tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314194602024-03-19T11:02:56.836+00:00Arthur Pewty's maggot sandwichHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.comBlogger991125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-83028869872114048352024-03-17T11:15:00.000+00:002024-03-17T11:15:11.782+00:00Leaks.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2BtZ5EEIs0mxwDF2K_NLMDkIcnk6PSDWy1qHOBFhqq3MvPI5zzGO2ajn7KjEIBbSimovmT9mJr1TvZw0Fff-HZ-RUiue02tIKFCwJBlB8qga0g_F7tewTYepRKAj7QH-q5tsN-1WWfEPZwDhyphenhyphenZyFjqMevX0tiQIBq8zUZWjNolSg8Zn0X5g7/s4032/PXL_20240310_164321641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2BtZ5EEIs0mxwDF2K_NLMDkIcnk6PSDWy1qHOBFhqq3MvPI5zzGO2ajn7KjEIBbSimovmT9mJr1TvZw0Fff-HZ-RUiue02tIKFCwJBlB8qga0g_F7tewTYepRKAj7QH-q5tsN-1WWfEPZwDhyphenhyphenZyFjqMevX0tiQIBq8zUZWjNolSg8Zn0X5g7/w640-h360/PXL_20240310_164321641.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the recent period of extremely heavy rain, I made a number of trips on the <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/99/" target="_blank">99 bus</a>. Nothing unusual with that, but one thing I was not alone in noticing that whilst sitting in a seat on the lower deck of the double decker bus, was that rainwater was coming through both the windows, and from the ceiling. It appeared that the window seals and joints in the bus body were letting in large amounts of rainwater. This was not isolated to one vehicle - I experienced rainwater leaks on at least two of the Arriva bus company's <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/99/" target="_blank">99</a> buses on the same day. I wrote about the problems with local bus unreliability last week, which prompted another bus user, who wishes to remain anonymous, to write the following comment, which I publish with their permission:- "<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Regarding your comments on Arriva I agree they are terrible. On Monday of last week I was coming home from Bexleyheath on a 229 (Arriva) when we got to the bottom of Gravel Hill near the A2 there was a broken down 229. We stopped and the driver handed the driver of the broken down bus some keys probably to re boot the bus or some such and waited for the keys. When we reached Hurst Road in Bexley there was another broken down bus that I assume was a 269 (Arriva) that was so ashamed of its self wasn’t showing its number. I only assume it to be a 269 as it was something of a crusty looking bus and the 269 route has plenty of those. Going to Bromley on the 269 has turned into a game of roulette. Will I get there? Will the route be cut short? Will I get home? Hopefully the SL3 will improve this but I’m not on the route. Well I am as they are on diversion at the moment but it would sail past me if I tried to stop it</i></span>".</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">More rumours have been circulating about the medium to long term viability of the large Morrisons supermarket in Erith. Morrisons has revealed it cut more than 8,800 jobs last year – almost 8% of its total workforce – while making a loss of more than £1 billion after a debt-fuelled private equity takeover in 2021. The UK’s fifth largest supermarket chain reported total finance costs of £735 million, up from £590 million the year before, according to its latest annual accounts for the year to the 29th October. It was the second consecutive year in which Morrisons lost more than £1 billion, after reporting a loss before tax of £1.5 billion in 2022. The supermarket chain has struggled to compete against the rapidly expanding discounters Aldi and Lidl and a resurgent Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Aldi overtook Morrisons to become the fourth largest supermarket in the UK in 2022. The rumours, which at this time are unconfirmed, state that Morrisions is looking to rationalise its' property estate, and may possibly sell the Erith store to Aldi or Lidl. Commercially this would free up some cash for the debt ridden Morrisons, although it would weaken its market penetration in the area. The chain was bought by the US private equity investor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton,_Dubilier_%26_Rice" target="_blank">Clayton Dubilier & Rice</a> (CD&R) in October 2021, in a deal that marked a move away from the ethos of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Morrison" target="_blank">Sir Ken Morrison</a>, who built the company up from his father’s market stall in Bradford. Morrisons’ net debt obligations were £3.2 billion before the CD&R takeover. The parent company – a legacy of the takeover called Market Topco – reported that net debts at the end of 2023 increased to £8.6 billion. Borrowing was up last year after the acquisition of McColl’s convenience store chain for £201 million in late 2022. As the company’s debt pile has grown, it has also had to contend with rapidly changing conditions. Interest rates have soared since the takeover, while shoppers have been more cautious about spending during the cost of living crisis. In my and others experience, the quality and availability of produce in Morrisons has markedly declined since the CD&R takeover; in fact more than one person has said to me that they feel the supermarket chain is in "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>managed decline</i></span>". The steep losses have prompted Morrisons’ owners to look at ways to reduce its debts. In January Morrisons sold 337 petrol station forecourts to Motor Fuel Group in a £2.5 billion deal. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3uEw4eS_YcGLV_11V4qkpXf-rkuyvmEN6umyWrefXU82z_oLdTOqCvlkJCcpvuwbRM6NzOUaq5C02A-93HEZgggXVqshRZGhUhQvtsL5pFKTVqLoeWPPdLpLa65NZ7eT27id_8lBeHwezgOUE_fg1hV5mKhlJ9u8S28Mpq4qBl1EyYTqMHaI/s1267/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240312102700.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1267" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3uEw4eS_YcGLV_11V4qkpXf-rkuyvmEN6umyWrefXU82z_oLdTOqCvlkJCcpvuwbRM6NzOUaq5C02A-93HEZgggXVqshRZGhUhQvtsL5pFKTVqLoeWPPdLpLa65NZ7eT27id_8lBeHwezgOUE_fg1hV5mKhlJ9u8S28Mpq4qBl1EyYTqMHaI/w640-h422/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240312102700.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week I had an extended email conversation with a reader located in the USA. He had some questions regarding <a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2024/02/commemoration.html" target="_blank">the recent article I wrote on the creation and use of the world's first digital programmable computer - Colossus</a>. The person (who for personal reasons chooses to remain anonymous) had a family connection with cryptography and code breaking. Back in 2012 I wrote an article on the connection that the historic Hall Place had with wartime code breaking and other intelligence activities. I thought it was time I revisited and updated the piece. Hall Place has to be one of the most historic and picturesque locations in the whole of Bexley Borough. The main building dates back to 1537, when it was built for a wealthy business man and former Lord Mayor of London, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Champneys#" target="_blank">Sir John Champneys</a>. In rather more recent times, during the Second World War, it was home to many American service personnel, some of whom worked for the OSS (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Strategic_Services" target="_blank">Office of Strategic Services</a> – the predecessor to the CIA) who used it as a base to train agents to be dropped into occupied Europe. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fleming" target="_blank">Ian Fleming</a> was based at Hall Place for a period when he was acting as an intelligence liaison officer; it is thought that some of the roots to the James Bond novels may have started whilst he was stationed there. In addition to the OSS, there was also a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Y</i></span>” radio intercept station, code named “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Santa Fe</i></span>”. The grounds were filled by antenna towers and long wire aerials, feeding then state of the art H.F receivers located in the main building, staffed by members of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Intelligence_Service" target="_blank">U.S Army 6811th Signals Intelligence unit</a>. These powerful <a href="https://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm" target="_blank">RCA AR-88 communication receivers</a> were used to intercept German radio traffic, including both Enigma and Lorenz ciphers. The encrypted signals were then passed by secure telephone lines up to Bletchley Park for decryption. The interception of weak and sometimes garbled signals made for very strenuous work; operators would spend eight hour shifts listening intently via headphones; any missed digits might make the message indecipherable, and possibly leading to lost lives – operator would often end their mammoth listening session with shaking hands and bloodshot eyes. The Great Hall and Tudor Kitchen housed the set room and cryptographers work rooms, some of the men’s billets were up in the Great Chamber and the Parlour was used as a mess room. The roof was stringed with radio wires and outbuildings were erected in the gardens. The GI’s made an impression on the neighbourhood, attending dances at the Black Prince, and playing softball on the Hall Place lawns. Some observers noted said that to their knowledge none of the local’s ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>ever inquired what we were up to at Hall Place</i></span>.’ It was one of the only intercept stations that was permitted a copy of the “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Elephant Book</i></span>” – a painstaking compiled list of German military call signs from previous, decrypted messages. This gave an indication of just how important the stately home and its’ contribution to the war effort was. Today the historic building and its’ formal gardens are open to the public, and the main building is available for hire for special occasions. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As of June 10, 2024, all cat owners in England must ensure their feline companions are micro chipped. This new legislation aims to significantly increase the chances of lost or stolen cats being reunited with their owners. Previously, micro chipping was not mandatory for cats in England, though it was highly recommended. With estimates suggesting millions of cats were un-chipped, the government implemented this new rule after a public consultation received overwhelming support (99% in favour). The microchip itself is a tiny rice-grain sized device implanted under the cat's skin between the shoulder blades. It holds a unique identification number that can be read by a scanner at veterinary clinics and shelters. When a lost cat is found, a scan can quickly reveal the owner's contact information, allowing for a much swifter homecoming. So, what are the benefits of micro chipping? Increased chance of reunion:- If a cat escapes or gets lost, a microchip significantly increases the likelihood of it being returned home. Scanning a stray cat can immediately identify its owner, allowing for a swift and happy reunion. Reduced burden on shelters:- Many cats end up in shelters each year, and without microchips, reuniting them with their owners proves difficult. Micro chipping reduces the number of unclaimed cats in shelters, freeing up resources to help other animals in need. Peace of mind for owners:- Knowing your cat is micro chipped provides immense peace of mind. Even the most indoor cats can find themselves outdoors unexpectedly, and a microchip ensures they can be identified and returned safely. Owners who fail to microchip their cat by the deadline risk a fine of up to £500. However, the focus is on encouraging responsible pet ownership rather than punishment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAysx7Y4fUowXQc2La4hnmz15vP0MUJ2TWxPqZYUOPFNge9ESAqK71BgMqlGXS8E_65HV164N2svVjhehuXn98AKEryvWqMweYU1loOEXRUrIY3KuVm4rzkiEo1zgWxyu4tfLs64FrQjUdoUAfEg1Jooz6mbpMiiHnlQPYCZBnMzCmVFScKlH/s937/Jimi%20Hendrix%20Rotosound%20promo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="783" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAysx7Y4fUowXQc2La4hnmz15vP0MUJ2TWxPqZYUOPFNge9ESAqK71BgMqlGXS8E_65HV164N2svVjhehuXn98AKEryvWqMweYU1loOEXRUrIY3KuVm4rzkiEo1zgWxyu4tfLs64FrQjUdoUAfEg1Jooz6mbpMiiHnlQPYCZBnMzCmVFScKlH/w534-h640/Jimi%20Hendrix%20Rotosound%20promo.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Popular local Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Saveoursplashpark/timeline?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">The Belvedere Splash</a> recently posted a short piece on a former local company that have had a massive influence on modern, folk and classical music. I had actually written an article on the company some years ago. The company was, and is called RotoSound, a company almost unheard of if you are not a musician. RotoSound are the largest manufacturer and distributor of musical instrument strings in the world. The company has been existence since 1952; it was established by an engineer and amateur inventor called James Howe. Howe had seen the spy thriller "The Third Man"and had been impressed by the evocative music in the film, which was played on a Zither by a master musician by the name of Anton Karas. So impressed was James Howe by this that he determined to learn how to play the zither, and ended up studying for two years to perfect his playing technique. Zithers are not exactly common in the UK nowadays, and back in the early 1950's they were almost unheard of. James, over the two years he spent learning the instrument, had amassed a collection of something like three hundred zithers of varying designs. His greatest challenge was getting strings for the instruments, which were totally unavailable in austerity Britain. James tried violin and cut down piano strings on his collection of zithers, but they just did not sound authentic. James Howe at last ran out of Zither strings and using his ingenuity as an engineer and musician quickly designed a winding machine and invaded the South East area of Singer Sewing Machine Shops for vast quantities of nylon yarn, and electrical stores for vast quantities of fuse wires. James Howe developed the technique and took over three years before he completed a 10 foot long machine of extraordinary proportions. This machine was made lovingly from stainless steel, black ebony, with ivory fittings, and would produce any string from violin, viola, cello, double bass, clavichord, harpsichord, piano strings, cymbalum, hurdy-gurdy, zither strings from Prim zithers, concert zithers, Elege zithers, Lyon zithers, Mandolin zithers and the many many ranges of zithers. This machine would make strings quickly and furthering his interest was to become the instrument by which over a period of the next 10 years, the various original and authentic designs was to be formulated based upon James Howe’s knowledge of the workings of a music string which took into consideration the pitch strain, breaking strain, amplitude, nodal sequence, harmonic frequency, and the harmonic sequence. These are some of the features that are included in making good strings. James soon diversified into making strings for pianos and clavichords, and not too long after, they started making electric guitar strings. In 1959 he started up in business employing some six people, including his brother Ronald and sister Joan. Among the first clients were The Shadows, Beatles, Rolling Stones, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, all strings for the famous JMI / Vox Company, and all of the strings for the famous Burns Guitar Company. John Entwistle of The Who (considered by many rock music critics as the greatest bass player of all time) became both a technical consultant and a product promoter for RotoSound in 1966. In an interview some years later, John Entwistle said:-"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It was in 1966 and I was looking for that Danelectro sound again. I tried everybody’s strings but the E and the A’s just didn’t work. It was the same with Rotosound but there was something about them that was almost there but not quite. To solve the problem I got in touch with James How and told him his D and G strings were great but the E and A didn’t vibrate properly. He told me to take my bass along to Rotosound and have some strings made until they got it right. After a couple of hours, we realised that the problem wasn’t in the wire winding, but in the core of the string. You could see that the strings vibrated in a big circle and that was wrong; the core needed to be thicker. We also made the overall gauges a bit heavier and they sent me away with 12 sets to use. A couple of days later they called and asked if I objected to them putting my name to the strings and selling them commercially. I told them I didn’t mind as long as they kept me supplied with free strings! But then we had to do the same with medium and short scale strings because I had loads of different basses by then. Those strings, the RS66 sets, were the first that vibrated properly</i></span>.”As more and more professional people sought the use of these strings the James Howe Company which had then grown to some 40 people with a production area of some 3,000 sq. ft., started to expand the company still further but on more professional lines. They created the brand name of RotoSound, which is still in use today. The company also diversified into the manufacture of sterile, stainless steel wire for use in medical procedures such as certain types of catheterisation. These wires were very similar to the banjo strings, and the samples that James How supplied were to be the first of over 20,000 wires in different types to be produced for this medical operation. These wires were distributed by Portex of Smith Industries. The company was formed and a brand image selected for the new medical company and it was called the Selflex Company Limited. It was to provide guide wires for many famous surgeons and doctors throughout the world for heart surgery, cardiac installation and lung procedures. By the late 1970's RotoSound strings were being used by The Damned, The Sex Pistols, The Stranglers, Sham 69, Siouxsie and the the Banshees, The Buzzcocks and The Jam. The American market had by this time opened up, and The UK factory based in Bexleyheath at this time was working night shifts to keep up with demand. Some time later in 1994, James Howe died, and the company was taken over by James’s two sons Martyn and Jason How. In 2010 a connection between Vox and RotoSound that had been dormant since the late 1960's was revived. An email from a gentleman in Arizona, USA sparked off interest in a dormant product that James How had only sold as prototypes back in the late 1960’s. The RotoSound fuzz pedal was originally manufactured to James How’s specifications back in 1967. As James was good friends with Dick Denney (who he was in the RAF with during the war) and Tom Jennings, who was the Managing Director of JMI / Vox at that time. James had Vox build the original prototypes, today only a few still exist, probably no more than a dozen. Some of these early pedals got into some famous hands – Jimmy Page for one was captured on film in France with Led Zeppelin using one in the early 1970’s. This heritage caused quite a stir within the company, and also amongst musicians. so it was decided that upon close inspection RotoSound would ‘copy’ the original pedal with only a few small mods to bring it up to date along with a more usable specification. The first unit came off the production line in September 2012. The production run was limited to 2000 units which were all sold. RotoSound outgrew their Bexleyheath factory, and have now relocated to a bigger factory in Sevenoaks, and the company is still the premier supplier of musical instrument strings for the world, nearly seven decades after they first set up shop. <a href="https://www.rotosound.com/players/" target="_blank">It would be nearly impossible to name all of the musicians who have used, and continue to use RotoSound strings, but you can see a list by clicking here</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztuvPjWX0gEfHAuqCOfQw6NmpFu3Rarlt8gVR6ZPGDQApE5Eyt7vLwpINhuXfUpOazk-R8MEf0RZvi2wU5jpks3v5X0gby9-MipTaxQoKvCGH0PtQ1f2K8T23_CnFvq_bSq8ApWaYVeWUL7hfwzx3DmSYwEWwi6r-fXTw6ju7SXzy3mvh2a3/s4032/PXL_20240315_163717393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztuvPjWX0gEfHAuqCOfQw6NmpFu3Rarlt8gVR6ZPGDQApE5Eyt7vLwpINhuXfUpOazk-R8MEf0RZvi2wU5jpks3v5X0gby9-MipTaxQoKvCGH0PtQ1f2K8T23_CnFvq_bSq8ApWaYVeWUL7hfwzx3DmSYwEWwi6r-fXTw6ju7SXzy3mvh2a3/w360-h640/PXL_20240315_163717393.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmfoods" target="_blank">Farmfoods</a> store in Pier Road, Erith installed Artificial Intelligence facial recognition cameras last week, as the sign shown in the photograph above illustrates - click on the photo to see a larger version. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_recognition_system" target="_blank">Facial recognition technology</a> (FRT) is scanning shoppers' faces in a growing number of UK shops, sparking a debate between security and privacy. Proponents, including some retailers and the government, argue it deters shoplifting, while critics warn it is a mass surveillance tool that infringes on civil liberties. <span style="text-align: left;">Retailers like Sports Direct and the Co-op have installed FRT systems to combat rising shoplifting rates. These cameras scan faces and compare them against databases of suspected shoplifters. Supporters claim it improves security and reduces shoplifting incidents. Shoplifting is on the rise, and these cameras, linked to databases of known offenders, can alert security when a flagged individual enters. Stores report a significant drop in shoplifting after implementing the technology. