Russ

I'm sure you are right Firbeck.I understand some of the men in the firing squad deliberately missed.Can't blame 'em.

Just been reading an interview with Syd Dernley,a month before he died.Seemed a different character from Albert Pierrepoint,who liked to treat the condemned with dignity.Most of us would not be willing to do the job he did but he seemed to enjoy it.The Home Office removed him from the list of Official Assistant Executioners.He didn't say why but suspected it may have been for an unsavoury comment he made.Another point regarding Dernley is that he was convicted of publishing obscene material and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.Don't know any further details.

I wonder if it was sold and if so how much it went for ?

Yeah,Adnams is one of my favourite brews.

No Mick,Syd Dernley died in 1994.

Yes,Henry Albert was his father and Thomas was his uncle.Timothy Spall gave an excellent performance playing Albert although the description of him being the "Last Hangman" is factually incorrect.Referring back to my post on Syd Dernley I think I am right in saying he was only ever an assistant - never the "No 1" at an execution.

Also being auctioned is the tape measure he used to measure out "the drop."

Mick,the executioner from Mansfield was Syd Dernley.

Yeah,I wear my poppy.I went walking with The Ramblers on Sunday and we stopped for 2 minutes silence at 11.00am.The Poppy Appeal is hugely successful.Apparently they made 37 million this year.However,you will always get cynics - including those who choose to wear a white one.I understand that they have sold a 1,000 times more red ones than white ones so maybe there is a message there.My dad was in Squadron 66 Royal Air Force - a major player during the Battle of Britain.Those who fought in the war made tremendous sacrifices in order that we enjoy the freedom we have today.My mum had to go on

Jobsworth attitude isn't it ?! I remember reading of a traffic warden who gave a parking ticket to a hearse.They have no common sense - that's why people have no respect for them.

Bip,I strongly recommend the bratwurst sausages.The beer is very expensive but genuine.I have never tried sauerkraut - doesn't seem to have the same appeal over here as it does in Germany.

By comparison I loved the ice rink and German Market of last year which re-opens next week. Apart a nice bustling atmosphere created by the ice pad, there was excellent German beer and sausages on sale nearby. Yeah Stu,I love the German Christmas Markets which lots of cities and towns have over here now.The beer is very expensive but at least it's the genuine thing and brought over from Germany.Those bratwurst sausages are fantastic - very tasty and real sausages - a lot better than those American hotdog rubbish ones.The steakburgers are great too.

Saw a photo of this in the paper today.Looks very impressive.Anybody out there been to see it ? It's in the Old Market Square isn't it but whereabouts there ?

Johnathon Woss - what a joke Brand....... an even bigger joke I agree Frank.Jonathan Ross is a TV Personality who thinks he's a comic.Russell Brand is a second-rate comedian in the same mould as Bill Bailey and all the other bores who are on the panel of Never Mind The Buzzcocks,who think they are funny.Effing and blinding on TV is not acceptable no matter what time of day it is but these so called comedians seem to think it is in order to do this. The person I would like to see get his come-uppance is the arrogant,big-mouthed. car bore Jeremy Clarkson.Earlier this week he made a distast

Yeah,Zab,that's Caphouse Colliery - a brilliant day out with the tours being run by friendly ex-miners.It's the only mine in England where you can go down the pit in one of those cages - 450 feet.Highly recommended for those interested in our industrial heritage.