ValuerJim

My wife was, Minty. Sally Warne.

I was bought the John Speed historical county jigsaw of Notts for my birthday this year. What a shoddy product, and not cheap.

We old spotters are never short of number/letter combinations for use as passwords.

Hi Dave N. I'm proud to declare myself an old trainspotter - Nottingham Vic and Grantham mainly, with the odd trip to Doncaster and York, and one offs to Derby and Tamworth: I could never warm to the LMS locos, with all their bits poking out, and my dad was a driver on the old GCR up to 1964 or so. Like your copping of 60004, the highlight of my spotting was copping A1 St Johnstoun at Edinburgh Waverley in 1961 to complete my A1s. My lasting regret is not taking up dad's invitation to ride the cab from Annesley down to Woodford, although he did let me drive the Dido on one occasion, closely fo

On one occasion recently, a tv quiz contestant was asked what language was spoken in the Faroes. 'I know that one', he replied, 'Egyptian'.

I was a regular at Basford library, on Vernon Road, in the 1950s. I remember the wooden parquet flooring, and the old men - probably younger than I am now - reading through the national and local papers. Out of the library and back home via the lake in Vernon Park, with a couple of Brambly Hedge books, full of anthropomorphic mice, rabbits and squirrels who lived in hollow trees. I suppose the library no longer exists, or has been turned into a 'cultural centre'?

Apparently, a 5 mile stretch of Radcliffe Road was the first tarmac road in the world. The then Notts County Surveyor, Edgar Hooley, perfected the mix and registered Tarmac in 1903. He sold out in 1905 and Tarmac Ltd came into existence.

Wasn't Bendigo's ring somewhere around there?

Others have mentioned Wicksteed Park. As I recall, the name Wicksteed was formed in each of the cast iron steps of the slide on Vernon Park. The daft things we remember!

Went to school with Osborne minor, but buggered if I can remember his name. I do remember the chip shop shack now you've mentioned it, Ben. Better remember the two corner shops on Park Lane, the lower one a beer off. Spent most of my church collection money in them.

Yes, Osbornes was the last but one house on the left, before the bridge, going south. As well as cutting hair, he also sold fishing tackle. You could walk up the side of the house onto the railway embankment alongside the rat hole, then across the main GC line onto the opposite embankment and come out at the top of Arnold Road. It was my regular journey to school. There were large concrete obstructions on either side of the Park Lane Bridge, which we kids believed were to hinder the approach of German tanks!!

It was twitchell for us Bulwellians, although the path alongside the railway between Northern Bridge and Brooklyn Road was known as 'Station Pad'. The 'jitty' Benjamin refers to went over Ha'penny Bridge.

Worked Saturdays and occasional weekdays at TruForm on Clumber Street, around 1965/66 I would think. Next door to Spalls and across from Skinner & Rook and Linneys. Ladies department was best, unless it was raining, when they came in just to keep dry. Sitting low down peeking up skirts gets boring after a while. The firm had a Pakistani Geordie salesman; I couldn't understand a single word he said but he seemed to do ok. We were on commission, which was double on certain lines. On my second day, I cut my hour's lunch break down to 15 minutes so I could earn a few bob more, but was sent bac

Like all the Germans now speak English, Fly.

Anyone go to see this at the Arena on 27 September and would like to review it?

Anyone participate in the inter-sixth form social get togethers with HPGS?

No problem with HM Brenda. We need a Head of State and she makes a pretty good job of it. But Sir Alan Fitztightly, Runner of the Bath, we can do without.

Thanks Smiffy and Fly. A fascinating article. I also remember that as the 4 o'clock train left for Nottingham a through express was scheduled to run through heading north. I thought it was the Elizabethan but my 1960 eastern region timetable shows this not to have been the case. Could it have been the Centenary? I cannot find the timings for this and assume it had been discontinued by 1960.

I spent many happy hours on Grantham station in the late 50s and well remember the prototype Deltic. Caught the train from Basford North so no restrictions, but 'all trainspotters for Nottingham and Derby must leave on the four o'clock train'. Got thrown off only once, for burning my initials into a bench with a red hot poker out of the fire, and quite right too. One thing I can picture but think I might have dreamt it; was there a turning triangle alongside the running shed?

Had one each for a good few years, and worth every penny. We are fortunate in Greater Manchester to be able to use our bus pass for free travel on the Metrolink tram service, and on train journeys within the GM area.

What's pink and wrinkled, and hangs out your pants? Yer mam!

Although he often popped up on TV, I will always associate him with the Dennis Potter Nigel Barton plays of the 1960s.

Do you think it is just possible to remember and hope without wearing a poppy?

I wouldn't mind having a go at re-living my life, knowing all of the critical points, and see if where I end up is significantly different.

When my grandkids moan about being bored I have to tell them that when I was their age I used to have to make my own boredom.