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Privacy campaigners are wary. They argue FRT discourages free movement and turns innocent shoppers into suspects. Additionally, studies suggest racial bias in facial recognition algorithms, raising concerns of discriminatory enforcement. Secondly, the constant monitoring creates a sense of being watched, which some find uncomfortable and unnecessary for a simple shopping trip. Thirdly, there is a worry about how this data is stored and used. Who has access to it, and for what purposes? </span><span style="text-align: left;">The use of FRT in shops is legally murky. The UK has strong data protection laws, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Commissioner%27s_Office" target="_blank">Information Commissioner's Office</a> (ICO) is investigating its legality. </span>The use of FR in shops is currently unregulated in the UK. The legal challenge from privacy campaigners against Co-op's use of FR could set a precedent. The debate on FR in shops is far from settled. The government seems supportive, while the ICO grapples with regulations. The outcome will likely depend on a balancing act between security concerns and privacy rights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is from popular public transport journalist and YouTuber <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@geofftech2" target="_blank">Geoff Marshall</a>, who in this film rides the entire length of the new London bus Super Loop, starting at Thamesmead. You can send comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LWndjmKXolU?si=w82QldpGTn8rOxkJ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-23046072187124829682024-03-10T11:45:00.001+00:002024-03-10T11:46:25.661+00:00Reliable?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVyguEIlEhm1cSOfrOMPriiii6kDeRBsvKi1tXAbH_w0N92lVkyk2n6qyyXgCl4cgwqzPbw0_1KoVFHI2R_8TzQBvD_uLoHFY5gmgyucvVb_jD0q75orwL5xB2jqybxI4dS3aKp7wnI47a7jJmpKkfVsHtgup8XTTLSVwWskH9hb5CTrLkzPR/s4032/PXL_20240307_123740808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVyguEIlEhm1cSOfrOMPriiii6kDeRBsvKi1tXAbH_w0N92lVkyk2n6qyyXgCl4cgwqzPbw0_1KoVFHI2R_8TzQBvD_uLoHFY5gmgyucvVb_jD0q75orwL5xB2jqybxI4dS3aKp7wnI47a7jJmpKkfVsHtgup8XTTLSVwWskH9hb5CTrLkzPR/w640-h360/PXL_20240307_123740808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Problems with the reliability - or lack thereof with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva_London" target="_blank">Arriva</a> bus fleet continue. I took the photograph above on Wednesday afternoon in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.476313,0.195241,3a,75y,179.23h,90.28t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soXRhIkgROmt0GP6pctBRcg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DoXRhIkgROmt0GP6pctBRcg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D87.09154%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Slade Green Road, Slade Green</a> - click on the photo to see a larger version. The Bexleyheath bound 99 bus had broken down due to a serious electrical failure. The driver was unable to shut the front or rear passenger doors, and a loud alarm was sounding, which the driver was unable to stop. He tried shutting down the bus and restarting it, but this did not fix the fault. He then ordered all of the passengers - including myself off the bus to wait for the following one - which fortunately turned up pretty quickly. This incident serves to highlight the ongoing problems <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva_London" target="_blank">Arriva</a> are having with its fleet of buses operating in the local area. The level of mechanical and electrical unreliability is far higher than could reasonably be accepted. As I have previously written, an overheard conversation gave some explanation as to exactly why local buses appear to be breaking down more frequently than before. I was a passenger on a Woolwich bound 99 bus before Christmas, when it stopped in Erith town centre for a change of drivers. As is often the case during these changeovers, the drivers had a chat; I happened to be sitting in the seat nearest the front of the bus, opposite the drivers cab, and was able to hear the conversation quite clearly. The two drivers were bemoaning the fact that the buses they drove were breaking down far more regularly than in the past. They both agreed that the reason for this was down to penny pinching by the bus operator,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva_London" target="_blank"> Arriva</a>. Apparently buses used to have a minor mechanical service every week, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva_London" target="_blank">Arriva</a> had recently instructed their engineers to carry out the minor service on a monthly basis to save on parts and labour costs. This the drivers agreed was the main cause for the increase in mechanical breakdowns. I can only report on the overheard conversation and cannot guarantee its veracity; what do you think of the situation? Email me at the usual address - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRgWRg4YkFd-qSWipNI14SfFBMOviLZnn-pJCCUfxrfCAixS5gH8NwkJ78EYFprf9iRTclLEFUwrPDY-gXX7Y2BOvRrdLVVHDBBvoVAak7fQd4PpIJG8GFa3mKrg5VVLLQonee-c2KR0ZF5yq7Nxz0V0L5LPW7C_OwQSjO8iH4EkEaKEMIzf7/s1656/Tilbury%20to%20Gravesend%20Ferry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1656" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRgWRg4YkFd-qSWipNI14SfFBMOviLZnn-pJCCUfxrfCAixS5gH8NwkJ78EYFprf9iRTclLEFUwrPDY-gXX7Y2BOvRrdLVVHDBBvoVAak7fQd4PpIJG8GFa3mKrg5VVLLQonee-c2KR0ZF5yq7Nxz0V0L5LPW7C_OwQSjO8iH4EkEaKEMIzf7/w640-h418/Tilbury%20to%20Gravesend%20Ferry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The historic <a href="https://www.jetstreamtours.com/the-tours/ferry" target="_blank">Tilbury to Gravesend ferry</a> service, which has operated across the River Thames for centuries, is set to cease operations at the end of March 2024. This closure marks the end of an era for the two communities it connected and has sparked concerns about the impact on commuters, businesses, and the wider <a href="https://thamesfreeport.com/" target="_blank">Thames Freeport development</a>. The decision to close the ferry stems from financial constraints faced by both Kent County Council and Thurrock Council, who jointly subsidise the service. Thurrock Council announced in October 2023 that they could no longer afford to contribute to the rising costs, leaving Kent County Council to shoulder the entire financial burden. Despite attempts to find a sustainable solution, no agreement could be reached, leading to the service's closure. The ferry's discontinuation has been met with disappointment and concern from various stakeholders. Local businesses, like cafes and restaurants that relied on foot traffic from ferry passengers, are worried about the impact on their livelihoods. Commuters who depend on the ferry for their daily travel face longer and potentially more expensive journeys via alternative routes, such as buses or the Dartford Crossing. Furthermore, the closure raises questions about the future of the <a href="https://thamesfreeport.com/" target="_blank">Thames Freeport development</a>, a major regeneration project on both sides of the river. Proponents of the ferry argued that it played a crucial role in connecting the two sides of the river and facilitating the free movement of people and goods, which is essential for the success of the project. While the future of the ferry service remains uncertain, efforts are underway to explore alternative solutions. Consultations were held in January 2024 to gather public feedback on the potential future of the service. The outcome of these consultations is yet to be seen, but it is clear that the closure of the <a href="https://www.jetstreamtours.com/the-tours/ferry" target="_blank">Tilbury to Gravesend ferry</a> service marks a significant loss for the local communities and raises questions about the future of cross-river connectivity in the Thames Estuary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZVg1U8-8BCCzlc5jUUM_bbeK7G6GlGuHWeQ-L_WFrId2jzcyN9HBrAte5C_M26mfIMJMNAoSOZyWNkV1LX7NGU9vLhuRPLUy7jZKfLYOx6hUo_ftJrcc6V9nvO9N7y5xcaMZuRhxMQZhMZbHbOXOA_rTGdREHEnH1lVjx6Nbj8BPKpWyKQX8/s1600/LEO%20large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZVg1U8-8BCCzlc5jUUM_bbeK7G6GlGuHWeQ-L_WFrId2jzcyN9HBrAte5C_M26mfIMJMNAoSOZyWNkV1LX7NGU9vLhuRPLUy7jZKfLYOx6hUo_ftJrcc6V9nvO9N7y5xcaMZuRhxMQZhMZbHbOXOA_rTGdREHEnH1lVjx6Nbj8BPKpWyKQX8/w640-h398/LEO%20large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2024/02/commemoration.html" target="_blank">Two weeks ago I published an article on Colossus</a> - the world's first programmable digital computer, which was used by the wartime code breakers at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> to crack the Nazi high command <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_cipher" target="_blank">Lorenz Cipher</a>. After the end of World War II, the ten Collosi were either dismantled, or covertly moved from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCHQ" target="_blank">GCHQ</a>, where they were used to break Soviet and Warsaw Pact ciphers for at least a decade during the Cold War. The engineers, programmers and operators of this ground breaking group of computers mostly went back to their pre - war civilian careers and due to the exceedingly high security around the whole project, nothing was said, and the whole idea of a digital, programmable computer was swept under the carpet - in the UK at least; in the USA academics picked up o the idea and a computer called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC" target="_blank">ENIAC</a> was created; but the story of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC" target="_blank">ENIAC</a> is for another occasion. In the UK, a war weary population still suffering under rationing looked for some way to lighten the post war gloom. A company called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Lyons_and_Co." target="_blank">Joseph Lyons and Co</a> were best known for their chain of tea shops and for the Lyons Corner Houses in the West End of London. The tea shops were slightly more up-market than their ABC (Aerated Bread Co) counterparts. They were notable for their interior design, from the 1920s Oliver P. Bernard being consultant artistic director. Until the 1940s they had a certain working-class chic, Situated on or near the corner of Coventry Street, the Strand and Tottenham Court Road, they and the Maison Lyons at Marble Arch and in Shaftesbury Avenue were large buildings on four or five floors, the ground floor of which was a food hall with counters for delicatessen, sweets and chocolates, cakes, fruit, flowers and more. As well as this they had hairdressing salons, telephone booths, theatre booking agencies and at one period a twice-a-day food delivery service. On the other floors were several restaurants, each with a different theme and all with their own musicians. For a time the Lyons Corner Houses were open 24 hours a day, and in their heyday each one employed in the region of 400 staff. They were colourful and bustling, with bright lights and ingenious window displays. In the post-war gloom, the Lyons Corner Houses, smarter and grander than the local tea shops, provided a degree of escapist relaxation. but by the 1950s and 60s they were more regarded as quick stops for busy shoppers where one could get a cup of tea and a snack or a cheap and filling meal. The tea shops always had a bakery counter at the front, and their signs, art nouveau gold lettering on white, were a familiar landmark. Before the Second World War service was to the table by uniformed waitresses, known as 'Nippies', but after the War the tea shops converted to cafeteria service. The management and Lyons was very forward thinking, and several of the board members were aware of the work that the Americans were carrying out on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC" target="_blank">ENIAC</a>, and the work that was being carried out at Cambridge university on a stored program, digitally programmable computer called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a>. They realised that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a> computer could be modified away from its primary purpose of carrying out complex scientific calculations, and instead be used to undertake work to assist in the running of a large company - the very first business use of a computer anywhere in the world. The catalyst came in 1947, following a trip to America by Thomas Thompson and Oliver Standingford, two managers with wide experience of clerical procedures. On their return they produced a report for the Lyons board which basically said that electronic computers hold the key to office efficiency and for £100,000 Lyons could build one themselves which would show a saving in office expenditure of £50,000 per year. As mentioned, at this time Cambridge University were involved in their own computer project, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a>. This was designed for academic calculations and quite inappropriate for office work but Lyons did see the potential in the new technology. However, they did not want to play a passive role merely keeping in touch and in due course acquiring machines as they came available from manufacturers. In this way they could not influence machine design and this they felt was essential if the problem of commercial clerical automation was to be sold successfully. Instead Lyons donated £3,000 to Cambridge, to help in their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a> project, on the understanding that Cambridge would give them advice when needed. The result was LEO - which stood for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LEO_(computer)" target="_blank">Lyons Electronic Office</a>. The LEO's makers were pioneers in software development and testing, and they refined the processes needed to run very large and complex computing jobs. These were truly early days of computer manufacture: there were no assembly-line robots, silicon chip fabricators and injection-mould plastics specialists forming a supply chain to build the LEO. Instead it was carpenters, plumbers, sheet-metal workers and engineers working on thermionic valves, switches, wires, ducting, resistors and power supplies. The LEO was built at a factory on Minerva Road in Acton, West London, and moved in crates to Cadby Hall, where it was assembled. The LEO was more or less the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a>: it sported 3,000 electronic valves, 32 storage tanks that held 32 numbers of 17 binary digits, and executed 650 instructions per second. An electronic key fob for a present day family car has more computing power. Later revisions of the LEO machine could share processor time across multiple scheduled work, known as multitasking these days, utilising spare capacity to run different jobs; it was a feature the machine's designers eventually turned into a business. The team also engaged in business process engineering and use of real-time analysis before these concepts actually entered the business arena. Also, the world's first woman business programmer worked on the LEO. LEO was capable of accounting for transaction data such as orders, supplies, invoices and complex payrolls in a fraction of the time it had taken clerks and conventional business machines. It was able to deliver management reports on the activities of the different business divisions in time for management to respond effectively, often at the end of the day in which the activities had taken place. A feature of the applications Lyons put onto LEO was the level of ambition. An application was not considered worthwhile unless it delivered an improved business process, entering the requisite transaction data into the computer once only to produce a multitude of outputs. Under the guidance of project manager John Simmons and with its very high calibre staff, the LEO team successfully launched what came to be known as the information age. Three versions of LEO were built; and mark one, two and three. All sold moderately well, but even by the standard of the day they were huge, expensive, power hungry machines. By the 1960s the Americans had captured much of the UK computer market. Their machines were better engineered, more reliable and above all, less expensive. With other British computer manufacturers suffering from the same American onslaught the British government supported the merger of British interests to counteract the imports. LEO merged with English-Electric and they in turn merged with other famous companies such as Marconi. In time British computer manufacture faded away. Incidentally, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDSAC" target="_blank">EDSAC</a> computer upon which LEO was based is being reconstructed / replicated by a group of volunteers at the <a href="https://www.tnmoc.org/" target="_blank">The National Museum of Computing</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">Although I have previously explained where the name of my blog originated, I feel that it was long enough ago, and I have picked up many recent readers, so that the story bears repeating; indeed I attended a meeting with several members of Bexley Council on Wednesday morning, I was talking to one council representative when she mentioned that she regularly read the Blog, and was curious as to how he name came about. I will now explain for those who are not aware. Back in 1987 I was working for a small but very influential <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_pewty/albums/72157625498072263/" target="_blank">Bexleyheath based pirate radio station called Radio Lumberjack</a>, which broadcast live every Saturday on 92.4 FM from 9am until midnight or later from a house off Bedonwell Road. The station played an eclectic mix of music and humour; much of the comedy material was written by the station staff. There were many spoof adverts, with commercials for fictional companies such as “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Bethlehem Motors – car faith healers – save money and save your soul! With one simple low cost prayer, we can have your vehicle back on the road</i></span>”. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Tacky’s Nightclub, with your host, Bland Groover</i></span>”. Also, “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Gaskets motor spares – suppliers of neo Georgian suspension, arc brake lights and stained glass windows</i></span>”. Best of all, a commercial for the Thamesmead Tourist Board, with a cod salsa song “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>it’s the place for fun, it’s the place for sun, come to Thamesmead – go on day trips to all the popular holiday destinations like the Belvedere Rift Valley – home of the world famous earwig farm; enquire at the Thamesmead Tourist Board office – the little green hut behind the bike sheds in Thamesmead High Street!</i></span>” It was all very slick and professional; the chap that ran the station was a big fan of Kenny Everett, but had his own unique style. Each presenter had their own introductory jingle – mine started with an incredulous voice – “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>oh my God.... It’s Arthur Pewty!</i></span>” followed by the sound of Stuka dive bombers, explosions and collapsing buildings, accompanied by a massed band of Daleks screaming “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Arthur Pewty, Arthur Pewty!</i></span>” It was all very over the top and surreal. My pseudonym came from the meek and mild insurance salesman Arthur Pewty from the famous Monty Python sketch about the marriage guidance counsellor. When I first started my evening show, I racked my brains to think of a suitably surreal and silly name for it. I had already got my nickname, and recently I had read a history of 1960’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderful_Radio_London" target="_blank">offshore station Radio London</a>, where <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel" target="_blank">John Peel</a> got his big break into radio. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel" target="_blank">John Peel</a> had a show called “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Perfumed Garden</i></span>” where he played a lot of hippy music and recited poetry sent in by listeners (some of it toe curlingly bad, but I digress). I thought that my show needed a really surreal title, so, as a play on “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>John Peel’s Perfumed Garden</i></span>”, “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Arthur Pewty’s Maggot Sandwich</i></span>” was born. And the rest, as they say is history. Back in 2006, when I started this blog, I resurrected the long disused name of my one time radio show; my thoughts were that whilst it was no longer on the radio, it was a newer form of interacting with an audience that could be anywhere in the world. This proved to be correct. Today the Maggot Sandwich has readers all over the planet – from Australia, Japan and India to the USA and mainland Europe, along with people closer to home. It might be a silly name for a blog, but I can guarantee nobody forgets it! Please feel free to comment below, or Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyh9JNXcXo7xAGLlhSM19XBtk-N_4y6avCOD-G-F6WkCPdJmSJjtCadt0PMVxED2bW2YmQUGhXcTRS748EmJT0EO6JvZXA89M72BJnv1gkJqhmCsMAcTx2SJiCmxYe62j1iQsii0sxV7hiVVExego3Y9CY-yNgaCbGIOlKP6mDvob2oXCFRDa/s1280/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification-Summer-growth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyh9JNXcXo7xAGLlhSM19XBtk-N_4y6avCOD-G-F6WkCPdJmSJjtCadt0PMVxED2bW2YmQUGhXcTRS748EmJT0EO6JvZXA89M72BJnv1gkJqhmCsMAcTx2SJiCmxYe62j1iQsii0sxV7hiVVExego3Y9CY-yNgaCbGIOlKP6mDvob2oXCFRDa/w640-h426/Japanese-Knotweed-Identification-Summer-growth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been reported that the recent relatively mild and wet weather conditions have been conducive in the early growth of the invasive Japanese Knotweed, a fast-growing and highly destructive plant, has become a major concern across the UK. This unwelcome visitor, introduced in the mid-1800s as an ornamental plant, has established itself as a formidable invasive species. Its relentless spread threatens native ecosystems, property values, and even infrastructure. Unlike most invasive plants, Knotweed doesn't rely on seeds for its aggressive takeover. The true culprit lies beneath the surface – a vast network of rhizomes, underground stems that can grow meters long and fragment easily. Disturbing the soil, even through seemingly harmless activities like gardening, can break these fragments, creating new growth sites. This aggressive strategy allows Knotweed to colonise a wide range of habitats, from river banks and waste ground to unfortunately, even gardens and building foundations. Its dense growth out competes native plants, disrupting local ecosystems. Furthermore, the persistent rhizomes can damage structures by pushing through cracks and foundations, posing a threat to property. The economic impact of Knotweed is significant. Properties with even a small patch of Knotweed can see their value plummet due to the difficulty and expense of eradication. The presence of Knotweed can also stall development projects and add significant costs to construction. It is illegal in the UK to plant or spread Japanese Knotweed, and when it is pulled up it is legally classified as controlled waste that has to be disposed of by licensed landfill sites. Young shoots of Japanese Knotweed are cooked and eaten in some countries – apparently it tastes like super sour rhubarb, but it contains a lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid" target="_blank">Oxalic Acid</a>, which is really not very good for you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCjeciFvdS0Txq0YuEcjCjJQcycAlQR6fGbA7qZJKK0Vm_1HqLtZ3kr6EqgvoUmBTYKQkGJUYuYRBAtl2N9ovGYu5z-LSzVJa8LKaqkJIlUzjCo1XqD4FfIgcjFwlFhHxUO85jm_RPtIK6g67EqyhD6IOCq09X_ZzT4dZIS7WBCzJh3gNoHYn/s783/Bus%20under%20the%20mutlti%20storey%20car%20park%20ramp%201985.