War Memorial. |
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Thu 21 Apr 2016
The moon setting seen from Kem Mill Lane, Whittle-le-Woods.
Full moon is tomorrow |
Nice warm sunny day. Shortly after midday went for cycle ride
via Chorley, Rivington and Belmont. On the descent of Rivington
Road I stopped by the jersey and bike memorial to the cyclist
David Hitchen of St Helens who was killed by a Yamaha motorbike
Sunday 21 September 2014. |
David Hitchen
(15/12/1971 - 21/09/2014) |
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Wed 20 Apr 2016
While driving home from a sunny walk in Cumbria I was sad to
hear the news on the radio that Victoria Wood (19 May 1953 – 20
April 2016) had died at the early age of 62. She was one of my
favourite comediennes but had many other talents as an actress,
singer and songwriter, screenwriter and director. |
Victoria Wood
19 May 1953 – 20 April 2016) |
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Tue 19 Apr 2016
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This afternoon family and many friends gathered at Hillside
Church, Brinscall for the Thanksgiving Service to remember the
life of Judy Merry (1948 – 2016). Judy died on Sunday 27th March
2016 after a two year battle with cancer. Her life was full and
very active with a career in broadcasting, radio, TV, publishing
and dramatics. She also had time to raise two sons with her
husband Chris. Raymond Smith played the organ for the special
farewell to Judy. |
Judy Merry (1948 – 2016)
This picture of Judy was taken for
the programme of Raymond Smith's musical 'Francis' which they
performed at Bridgewater Hall in 1998 |
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Some of the descriptions of Judy,
the
text size is based on the frequency used. |
The service at Hillside Church |
Afterwards at Shaw Hill Club |
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Mon 18 Apr 2016
Today, Monday 18th Apr 2016 marks the 80th anniversary of the
triangulation pillar, most often known as a "trig pillar" or
"trig point". They are a welcome sight to many walkers as they
reach the peak of their walk.
In 1783 the Ordnance Survey
began the Principal Triangulation of Great Britain in order to
make accurate maps of the whole country. Over 230 years ago
there were a variety of trig points used to enable theodolites
to make triangulation readings enabling the surveyors to
calculate distances between them.
Eventually a new system of
trig pillars were needed and on 18 April 1936 a group of
surveyors gathered around a white concrete pillar in a field in
Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire, and began the re-triangulation of
Great Britain.
There were once about 6,500 trig pillars,
built by the early surveyors at OS.
The vast majority of trig
pillars are concrete and follow the standard Hotine design. The
design was credited to Brigadier Martin Hotine (1898–1968) who
was the head of the Trigonometrical and Levelling Division of
the Ordnance Survey.
In some areas, particularly in Scotland,
there are some "Vanessas", taller, cylindrical concrete pillars.
They are said to be named after the company Vanesta who
manufactured the thick cardboard formwork for the concrete – a
scaled up version of their main product which was toilet rolls! |
The Hotine Trig Pillar on Denham Hill, Brindle. |
A Vanessa Trig Pillar on the Isle of Iona, Scotland. |
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Sat 16 Apr 2016
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Fri 15 Apr 2016
 Left
Iona on the ferry and drove to Loch na Keal.
Parked car and
climbed Ben More. |
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Thu 14 Apr 2016
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Wed 13 Apr 2016
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Heading to Mull and the Isle of Iona for a few days
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The first time I have taken my car on
the Mull to Craignure Calmac ferry |
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On the ferry from Mull to Craignure
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One of my favourite camps on Iona |
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Sun 10 Apr 2016
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For over 20 years years there was a Lightning F53 jet aircraft
and also a Canberra Bomber aircraft by the old entrance to
BAE Systems (originally
British Aerospace), Samlesbury near Preston. The Lightning
was removed for scrap in February 2013 but its fuselage was used
as a mould to make its replica replacement. The Canberra PR.7 (WT537)
was removed in 2009. In Feb 2015 a full-scale fibreglass replica
of the original English Electric Lightning fighter returned to
the new entrance gates. There is no access and the fence is fine
grill so it was difficult to photograph.
