Jill Sparrow

I thought those members who knew the school might like to see this photo which was forwarded to me by a teacher at Berridge. It is purportedly taken in or around 1910. It's a fascinating image but I doubt it was taken at Berridge. The open-sided shelter was common to many school playgrounds at that time and, although there was a structure like this in the infant playground at Berridge which survived, in modified form, until the late 1940s, the image on the photo cannot be it. Although the background is hazy, it clearly shows a road beyond the railings with a pavement on the o

I certainly do.

He probably doesn't need it now he's discovered Mavrodaphne!

@Oztalgian just as long as you don't go gathering in any dodgy fungi. One of your compatriots seems to have been quite fond of making dishes with them. Fascinating reading the information coming into the public domain about that case. It's difficult to believe that anyone might think they could get away with an alleged stunt like that in this day and age.

@katyjayno help from The Dalai Chulla, I suppose, when he came to visit?

We had Harvest Festival at school and also Sunday school when I was a child. Since I used to sing in the choir and was also organist for a time. I think I know all the words by heart. Christmas carols, likewise. Eventually, harvest festival descended into tinned goods only and no products with nuts, gluten free, etc. It just wasn't the same. Nothing is these days.

I see there has been some kind of blaze at a waste site in Newark over the weekend.

The world isn't to blame. It's the out of control human race who are at fault. I've said it before. If, after millions of years of evolution, this is the best we can achieve, it's time we were gone so that other species can get on with their lives. We are no more important than them, despite what we might think.

Some friends of mine had to deal with the demise of a chap who was the second husband of a relative a few years ago. He lived in Eastwood, quite near to Malcolm, The Pianoman, on the main Nottingham Road. An awkward old boy, he lived into his nineties and had my friends running round like blue ar*ed flies for months before his passing. He did have relatives of his own but they lived down south and, basically, didn't want to know. My friends arranged the funeral and the relatives said they intended to have the ashes interred within the family plot in Ware. Intended, that is, until

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any paralytic pianists wandering round the Eastwood area, nor for inebriated former pilots rolling in the gutters of Newark and environs. However, I'm pleased that Malcolm is aware of the dangers of bottle contents going 'off'. When it's gone, you can always fetch another bottle.

We get used to expecting our children to outlive us (not that I have any) and I know Beekay has suffered the trauma of seeing both his sons go ahead of himself and his wife. It makes me think about my great grandmother, Lucy Saunt, who gave birth to twelve children, watched six of them die as babies, saw her 14 year old son die of a glioma, lost her 24 year old son on the battlefields of The Great War and ended up at Bagthorpe suffering from dementia. Is it any wonder? Yet Lucy is not in any way outstanding in her loss. Many mothers in those days suffered worse losses than she did

Of course there is. We all have to go sometime!!

It is one class, @katyjay. Photos from that era do show enormous class sizes. Berridge was always two form entry, two classes per year group. Nowadays, it's three but they are far smaller.

I think I'm possibly remembering seeing his name, which includes both Lymn and Rose.

Wasn't the firm actually known as Lymn & Rose at one stage? Not recently, though.

@The Pianomandefinitely not dry. Morrison's stock it, so right on your doorstep!

@The PianomanHave you tried Mavrodaphne? I don't usually buy wine from supermarkets as I order it from Laithwaites but a friend recommended that one and I tried it. It's a fortified wine and I rather liked it. Not expensive and, as I have a sweet tooth, quite palatable.

Saw this on the BBC News website. I always feel sorry for people who are terrified of dying. Wonder if they were terrified of being born? Once here, you have to leave again. Death has never bothered me. It's just part of a cycle to my mind. I can't see how hanging round the funeral parlour is going to allay one's fears of dying. Each to their own. I hope it makes her feel better in some way.

Aha. We won't ask what your response would've been. Wouldn't want you to incriminate yourself

This photo dates from 1957/8 and shows Berridge Junior children born in 1948. Thanks to Carole and Kathleen Sheeran for both photo and names. Back row L to R David Sentance, unknown, unknown, Gerald Hazeldine, Tony Grainger, unknown, John Sutton, Derek Winstanley, Michael Goodwin, Stephen Cockram, Kenneth Merritt, Robert Wren, Neil York, unknown, Michael Allport. Middle row L to R: Tommy Smedley, Sybil Applebaum, Susan Wyer, Josephine Jordan, Glenys Williams, Carolyn Pike, Kathleen Sheeran, Brenda Cooksley, Sheila Bond -Lindsay, Elizabeth Heason, Glynis Davis, Susan Har

That has to be better than a paralytic Glenda Jackson! Of the two, Jackson was the more talented although I don't concur with her political views.

One of the most difficult aspects of the historical abuse cases was those who brought allegations of physical abuse. Corporal punishment was legal and widely implemented until relatively recent days and it has to be remembered that present day laws cannot be applied retrospectively to events that happened fifty years ago, for example. Some were, possibly, hoping to gain financial compensation for having been rapped over the knuckles with a ruler, which wasn't what the investigation was about. The purpose was to identify and apprehend those who had perpetrated extreme physical abus

I recall playing that for an Associated Board exam at some point. I generally like Mr Schiff's work but that is a tad on the romantic side for me.

Civilization has a very thin veneer, you know.

There's life in the old hound yet! Woof!@loppylugs