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="783" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCjeciFvdS0Txq0YuEcjCjJQcycAlQR6fGbA7qZJKK0Vm_1HqLtZ3kr6EqgvoUmBTYKQkGJUYuYRBAtl2N9ovGYu5z-LSzVJa8LKaqkJIlUzjCo1XqD4FfIgcjFwlFhHxUO85jm_RPtIK6g67EqyhD6IOCq09X_ZzT4dZIS7WBCzJh3gNoHYn/w640-h394/Bus%20under%20the%20mutlti%20storey%20car%20park%20ramp%201985.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a bit of recent history from the 30th October 2003. The over two hour video (so you may want to fast forward through it) shows the ceremony that began the demolition of parts of the 1960's brutalist concrete Erith Town Centre prior to it being modernised and reconstructed. The video shows the demolition of the exit ramp for the multi storey car park which used to be located above the shopping area, part of which you can see in the 1985 photo above - click on it to see a larger version. Comments and other feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rvCm8S-7m5I?si=Rm_jry5ivzrANXWK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-88101055522616440122024-03-03T10:45:00.000+00:002024-03-03T10:45:09.125+00:00Shop.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf1oDwwfM0jH95Il6yr4nTRt0q4ogXew16EsOBUENZequO0cBl4FEVQio_01tfHZKsDEJtvgscmD7hNmoIYA3jocA94hSyoWC2SHUgTdKGRu-d-PENwJARWvGhg9qHajJaex_bhEphebjMSx26r9JZRmNWuXdomOUdz0O1hXeO483susaRMf9/s748/Replacement%20Manor%20Road%20ULEZ%20camera.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="515" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf1oDwwfM0jH95Il6yr4nTRt0q4ogXew16EsOBUENZequO0cBl4FEVQio_01tfHZKsDEJtvgscmD7hNmoIYA3jocA94hSyoWC2SHUgTdKGRu-d-PENwJARWvGhg9qHajJaex_bhEphebjMSx26r9JZRmNWuXdomOUdz0O1hXeO483susaRMf9/w440-h640/Replacement%20Manor%20Road%20ULEZ%20camera.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photograph above on Wednesday morning - click on it to see a larger view; engineers arrived at Manor Road in Erith, close to the junction with Frobisher Road in order to replace the ULEZ camera and pole that had been cut down recently - <a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2024/02/commemoration.html" target="_blank">as I covered in last weeks Blog update</a>. I spoke to the engineers, who were very friendly - they stated that they expected to be back again within a few weeks to once again replace the camera. They seemed quite happy about this, as it was "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>a very good earner</i></span>" for them. The chap dressed in black in the foreground of the photo was a private security guard. I have it on good authority that these private security operatives earn well in excess of £400 a day whilst protecting the ULEZ engineers installing or replacing damaged cameras. As previously mentioned, it recently became known that TfL did not budget for replacing defective or damaged ULEZ cameras; I am in no doubt that Londoners will end up footing the bill in some way or other. The damage to ULEZ cameras is allegedly the work of a shadowy group of individuals know as Blade Runners. The Blade Runners are a loosely organized group of individuals who believe the ULEZ unfairly restricts their freedom and disproportionately burdens low-income residents who cannot afford newer, compliant vehicles. They argue that the scheme is an attack on their way of life and a form of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>green taxation</i></span>." Their name references the 1982 sci-fi film "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner" target="_blank">Blade Runner</a></span>," drawing a parallel between themselves and the movie's protagonists who hunt down replicants, seen as a threat to society. Estimates suggest there are around 250 active Blade Runner members, primarily drivers who rely on older, non-compliant vehicles. The Blade Runners have garnered media attention for their tactics, which have ranged from peaceful protests to more controversial actions. These include:- Campaigns: Raising awareness through online forums and social media groups. Vandalism:- Damaging ULEZ cameras, though this is widely condemned and considered illegal. Civil disobedience:- Refusing to pay the ULEZ charge. The Blade Runners raise several arguments against the ULEZ:- Financial burden:- They argue the daily charge disproportionately affects low-income individuals and small businesses who cannot afford to upgrade their vehicles. Limited effectiveness:- Some question the ULEZ's actual impact on air quality, arguing that it simply displaces pollution to other areas. Unfair targeting:- They claim the scheme unfairly penalises responsible car owners who maintain their vehicles, while exempting newer, potentially more polluting models like motorbikes. I do not support or condone any kind of criminal act including but not limited to criminal damage or vandalism. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25N6tUVCXVdj9yf6VK-nGZF_JSRNu9EKhGV3N1ey8w17QOIwgo6dRA1fnHDif2m6FN7KmVOkmtt1hQL-I7yMXc2t2tdVyzXc5z84DtlnEiHxONUo2K8-x64tMQB28zQOPYfC2EPNwHoBn22tICtG36wO4mSRqdGSDGzjuHepsEPEiBUNDjB9A/s979/Crusin%20Records%20Welling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="979" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25N6tUVCXVdj9yf6VK-nGZF_JSRNu9EKhGV3N1ey8w17QOIwgo6dRA1fnHDif2m6FN7KmVOkmtt1hQL-I7yMXc2t2tdVyzXc5z84DtlnEiHxONUo2K8-x64tMQB28zQOPYfC2EPNwHoBn22tICtG36wO4mSRqdGSDGzjuHepsEPEiBUNDjB9A/w640-h468/Crusin%20Records%20Welling.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorqwnpEh7sFGWNZ_px3BGxco12G8VpDbmbPZIueEafSj_IgJUp2IpzfVgKPwBnKmMbiRMdn1MsyOMngiizkJyQJ7EbKJuw3sILq12yUlCGnKwikHUPIuUPrYJAaVhzEhB76CeurxpjagkwIRKTd16cZfUQGJ1qrdWF3W8xDWhu9qTUC4leSTA/s1460/Cruisin%20Records%20Welling%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1460" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorqwnpEh7sFGWNZ_px3BGxco12G8VpDbmbPZIueEafSj_IgJUp2IpzfVgKPwBnKmMbiRMdn1MsyOMngiizkJyQJ7EbKJuw3sILq12yUlCGnKwikHUPIuUPrYJAaVhzEhB76CeurxpjagkwIRKTd16cZfUQGJ1qrdWF3W8xDWhu9qTUC4leSTA/w640-h288/Cruisin%20Records%20Welling%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Locally we still have long established independent record dealer Cruisin’ Records in Welling, which celebrates its' 50th anniversary this year. I recall visiting the shop in the 1980’s – it held a bewildering variety of stock, from pretty much every musical genre; at the time it leaned towards jazz funk and soul, and I can recall hearing adverts for the shop on several dance themed pirate radio stations at the time. Nowadays the shop stocks music of all varieties. I have heard on very good authority that John, the owner of Cruisin' Records is looking to retire in the near future, and that the very long established record shop is shortly to go up for sale. <a href="https://www.cruisinrecords.co.uk/" target="_blank">You can see their website here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIEG1V-IRU5WbAmL4NWSXUDdB16ifg0SmrDTQomcR40aQG63CtcFenIESr-CyEbW6XeKsN87KkNE4nAVk2P64uNeahfVGoMRl6a_KaSxpzM-zLQnJ_y3khpu2yru-vK1ACb56ItU6tQqJ36EDPunINXm1Wl1wxLwXzlzLsXa6gXAuVsYnh4NY/s939/McDonalds%20Wollwich%201974.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="939" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIEG1V-IRU5WbAmL4NWSXUDdB16ifg0SmrDTQomcR40aQG63CtcFenIESr-CyEbW6XeKsN87KkNE4nAVk2P64uNeahfVGoMRl6a_KaSxpzM-zLQnJ_y3khpu2yru-vK1ACb56ItU6tQqJ36EDPunINXm1Wl1wxLwXzlzLsXa6gXAuVsYnh4NY/w640-h460/McDonalds%20Wollwich%201974.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This year marks another 50th anniversary - the opening of the first McDonald's restaurant in the UK, which opened in Powis Street in Woolwich in October 1974. On the opening day, crowds gathered outside the shiny new fast food outlet. Inside, they found wooden seats, an ashtray on every table, and some of the cheapest meals locals had ever seen. Inside the decor was a pretty grim brown and cream colour with some massive photo portraits on the walls. But the hamburgers, which were "made with 100% pure beef, topped with pickles, mustard and ketchup, served in a freshly toasted bun" cost just 15p. A cheeseburger – they just added some "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>mellow cheese</i></span>" – was 21p while for those with a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>big appetite</i></span>" you could pick up a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a Big Mac for 45p. A McMariner, which is now called a Filet-O-Fish, cost 30p and a value meal of a hamburger, fries and milkshake, known as United Tastes of America, cost 48p. The Powis Street, Woolwich branch was opened by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Stewart" target="_blank">Ed ’Stewpot’ Stewart</a> was the personality, along with the local mayor and hundreds of people who had already heard about ’The Difference at McDonald’s’. The serving staff were mostly middle-aged women who looked like dinner ladies, and the queue stretched down the road. One customer opened her first burger and turned to her friend, ’<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>There’s no butter in these rolls</i></span>’ she tutted. ’<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>No, and no knives and forks, either</i></span>,’ her friend replied. Many customers had never seen slices of pickled gherkin before, and quickly picked them out of the burgers. Stepping inside the first McDonald's was like stepping into a time capsule. The decor was simple, featuring wooden seating and, a sign of the times, ashtrays on every table. The menu, while familiar today, offered burgers for a mere 15p and Big Macs for a luxurious 45p – a stark contrast to today's prices. McDonald’s approach and brand originally traded on its American heritage and novelty factor before gradually evolving into a part of family life tailored for a UK market. When it opened its first British restaurant it had to educate consumers about this new concept of counter-service, fast eating. McDonald's management undertook a great deal of research before choosing Woolwich as the location of their first restaurant. They carried out a number of surveys and Woolwich had the greatest demographic mix of anywhere they surveyed, possibly because of the presence of both the Royal Artillery training regiment and Thames Polytechnic, which at the time encouraged foreign students, along with the influx of families working on the construction of the Thames Barrier, begun in the same year. A 46-year-old Paul Preston, from Ohio USA, was hired to drive the “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>UK launch pad</i></span>” to success and the Woolwich restaurant subsequently became so popular that just one month later, boxer Henry Cooper launched his autobiography from there. Despite initial skepticism from some, the Woolwich McDonald's quickly became a success. The combination of affordability, convenience, and a taste of American culture proved irresistible. It paved the way for the rapid expansion of the McDonald's brand across the UK, with thousands of restaurants opening their doors in the years that followed. Today, the Woolwich McDonald's still stands, a testament to the enduring legacy of the brand and a reminder of how a simple concept can change the way people eat. While the decor and menu have evolved, the core principles of speed, affordability, and consistency remain the same, making the UK's first McDonald's a historical landmark and a reminder of how cultural trends can take root and flourish. In 1974, the Powis Street McDonalds was operated directly by the company - the idea of franchising restaurant sites was still many years away. It was said that the Powis Street site did not turn a profit for a number of years, as money was invested in publicity and expansion of the brand - something which paid off handsomely in the medium to long term. Since 1974, more than 1.8 million people in the UK have either worked in McDonald’s and its franchises, or have been employed by its suppliers, according to the company. Today burger-chain McDonalds have more than 1300 stores open across the UK. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday of last week, <a href="https://www.theexchangeerith.com/" target="_blank">The Exchange</a> published the following press release, which I reproduce in full:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Old Library, a cherished Grade II listed building in the heart of Erith, has been nominated for the prestigious RIBA South East Awards 2024. The repair and renewal project, led by Robin Lee Architects in collaboration with community craft organisation, The Exchange, has garnered attention for its meticulous preservation of heritage and its transformative impact on the local community. Constructed in 1906, funded by Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Library served as a cornerstone of the community for over a century – first as a library, and later also as a local museum. However, after its closure to the public in 2009, the building fell into disrepair, facing significant challenges to its survival. The project, led by Robin Lee Architects in collaboration with The Exchange, sought to preserve the building's rich heritage while re-imagining its future as a vibrant hub for community engagement, taking inspiration from its heritage of craft and empowerment to inform its future. Through meticulous attention to detail and a phased approach to the renovation process, the project not only stabilised the building's structure, but also created versatile spaces that cater to the local community. "We knew it would be a place for community; we knew we wanted to repair, protect and enhance heritage features; we knew we wanted a beautiful destination garden; and we knew it would be a space that would be inspired by its heritage story of craft and empowerment," said Sarah Batten, Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Exchange. "Robin Lee Architects were invested in community consultations throughout the process, creating a design that offered enough flexibility for change, but still creating defined and distinctive spaces through sensitive repair and adaptation." The project included the installation of modern amenities and infrastructure, the creation of new learning spaces, and the incorporation of sustainable design principles to ensure the building's longevity for future generations. Additionally, community involvement was integral to the project, with local residents participating in consultations, workshops, and now even contributing to the fabrication of furniture. The building now has a range of spaces - including a ceramics workshop, textiles workshop, timber workshop, and spaces which can be used by the public or hired for private events. "Following completion in 2022, the building now provides a range of dedicated spaces for makers… while providing community-focussed education workshops, and activities re-establishing Erith’s Carnegie Library as a place for education and learning within a communal setting," said Robin Lee, lead architect on the project. Gradually, The Exchange has developed into an award-winning community craft organisation, and Arts Council recognised National Portfolio Organisation, and are thrilled and honoured to be recognised by RIBA for this part of their story. “We couldn’t have got there without the support of Robin Lee Architects and the approach to the building and spaces</i></span>.” For more information about The Exchange and the project, please visit: <a href="http://www.theexchangeerith.com">www.theexchangeerith.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjaCZ6zdue4O1MJNGN2mFm0ZG-g1O9WGSv0CZJJl-wJEP9ICvaVbtzf4W7OHAv6HEmvn3dr82fdctszOEOCHisXtQMCcpGliqtCed23Q8unaw9il1pgomK2tRlI2yD8o_8JO_gtDzhBjynQIYB83rZYGTLTG-gJx7OUAxXjFu_7eHoJxeTAAs/s1534/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240229123423.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1534" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjaCZ6zdue4O1MJNGN2mFm0ZG-g1O9WGSv0CZJJl-wJEP9ICvaVbtzf4W7OHAv6HEmvn3dr82fdctszOEOCHisXtQMCcpGliqtCed23Q8unaw9il1pgomK2tRlI2yD8o_8JO_gtDzhBjynQIYB83rZYGTLTG-gJx7OUAxXjFu_7eHoJxeTAAs/w640-h402/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240229123423.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was announced on Thursday morning of last week that amongst the 75 branches of The Body Shop to close would be the outlet in Bexleyheath - photo above - click on it to see a larger version. It means that, combined with cost-cutting at the company's head office, between 750 and 800 people will be made redundant. The Body Shop, despite its strong brand identity, has faced "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>an extended period of financial challenges</i></span>," according to administrators FRP. This predates the February 2024 takeover by private equity firm Aurelius, suggesting deeper-rooted issues. The company reportedly witnessed a £71 million loss in 2022, coupled with a significant drop in turnover. The wider retail sector, particularly the high street, has faced significant challenges in recent years. Consumer spending habits have changed, with a growing shift towards online shopping and increased competition from other brands. While some sectors within the beauty industry experienced growth, The Body Shop wasn't able to capitalise on these trends as effectively. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated existing difficulties. Supply chain disruptions and rising inflation in production costs added pressure to The Body Shop's already strained finances. As a consequence of these challenges, The Body Shop entered administration, aiming for financial restructuring. This has resulted in store closures and job losses, raising concerns about the brand's future. While administrators are seeking a buyer for the business, the situation remains uncertain. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePTZPBXvUBmo4zFYS0MvVSab8txeOa1iO0brtvJLptxOaMTrcDScNNseUtfBSESxwq8q_8DuN985fO0i2lUJqOKThaj8BLysTi4QnGZV-ANMW1S3RZn9e9h7GbTU6MMyRyLikVK62nQ6XC2EukuSRe1-pTwtU5l-flxvg2RhTaX3TAAdOnhTS/s1450/Welling%20anti%20BNP%20riot%201993.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1450" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePTZPBXvUBmo4zFYS0MvVSab8txeOa1iO0brtvJLptxOaMTrcDScNNseUtfBSESxwq8q_8DuN985fO0i2lUJqOKThaj8BLysTi4QnGZV-ANMW1S3RZn9e9h7GbTU6MMyRyLikVK62nQ6XC2EukuSRe1-pTwtU5l-flxvg2RhTaX3TAAdOnhTS/w640-h404/Welling%20anti%20BNP%20riot%201993.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On October 16th, 1993, the streets of Welling witnessed a historic event: a large-scale demonstration against the British National Party (BNP). The BNP was a far-right political party known for its racist and xenophobic ideology. Taking its name from that of a defunct 1960s far-right party, the BNP was created by John Tyndall and other former members of the fascist National Front (NF). During the 1980s and 1990s, the BNP placed little emphasis on contesting elections, in which it did poorly. Instead, it focused on street marches and rallies, creating the Combat 18 paramilitary—its name a coded reference to Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler—to protect its events from anti-fascist protesters. The 1993 demonstration was fueled by a growing sense of anger and concern over the increasing visibility and activities of the BNP. The party, known for its hate filled fascist ideology, had established its headquarters in a book shop which was then located at 154 Upper Wickham Lane in Welling, causing unease and fear amongst residents, particularly from minority communities. The brutal murder of Stephen Lawrence, in Eltham earlier that year further heightened tensions and galvanized anti-racist sentiment. The demonstration, organized by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Nazi_League" target="_blank">Anti-Nazi League</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_against_Racism_in_Europe" target="_blank">Youth Against Racism in Europe</a> (YRE), aimed to condemn the BNP's presence and demand the closure of its book shop, seen as a hub for their activities. Estimates of the crowd size vary, ranging from 15,000 to a staggering 45,000 individuals. This diverse group, united against racism, marched from Winn's Common in Plumstead towards the BNP Upper Wickham Lane headquarters. However, their initial route, passing directly by the bookshop, was blocked by the Metropolitan Police under orders from Commissioner Paul Condon. This decision sparked controversy, with some accusing the police of prioritising the protection of the BNP over the right to peaceful protest. Despite the change in route, the demonstration continued, fueled by a shared message of anti-racism and anti-fascism. Chants of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>We are black, we are white, together we are dynamite!</i></span>" and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>BNP – burn it down!