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The new replica Lighning |
The new fibreglass replica Lighning
seen from the entrance gate
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The new replica Lighning seen from
the main A59 road
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Sat 09 Apr 2016
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Cycling through Chorley I had a look at some of the wall art by
the 'Chorley Banksy' on the Fleet Steet Car Park.
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Fri 08 Apr 2016
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Morning drive to the Solway Aviation
Museum. The official opening time is 10:30am but I got there
early just in case it would be busy. A couple of the volunteers
who run the place were there early so I was able to pay and get
in.
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Canberra interior |
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Canberra T4 WE188
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Jet Provost |
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The main reason for my visit was to
see the interior of the Avro Vulcan Bomber. The first plane I
visited was the Canberra T4
WE188. She flew from 1952 and had a service duration of 28
years.
The Avro Vulcan B2 XJ 823 first flew in 1961 In May
1982 it was at Ascension Island during the Falklands conflict
and used as a backup. It was not used on a combat mission. Her
last flight to Carlisle Airport was on 24 Jan 1983. Almost on
the car park is a Jet Provost 8409M / XS209. There was an
English Electric Lightning F53. It has been described as having
all the aesthetic beauty of a suitcase but I think it looks
great.
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What it lacked in poise and design, it
more than made up for in being one of the best all-weather
interceptors of all time. After inspecting the outdoor exhibits
I went inside to enjoy the museum which by then was getting full
with other visitors. |
Avro Vulcan B2 XJ 823
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Avro Vulcan Cockpit
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Vulcan interior
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Vulcan interior
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1000lb Convernional Iron Bomb. The
Avro Vulcan could carry 21 of these. They were used on the Port
Stanley & Goose Green airstrip bombing raids 'Operation Black
Buck' during the Falklands conflict in 1982.
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Interior
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Radios
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Morse key
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Reconnaissance camera
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Reconnaissance camera
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Thu 07 Apr 2016
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Morning drove to Ambleside with road
bike in car. Took Surly bike front wheels and sinewave in to
Ghyllside Cycles to Kevin for him to check dynamo wheel.
Went
for cycle ride, firstly headed over Dunmail Raise to ride on the
temporary by-pass road while the A591 is being repaired after
the Dec 2015 floods which washed part of it away.
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Bus emerging from the by-pass |
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At the start of the by-pass a sign
says cyclists had to dismount. An earlier sign says open to
cyclists. So to be accurate it’s open to pedestrians wheeling a
bike. I walked for a bit then cycled down the hill to repeat the
ride/walk trick again as I approached the other security cabin.
The ride along the minor road by Thirlmere Reservoir was
enjoyable and traffic free. I was able to see more flood damage
that is being repaired on the far side of the reservoir. Over
the dam the commemorative stone seems to have had some painting
done to the crest. I continued over to Ullswater and through
Glenridding and a brief stop in Patterdale to pick up a local
Wi-Fi signal to upload a facebook photo. I managed the long
steep climb up Kirkstone Pass without any problems but as I
reached the summit the rain started. By the time I’d descended
back to Ambleside the rain was quite heavy. |
Repairs to the A591 by Thirlmere
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The Reservoir Dam commemorating the
start of work in 1890
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Profile of the ride
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Plan of the ride
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Tue 05 Apr 2016
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Walking in Cumbria this morning near
Dalemain. This a gate on a public footpath secured with barbed
wire. There is a rickety wooden stile adjacent.
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The temporary bridge at Pooley Bridge
opened a couple of weeks ago
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All that's left of Pooley Bridge on 15
Jan 2016 after Dec 2015 floods
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Mon 04 Apr 2016
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TOne of the oldest Post Boxes in the area are those with VR
(Victoria) This one is at Bispham Green near Mawdesley. |
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Fri 01 Apr 2016
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This morning I attended the funeral of Mildred Bradford or
Mildred Stott as she used to be. She used to work at Withnell
Fold Paper Mill until it closed in 1967. |
On the approach to Abbey Village |
St James's Church Brindle |
Mildred's last journey. |
One of Mildred's school photos. I don't
know which is her. |
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