bbishop

Clive, you do realise you are writing about my mother. Called up in 1942, actually from Rhyl, basic training in Wrexham, then offered cook, typist or driver. She rejected all of them! So they were stuck with a gobby Welsh girl wanting to go on active service. At which point they offered her searchlights. She was initially based outside St Albans and she spent her war 10 foot up in the air, focussing the beam. The article mentions pick axe handles and if there were reports of downed German aircrew, they sent out the ATS girls in pairs. Mum's weapon of choice was actually a baseball bat. Any Germans, meeting 5' 2" of Gog wielding such a weapon, soon had their hands in the air. They were later moved to Surrey, where their main task was to point damaged Allied bombers to emergency airfields. And yes, they were awarded the Active Service medal. Mum's is now held by the Royal Artillery. Bill

I'll ask the question in TNM, knowing we have three Midland Railway enthusiasts who can answer for their railway. It is apparent, from my research into the London & South Western Railway, that some directorships were regional. So there would be a director representing Devon, another Dorset, another Hampshire. There was always a couple of bankers and, after the acquisition of Southampton Docks in 1892, a couple of shipping magnates. But were the regional directorships typical of other railways? Bill

welcome back, Brian, and this time don't call an artiodactyla a perissodactyla.

I never had a murder trial when empanelled on a jury but, were the death penalty extant, I would have voted "not guilty". I find the act of killing anyone abhorrent. Lock them up for life, 24 hours a day in the cell, fed on bread, water and unlimited fags - fine, but killing them - no.

To the first paragraph - GOOD - although I hope the judge can distinguish between clinical responsibility and administrative responsibility. Consultants should have the former but not the latter. To the second paragraph - NO. Judges already have the power to insist on attendance. However the last thing they want is for the convicted party to kick off during sentencing. I'm not sure if an adjustment to the sentencing guidelines (adding 10% to the sentence for example) would actually help and one can't add 10% to a whole life sentence. Regarding Letby, I think that, at some point during the trial, she finally realised what she had done and cracked up. I don't think she is long for this world, but it could be either suicide or murder.

I agree about black humour - it certainly extends to volunteers. I'm getting old. I decided to put on a long wash (2½ hours) then go out for a walk. Unfortunately both sets of house keys were in the wash. Walk cancelled. Bill

and you were the 92, 208th person to cycle to the top of the Grand Canyon.

But do you know how? It's not in Wikipedia, you have to access the furthest corners of the dark web to obtain this information. Winston crept out of the Führerbunker at dead of night, crawled across the Tiergarten, into the Zoologischer Garten and released the Hippopotamus (name of Glücklich). They paddled along the Landvehrkanal, slipped into the Bunker where Glücklich performed the dastardly deed. Unfortunately the web doesn't record how he did it.

Phil, Ronnie Biggs was a petty thief and wasn't a member of either gang. He was brought into the team to provide a train driver. Leonard Field was given a "drink" to burn down Leatherslade Farm. He didn't.

I read a couple of interesting articles today. In The Grauniad, there is an article about four Welsh distilleries, including Penderyn, being awarded protected geographical indication status. More worrying for TNM members, one of our number has had an accident at a level crossing. The article in Today's Railway Europe states that it happened in Poland and it is entitled "SM42 verses SUV". Bill

Wheeltappers is a funny old place. There are threads on cats, on dogs and for people who get out of bed before six in the morning. Then I don't see posts objecting to threads about our furry friends or to insomniac modellers. So if people don't like a thread then maybe raise their objection once then afterwards, just stay away. Thanks for the resurrection, Phil. As a straight male, I am posting this in support of the thread. However it is really the responsibility of our LGBTetc community to maintain it - but without phobic opposition. I can see Andy's point of view. He doesn't need a thread blowing up in his face, but I am deeply concerned that one person's continued hostility can close down a thread. That way lies ... Bill

As a cyclist, I dislike being behind a diesel vehicle than a petrol one. Bill

One should never use steel wool as a scenic material. It catches fire across a 12volt supply. Bill

Geek, thank you for your post, to which I am totally supportive. Many people on RMWeb will have known the late Chris Foren and his travails in coming out. Keep posting and I expect a community will form around you. You have my complete support. Bill

Kiss them? Gosh, you are kinky! As Middlesex have hung on tonight, I'm at Lord's tomorrow, where I can watch the second best wicket keeper in the country - Ben Foakes. And the best, well that is Amy Jones. Both she and Sophie Ecclestone could walk into any county team.

How about a Modelu of Richard in mackintosh and rubber boots?

Are you on piece work rates? If so, yes.

Phil, how about a bottom of the range Yeti.

Could someone send me a PM when you lot stop posting pornography on TNM. I need to withdraw until then. Bill

Sorry, a bit late to this discussion as I use my Handy for brief conversations. I very much agree with Flavio. AS a CFR, I do not diagnose my patient. I merely use my skills and tools to determine whether my patient is "big sick", advise control, then keep the patient alive until the cavalry turns up. Ok, there can be a bit more than that at times, but always worth keeping to the "KISS" principle. And I might be panicking inside, but externally it is just "could I give you some oxygen, please?"

Two T20 games should have been played today at Lord's. An internal MCC game, in which a friend was playing, then Middlesex CC v Surrey CC. Both were Ladies matches. Sadly the rain won and I spent the afternoon in the First Aid room watching the Tour de France. But lovely to be in the Long Room when it was 90% occupied by the fair sex. Bill

Lord's again tomorrow.

The story isn't quite that simple! The 1925 transfers received tenders from '700' class locos and were 13' wheelbase. The 1928 transfers eceived tenders from K10 class locos and were 14' wheelbase. There were later transfers (both ways?) so 707 received a 14' wheelbase tender in 1955. Bill

Just a comment that the railway referred to is the Metropolitan District Railway.

I was on the television last night - the Women's T20 game at Lord's on one of the Sky channels. It can still be found on BBC sports on the webby thing. It is called Electric England at 1 min 50 secs, I am in the background in green as the Aussie fans leave. Bill