</i></span>" resonated through the streets. The peaceful march, however, turned violent when a small group of individuals attempted to break through police lines to reach the BNP bookshop. Clashes erupted between these individuals and the police, resulting in injuries and arrests. The violence overshadowed the peaceful message of the majority of demonstrators and was widely condemned. The Welling demonstration, despite the controversy surrounding the violence, remains a powerful symbol of collective action against racism and extremism. It highlighted the growing public opposition to the BNP and its divisive, fascist ideology. The event also sparked discussions about the role of the police in managing protests and the importance of maintaining a balance between public safety and the right to demonstrate. While the initial objective of shutting down the BNP bookshop was not achieved, the demonstration served as a significant moment of public resistance against the far-right. 74 people were injured in the riots, including 12 police officers. The clashes were the most serious civil disorder in London since the poll tax riots in 1990. The Metropolitan Police spent £1 million and sent 7,000 officers to police the event. The BNP bookshop in Welling was eventually closed down by Bexley Council in 1995.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is from popular and respected public transport You Tuber <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@JagoHazzard" target="_blank">Jago Hazzard</a>. It concerns the various proposals to connect Thamesmead and possibly Belvedere with Beckton. Comments and feedback to me as usual at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M0GIKmKMZy4?si=UZL4Y8jVvnoJbOE3" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-52513158538624528052024-02-25T10:30:00.000+00:002024-02-25T10:30:08.844+00:00Commemoration.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRxG_q_id4lLYUFAd7R0WL-C01xKVcRv5k16qkxsJJmu2jKqw7wa1PiyvZIAVopa_u-eWixfGHzhlYSmYUUhNnvifhKIbOsP1RJGqpQNtwu1lzw_gEqU6Re3oum8ViSk9OEOjoM5mhz7xgdmteOgKir7o-ddUgZvuBqAVimIWgSgE1vHqv88l/s1107/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240220150235.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1107" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRxG_q_id4lLYUFAd7R0WL-C01xKVcRv5k16qkxsJJmu2jKqw7wa1PiyvZIAVopa_u-eWixfGHzhlYSmYUUhNnvifhKIbOsP1RJGqpQNtwu1lzw_gEqU6Re3oum8ViSk9OEOjoM5mhz7xgdmteOgKir7o-ddUgZvuBqAVimIWgSgE1vHqv88l/w640-h420/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240220150235.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The two images above were both taken last week; the left one shows damage to a ULEZ camera located on a set of traffic lights at the Welling end of Westwood Lane in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>. An anti ULEZ protest took place at around the same time as the damage was photographed, though I have no information as to whether the ULEZ camera was damaged at an earlier time. Less than two weeks since it was installed, the ULEZ camera on the corner of Manor Road and Frobisher Road in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> has been cut down. It has been reported to me that at approximately 11pm on the evening of Monday the 19th of February, a masked figure with a large angle grinder was seen cutting thought the pole supporting ULEZ camera - the results can be clearly seen in the right photo above - click on it to see a larger version. A TfL surveyor was seen at the site of the damaged camera at around 10am on the morning of Tuesday the 20th of February, and a contractor with a large van arrived to remove the camera and pole at around midday. I spoke to one of the workers removing the camera and I was told that a replacement would be installed shortly. On Saturday of last week, The London Evening Standard printed an article which said:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>A “funeral for Ulez” has been held in south-east London to protest against Sadiq Khan’s clean air zone. Around 500 protesters, some dressed as skeletons and t-rexes declared “Ulez is dead” as they marched through Biggin Hill on Saturday afternoon. Flowers were thrown in front of a hearse while buskers and DJs performed at the Day of the Dead-themed event. Biggin Hill resident Claire Dyer, who helped organise the event, has claimed there has not been a Ulez camera in the area since October as protesters keep blocking contractors when they arrive to put the enforcement cameras up. The claim has not been verified yet</i></span>". <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ulez-sadiq-khan-transport-for-london-biggin-hill-protest-b1139805.html" target="_blank">You can read the full article by clicking here</a>. A similar protest was held in Welling on Tuesday of last week, as mentioned earlier in this article. As I have written on numerous previous occasions, I do not support or condone any kind of criminal act including but not limited to criminal damage or vandalism. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX2fiAZ6f8mrfTWwUgiF5SddRl08xVSfy4eh4tEM6_FKO_x1o5zuBEHLLU2fV4nzcDXCJrmRH3oDe8k-CAXhf16avrambjlrT_AAjMVZJpaqDbWgvAH_ExFflKiG2aH1f2uCBAiZCtPrYzyU2Z_hhGklIKChkRWzyV2s0e8MjbPSiOZEYyaJ4/s1500/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240216100718.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX2fiAZ6f8mrfTWwUgiF5SddRl08xVSfy4eh4tEM6_FKO_x1o5zuBEHLLU2fV4nzcDXCJrmRH3oDe8k-CAXhf16avrambjlrT_AAjMVZJpaqDbWgvAH_ExFflKiG2aH1f2uCBAiZCtPrYzyU2Z_hhGklIKChkRWzyV2s0e8MjbPSiOZEYyaJ4/w640-h342/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240216100718.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Last week I wrote a fairly comprehensive article on the historic Maxim and Vickers machine guns being used by the Ukraine armed forces fighting the Russian invaders. I mentioned that the guns were built in factories in both Crayford, and notably in the Maxim factory which was located in Fraser Road, Erith. The factory still exists, and nowadays it is occupied by local company BATT Cables. Established in 1952, BATT boasts a legacy as the oldest cable distributor in the country, its story deeply intertwined with the industrial heart of Erith. 1952, and amidst the post-war reconstruction efforts, two enterprising individuals, Bill and Arthur Turner, saw an opportunity. With a keen eye for potential, they established "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>BATT</i></span>" - an acronym for <b>B</b>ill, <b>A</b>rthur, <b>T</b>urner, <b>T</b>urner - focusing on supplying electrical cables to the thriving Erith industries. Their initial stock was modest, housed in a small warehouse near Erith station. Yet, their dedication and commitment to quality quickly garnered them a loyal clientele. As Erith evolved, so did BATT Cables. The 1960s and 70s witnessed significant growth, fueled by the demands of construction projects and an expanding industrial base. Recognizing the shift towards specialized cables, BATT diversified its offerings, catering to industries like shipbuilding, telecommunications, and oil & gas. This strategic move solidified their position as a leading distributor, attracting clients not just locally but nationwide. <span style="text-align: left;">The year 1987 marked a significant milestone: the opening of the impressive "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>superhub</i></span>" facility in Erith. This state-of-the-art warehouse, boasting cutting-edge technology and vast storage capacity, cemented BATT's position as a major player in the UK cable market. Today, the Erith super hub remains the company's headquarters. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Throughout the 90s and into the 21st century, the company expanded its reach, establishing branches across the UK and venturing into international markets. Their commitment to innovation and global partnerships further solidified their reputation as a reliable and versatile cable supplier. T</span>oday, BATT Cables stands tall as a leading UK cable distributor, employing over 200 people and supplying a diverse range of products to an extensive clientele. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgZKEwMIaFsb1j6wIwQyQG6iyOK95SPldeEbFJo-HzfUNB9QxDTNA5EegJKubrB8Cx4wlSdjpsruHhX14kZ7O1cYtrzSDsgKqUWwAAYWOkONVR3h8M714oYG1oGC4IxVXlSH2jrFxF1guwGS4qaGuXLsVPvIY5PdqtszzGSyq2u5Fbvo1H9Y-/s858/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240220175856.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgZKEwMIaFsb1j6wIwQyQG6iyOK95SPldeEbFJo-HzfUNB9QxDTNA5EegJKubrB8Cx4wlSdjpsruHhX14kZ7O1cYtrzSDsgKqUWwAAYWOkONVR3h8M714oYG1oGC4IxVXlSH2jrFxF1guwGS4qaGuXLsVPvIY5PdqtszzGSyq2u5Fbvo1H9Y-/s16000/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240220175856.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Nowadays many people are familiar with the ground breaking work done by hundreds of men and women during World War II at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> to break the Axis ciphers, which are said to have shortened the war by around two years. Much has been made of the work by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing" target="_blank">Alan Turing</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Welchman" target="_blank">Gordon Welchman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tiltman" target="_blank">John Tiltman</a>, and the hundreds of mathematicians, linguists, statisticians, cryptanalysts and administrative staff who worked to crack the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine" target="_blank">Enigma Code</a>, and several films and documentaries have been made on the subject, including the absolutely terrible film, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imitation_Game" target="_blank">The Imitation Game</a>, which is horrendously historically inaccurate, and actually fabricates much of the story. In fact shortly after the release of the film, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GCHQ" target="_blank">GCHQ</a> Departmental Historian Tony Comer went even further in his criticism of the film's inaccuracies, saying that "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Imitation Game only gets two things absolutely right. There was a Second World War and Turing's first name was Alan</i></span>". Nevertheless, the real, rather than fictional work carried out in utter secret was absolutely vital to the Allies eventual victory. What is far less well known is the story of how Station X (the code name for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>) broke the cipher used by Germany's high command, which was even more fiendishly complex and hard to break than the already formidable <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine" target="_blank">Enigma Code</a>. Tuesday of last week marked the 80th anniversary of the first use of a digital, programmable computer, which not only substantially eased wartime code breaking, but went on to change the world - and it all started in a draughty shed near Milton Keynes. I digress; The cipher used by Hitler and his top generals was called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_cipher" target="_blank">Lorenz Cipher</a>. Lorenz used a massively modified electrical teleprinter. Teleprinters are not based on the 26-letter alphabet and Morse code on which the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine" target="_blank">Enigma machine</a> depended. Teleprinters use the 32-symbol <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_code" target="_blank">Baudot code</a>. Note that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_code" target="_blank">Baudot code</a> output consists of five channels each of which is a stream of bits which can be represented as no-hole or hole, 0 or 1, dot or cross. The system enciphered the message text by adding to it, character by character, a set of obscuring characters thus producing the enciphered characters which were transmitted to the intended recipient. The simplicity of the Lorenz system lay in the fact that the obscuring characters were added in a rather special way (known as <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Data_Coding_Theory/Modulo-2_Arithmetic" target="_blank">modulo-2 addition</a>). Then exactly the same obscuring characters, added also by <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Data_Coding_Theory/Modulo-2_Arithmetic" target="_blank">modulo-2 addition</a> to the received enciphered characters, would cancel out the obscuring characters and leave the original message characters which could then be printed. The Lorenz machines at each end of the communication link had to be set up with the same cipher key in order to effectively communicate. The difficulty was how to ensure, in a hot war situation, that the same random character keys were available at each end of a communications link and that they were both set to the same start position. The Lorenz company decided that it would be operationally easier to construct a machine to generate the obscuring character sequence. Because it was a machine it could not generate a completely random sequence of characters. It generated what is known as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudorandom_number_generator" target="_blank">pseudo-random sequence</a>. Unfortunately for the German Army it was more "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>pseudo</i></span>" than random and that was how it was broken. Brigadier John Tiltman, one of the top code breakers in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>, took a particular interest in these enciphered teleprinter messages. They were given the code name "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Fish</i></span>". Because the Lorenz system depended on addition of characters, Tiltman reasoned that if the operators made a mistake and used the same Lorenz machine starts for two messages (known by code breakers as a depth), then by adding the two cipher texts together character by character, the obscuring character sequence would disappear. He would then be left with a sequence of characters each of which represented the addition of the two characters in the original German message texts. For two completely different messages it is virtually impossible to assign the correct characters to each message. Just small sections at the start could be derived but not complete messages. As the number of intercepts, now being made at Knockholt in Kent, increased a section was formed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> headed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Tester" target="_blank">Major Ralph Tester</a> and known as the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Testery</i></span>". A number of messages were intercepted but not much headway had been made into breaking the cipher until the Germans made one horrendous mistake. It was on 30 August 1941. A German operator had a long message of nearly 4,000 characters to be sent from one part of the German Army High command to another — probably Athens to Vienna. He correctly set up his Lorenz machine and then sent a twelve letter indicator, using the German names, to the operator at the receiving end. This operator then set his Lorenz machine and asked the operator at the sending end to start sending his message. After nearly 4,000 characters had been keyed in at the sending end, by hand, the operator at the receiving end sent back by radio the equivalent, in German, of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>didn't get that — send it again</i></span>". They now both put their Lorenz machines back to the same start position. This was absolutely forbidden, but they did it. The operator at the sending end then began to key in the message again, by hand. If he had been an automaton and used exactly the same key strokes as the first time then all the interceptors would have got would have been two identical copies of the cipher text. Input the same — machines generating the same obscuring characters — same cipher text. But being only human and being thoroughly bored and disgusted at having to key it all again, the sending operator began to make differences in the second message compared to the first. The message began with that well known German phrase SPRUCHNUMMER — "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>message number</i></span>" in English. The first time the operator keyed in S P R U C H N U M M E R. The second time he keyed in S P R U C H N R and then the rest of the message text. Now NR means the same as NUMMER, so what difference did that make? It meant that immediately following the N the two texts were different. But the machines were generating the same obscuring sequence, therefore the cipher texts were different from that point on. The radio interceptors at Knockholt realised the possible importance of these two messages because the twelve letter indicators were the same. They were sent post-haste to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tiltman" target="_blank">John Tiltman</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>. Tiltman applied the same additive technique to this pair as he had to previous Depths. But this time he was able to get much further with working out the actual message texts because when he tried SPRUCHNUMMER at the start he immediately spotted that the second message was nearly identical to the first. Thus the combined errors of having the machines back to the same start position and the text being re-keyed with just slight differences enabled Tiltman to recover completely both texts. The second one was about 500 characters shorter than the first where the German operator had been saving his fingers. This fact also allowed Tiltman to assign the correct message to its original cipher text. Now Tiltman could add together, character by character, the corresponding cipher and message texts revealing for the first time a long stretch of the obscuring character sequence being generated by this German cipher machine. He did not know how the machine did it, but he knew that this was what it was generating. This manual cracking of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_cipher" target="_blank">Lorenz Cipher</a> proved that it could be broken, but it was far too slow and laborious to be used in any kind of practical manner. What would massively accelerate the breaking of Lorenz enciphered messages would be if there was a way to automate the comparison of the hundreds of messages that were transmitted by the Nazis every day. This is where Colossus - the world's first, digital, programmable computer came in. Built by the Post Office at their research and development laboratory in Dollis Hill, and designed by a largely unsung genius called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Flowers" target="_blank">Tommy Flowers</a>. Colossus was huge - hence the name, and used thousands of thermionic valves (what the Americans call tubes) to operate. Colossus reduced the time to break Lorenz messages from weeks to hours, and sometimes even minutes. Colossus read teleprinter characters, in the international <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_code" target="_blank">Baudot code</a>, at 5,000 characters per second from a paper tape. These characters were usually the intercepted cipher text which had been transmitted by radio. The paper tape was joined into a loop with special punched holes at the beginning and end of the text. The broad principle of Colossus was to count throughout the length of the text the number of times that some complicated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boolean_function" target="_blank">Boolean function</a> between the text and the generated wheel patterns had either a true or false result. At the end of text the count left on the counter circuits was dumped onto relays before being printed on the typewriter during the next read through the text, an early form of double buffering. It was just in time for the deciphering of messages which gave vital information to Eisenhower and Montgomery prior to D-Day. In effect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> were "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>reading Hitler's Email</i></span>". These deciphered Lorenz messages showed that Hitler had swallowed the deception campaigns, the phantom army in the South of England, the phantom convoys moving east along the channel; that Hitler was convinced that the attacks were coming across the Pas de Calais and that he was keeping Panzer divisions in Belgium. Colossus was so good at deciphering Nazi High Command messages that there were many instances when the cryptographers at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a> were reading decrypted messages before Hitler did! After D-Day the French resistance and the British and American Air Forces bombed and strafed all the telephone and teleprinter land lines in Northern France, forced the Germans to use radio communications and suddenly the volume of intercepted messages went up enormously. The Mark 1 had been rapidly succeeded by the Mark 2 Colossus in June 1944 and eight more were quickly built to handle the increase in messages. The Mark 1 was upgraded to a Mark 2 and there were thus ten Mark 2 Colossi in the Park by the end of the war. By the end of hostilities, 63 million characters of high grade German messages had been decrypted — an absolutely staggering output from just 550 people at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park" target="_blank">Bletchley Park</a>, plus of course the considerable number of interceptors at Knockholt, with backups at Shaftesbury and Cupar in Scotland. The first Lorenz enciphered message to be cracked by Colossus happened 80 years ago last week - and it changed the world, launching the computer age.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo5WIh6Fqqgakoo-o81fGWiJA8ANLfrWV5ZVBvSs89fY_sSxI-Xnlsy0H2dpfvqDBR6pC4-wYia_B7BaTUVTqOZ137TcdwGyCywLtvJ8_QsRjwWQjrJcRAJgv9JztPoRzZCqgNwKItlRZFxuYUXnaOPWXy8tl40OaBZXb5PiDiaW4ug3QlO3G/s1643/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240224085218.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo5WIh6Fqqgakoo-o81fGWiJA8ANLfrWV5ZVBvSs89fY_sSxI-Xnlsy0H2dpfvqDBR6pC4-wYia_B7BaTUVTqOZ137TcdwGyCywLtvJ8_QsRjwWQjrJcRAJgv9JztPoRzZCqgNwKItlRZFxuYUXnaOPWXy8tl40OaBZXb5PiDiaW4ug3QlO3G/w640-h320/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240224085218.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbiljaFhIGKluSMHaVcYPx7U8EEUNnRzAfz_wTFp6oIthKWe0dGYubKI8wQUKmsA1bE1McUi9C4nLSjTbzpVEGzT0Hyx-dIIEXIHmKZ_IgWBqj9DJ2oDoLHdhshs4ZWK8dgMTD-Y6jRmqJVIezbQc0-9DsTu1u7CUP9fw3ykcOCYstACIcotQ/s1642/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240224085444.