Boyd's photo diary. |
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Tue 31 Dec 2019
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Drove to Seathwaite, Cumbria and left car in farmer's field then
walked up via Styhead to camp and bring in the New Year. |
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Camp near Lambfoot Dub looking at Great Gable in the sunshine. |
Some whisky miniatures Santa left |
Whisky and cake. |
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Sun 29 Dec 2019
Another cycle ride to White Coppice for another go at
photographic the lights |
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Cycling home saw this view of the Mormon Temple and setting
crescent moon from Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods. |
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Sat 28 Dec 2019
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Evening cycle ride to White Coppice. Took a photo of the lights
and tree on the approach to White Coppice Farm. |
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Fri 27 Dec 2019
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A special treat for our late family Christmas meal was a present
from my friend Charlie. He's baked a Delia Smiths deluxe Dundee
Christmas cake fed liberally with 12 year old single malt. |
A late family Christmas meal. |
Dundee Christmas cake. |
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Wed 25 Dec 2019 Christmas Day
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This morning’s Christmas Day walk through Whittle-le-Woods was
deserted. I stopped at the Whittle & Clayton-le-Woods War
memorial to take a photo and remember those who died during the
two World Wars and continuing conflicts around the World. |
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Tue 24 Dec 2019
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For over 40 years the "Carols Around the Tree" Christmas Eve
celebrations at the Wheelton Memorial/Clock Tower have been
held. Tue 24th Dec 2019 saw another large crowd of visitors
arrive to enjoy carol singing, Christmas readings, nativity
presentation and live music. As I walked home I stopped to
admire the festive lights on Top Lock House by the Leeds and
Liverpool Canal. |
Nativity |
Carols by the tree |
Nativity |
Live music |
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Top Lock House |
Top Lock House |
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Sun 22 Dec 2019
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Today is the Winter Solstice and shortest day. Our
Whittle-le-Woods Christmas tree on Waterhouse Green may not be
as big as some but we have two amazing trees in the same
location.
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Sat 21 Dec 2019
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This morning I was walking along the old railway line to the
west of Peebles in the Scottish Borders. The main purpose was to
investigate the old railway tunnel cut through the rocks to the
south of the River Tweed. It is about 600m long and the lining
is interesting because the bottom half is masonry and the upper
arch in brick. |
Skew arch bridge |
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Where the tunnel emerges to the west the line crosses the River
Tweed by a seven skew arch masonry bridge that was opened in
1864. It closed in 1954. The railway could have been constructed
along the side of the river but the land was owned by Lord Elgin
and he would only allow the construction if it was through a
tunnel so wasn’t visible from his estate. The form of blackmail
was fairly common in the early days of railway construction. |
West tunnel entrance |
Neidpath Railway Viaduct
opened 1864 - closed 1954
Designed by Peebles resident
Mr Robert Murray
One of the
finest skew arch
constructions in Scotland. |
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Returning across the bridge |
Inside the tunnel looking east |
Inside the tunnel showing lower wall in masonry & upper in
brick. |
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This evening’s view of Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods below the
bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The red lines are the
tail lights of a passing car during the 10sec exposure. |
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Sun 15 Dec 2019
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Congratulations to all those who took part in the Lord
Nelson, Clayton-le-Woods to The Roebuck, Whittle-le-Woods Santa
Dash. It was a chilly afternoon but a bit of sunshine made it
ideal running and walking conditions. |
Too cosy in the Lord Nelson |
Santas setting off from the Lord Nelson |
Dashing past the Millstone Monument |
Dashing past the Dog Inn |
End of the dash at The Roebuck |
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Evening cycle ride via Riley Green and Hoghton. I stopped at
Horrobin Fold Farm to take a photo of their annual illuminated
tree by the A675. I was hoping to get a sharp photo but Mother
Nature had other ideas and a strong winds caused the tree to
sway & blur the lights. Never mind. |
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Sat 14 Dec 2019
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This evening’s view of Top Lock House and its Christmas
decorations is interesting because it spans three parishes. The
bridge and trees to the left are in Whittle-le-Woods. The house
itself and towpath are in Brindle and the Leeds and Liverpool
Canal in the foreground, plus me taking the photo, are in Heapey. |
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Fri 13 Dec 2019
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This Friday evening is the Whittle-le-Woods Christmas
Extravaganza at the Roebuck by Waterhouse Green. It is in aid of
St Catherine's Hospice and also in memory of the wonderful Jayne
Rae who died recently. Jayne worked very hard in bringing our
community together and although she is no longer here her hard
work is still going ahead. Emma Jade Rae, Jayne’s daughter, will
be at the event and earlier in the evening a BBC TV film team of
Naomi Cornwell and cameraman Rob were filming |
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Well House interior |
Outside the Roebuck |
Emma Jade Rae in front of the camera |
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Rob the cameraman and reporter Naomi Cornwell |
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Thu 12 Dec 2019
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Drove home from my walk from Alston to Slaggyford then walked to
Village Hall to vote in the General Election |
Polling Station, Whittle-le-Woods |
Polling Station in the Village Hall.
