Scriv

The only thing in South Wales less popular than the English. It's short for "Gogledd" which means "northerner" in Welsh and refers to anyone who comes from north of Powys. If I ever come across a Plaid Cymru supporter who's rabbiting on about kicking all the sais (English) out, I just remind him that if they do they'll just go back to hating each other; which they do, with a vengeance!

Used to deliver there regularly when I was working for Rainbows Nightfreight. Nice people, always very polite.

I have struck upon a little gold mine for Nottstalgia's railway fans; photo albums published by a chap called David Ford, comprising pictures taken by his father in the 1940's - 1960's and by himself in the 1970's/80's. Lots of stuff from all over the UK but plenty from the East Midlands, including some interesting ones of the early preserved GCR. Some of the older ones sre not of the best quality and have deteriorated with time, but there's a veritable cornucopia of memories for you in here. And thanks to Mr. Ford for publishing them. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/with/7215

I had family in Loughborough (my grandmother on mum's side and also my aunt and uncle) and was a regular visitor to the town. Over the course of about 20 years on-and-off volunteering at GCR, I got to know many of the pubs quite well. Back in the late 1970's/early 80's Loughborough was a good town to drink in if you liked real ale, as I do; the GCR's Signal & Telegraph dept. was a notoriously hard-drinking crew, not something that happens these days in the preserved railway scene as, for good or ill, Elf and Safety regulations have pretty much killed the social side off.

Black horse, Hose Royal Leicesters, Leicester Stag and Pheasant, Loughborough Nautical William, Wigston Magna Turk's Head, Maltby-le-Marsh, Lincs. Lion Hotel, Sleaford Rhino, Chaddesden, Derby (originally an Offilers pub) Jessop Arms, Codnor Vulcan Arms, Derby Sir John Warren, Loscoe Eclipse, Loscoe Midland Hotel, North Wingfield Beehive, Ripley King William, Ripley Devonshire, Somercotes This is a non-exhaustive list from the Brewery History Society website and is only a list of those establishments which still retain traces of their origins like signs, so there would be many m

Oh i don't know. Leave them for long enough and they'll start to hum. (I'll get me coat.......)

One experience I had down here in Wales a few years ago made a deep and lasting impression on me. I delivered sheep feed to a customer in Cymmer, a former mining town deep in the heart of the Rhondda Valley; he had worked down the mines for many years and now had a smallholding. It was always a pleasure to deliver to him as he was the most hospitable of men and you never left without the offer of a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich. During our conversation after unloading, we came round to the demise of the industry, which decimated employment in those areas; His view was that it was inevitable

That, and the modernisation of the railways; which effectively removed their second biggest customer after the power stations. I don't think that Thatcher picked the fight with the primary intention of dismantling the unions though; subsequent history has proved that the unions were perfectly capable of doing that for themselves with little help from the government. Again, Labour had thirteen years to roll back those union reforms and did very little about it. For the record, before anyone accuses me of being a rabid Thatcherite fascist etc. I'm a card-carrying union member meself. I also inh

You can peddle that line for as long as you like mate, but Ayupmeducks has posted the real reasons. I've always maintained that there was a quiet sigh of relief amongst the more pragmatic and less hide-bound members of the Labour party when the pit closures programme started; because they knew deep in their hearts that it was inevitable, but that Labour could never do it. Hence, for all Bliar's rhetoric and waffle, not a single mine was ever re-opened, nor any attempt made to re-nationalise what remained of the industry. I fully acknowledge that the way the mines were closed was brutal; but

Midland Hotel in Newark was another which opened early on market days, the old Newark cattle market being opposite. I think there were one or two others as well, they used to display a special sign outside quoting the relevant by-laws. As an aside; before the easing of licensing restrictions in the 1980's, the Great Central Railway used to have a hard-core of daytime drinkers who took advantage of the laws which permitted alcohol to be served on trains without time limits. Most were middle-aged men, all were reasonably well-behaved (though occasionally difficult to wake up after the last trai

Along with the beer, it was probably the best thing to do with them!

A couple of years ago, I started the "Nottingham Hauliers" thread, inspired by the sight of an old Marshalls trailer in a farmyard down in West Wales. A recent trip to the Lake District revealed another once-familiar local name in less than familiar surroundings; this time Haverthwaite railway station. . Anyone else got pics of owd Nottingham stuff, be it transport, plant, buildings or whatever, that are still in use away from the area?

The bitter was only drinkable when mixed half and half with their mild....... no matter how well it was kept.

He was..... and we wouldn't. I felt for Derry, but passion alone wasn't going to motivate the players, and with the honourable exception of Roy Carroll they let him down.

Just about sums their whole season up; go one ahead and give three away in the last couple of minutes. Here's hoping they bounce straight back; ideally having taken six points off Mansfield on the way.

Agrati actually; as you rightly say they were the importers for Benelli and Garelli . I think you could get parts from them; I ran a Garelli Rekord back in 1976, probably the most unreliable bike I've ever owned! The dealer would probably have been Andy Bone at the top of Huntingdon Street, who saw about of much of my Garelli as I did. Best memory of Agrati's was the Benelli Six in the window, lusted after that bike for many years.

I once made the mistake of taking the Barton service from Loughborough back to Nottingham, instead of the usual South Notts. Made the latter look like National Express in comparison, the trip took forever!

Maybe not but there were plenty of horse-drawn vehicles. I suspect it's more that this was the first affordable transport for ordinary folk whereas these days many people seem to be able to run a car even if they're on long term state benefits. Not saying they shouldn't before I get drowned out with angry pensioners; just that we sometimes forget how fortunate we are these days.

I've caught a couple of episodes of the "Gregory affair"; not enough to really follow it but certainly enough to know a quality radio programme when I hear it. wonderful that they have kept it unspoiled and that the seemingly inevitable modern PC hasn't smothered it in cotton wool. In some parts of the programme you can almost smell the cigarette smoke!

Newcastle Emlyn station is long gone mate; much of the trackbed is still traceable though. There may well be steam in the area soon too as the Teifi Valley Railway (a little narrow-gauge line which runs on the old trackbed ) is hoping to be back up and running soon. With that and the Gwili, there's quite a bit of the line preserved. The Gwili is opening its extension soon, to a new terminus just north of Carmarthen.

There are quite a few old lines down my end of west Wales. I use OS maps in the course of my work (satnav does not do farmyards!) and it's interesting to spot the evidence of former routes.I've found quite a few old station buildings still pretty much as they were when the railway closed, though sadly without Firbeck and Bilbraborn's treasure troves of artefacts inside. Keep intending to take my camera along to update the pics on the Disused Stations site.

Nelson slices we called them when I was at school in Southwell; Gadsby's bakers van used to call round at morning break time selling all sorts of stuff that would probably give the health inspectors a cardiac arrest if it were to happen these days.

(shakes head) As the old saying goes, "If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand".

A bit of closure on this one. I have traced the relevant people; I'd like to thank those who've posted on here and sent PM's for their input, which has proved very useful. As this is a sensitive issue, out of respect for others concerned I'll not go into detail on this on here but if anyone who has helped wishes to know the outcome please PM me. Thanks again. Scriv

I just found this; hilarious! https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=628248060625640&fref=nf