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1642" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbiljaFhIGKluSMHaVcYPx7U8EEUNnRzAfz_wTFp6oIthKWe0dGYubKI8wQUKmsA1bE1McUi9C4nLSjTbzpVEGzT0Hyx-dIIEXIHmKZ_IgWBqj9DJ2oDoLHdhshs4ZWK8dgMTD-Y6jRmqJVIezbQc0-9DsTu1u7CUP9fw3ykcOCYstACIcotQ/w640-h334/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240224085444.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In a rare piece of original investigative journalism, reporter <a href="https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/author/profile/297303.Berk_Uyal/" target="_blank">Berk Uyal of the News Shopper</a> recently carried out drug wipe tests in the toilets of five pubs in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>. The results he found were rather surprising. Three of the five pubs tested had no signs of drug use; these pubs were <a href="https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/golden-lion-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Golden Lion</a>, <a href="https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/kent/william-camden" target="_blank">The William Camden</a> and <a href="https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/red-barn-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Red Barn</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnehurst" target="_blank">Barnehurst</a>. The two pubs which tested positive for cocaine use in the toilet cubicles were <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-wrong-un-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Wrong 'Un</a> and <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a> - both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetherspoons" target="_blank">Wetherspoon's pubs</a>. <a href="https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24130842.popular-bexleyheath-pubs-tested-cocaine-presence/" target="_blank">You can read the full report on the News Shopper website here</a>. What the report does not say is were both the ladies and gents toilets tested? It has been widely reported - including by me - that <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-wrong-un-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Wrong 'Un</a> is currently up for sale, and is expected to close once the sale has been completed. <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a>, on the other hand is a large and extremely busy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetherspoons" target="_blank">Wetherspoon's pub</a> in the centre of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> - please see the two photos above - click on either to see a larger version. The reason for my surprise concerning the detection of cocaine use in <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a> is because in my personal experience, the clientele who frequent the establishment are approximately 70 percent retired, 20 percent young mothers with small children, and the remaining 10 percent are everyone else. Whilst <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a> can get quite noisy, due to the large number of customers, again, in my experience the place is normally used by polite, responsible and well behaved people. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE9Glgo7fPYuZgGCv25fu_DmIhj73S8u2oEc-PM-v4_oJ0gKp9gg-AV61B6OR8-Yu_RC6whlViBeD94z9h6R6KORLR1Na_98KaifSrq4V3NpFXARTQgoNb533SBH-ETElpXq8UwW8zCOQ3_7IJgPs-Uiw8B-4DVkBpthKWppomCAs426YjKjh/s2048/IMG-20240221-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE9Glgo7fPYuZgGCv25fu_DmIhj73S8u2oEc-PM-v4_oJ0gKp9gg-AV61B6OR8-Yu_RC6whlViBeD94z9h6R6KORLR1Na_98KaifSrq4V3NpFXARTQgoNb533SBH-ETElpXq8UwW8zCOQ3_7IJgPs-Uiw8B-4DVkBpthKWppomCAs426YjKjh/w358-h640/IMG-20240221-WA0001.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For 144 years, the BT phone directory has been a staple in British homes and offices. It served as a reliable resource for finding contact information, a symbol of connection in a pre-digital age. However, the times have changed, and so has the way we communicate. As of March 2024, the iconic blue book will officially be retired, marking the end of an era. The final edition of the directory is currently being delivered across the UK, with the cover emblazoned with the message "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Final Edition, hold on to it forever</i></span>." This serves as a poignant reminder of the directory's historical significance and the changing landscape of communication. The decline of the phone book was inevitable. The rise of online directories and mobile phone technology rendered the printed version increasingly obsolete. In 2005, BT made the directory accessible online, and in 2019, the Yellow Pages, another popular print directory, ceased publication. Despite its fading relevance, the final edition holds a certain nostalgic charm. It represents a bygone era of simplicity and physical connection. For many, it evokes memories of searching for numbers, flipping through pages, and the satisfying thud of the book hitting the table. The decision to end the print edition has not been without controversy. Some argue that it disadvantages those who lack access to digital technology, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. BT has acknowledged this concern and has implemented measures to support these individuals, such as offering printed copies at a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>reasonable cost</i></span>." Fellow local Blogger Malcolm Knight of the "<a href="https://bexley-is-bonkers.co.uk/blogs/today.php" target="_blank">Bexley is Bonkers</a>" Blog was, until he retired, responsible for compiling and updating London's telephone directories. He has kindly agreed to be a guest contributor to the Maggot Sandwich, to give some unique history and background to the story of the telephone directory; he writes:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Until a year or two ago I used to read Telephone Directories. Every time a new one came through the letter box I would quietly fume about what was at one time a compendium of local information both local and telephonic being systematically decimated. In its prime it would have been too big to go through a letter box and eventually there was nothing of interest in it at all. At that stage mine went straight from doormat to recycling bin which I regret today as I set about writing a short history of telephone directories because I cannot look back at a copy to see how poor it had become. I am not at all surprised to see that the death of Phone Books has been announced. My interest in Phone Books goes back to the rear end of 1966 when at the age of 23 I was put in charge of Directory Enquiry Services (DQ) and directory production across the GPO’s London Telecommunications Region (LTR) in a building since demolished to make way for James Bond next to Vauxhall Bridge. I suspect I was dumped in that job because they could find no one else to do it when the future was more automation (STD) and International Services (ISD) and a loss making Cinderella service was not a fast track to promotion. The advantage was no boss to interfere with the day to day running of directory services. We were a team of five. The London Postal Area’s (LPA) four Telephone Directories (A-D, E-K, L-R and S-Z) were produced by an entirely female team in a then newish building next door to Old Street Underground station using a manual system called Flexocopy. DQ and phone directories were obviously closely linked subjects but more so than you might guess. DQ operators had only a full set of public directories to call upon. Four for London, augmented by occasional supplements, and 56 more from around the country filed in such a way that every one of them was within arm’s reach. At a time when telephone ownership was becoming the norm and phone directories consequently growing fatter it was not a system with a long term future. I recall producing a graph plotting my DQ staff number increases against female school leavers (the nineteen sixties could be very sexist) to show that within a few years every one of them would have to become a DQ operator if the service was to continue. No one seemed to care. The LTR was bigger than the GLA area is now and included a dozen or more DQ centres to which calls could be routed and load balanced from anywhere in London. Locally there was only Maze Hill but a cheap alternative of my own design was installed in Orpington and Forest Gate while a better engineered standard unit went into Westmoreland Place in Bromley; but it was a losing battle. How could Telephone Directories be made smaller? Until the late 1960s and perhaps until a little later, every manned telephone exchange employed an Exchange Clerk who kept records on a card index system. Phone number, line renter, address etc. and changed daily as customers came and went. A copy would find its way to Old Street where hundreds of typed overlapping cards were laid in a large metal frame with only the top line directory information on display. By some sort of magic which I never got to see, the frames were photographed by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and a couple of months later an enormous heap of paper was ready to be loaded on to lorries. I experimented with Microfiche derived from the HMSO negatives and found them cumbersome but then discovered a team studying the application of computers in the GPO’s HQ in St. Martin’s le Grande. They were keen to justify their existence by computerising Telephone Directories and I became their local man setting the specifications and testing systems as required. Telephone Directory entries are by definition in alphabetical order - or so you might think - but they were not. The Old Street staff knew that B followed A etc. but what was to be done with the O’Learys, the McDonalds, MacPhersons, the French with ‘de’ in their name or the Dutch with ‘van’, the apostrophes, hyphens and brackets? There were no set rules and the manager (a Higher Clerical Officer in Civil Service terms) at Old Street did her own thing as did her 56 counterparts elsewhere in the country. Few systems were identical and the differences caused DQ operators to be slower than ideal and complaints were made when they failed to find entries. I knew of several names that would catch them out every time. The HQ computer team said they would use ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) rules for every directory so as to achieve consistency; something we have all taken for granted for many years. Somehow the word got around that The Post Office Corporation, as it was by then known, was going to publish directories which were not in alphabetical order and the Daily Mail led a widely supported press campaign against any change. It probably didn’t help that French Phone Books were not published in name order. The rumour was nonsense and I visited an insurance company where the instruction was to file policy documents in a warehouse in ‘Phone Book order’ to explain. I soon proved that they were already arguably more sensible than the HCO in Old Street because directory sequence was inconsistent. A Daily Mail journalist came to see me and I explained what we planned to do with directories and at the end of the interview he read back to me what he had written. I remember the ensuing conversation as if it was yesterday. “That is nothing like what I said to you.” “I know, but it is what I am going to print.” Next morning a colleague threw a copy of the Daily Mail on to my desk. I was front page news and let out a loud expletive unbecoming of a 1960s office. I might have been in serious trouble over that interview except that it was in the presence of LTR’s Principal Press Officer who knew the truth. Ridiculous as it might seem now, the Chairman of the PO Corporation was forced to resign. Eventually the day came when the computer boys said they were ready to print. The target was to have an A-D on the streets within nine days of pressing the Start button but to go live on a London Directory was seen as too risky so we went for the Sunbury-on-Thames local instead. A copy landed on my desk two days later but with all the bad publicity surrounding it one of the big bosses - I remember his name - ordered me to check every single entry against the source data. A team of 14, if I remember correctly, DQ operators read and compared every entry and found 32 discrepancies. Exactly what one might expect of a week old directory and much better than any manually produced copy. The boss ordered me to pulp the lot. The reprint was probably just as ‘bad’ but we didn’t let on. I think the first LPA Directory to be produced by the Derby based computer was the S-Z but don’t take that for Gospel. I only found one serious bug in the system, if there was an input error in the source data it was at first almost impossible to delete it for reasons which I had better not go into if this report is to ever end. There were only two serious customer complaints one of which came from the airline industry; Air India from memory. Unlike their competitors there was a hyphen in their name which caused the computer to list them separately from the Air Everything Elses. I think they dropped the hyphen when ASCII based systems became the norm. The other was from The Sun (Newspaper) who found themselves listed among a long list of pubs, however we got away with that one because I had written to them with a warning that if they didn’t add the newspaper suffix to their name the computer would turn them into a public house. They told me where I could go. They were The Sun and that was it! The impact on DQ services was massive. No paper books to be taken off shelves, just a screen to be interrogated and when the required number was found, press a button and the computer spoke the number to the caller allowing the operator to get on with the next call. All those school girls were safe. I never got to see the DQ service gradually decline and disappear; I was shunted into another dead end job. Computerising the Telegram Service, but I saw the Telephone Directories which I helped improve and become an essential item in every home and office become redundant in the age of the Internet, smart phones and nobody wanting their name in the Phone Book anyway</i></span>". Fascinating stuff, <a href="https://bexley-is-bonkers.co.uk/blogs/today.php" target="_blank">you can read Malcolm's "Bexley is Bonkers" Blog by clicking here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a recording of some BBC local TV news coverage of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the explosion at the Slade Green munitions factory on Slade Green Marshes on the 18th February 1924. The explosion killed 12 women and a male supervisor. The cause of the explosion was never found. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U3KtdJokMug?si=SMITjZhwfjkfmaOY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-61015790210372276792024-02-18T11:00:00.002+00:002024-02-18T17:47:40.387+00:00Wimpy. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXfkmdDfPSZ_xQfcqp1dsrK-W84kwuBn5mnchLaCaopM3mT4jnZiNP1rLVKGVXjYhvGD-z36y1FadGXpQ_VV7Dxjl7oyQ9JxQjQXsI3ksb_GoYkZ_WoYhKyGNXB7c30-e4D0x5xjBqkEEgiCa4t9n0za6s7WrCYqNPEjgxRwtiI396LNuGizV/s4032/PXL_20240213_143325054.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXfkmdDfPSZ_xQfcqp1dsrK-W84kwuBn5mnchLaCaopM3mT4jnZiNP1rLVKGVXjYhvGD-z36y1FadGXpQ_VV7Dxjl7oyQ9JxQjQXsI3ksb_GoYkZ_WoYhKyGNXB7c30-e4D0x5xjBqkEEgiCa4t9n0za6s7WrCYqNPEjgxRwtiI396LNuGizV/w640-h360/PXL_20240213_143325054.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pvmtS5Twc4-04C2CncR7h6HEuvp81GtSPHceAELtwIzlSpBJTH2ECwh0H9OJ1xb1dYAYASmK94qr3G5TTws0WcfbPLhBRZeURPl_xOCPceszCSFleTIajz-4zcRxWqTK1TTe_3X3T8znG6WUietkWCqvkZC1bsn1Fv0AzwYrpCtKpcUx2Kj6/s4032/PXL_20240214_194806805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pvmtS5Twc4-04C2CncR7h6HEuvp81GtSPHceAELtwIzlSpBJTH2ECwh0H9OJ1xb1dYAYASmK94qr3G5TTws0WcfbPLhBRZeURPl_xOCPceszCSFleTIajz-4zcRxWqTK1TTe_3X3T8znG6WUietkWCqvkZC1bsn1Fv0AzwYrpCtKpcUx2Kj6/w640-h360/PXL_20240214_194806805.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Central Bexleyheath is a bus only area; if you are not a bus user it may surprise you as to how many buses serve the town. I took the two photos above recently - click on either for a larger view. They were taken at the Geddes Place bus stand, which is a central hub for bus services covering all of the London Borough of Bexley and beyond. As I have previously written, reliability issues still plague the local bus services run by Arriva. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coincidentally, yesterday I was on a 99 bus which drew up at the bus stop next to Electricity House in Erith town centre; as I looked out of the window I noticed two young girls - each no more than eight or nine years old; they were both puffing on vapes. I have to say that I was shocked to see such young children vaping. I have seen teenagers vaping on very many occasions, but not this young. While often marketed as a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>safer</i></span>" alternative to cigarettes, vaping poses significant dangers to children and young adults. Despite misconceptions, e-cigarettes are not harmless, and their potential consequences for developing bodies and minds are alarming. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. For children, whose brains are still developing, nicotine's impact is even more potent. It can harm attention, learning, memory, and impulse control, setting the stage for future addiction not only to tobacco but also other substances. The developing brain is vulnerable to the damaging effects of nicotine. Exposure during this critical period can hinder the formation of essential connections between brain cells, impacting cognition, mood, and even long-term mental health. Studies show a worrying link between vaping and future cigarette smoking among young people. Experimentation with e-cigarettes seems to "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>prime</i></span>" the brain for nicotine dependence, making the transition to traditional cigarettes easier. Even nicotine-free vapes contain harmful chemicals like heavy metals, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds. Inhaling these substances can damage the lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses and even cancer later in life. The colorful liquids and attractive designs of e-cigarettes can be enticing to young children. Accidental ingestion or skin contact can lead to nicotine poisoning, causing nausea, vomiting, and even seizures. <a href="https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24116030.five-eltham-school-kids-hospital-using-zombie-drug-vape/" target="_blank">You may have recently read in the press that a group of five school children in Eltham were hospitalised after using vapes which contained the illegal class B drug Spice - a synthetic cannabis variant. One of the five, all of whom were aged fourteen to sixteen, was put into an induced coma</a>. It comes after public health officials in Wales warned of people consuming Spice-laced vapes, saying many thought they instead contained cannabis oils or liquids. The Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances service. (WEDINOS), said their latest showed that of 196 samples of liquids submitted to them in 2023, almost a third contained the class of chemicals to which Spice belongs. The effects of the drug are similar to cannabis but stronger, and has been described as leaving users in a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>zombie-like</i></span>” state. Side effects can include nausea and mood swings. It comes as the Government last month confirmed it would ban disposable vapes amid concern at their take-up by children. Measures will also be introduced to prevent vapes being marketed at children and to target under-age sales. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sXKGbE7l77xFycmWDqQQsA5wXNXmvhfrJaYueO4vy8IBsT-fs7KoNWsDWLUWu0KNlJnj-g4mZa-8ScSXTKqWZ9TUTHK7JOWTRe0gtJPVrWII3RAjdh_r0EsNvjgB4sNjW3EU5vLYHvFY4mIMKZ9XDWkmojavAXCl65o2h9_06v1ZoPA-XiLJ/s900/Maxim%20guns%20in%20Ukraine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sXKGbE7l77xFycmWDqQQsA5wXNXmvhfrJaYueO4vy8IBsT-fs7KoNWsDWLUWu0KNlJnj-g4mZa-8ScSXTKqWZ9TUTHK7JOWTRe0gtJPVrWII3RAjdh_r0EsNvjgB4sNjW3EU5vLYHvFY4mIMKZ9XDWkmojavAXCl65o2h9_06v1ZoPA-XiLJ/w512-h640/Maxim%20guns%20in%20Ukraine.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces recently made the following announcement:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>At the beginning of 2022, more than 30,000 Maxim machine guns were retrieved from storage – and the vintage water-cooled weapon proved to be highly efficient on the cutting edge of air defense against the "Shakhed" drones due to its ability to fire for several minutes in a row</i></span>." I was aware that Ukraine had reactivated a number of Maxim and Vickers machine guns, but I had no idea they had so many. As I have written in the past, Erith and Crayford were the home of Vickers Limited, who had factories in both locations which made a whole range of armaments and ammunition, principally the Vickers Machine Gun – which was an easier to produce, lighter and cheaper version of the original Maxim Gun, invented by Sir Hiram Maxim. The Maxim factory was in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4823733,0.1675281,3a,75y,26.7h,95.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI_CRUK9hUhLuD5TKtmeuow!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">Fraser Road Erith - now the home of BATT Cables</a>. The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The machine gun typically required a six to eight-man team to operate: one fired, one fed the ammunition, the rest helped to carry the weapon, its ammunition and spare parts. It was in service from before the First World War until the 1960s, with air-cooled versions of it on many Allied World War I fighter aircraft. The weapon had a reputation for great solidity and reliability. Ian V. Hogg, in Weapons and War Machines, describes an action that took place in August 1916, during which the British 100th Company of the Machine Gun Corps fired their ten Vickers guns continuously for twelve hours. Using 100 barrels, they fired a million rounds without a failure. