FAREWELL EDWARD ELGAR

    ---               ---

Farewell Edward Elgar

Farewell Glaisdale moor

Farewell Gawsworth Hall, 

Ryton Rig, and Ipswich Toon.

Farewell Harrogate Spray,

Farewell Macclesfield, 

Farewell York and Weston,

And everywhere between.

We have bluebirded over, 

The white cliffs of Dover,

And sung with the Rastrick Brass Band,

We have driven the Loire,

Seen Salisbury's spire,

and skipped along Whitby sand.

Farewell Harrogate Blog,

You have served us right grand,

We lay you to rest as we leave,

 This green and pleasant land. 

UNDEFEATED IN 2008

The esteemed bunch of intellectuals below were photographed during a tense quiz night at the famous Dick Turpin in York. What was the name of the film released in 1949 and based on a book by Scott Fitzgerald starring  Alan Ladd? We pulled that one out of nowhere and won the quiz. Talk about highway robbery. At least two of the team are making an effort.

SNOW- SNO IT ISN'T - YES IT IS

The top two photographs were taken on 2nd January en-route to visit friends in Malton. Most of you will have already guessed that the second photo is included because the field shown contains gallops used by the nearby thoroughbred racing stable.

We had a great afternoon at the house of Romey (Gourlay), with her sister Marty and friend Jenny (Laverack) and their respective husbands Roger Willis, Bill Thompson and John Capstick. Sorry no photographs this time, but plenty of reminiscing. Romey, Marty, Jenny and Kerry all grew up (slight exaggeration) together in The Avenue, and went to St Andrews school together. Kerry is the only one who has moved away to live.

Afterwards we visited a photographer in the town to have some 35mm slides digitised, and lo and behold I found out that I knew the shop owners. I was at Amotherby school with Audrey Fairweather, the lady in the shop and at Scarborough school with her husband,David Wakely. If we had not given a contact name there would have been absolutely no recognition by any of us. So after bemoaning the fact that in all our visits to Malton over the years we have seen no one we recognise, we have now caught up with a large number of past acquaintances. Maybe if we walk round with large labels on our coats we will probably find we know everyone.

The three bottom photographs are included as supporting evidence for the above comments in italics.

A KID AT HEART

STAR PLANS TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

The star of the blockbuster Pantomime Dick Whittington, has announced that she will be touring SE Asia and Australia in 2008. The star's entourage and french management team 'Liaison International Australian Management', (LIAM) are due to touch down in Melbourne around the 27th March. The photographs show the star at a private party following the sell out performance in Solihull on 29th December and again celebrating the new year with a rendition of Old Long Ago, which we suspect is some reference to her uncle. But which one?

A CANAL TOO FAR

The top picture is taken at Ballsall Common near Birmingham, where Kerry took a trip down memory lane to where she began her teaching career.

After the Solihull Panto we spent a busy Sunday with Rob and Sanna Rolls and their lovely kids, Becky, Emma and Jonah in Bromsgrove. We had a great day playing with the Christmas presents including a "Flying Helicopter" and then had a delightful walk across the fields, then along the canal to The Queens Head Inn --A very salubrious hostelry, as can be seen in the photos. During the walk we managed to drain one of the canal locks of all its water. We do hope we have not flooded England again.