The first time I've
voted in the dark |
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Wed 11 Dec 2019
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Drove to Southlands School Chorley to help during the morning
with giving final year students mock interviews. |
Southlands High School Chorley |
Interviews in the old gym. They now have a new one. |
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Tue 10 Dec 2019
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Our Christmas Tree on Waterhouse Green blew over this morning.
The trunk snapped at the base. It was re-erected by the evening. |
Our tree blew down |
The bank stabilising wall by the River Lostock is now finished |
Snapped at the base |
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Sun 08 Dec 2019
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Afternoon Steve called and we drove in my car to Belmont
Road, Tockholes and had walk to ruins of Hollinshead Hall and
the well House. Had a look in field below where Stuart Whalley
found the Tockholes Hoard of silver coins in 1973. |
Hollinshead Hall Well House |
Well House interior |
Door detail |
1960s walkers from the George Birtill archive |
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Evening cycle ride via Riley Green and Hoghton. I stopped at
Horrobin Fold Farm to take a photo of their annual illuminated
tree by the A675. I was hoping to get a sharp photo but Mother
Nature had other ideas and a strong winds caused the tree to
sway & blur the lights. Never mind. |
Morning cycled to Pleasington Crematorium grounds to plot H
were Dad’s ashes are. Today is his birthday.
On the way back
photographed the boundary stone at Moulden Brow to mark
Blackburn Hundred and Leyland Hundred. |
Pleasington Crematorium |
Moulden Brow boundary stone |
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Sat 07 Dec 2019
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A dark damp evening can provide some interesting subjects for
the camera. The Leeds and Liverpool canal towpath at Town Lane
Bridge, Whittle-le-Woods by the old toll house is a subject I’ve
photographed before. I used my bike lamp to illuminate the
cobbles from a low angle and create interesting shadows. |
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Unveiling of the information board 20th May 2015 |
Damaged information board 7th Dec 2019 |
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Cycled past the Reservoir monument by the A6 Clayton Green
roundabout. I was disappointed to see that the Information Board
that was unveiled on 20th May 2015 has now been vandalise. |
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Fri 06 Dec 2019
St John's Church, Whittle-le-Woods illuminated by the street
lights |
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Wed 04 Dec 2019
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We had a full turnout for the Whittle-le-Woods, Senior Citizens’
Christmas Party in the Village Hall. It was a cold sunny day
outside but nice and cosy inside with glasses of mulled wine to
warm everyone up. Before the meal we were treated to an
excellent performance of Christmas carols sung the local school
choir. Our guest of honour was the Mayor of Chorley Hasina Khan
and her consort Mr Zafar Khan. A huge thanks go to our dedicated
band of helpers who served the sumptuous 75 Christmas meal to
our Senior Citizens. It was all organised and funded by the
Village Hall Trustees with present for everyone. |
Village Hall |
Village Hall interior |
Mayor of Chorley Hasina Khan, Cllr Eric Bell & Mayor's consort
Mr Zafar Khan |
Margaret serving up. |
Amazing helpers |
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Mince pies |
Presents for all. |
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Sun 01 Dec 2019
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It was a great frosty evening for the switch on of the
Whittle-le-Woods Christmas Tree lights. Carols and the Brass
Band started the evening then after the 6pm countdown the lights
were turned on by Emma Jade Rae. An added bonus that many may
have missed was the 18:13 pass of the ISS (International Space
Station) which made its second appearance of the evening as its
orbit passed overhead. It could be seen as a bright light
150miles above our Christmas tree travelling at 17,100 mph. |
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Brass Band |
Mulled wine |
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