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It was this absolute fool proof reliability which endeared the Vickers to every British soldier who ever fired one</i></span>.” The Vickers machine gun was based on the successful Maxim gun of the late 19th century. After purchasing the Maxim company outright in 1896, Vickers took the design of the Maxim gun and improved it, reducing its weight by lightening and simplifying the action and substituting components made with high strength alloys. A muzzle booster was also added. The British Army formally adopted the Vickers gun as its standard machine gun on 26 November 1912, using it alongside their existing Maxims. There were still great shortages when the First World War began, and the British Expeditionary Force was still equipped with Maxims when sent to France in 1914. Vickers was, in fact, threatened with prosecution for war profiteering, due to the exorbitant price it was demanding for each gun. As a result, the price was slashed. As the war progressed, and numbers increased, it became the British Army's primary machine gun, and served on all fronts during the conflict. When the Lewis Gun was adopted as a light machine gun and issued to infantry units, the Vickers guns were redefined as heavy machine guns, withdrawn from infantry units, and grouped in the hands of the new Machine Gun Corps (when heavier 0.5 in/12.7 mm calibre machine guns appeared, the tripod-mounted, rifle-calibre machine guns like the Vickers became medium machine guns). After the First World War, the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was disbanded and the Vickers returned to infantry units. Before the Second World War, there were plans to replace the Vickers gun. However, the Vickers remained in service with the British Army until 30 March 1968. Hundreds of thousands of these guns were manufactured in Erith and Crayford over several decades, and during both World Wars, this meant that the towns were legitimate wartime bombing targets. During both World Wars, the area economically benefited – for example in 1914, the number of trams run in Crayford and Erith was increased to transport the large number of munitions workers many of whom worked for Vickers making ammunition for use on the Western Front. With most of the young men volunteering for military service (conscription was yet to begin) many women entered paid employment for the first time, something that directly led to the start of female emancipation with the Representation of the People Act 1918. Now both the Maxim machine gun and its simpler and cheaper version the Vickers gun are back in active service in Ukraine, well over a century after they were originally manufactured. Thanks to regular reader and occasional contributor Shane for the photo above, and for bringing the update to the story to my attention. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgYc0E1rVdkNoIQFQl3m7E5EynI-gLe0iJsRbS8H4ay1olrIsUOPyWfTLRPaGQ5LJ1a-Oodi3RUCxGbbHf7EVXI51btGgTJgISOpMf715bLKAUxxgyT8_Pq6wz41ydnSX2a9Dmk0Jri8xPSKSqNCeM-vLIlOa_ppiI1sqOe7vmT3NY0K8V7O6/s1200/Sparklets%20classic%20soda%20syphon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgYc0E1rVdkNoIQFQl3m7E5EynI-gLe0iJsRbS8H4ay1olrIsUOPyWfTLRPaGQ5LJ1a-Oodi3RUCxGbbHf7EVXI51btGgTJgISOpMf715bLKAUxxgyT8_Pq6wz41ydnSX2a9Dmk0Jri8xPSKSqNCeM-vLIlOa_ppiI1sqOe7vmT3NY0K8V7O6/w480-h640/Sparklets%20classic%20soda%20syphon.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Recently an item once found in many living rooms and kitchens has started to come back into fashion. Nowadays sparkling water can be found from many sources - mainly bottled, but also available from specialised kitchen taps. The original source of fizzy water was the soda syphon - an item mainly popular from the mid 1930's to the mid 1960's, although it is reputed to be making something of a comeback. Whilst several companies produced soda syphons over the years, the world leading range was produced by a company called Aerators Ltd, who were founded in 1896, using the trading name of Sparklets, and who were based in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayford" target="_blank">Crayford</a>. The early 20th century saw the soda syphon take centre stage. Sparklets, with its iconic wire-mesh encased glass models, offered a stylish and practical way to carbonate water at home. Sparklets' success hinged on two key innovations: Sparklet bulbs: These small, CO2-filled cartridges were screwed into the syphon, releasing gas to carbonate plain water. They were safe, convenient, and refillable, unlike earlier methods. Stylish design: Sparklets syphons weren't just functional; they were works of art. From elegant Art Deco Streamline models to the sleek, futuristic Globemaster, they graced kitchen counter tops and bar carts alike. The 1920s and 30s were the golden age of the soda syphon, with Sparklets dominating the market. They offered a variety of flavours and syrups, allowing people to create their own custom drinks. However, the rise of mass-produced, bottled fizzy drinks after World War II began to chip away at the syphon's popularity. Sparklets continued to innovate, introducing the larger-capacity Globemaster in the 1950s and expanding its reach with international partnerships. At its peak, the company boasted a global presence and a diverse product line, from syphons to cream whippers. The rise of disposable fizzy drink bottles and changes in consumer preferences posed a challenge in the late 20th century. While production continued, the iconic glass syphons eventually gave way to metal models. In the 1980s, ownership changed hands, marking the end of an era for Sparklets. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ItOJ6gveeymfi_xO7j3xkhqvrqghlpcftkNu4Ha3DWinoYYPjC3EFa-__D_sd8tCPcc5GDCsxKVXx6oc8VclwdQdfMc16lCvsult_uMtSEs3yzLT0Y-dHJBUCHH5GhTmWLF9uxD5xA0nVcc3P3CgAfwuAoMQpcF3IvugnM-6RoywWHE5oyU/s1302/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240215104244.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1302" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ItOJ6gveeymfi_xO7j3xkhqvrqghlpcftkNu4Ha3DWinoYYPjC3EFa-__D_sd8tCPcc5GDCsxKVXx6oc8VclwdQdfMc16lCvsult_uMtSEs3yzLT0Y-dHJBUCHH5GhTmWLF9uxD5xA0nVcc3P3CgAfwuAoMQpcF3IvugnM-6RoywWHE5oyU/w640-h346/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240215104244.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On a similar theme, regular reader and occasional contributor Miles has been in contact with me regarding something I have covered in the past, but now has an additional twist. I am keen that people are encouraged to recycle as much as possible; but sometimes certain individuals need some motivation to do this. Miles has drawn my attention to a new scheme in the Republic of Ireland. On February 1st, 2024, Ireland took a significant step towards a cleaner future with the launch of "<a href="https://re-turn.ie/" target="_blank">Re-Turn</a>," a nationwide deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize the country's recycling habits, tackle litter problems, and contribute to a more circular economy. When purchasing a beverage in a plastic bottle or aluminium can with the Re-Turn logo, consumers pay a small deposit: 15 Euro cents for containers under 500ml and 25 Euro cents for larger ones. Upon finishing their drink, they can return the empty and undamaged container to any participating retailer, regardless of where it was bought. Two return options are available. Reverse vending machines (RVMs) - These automated machines accept containers, verify their eligibility, and issue vouchers redeemable for cash or in-store purchases. Manual returns - Consumers can hand over their containers at designated points in participating shops and supermarkets, receiving cash refunds directly. Public support in Ireland for <a href="https://re-turn.ie/" target="_blank">Re-Turn</a> is high, with surveys showing over 80% of consumers in favour of the initiative. The initial weeks have seen a positive response, with many people embracing the new system and returning their containers diligently. While the scheme is still in its early stages, initial impressions are positive. Public feedback highlights convenience and ease of use as key strengths, while environmental benefits remain a strong motivator for participation. If a relatively small European country like the Republic of Ireland can successfully organise a bottle and can deposit return scheme, I cannot see any reason why the same cannot be said of the UK. What do you think? You can email me with your comments and suggestions to <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw3LnKm8dAD67D30HnklusTC5UYgvaxSrJX76PqiHN9K1oEU9bWAaMOlhE4EtXWc-I4HlBtpQ5KI2VgjjEkdun6fsuKltYCf4mwWxcMk-u2_C3eKdKorj1sBNUyZpE1zQrMYycc6-lrPoYBjPxLmHGRxPZ_cprUWKqmNYCbvFtQG-WEBXQk12/s1157/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240216084845.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1157" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw3LnKm8dAD67D30HnklusTC5UYgvaxSrJX76PqiHN9K1oEU9bWAaMOlhE4EtXWc-I4HlBtpQ5KI2VgjjEkdun6fsuKltYCf4mwWxcMk-u2_C3eKdKorj1sBNUyZpE1zQrMYycc6-lrPoYBjPxLmHGRxPZ_cprUWKqmNYCbvFtQG-WEBXQk12/w640-h350/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240216084845.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Recently there has been a great deal of press coverage of the new <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a> 3D virtual reality headset, even though it has not yet gone on sale in the UK. Personally I have doubts if it will ever get released outside of the USA, for a number of reasons. Firstly the price - in the USA the headsets retail for a huge $3,499, secondly at present there is no "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>killer application</i></span>" for the <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a>; thirdly many early adopters have found that after a few minutes wearing the virtual reality headset they experience disorientation, headaches and nausea. In the USA, pre-orders for the <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a> began on January 19th and the machines went on sale to all-comers from February 2nd. Apple has reportedly sold around 200,000 of the virtual-reality headsets. The <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a> comes with a 14 day "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>no questions asked</i></span>" return period, and it would appear that many of the early adopters are taking advantage of this and returning the product to Apple. One user reported online:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It's heavy… wearing it on your head, no matter which of the two straps you wear, it really is heavy</i></span>". Another user wrote:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>This week I bought an <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/" target="_blank">Apple Vision Pro</a>, but sadly have to return it. It gave me a bad headache and motion sickness". Another added: 'It's hard on your eyes… if you ever wore glasses for the first time or contact lenses for the first time, you know what I am talking about. That's the same feeling with the Vision Pro</i></span>.' Parker Ortolani, product manager at The Verge website, who first reported the issue, also returned his device, claiming the '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>physical trade offs are just not worth it</i></span>.' Another initially enthusiastic user changed their opinion and wrote:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It's a very expensive toy</i></span>". From my research I have come to the opinion that Apple have released the Vision Pro too early, and that unusually for them, the product is not fully developed. What they have put on sale would appear to be a prototype that needs substantial further work before actually going into production. I suspect that this has happened because Apple were concerned that a rival company such as Samsung might beat them to the market with their own product, and Apple did not want others stealing their thunder. I think it is quite likely the bungled launch of the headset will actually damage Apple's reputation for innovation. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Bexleyheath is home to Britain's oldest branch of Wimpy. The restaurant is located in Bexleyheath Broadway and first opened in 1964, meaning that it has been in operation for 60 years. It has been owned and run by the same family since 1967. It was the first franchise restaurant to open in the UK, paving the way for countless others to follow. <span style="text-align: left;">The Wimpy chain itself faced difficulties in recent years, with many branches closing down. </span>The end video this week is from a YouTube channel called Gary Eats, Gary visits the Bexleyheath Wimpy and gives an in depth review of the restaurant. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/myMaYrEKA3M?si=ugzFF-gyEC-o4Us5" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-50428004475090609972024-02-11T12:00:00.001+00:002024-02-11T14:34:54.360+00:00Cameras. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tml1P-IE5Yj9mBgTL5ULrLGokUtUhvlpJ_wr63iZJXiDYNUrJ-iAJqil3NgUVbK_ykWObO7UIsperAcvm3H8EZ2tK-Y_-HDYSxmj5F1rGlD4tR5bbS15yJeFuhyphenhyphenvXHVMrccmy4jNeGdUxd_JC_CFQ1nRisMKnL7rdqz7z5x-J8n9uDglR7bR/s777/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240208155602.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tml1P-IE5Yj9mBgTL5ULrLGokUtUhvlpJ_wr63iZJXiDYNUrJ-iAJqil3NgUVbK_ykWObO7UIsperAcvm3H8EZ2tK-Y_-HDYSxmj5F1rGlD4tR5bbS15yJeFuhyphenhyphenvXHVMrccmy4jNeGdUxd_JC_CFQ1nRisMKnL7rdqz7z5x-J8n9uDglR7bR/w424-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240208155602.png" width="424" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It would appear that Transport for London are now installing a new tranche of ULEZ cameras in and around the London Borough of Bexley. One recently appeared at the top of Picardy Road, Upper Belvedere (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Picardy Hill), and on Wednesday morning last week the ULEZ camera in the photo above - click on it to see a larger view - appeared in Manor Road, close to the junction with Frobisher Road in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a>. On Thursday the Guardian newspaper ran a story which said:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The names and addresses of thousands of EU drivers were unlawfully accessed by Italian police and shared with the company that collects Ulez penalties on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), investigators believe. The Italian data protection authority is investigating claims by Belgium’s government that an unnamed police department misused official powers to pass the personal details of Belgian drivers to Euro Parking Collections, which is employed by TfL to issue fines to enforce London’s low emission zone (Lez) and ultra-low emission zone. Authorities in the Netherlands and Germany have stated that their databases were also illegally accessed by an agent in Italy in what one Belgium MP has called “the biggest data and privacy breach in EU history”. The fines are alleged to have been issued illegally because since Brexit, national laws allow the UK to access the personal data of EU citizens only for criminal offences, and breaching Ulez rules is a civil contravention</i></span>.<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i> The issue could tarnish London’s international standing, according to Liberal Democrat London assembly member Caroline Pidgeon. She has demanded that TfL stop using Euro Parking to issue fines to EU citizens until it can be sure the company’s methods are legally compliant</i></span>". <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/08/ulez-fines-scandal-italian-police-illegally-accessed-thousands-of-eu-drivers-data" target="_blank">You can read the full article by clicking here</a>. As I have said on numerous previous occasions, I do not support or condone any kind of criminal act including but not limited to criminal damage or vandalism.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgEclIEJDwcQxacd1ILBG1fxHag1BTV5hLBLpSlzMOnj8u2Cv2z-8a2g0dyCflqTwNOWhJs7lQY7xUgjDv2R8etmyIxdGipnj4Q-2rTUQ7oJ2ePfyF6wD_zSwM-Suwq7YOlAYxEn_ZWYZ7qkTDvD4Z187n7bRuZXpFU7T5TDG0CzG0LIIV-Yy/s1286/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240206120403.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1286" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgEclIEJDwcQxacd1ILBG1fxHag1BTV5hLBLpSlzMOnj8u2Cv2z-8a2g0dyCflqTwNOWhJs7lQY7xUgjDv2R8etmyIxdGipnj4Q-2rTUQ7oJ2ePfyF6wD_zSwM-Suwq7YOlAYxEn_ZWYZ7qkTDvD4Z187n7bRuZXpFU7T5TDG0CzG0LIIV-Yy/w640-h458/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240206120403.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2019/04/goodbye-sky.html" target="_blank">Back in April 2019</a>, I wrote an in depth article on why I considered that Sky TV would need to move from broadcasting via satellite to web streaming. Nearly five years ago I wrote:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Fibre optic broadband is the way forward. Mark my words, the age of Sky using hugely expensive satellites to broadcast will soon be at an end; they will either change their operating model and switch to online, or they will slowly die</i></span>". It would appear that my prediction is now coming true. Sky dishes have dominated British rooftops, bringing premium channels and paid for content into millions of homes for three decades. However, rumours abound that the dish's days may be numbered, with Sky seemingly transitioning towards a streaming-first future. Is this just speculation, or are we witnessing the end of an era? While Sky hasn't officially announced the closure of its satellite service, several signs point towards a strategic shift. They've stopped actively promoting new satellite installations, focusing instead on their streaming platform, Sky Stream. Additionally, their latest hardware offering, the Sky Glass TV, doesn't even require a dish, emphasizing their streaming ambitions. As a direct result of this, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68146692" target="_blank">Sky is to cut 1,000 jobs in its engineering division</a> as viewers make the switch from satellite to internet-delivered TV services. Several factors contribute to this potential move. Firstly, internet penetration in the UK is at an all-time high, with reliable broadband readily available in most areas. Additionally, streaming technology has matured, offering high-quality, reliable viewing experiences. This shift aligns with broader industry trends, as global media giants like Netflix and Disney+ dominate the entertainment landscape. Anyone who has tried to sign up with Sky since late 2021 will have found it more difficult to sign up for its satellite TV based service. It has been aggressively pushing its Sky Glass TVs – and for those wanting to choose their own TV – Sky Stream pucks. That has had an impact on the number of tasks available for its satellite installer teams. The new IP-based TV services are designed to ‘plug and play’ – the devices designed to attach themselves to an existing wi-fi router. No installer required. Technical support for IPTV services is largely outsourced, with any connection-related issues pushed back to the end user or to the likes of Openreach, who carry Sky’s full fibre broadband service through its network. Sky only has just over four years left on its existing satellite carriage contract with SES, the operators of the Astra satellites used to carry the service. It has been three years since the last confirmation from SES of an extension of satellite capacity – this confirmed Sky would remain on satellite until 2028. The current fleet of three satellites that carry Sky’s UK and Ireland service – <a href="https://www.lyngsat.com/Astra-2E-2F-2G.html" target="_blank">Astra 2E, 2F and 2G</a> – are all due to reach their end of life by the end of the decade. A decision will soon need to be made on force migrating current satellite users or, like Movistar+ in Spain, continuing a limited satellite TV service for viewers with poor internet connections. Reports that Sky is planning to cease selling Sky Q and satellite upgrades have so far been denied, but that day is expected to come sooner rather than later. But is the satellite sunset inevitable? Not necessarily. While Sky might prioritise streaming, completely abandoning their satellite infrastructure seems unlikely in the near future. The technology still serves millions of customers, particularly in rural areas with limited broadband options. Sky's current satellites have lifespans extending into the late 2020s, further suggesting a gradual transition rather than an abrupt shutdown. What does this mean for Sky customers? For now, not much needs to change. Existing satellite users can likely continue receiving their service for some time. However, it's wise to stay informed about potential future developments and weigh their streaming options. This potential shift raises broader questions about the future of television itself. Will satellite become a relic of the past, like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> tapes before it? Or will it find a niche alongside streaming, catering to specific needs and regions? Only time will tell. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETHy6eY8ake1URK_3ahgyymdLQp9dFWnQkvqN9aTNxJWV0FUuv75_nALiUXGjG2aOdWg558Rreu6JH8XK9uZNEJ4JN17jmtSw-3BP_8F2E-syC6vapQBlRklxSXU9Csbhl-6BzhqgwwAIaz3khKdHVjD7_qaShMVo5T_JFhJ8exfpYAGrGqoB/s1600/Thames%20barge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETHy6eY8ake1URK_3ahgyymdLQp9dFWnQkvqN9aTNxJWV0FUuv75_nALiUXGjG2aOdWg558Rreu6JH8XK9uZNEJ4JN17jmtSw-3BP_8F2E-syC6vapQBlRklxSXU9Csbhl-6BzhqgwwAIaz3khKdHVjD7_qaShMVo5T_JFhJ8exfpYAGrGqoB/w640-h424/Thames%20barge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Bearing in mind <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> is very much a maritime town, the River Thames does not really get the exposure or use one would expect. Historically <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> was an important port outside of London. Many ships which were too large to make it into the Port of London were unloaded at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a>, with their cargoes being taken further up river by Thames sailing barges similar to the one in the photograph above - click on it to see a larger version. This was before the river was fully dredged and managed as it is nowadays. Today one can watch huge container and bulk carrier ships passing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> river front on a daily basis; the best time to see ship movements is at or around the changing of the tide. As previously mentioned, some of the small and medium sized vessels can often be seen moored on <a href="https://londonist.com/london/best-of-london/londons-longest-pier" target="_blank">Erith Pier</a> as well. Until 2013 there was an annual Thames Barge race, but for reasons unknown it has not been run since. The origin of this historic competition is well documented. It was the brainchild of a man who was nick named “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Golden Dustman</i></span>”. His real name was Henry Dodd. He was born in 1801 into a very poor family; his first job was as a plough boy in arable fields that were within view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which he did until he was in his early thirties, when he found employment as a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>scavenger</i></span>” – a sort of prototype recycling consultant. He soon discovered that the big money was in transporting waste, rather than actually sorting it. London was rapidly growing in size, and the population was booming. As the number of people in the capital increased, the amount of rubbish they generated went up. Dodd saw this as a very lucrative business opportunity, so instead of using slow and somewhat unreliable horses and carts to haul rubbish, he first hired, then purchased a fleet of sailing barges, which could transport far greater cargoes at a higher speed than any contemporary road solution. Most of the waste material Dodd was transporting was burned outside the capital, and the resulting ash was a vital ingredient in making bricks, which in turn were used to build the expansion of London. Never one to overlook a business opening, Dodd invested in several brick works, including a very large site on what is now Manor Road in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a>. Nowadays, this kind of end to end ownership of all stages in a manufacturing process is known as “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>vertical integration</i></span>” and Henry Dodd was a pioneer of it. All this made Dodd incredibly wealthy; he was one of the richest commoners in England, right at the start of the then new middle class. Dodd’s money bought him a degree of respectability in Victorian society (though I am sure there were whispers behind his back – though after having been brought up in the environment he had, I somewhat doubt if this bothered him). Dodd became a very enthusiastic patron of the theatre, and through this mutual interest he became very good friends with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens" target="_blank">Charles Dickens</a>. Dickens scholars believe that Dodd was the inspiration for the character of Mr. Boffin, the millionaire dustman who appears in the novel “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Our Mutual Friend</i></span>”. Dodd invested a large amount of money in sailing barges, and soon discovered that there was an intense rivalry between barge skippers. Never one to miss a main chance, he decided that in 1863 he would stage a sailing barge race – for entertainment, but also as a means to improve the business. The first race was only for his own sailing barges, and was run from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> to Canvey Island and back, with the first barge and skipper to make the round trip being awarded a generous cash purse, which was awarded under the auspices of the Prince of Wales Yacht Club. Many in society assumed that the event had Royal patronage (something that Dodd did little to discourage), but in fact it was named after an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> pub! In 1864 the race was opened to all comers, and after a while it became such a big event the running of it was passed over to a committee of barge owners. Within ten years, specially built racing barges were being constructed purely to try and win the race. Passenger steamers would be chartered to follow the racing barges on their course, and records show that over 10,000 people watched the race from on board these steamers. Henry Dodd, the “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Golden Dustman</i></span>” died in 1881; he left a fund to sustain the match – an eye watering sum of £100,000, which today is equivalent to tens of millions of pounds. In the latter years of the 19th century, the event was covered by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens" target="_blank">Charles’ Dickens</a> son (who confusingly was also called Charles) in his annual gazetteer. For the Centenary Match raced in 1963, the two principal rivals in Britain’s coasting trade, F T Everard and The London and The Rochester Trading Co. lavished money on their fastest barges in an attempt to ensure success for craft which were, by that time, an anachronism in transportation terms. The 48 mile course was from Mucking to the Mouse Lightship, and then back up to Gravesend. F T Everard’s Veronica was the winner, leaving the rest far behind in her wake. Not only was this spectacle thought to be the second oldest sailing contest in the world after the America’s Cup, unlike the America’s Cup of 1851, it was still sailed in craft virtually unchanged since those times until 2013, and as such is in itself was an especially important part of this nation’s maritime heritage. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEID83o3vzwCidwh9ebiAM81V3EHpWkGmJUp5aaFCFs57CuspJTiT11gW5FtNC9ReJTnNyV-C-WJJ16T93e9Jcmt2D9aFTQu_nH82QVadW1C3TVqaJSWgwqs67scdyitz3SqunuoN3eOWZLpzRPfcQ0WL2hH_WSRHuzvujkAY_-kRnFiUFioqK/s2805/Lennox%20Lewis%20photo%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2805" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEID83o3vzwCidwh9ebiAM81V3EHpWkGmJUp5aaFCFs57CuspJTiT11gW5FtNC9ReJTnNyV-C-WJJ16T93e9Jcmt2D9aFTQu_nH82QVadW1C3TVqaJSWgwqs67scdyitz3SqunuoN3eOWZLpzRPfcQ0WL2hH_WSRHuzvujkAY_-kRnFiUFioqK/w640-h394/Lennox%20Lewis%20photo%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Following the article I published last week on former Gladiators star Wolf - real name Michael Van Wijk, and how he used to live in a flat above a hairdressers shop in Woolwich Road, Upper Belvedere. My research led me onto another sports celebrity with an even bigger claim to fame. Olympic gold medal winner and former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis used to live in Crayford. Lewis's Crayford story began in the 1980s when, as a young and aspiring boxer, he found himself living and training at the historic <a href="https://www.crayfordarms.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crayford Arms</a> pub. Run by his then-manager Frank Maloney, the pub became more than just an abode; it was rumoured to be a training ground as well. Lewis's training stretched beyond the pub walls. He frequented St. Paul's Cray Amateur Boxing Club, honing his skills under the tutelage of trainers like Tony Wilson. The gym, now known as <a href="https://amigosgym.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amigo's Gym</a> in Orpington, still proudly boasts Lewis's legacy, inspiring young boxers with his story. His impact on the local community extends beyond the ring. Lewis's former driver, Kerry Cook, now coaches at Amigo's, highlighting the positive influence the champion had on the area. The <a href="https://www.crayfordarms.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crayford Arms</a> remains a popular spot for boxing fans, and Lewis's achievements are a source of local pride, with photos of his sporting days on the walls of the small pub. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGFVz2f-RL8IYT8Bfi_QP_XMTjf_0BzdK1m9DdIVHqan5IDwggK0cLyeXhwBHiruVRgESIVgcnpRgKzqkJJ2uMEAtWhxbaIh1ayYN1gqSJfQmHruintuOKnRtR8fiWWBqzFJL26E8eZ-RrLzf8l0-kB3LeAsWtVocp6iUzleiVCr5MhlP_Auu/s969/Cookeen%20advert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGFVz2f-RL8IYT8Bfi_QP_XMTjf_0BzdK1m9DdIVHqan5IDwggK0cLyeXhwBHiruVRgESIVgcnpRgKzqkJJ2uMEAtWhxbaIh1ayYN1gqSJfQmHruintuOKnRtR8fiWWBqzFJL26E8eZ-RrLzf8l0-kB3LeAsWtVocp6iUzleiVCr5MhlP_Auu/w502-h640/Cookeen%20advert.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The press advert above was originally published back in 1955; the product advertised is Cookeen hard vegetable cooking fat, which to this day is still manufactured in the ADM Edible Oils factory - the largest manufacturer of edible oils in Europe. If you have bought a supermarket ready meal in the UK, the oil used to cook it will have come from ADM Oils in Erith. It is also one of the largest local employers, with around 1,200 workers, many of whom live in the local area. It originally started up in 1908, when it was known as Erith Oil Works – the business then was similar to now; they crush and process all kinds of seeds, to extract their natural oils, which are used in foodstuffs, cooking oils and animal feeds. The seeds, then as now are brought upriver in large bulk freighter ships. The distinctive huge concrete silos that are still present on the ADM site were constructed in 1916, where they were some of the earliest surviving examples of reinforced concrete construction in the UK. They were constructed by Danish structural engineering company Christiani and Neilsen, who invented reinforced concrete construction techniques.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A new breed of criminal is taking to the streets, not on mopeds, but on electric bikes, their targets - your mobile phone. These silent, swift vehicles are becoming the weapon of choice for phone snatchers, posing a growing threat in the city. Electric bikes offer a distinct advantage to thieves. Their assisted power allows for quick getaways, easily outpacing pedestrians and even outrunning some cars in traffic-heavy areas. This speed makes them ideal for snatch-and-run tactics, leaving victims with little chance of pursuit. Additionally, the quiet nature of e-bikes allows perpetrators to approach unsuspecting targets unnoticed, further increasing their chances of success. Reports indicate that phone thefts are concentrated in busy areas like tourist hot spots, transport hubs, and shopping areas. Thieves often target individuals using their phones while walking, talking, or texting, making them vulnerable and distracted. Some even resort to riding on pavements, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Beyond the financial loss, phone theft can have a significant emotional impact on victims. The loss of personal data, photos, and communication channels can be deeply unsettling. In some cases, phone snatching can escalate to violence, leaving victims physically and psychologically traumatised. The Metropolitan Police are aware of the rising trend and are taking steps to address it. Increased patrols in high-risk areas, targeted operations, and public awareness campaigns are all part of the effort. However, individual vigilance remains crucial. Police have issued the following advice to try to keep the public safe from mobile phone thieves:- Be aware of your surroundings: Avoid using your phone while walking in busy areas, especially if you are alone. Keep your phone secure: Use a phone case with a strap or keep it in a secure pocket. Don't flaunt your phone: Avoid making calls or playing games in public, as this attracts unwanted attention. Report suspicious activity: If you see someone acting suspiciously, report it to the police immediately.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week shows the statues of Alcock and Brown seated on a bench in Crayford. The Vickers factory where their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Vimy" target="_blank">Vickers Vimy</a> aircraft was built was located on the site of what is now the Crayford retail park. In 1919, the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean still seemed an insurmountable barrier in the budding era of aviation. But on June 14th, two daring British aviators, Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown, defied the odds and achieved the unthinkable: the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Their aircraft, a modified <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Vimy" target="_blank">Vickers Vimy</a> bomber named "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Newfoundland</i></span>," was far from the sleek, sophisticated jets we see today. It was a lumbering biplane, its open cockpit exposing them to the harsh elements. Undeterred, Alcock and Brown took off from St. John's, Newfoundland, laden with 865 gallons of fuel - a gamble on the limited range of the aircraft. The journey was fraught with peril. Thick fog, icy winds, and engine trouble threatened to force them back. Their sextant, used for celestial navigation, malfunctioned, leaving them to rely on dead reckoning and Brown's remarkable sense of direction. Hours blurred into a grueling test of endurance, with exhaustion and near-freezing temperatures adding to the challenge. Finally, after 16 hours and 28 minutes, a glimmer of hope appeared: the rugged coast of Ireland. Guided by the Marconi wireless station in Clifden, they made a daring landing on a boggy field, narrowly escaping disaster. News of their feat spread like wildfire, hailing them as heroes. Not only had they claimed a £10,000 prize offered by the Daily Mail, but they had ushered in a new era of transatlantic travel. Their success paved the way for future commercial flights, shrinking the world and forging new connections across continents. The statues in Crayford are a reminder of Alcock and Brown's amazing feat of aerial exploration. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kgNi0hjeQ6U?si=MMbK1E46qkaniIaf" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-34830429171411410392024-02-04T12:15:00.001+00:002024-02-04T12:17:06.755+00:00B12.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDtRkzSSQgTRcpsczuLYWx68gam_H4COOxm0VQQmuctSWyNrn-u_BV_g0NZYT43lkus867eb8PlB7Maqu6YN7MR5WKvyBqwvzIzIkbYNJBdu4RLOrij8tnsPSEQhdchl2V6Er3Rfv2aXDLSwrT5TPh3BQT_rIon-dPawjr1aeFO1Y87skUIom/s3732/PXL_20240201_150448368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="3732" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDtRkzSSQgTRcpsczuLYWx68gam_H4COOxm0VQQmuctSWyNrn-u_BV_g0NZYT43lkus867eb8PlB7Maqu6YN7MR5WKvyBqwvzIzIkbYNJBdu4RLOrij8tnsPSEQhdchl2V6Er3Rfv2aXDLSwrT5TPh3BQT_rIon-dPawjr1aeFO1Y87skUIom/w640-h360/PXL_20240201_150448368.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above was taken last week in Midfield Avenue in Barnehurst. It shows a ULEZ camera pole that has been cut through and damaged, presumably by an anti ULEZ protester. The camera had been employed to monitor vehicles entering the London Borough of Bexley from Dartford. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London and other UK cities has sparked heated debate, with passionate opposition voiced by a vocal segment of the population. The anti-ULEZ movement encompasses a diverse range of individuals with varying motivations. Some key groups include:- Low-income drivers: They argue the daily charge disproportionately burdens those who cannot afford newer, cleaner vehicles. Many rely on older cars for essential activities like work and errands. Rural residents: Concerns exist that ULEZ expansion in cities will negatively impact surrounding areas, pushing the financial burden onto those who commute or rely on deliveries from outside the zone. Small businesses: Owners of non-compliant vans and trucks fear the financial strain will harm their livelihoods, potentially forcing them to close or raise prices. Disability advocates: Some with accessibility needs worry the ULEZ scheme might limit their mobility options, especially if accessible vehicles are not readily available or affordable. Critics argue public transport infrastructure and financial support for purchasing compliant vehicles are inadequate, making the transition impractical for many. Some fear the ULEZ will disproportionately harm small businesses and essential services, leading to job losses and economic hardship. Questions linger about the effectiveness of the scheme in achieving its environmental goals and the fairness of its implementation across different demographics. Personally I feel that the implementation of the ULEZ scheme has been deeply unfair and divisive - many of the people directly affected by it have not been able to have a say in it - principally people who live outside of Greater London, but who have to commute to jobs within it. An example recently quoted to me was that of staff at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. A large number of staff commute from outside of London daily; many are not earning a large salary and have no choice but to run an older, non ULEZ compliant vehicle, which is subject to the daily charge. I ought to make it abundantly clear that I do not support or condone criminal damage or vandalism of any kind. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5taboV-y-_AGc-qW4XbCP2X8J95fMp0cjt-ExI05dDgrWAG1rkcW1iJFB-7uk54skOqwNJpVDNKgZ7eB7bo6bJNJVRmHwVvqK5IQddkt9sqF46woPDc_gAYOXX97c2X5BkLNZVADE3IuUc36towkwPAfNcMaSz5VwYbrReSIf65fQ2w8fw67v/s4032/PXL_20240203_115943639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5taboV-y-_AGc-qW4XbCP2X8J95fMp0cjt-ExI05dDgrWAG1rkcW1iJFB-7uk54skOqwNJpVDNKgZ7eB7bo6bJNJVRmHwVvqK5IQddkt9sqF46woPDc_gAYOXX97c2X5BkLNZVADE3IuUc36towkwPAfNcMaSz5VwYbrReSIf65fQ2w8fw67v/w640-h360/PXL_20240203_115943639.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The Village Store in Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere has been closed for over a year, following a devastating flood caused by a serious water leak originating from the flat above the shop. The newsagent / general store has been closed, despite a couple of false alarms suggesting it was to reopen over the months. Finally work to repair and refurbish the newsagent / general store has been completed, and the operators have announced that it will reopen tomorrow - Monday the 5th February. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Back in November of last year, <a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2023/11/empty.html" target="_blank">I wrote quite extensively about the severe cutbacks being made to BBC local radio, and the effects this would have on the listening audience</a>. BBC Radio Kent has had much of its local content removed. The drastic cuts to the station’s output now sees a single afternoon show broadcast across all of Kent, Surrey and Sussex between 2pm and 6pm. The evening schedule is also now networked, with shared content broadcast across a huge part of the South East. At weekends, a single breakfast show also broadcasts across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The cuts mean some of the station’s most popular presenters have seen their shows moved or axed altogether. Some previously loyal listeners have vowed to boycott the popular station as a result of the cutbacks. Now the latest radio industry RAJAR listening figures have been released, which show how badly the BBC has been performing since the changes and cutbacks introduced three months ago. <a href="https://www.rajar.co.uk/" target="_blank">RAJAR stands for Radio Joint Audience Research</a> and is the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK. It is jointly owned by the BBC and the Radiocentre on behalf of the commercial sector. Commercial radio has an additional one million weekly listeners according to the latest RAJAR results, and the BBC has lost approximately the same figure in the same time frame. RAJAR listening figures are published every quarter year. The data shows that 39.1 million people listen every week, which is up from 38.1 million in the same quarter last year and sets a new Q4 record. These new figures reveal a sustained increase in commercial radio listening, as there are now 3.5 million more listeners tuning in to commercial stations compared to five years ago, an increase of 10%. The length of time people listen for has also increased as total hours have grown by 19%. According to RAJAR, commercial radio has 7.8 million more listeners than the BBC, as the gap grows from 4.8 million in Q4 2022. The BBC has seen its share drop to 43.2%, down from 47.1% in same period last year. One specific example of the move from the BBC to commercial stations is that official RAJAR data shows that former BBC Radio 2 stalwart <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bruce" target="_blank">Ken Bruce</a>, who now presents the pre-lunchtime 10am slot on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Hits_Radio" target="_blank">Greatest Hits Radio</a>, has increased his audience from 2.2 million a week when he started with the station in the second quarter of last year to 3.8 million. Bruce spent three decades presenting the same mid-morning time slot on Radio 2, where his trademark PopMaster music quiz helped build the biggest audience in British radio. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bruce" target="_blank">Ken Bruce</a> was also able to take PopMaster from the BBC to his new employer, after personally securing the trademark during the 1990s. The radio host’s success is part of a wider drift of audiences to commercial outlets and away from BBC radio. The combined weekly audience for all BBC and commercial radio in the UK also remains extremely strong at 49.5 million people, representing 88% of the adult population. As a result, the BBC, which until recently dominated the radio market, now only accounts for 43% of all time spent listening to the radio – while commercial stations have surged to 55% of listening hours. The other 2% is listening to other outlets such as local community stations. For its part, the BBC says it is increasingly focused on its BBC Sounds app and commissioning podcasts. The loss of listeners to BBC national and local radio comes at a time when many are questioning the continuation of the BBC licence fee. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-13z7EGshCJzAz_Q6Errrm7hcRZRVQ_45xUfhhS5CwW3aKbjJsUW6cbbHFhquz8QfEAwjp02TwciuU7LDbj8eZN_wF5w1OD8rQyhoguEBhxWSmiN_9Bay3uOjMoNLfMEjs7c5SSildmukgAtINL4HutNu3V2V782mKO1QsqfPWwDBjoMju3lS/s637/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240201112138.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="637" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-13z7EGshCJzAz_Q6Errrm7hcRZRVQ_45xUfhhS5CwW3aKbjJsUW6cbbHFhquz8QfEAwjp02TwciuU7LDbj8eZN_wF5w1OD8rQyhoguEBhxWSmiN_9Bay3uOjMoNLfMEjs7c5SSildmukgAtINL4HutNu3V2V782mKO1QsqfPWwDBjoMju3lS/w640-h372/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240201112138.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In another radio related news item, You may not be aware, but <a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-radio" target="_blank">the 13th of February has been declared World Radio Day by UNESCO</a>. UNESCO’s Executive Board recommended to the General Conference the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a feasibility study undertaken by UNESCO, further to a proposal from Spain. Radio is the mass media reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognised as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium. Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobile phones and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. A wide consultation process started in June 2011, carried out by UNESCO. It included all stakeholders, i.e. broadcasting associations; public, state, private, community and international broadcasters; United Nations agencies; funds and programmes; topic-related NGOs; academia; foundations and bilateral development agencies; as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions. Among the answers, 91 percent were in favour of the project. The objectives of the Day will be to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters. The consulted stakeholders also proposed ideas for the programme of celebration: extensive use of social media, annual themes, a dedicated website enabling virtual participation, special radio programmes, radio programmes exchange, a festival involving key partners, and so forth. <a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-radio" target="_blank">You can read more about UNESCO World Radio Day by clicking here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_ZoYskw3uloBMQo3eUE6gbPm5yoW8ih9cxIvTQGjWFepionBqUj5H-rZqWteA2tESurw949qoF13-cGdHUdyLZm-qBf8vxxUiS-iwaFSE5Zvu2YVadPGySDT3woueyPPi5KYfjkleflZTm5sCSUL5eIA58n19JUHI05QaW1-6uo4BIv_KnM4/s1384/image%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1384" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_ZoYskw3uloBMQo3eUE6gbPm5yoW8ih9cxIvTQGjWFepionBqUj5H-rZqWteA2tESurw949qoF13-cGdHUdyLZm-qBf8vxxUiS-iwaFSE5Zvu2YVadPGySDT3woueyPPi5KYfjkleflZTm5sCSUL5eIA58n19JUHI05QaW1-6uo4BIv_KnM4/w640-h358/image%20(2).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-tWQ7fuiOy2p_bvmf7ALjouh40_ImfPpDzC6KWjq-qt1-tkCQTV5Cs5PO2A28Mjf7Er07nDZmQ-bqOu8Am72Q55liuqldt6DH4QPacT3gFCXxf3VaEnkBIlUk09nHmZ08cy1CRtuMvBnCNvOhuKeQblQPkhE1xwWsUWEyTa6MtGwnXiDsthd/s1886/image%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1886" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-tWQ7fuiOy2p_bvmf7ALjouh40_ImfPpDzC6KWjq-qt1-tkCQTV5Cs5PO2A28Mjf7Er07nDZmQ-bqOu8Am72Q55liuqldt6DH4QPacT3gFCXxf3VaEnkBIlUk09nHmZ08cy1CRtuMvBnCNvOhuKeQblQPkhE1xwWsUWEyTa6MtGwnXiDsthd/w640-h262/image%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was sent the images above on Thursday; they were taken from CCTV footage from a property in Avenue Road, Erith, hence the slightly fuzzy quality. A single deck <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/b12/" target="_blank">B12 bus</a> on its way to Erith Riverside Shopping Centre, where it terminates, had collided with a car. The accident would appear to have been quite serious - an ambulance, fire engine were quickly at the scene, followed shortly thereafter by a police car. The police quickly closed Avenue Road whilst the emergency services worked. Some time later a tow truck arrived to remove the <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/b12/" target="_blank">B12 bus</a>, which was not able to move under its own power. Strangely the story was not picked up by local newspaper the <a href="https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/" target="_blank">News Shopper</a>. Thanks to regular reader and occasional contributor Miles who brought the incident to my attention. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Remember Y2K? The millennium bug that was supposed to plunge the world into chaos as the clock struck midnight on December 31st, 1999? While the predictions of widespread doom and gloom thankfully never materialised, there is another, less-publicised time-related glitch lurking on the horizon: the Year 2038 Problem. The Year 2038 Problem, also known as Y2038 or the Epochalypse, is a potential malfunction in some computer systems that could occur on January 19th, 2038, at 3:14:07 UTC. This issue arises from how certain systems store and represent time. Many computers measure time using a system called Unix time. This system tracks time as the number of seconds elapsed since midnight on January 1st, 1970, also known as the Unix epoch. If a system uses a 32-bit integer to store this value, it can only represent up to 2,147,483,647 seconds. On January 19th, 2038, at 3:14:07 UTC, the number of seconds since the Unix epoch will reach 2,147,483,647. At that point, a 32-bit integer will overflow, and the counter will wrap around to a negative value. This can cause affected systems to misinterpret the date and time, potentially leading to a range of malfunctions. The potential impacts of the Year 2038 Problem vary depending on the specific systems and software involved. Some possible consequences include:- Financial transactions: Incorrect timestamps on financial transactions could lead to errors and fraud. Critical infrastructure:- Systems controlling power grids, transportation networks, and other critical infrastructure could malfunction. Healthcare:- Medical devices and healthcare systems that rely on accurate timekeeping could be disrupted. Data loss:- Dates and timestamps on stored data could be corrupted, leading to data loss or inaccessibility. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the Year 2038 Problem. These include: Upgrading affected systems: Switching to 64-bit integers for storing time can prevent overflow. Patching software: Software developers can fix their programs to handle dates and times beyond 2038. Raising awareness: Increasing public awareness about the Year 2038 Problem can help organizations and individuals prepare for potential disruptions. While the Year 2038 Problem may not be an immediate threat, it's a time-sensitive issue that requires proactive attention.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For decades, Thamesmead has suffered from a lack of efficient public transport connections. But a glimmer of hope shines on the horizon with the proposed DLR extension, a project set to transform the area and improve the lives of its residents. The proposed extension would branch off the existing DLR line at Gallions Reach, creating two new stations: Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. This would not only connect Thamesmead to the wider DLR network, but also provide a direct link to central London and major employment hubs like Canary Wharf. A new tunnel would need to be dug under the Thames to carry the line to Thamesmead - which, if built, would have a claim to be the most easterly Thames crossing in Greater London. There are also proposals to improve bus provision in the area, including new bus lanes along a route stretching from Woolwich to Abbey Wood, going via Thamesmead to enable better connectivity between the Elizabeth line and the new DLR branch. The project is dependent on funding from the Government and the receipt of planning permission, but the aim is to agree on an affordable solution by 2025, in order to enable construction to begin as early as 2028 and opening the DLR extension to customers in the early 2030s. Improved accessibility: Reduced travel times and increased frequency of services would make commuting and accessing essential services easier for residents. Economic regeneration: The project is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and attract new businesses to the area, boosting the local economy. Housing development: Improved transport links would unlock the potential for new housing developments in Thamesmead, providing much-needed affordable homes for locals. Environmental benefits: Reduced reliance on cars would lead to lower carbon emissions and create a more sustainable transport system.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlClU_1wBXwB3pnBspBNykT_iRAjLDpWbPCzczCq74Kltgk8uOWJGdYtdA0EtbHogUrCXc9c0Exep0iJx2euPQkOoDRV8mWHQxdGBcP5eDb-vAPTq78NgXbN-c5p3oCum5zaOUT-FRqIbdxjwURkBXdRNOmhRuRHT6rIkLQwm0ZWeXujDVvWjy/s1325/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240131093349.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1325" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlClU_1wBXwB3pnBspBNykT_iRAjLDpWbPCzczCq74Kltgk8uOWJGdYtdA0EtbHogUrCXc9c0Exep0iJx2euPQkOoDRV8mWHQxdGBcP5eDb-vAPTq78NgXbN-c5p3oCum5zaOUT-FRqIbdxjwURkBXdRNOmhRuRHT6rIkLQwm0ZWeXujDVvWjy/w640-h410/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240131093349.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BBC recently started transmitting new episodes of Gladiators - not something that personally interests me, but I know that the show is very popular. Many will be aware that the show is a remake of the original ITV version, which ran from 1992 to 2000. What is rather less well known is that one of the characters from the original show had a strong local connection. Michael Van Wijk, better known as the <a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">Gladiator Wolf</a> used to live in Upper Belvedere. Van Wijk used to run a gym in Bromley, originally called Matrix and later '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Wolf's Fitness Centre</i></span>'. It was open until the late 1990s and included facilities geared towards bodybuilders, boxers and general fitness. He and his girlfriend - later his wife, lived in a flat above <a href="https://filippos.book.app/" target="_blank">Fillipo's hair dressers in Woolwich Road</a>, next to the Prince of Wales pub for several years. The character of <a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">Wolf</a> was the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Heel</i></span>" - the scripted villain of the original run of Gladiators. Before his reign as <a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">Wolf</a>, Van Wijk was a successful bodybuilder and occasional actor. He even auditioned for a role in "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dances_with_Wolves" target="_blank">Dances with Wolves</a>," an experience that would later inspire his Gladiator persona. When the call came for Gladiators, Van Wijk knew he had to stand out. He embraced the producer's suggestion of a "<a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">wolf</a>" character, creating a menacing persona complete with a leather vest, ripped tights, and a wild mane of hair. <a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">Wolf</a> wasn't just a brute; he was a showman. His pre-event growls and intense stares were legendary, and his competitive spirit was often fiery. He reveled in his role as the bad guy, playing up the villainous persona with playful taunts and theatrical gestures. Despite (or perhaps because of) his villainous persona, <a href="https://www.gladiatorstv.com/gladiators/classic-itv/wolf/" target="_blank">Wolf</a> became one of the most popular Gladiators. His unapologetic antagonism added a layer of spice to the competition, creating a compelling rivalry between him and the contenders. While some viewers cheered for his downfall, others couldn't help but admire his showmanship and competitive spirit. Nowadays at 71 years old, Michael Van Wijk lives with his family in New Zealand, where he operates a chain of fitness gyms. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a 30 minute feature on the recent 2024 <a href="https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/erithmrs/" target="_blank">Erith Model Railway Society</a> Exhibition at the Longfield Academy - with video presenter Dawn Quest. Comments and feedback to me as usual at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kk2xRzr5BfQ?si=m27ANASvuenZ_gpR" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-33053814980238237492024-01-28T11:45:00.000+00:002024-01-28T11:45:09.921+00:00Smoke.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74kTpCXgT3bqMerwvuKmSjOhoU8SIXDZBIkcPFxX7C6Ax8UN6gpzaQha8V-6_ECdJpDqB64qhhRppIZsZpwpjick8E56LXnbe6SYHZiqGOmm2434aNnybioXhcu2hmNJpjYKmwXwXr6AVvHYzb_UFmzs9LxESWzuRF_DvZZiALK8PQpiEe8Lu/s4032/PXL_20231201_155116747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74kTpCXgT3bqMerwvuKmSjOhoU8SIXDZBIkcPFxX7C6Ax8UN6gpzaQha8V-6_ECdJpDqB64qhhRppIZsZpwpjick8E56LXnbe6SYHZiqGOmm2434aNnybioXhcu2hmNJpjYKmwXwXr6AVvHYzb_UFmzs9LxESWzuRF_DvZZiALK8PQpiEe8Lu/w640-h360/PXL_20231201_155116747.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiRZLofwaDNbZT4QwQ-kJbUwGgeGHBO0Hew0eMBNYCwcPwxMEfg5uY6DnrEu_3dGfOhpA3x28VoFtmgjPEvkmvA1ZQZvYOSAeDBZqgF8lWDRgD6tdrlo1hVD1-2WgKLNJn21IENZbLpYKzdLgOeSstP31Jiz-6u06cY8EZY8nhua_iYyJOQYY/s4032/PXL_20231201_155412483.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiRZLofwaDNbZT4QwQ-kJbUwGgeGHBO0Hew0eMBNYCwcPwxMEfg5uY6DnrEu_3dGfOhpA3x28VoFtmgjPEvkmvA1ZQZvYOSAeDBZqgF8lWDRgD6tdrlo1hVD1-2WgKLNJn21IENZbLpYKzdLgOeSstP31Jiz-6u06cY8EZY8nhua_iYyJOQYY/w640-h360/PXL_20231201_155412483.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Following my report of local Police called to a violent incident in Bexleyheath Broadway, which I published on the 10th of December, there have now been further fights between school children in the Broadway - photos above - click on either to see a larger view. I was (un) lucky enough to be standing at the 99 bus stop opposite the Furze Wren pub a couple of weeks ago, when three Police vehicles arrived to deal with an outbreak of fighting in front of the entrance to the TK Maxx store. The Police have increased patrols in the Broadway, and at roughly 3pm to 5pm on weekdays during term time they have increased the number of PCSO's and PC's on duty in the area, to try and discourage violence between children from different local schools. As previously reported, I am aware that some locals avoid visiting the Broadway when large numbers of school children are present, due to fears of violence. Last Wednesday afternoon I was again in Bexleyheath when I saw eight Police officers in a group, standing outside of the McDonald's branch in Bexleyheath Broadway. From their body language, it appeared that they were expecting some kind of trouble. I did not hang around to find out more. If you have encountered any problems with violence from school children in Bexleyheath, then please contact me in confidence at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following eulogy was posted by <a href="https://www.bexleywatch.org.uk/" target="_blank">Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association</a> senior committee member, Dana Wiffen:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>R.I.P RAY HUDSON - Ray worked tirelessly in his community and has taken on numerous voluntary roles over the years including as a Magistrate from 1975-2001, a School Governor from 1976 to 2014, Chairman of Lesness Residents Association from 1997-2016. Many of you will remember him from Bexley-Neighbourhood Watch, where he joined the Committee in 1992 he then became the Vice-Chairman from 1995 to 2003 and was voted to Chairman from 2004 until 2013. As Vice Chairman one of his first jobs in 1997 was to oversee Bexley-Neighbourhood Watch in becoming a registered charity and then to set-up the RINGMASTER telephone warning system in 1998. As Chairman working with his team they greatly improved Neighbourhood Watch’s profile both in the community and in securing closer working relationships with both Bexley Police, Bexley Council and Local Press. Together with other volunteers he was often seen at events and fairs across the Borough normally with his great friends and Neighbourhood Watch Committee Member Ray Darsey & John Rayner. By 2008 there were around 350 Neighbourhood Watch -Coordinators covering some 14,000 homes, by 2013 this had increased membership to 450 NW-Coordinators covering around 25,000 homes in Bexley Borough. He was also Bexley-Neighbouhood Watch’s representative on the Safer Neighbourhood Board. A long term sponsorship deal with CORY Riverside Energy enabled to purchase of a gazebo, laptop, street signage and many booklets and leaflets also supporting the expansion in the Borough, while the Council had agreed to fund a part-time administrator to work from our office, which had firstly been in Belvedere Police Station and later Bexleyheath Police Station. The money also saw the return of the Bexley-Neighbourhood Watch printed newsletters which were distributed via Coordinators and Libraries. He was also recognised for his voluntary work with a number of awards which included a Long Service Award from Bexley-Neighbourhood Watch and a London Achievement Award which he collected from London Mayor- Boris Johnson. With the late James Brokenshire MP becoming our Patron and Bexley-Neighbourhood Watch reaching their 30th Anniversary in 2013, Ray stepped down as Chairman leaving the organisation in a healthy and positive position moving forward. He continued to help as Senior Adviser but because of health issues he would later move to a care home and would welcome us when we visited, eagerly asking for updates on our work. His death on the 20th January 2024 has left us all upset and missing one of the most dedicated volunteers in Bexley</i></span>". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhiYkM856-Fw7o0NsggUt-UDxbEEakoK_Yh-Ku6t68W1UXwKQkwIrwRywqdWOmDaRr4AU8_2QJSAT2gjfoTI8z4KYUfg3bpIiW8q2SSOpvj0562Vt1zAWa-8Ntaqioe8IFPgCw8MSLq3zjEtpRXU7Hj0kDz0BOWf1z10gzZLkVUQmGoHXWEZv/s877/Beasley's%20Brewery%20-%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="877" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhiYkM856-Fw7o0NsggUt-UDxbEEakoK_Yh-Ku6t68W1UXwKQkwIrwRywqdWOmDaRr4AU8_2QJSAT2gjfoTI8z4KYUfg3bpIiW8q2SSOpvj0562Vt1zAWa-8Ntaqioe8IFPgCw8MSLq3zjEtpRXU7Hj0kDz0BOWf1z10gzZLkVUQmGoHXWEZv/w640-h432/Beasley's%20Brewery%20-%20small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">If you ask a number of retired people who have lived locally for any length of time about Beasley’s Beer, you will get a number of responses – not all of them good. Beasley’s Brewery was located in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.485412,0.0895985,3a,75y,233.17h,89.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snh9aayi9RUAgEcBB3HJx3A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dnh9aayi9RUAgEcBB3HJx3A%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D184.08136%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Plumstead, in Brewery Road, off Lakedale Road</a>. Before the Second World War, it was owned by Harry Geoffrey Beasley, who had inherited the brewery. The income from this made him wealthy, and enabled him to spend much of his life engaged in his passion for anthropology; he travelled the world studying various tribes and peoples, and wrote many academic papers on the subject. He was considered to be a leader in his field of study, and in 1932 he became president of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Anthropological_Institute_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland" target="_blank">Royal Anthropological Institute</a>, a post he held until 1937, when ill – health in the form of Diabetes meant he had to stand down from the office. For most of his married life he lived in <a href="https://chislehurst-society.org.uk/pages/about/queries/cranmore-place/" target="_blank">Cranmore Place in Chislehurst</a>, where he set up the <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG122477" target="_blank">Cranmore Ethnographical Museum</a>, which housed six thousand exhibits that Beasley had collected during his travels. He died in 1939, when his collection was moved to the British Museum – just in time, as the house was destroyed during the Blitz. From the records I have read, Harry Beasley had a pretty hands – off relationship with the brewery from which he derived his not inconsiderable income. Local resident Roger Jewiss recalls the following story about day to day life for the average working man in Beasley’s Brewery: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>My Grandfather was a blacksmith and during the depression found work a bit hard to find. He was pleased to get two days work to do a repair in the brewery. All employees were given two brass tokens a day which they could exchange for a pint of beer. My grandfather, very hot at his temporary forge, had used his tokens and was indeed very pleased when a brewery worker called down to him, “ Fancy a pint blacky?” “ Not 'arf,” replied my grandfather. Soon after, a copper vessel came slowly down from the vat above, on a long wire, and my grandfather gratefully quenched his thirst. “ Thanks”, he shouted back to his new friend, “that certainly was a long pint.” “PINT!” came the reply, “that vessel held a gallon!</i></span>”. The account was originally published on <a href="https://www.plumstead-stories.com/index.php" target="_blank">the Plumstead Stories website that you can see here</a>. My Grandfather on my Mum’s side (and indeed my Mum) called the output of the brewery “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Beasley’s beastly beer</i></span>” as they both heartily loathed it. Apparently this was a not uncommon opinion at the time, thought for a period I understand that their beers had a royal warrant – if anyone has any details, I would love to hear from them. Beasley’s Brewery was taken over by the much larger Courage in 1963; not much later it was closed down. You can see a collection of Beasley Brewery photographs and beer mats which have been framed and hung on the wall of the excellent <a href="https://www.robinhoodbexleyheath.co.uk/" target="_blank">Robin Hood and Little John pub in Lion Road, Bexleyheath</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv8E9Z7G8N0FPKwPvvstNHYyNAl8h08dtj1MO3QfdKrulSbp9YizpkMWeiv_wlOqa20tWlK1bQxPQrif2dNX3aneXl6UjdCpEki83b5NkbPbk4l0GBn_WJUR9dVO-DOedJBBUHPVB9Qy_6lqvvdLxR1Fcxt5WK8p2ujDiMjqFJPpPl_WwQ3R8/s1010/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123095746.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1010" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv8E9Z7G8N0FPKwPvvstNHYyNAl8h08dtj1MO3QfdKrulSbp9YizpkMWeiv_wlOqa20tWlK1bQxPQrif2dNX3aneXl6UjdCpEki83b5NkbPbk4l0GBn_WJUR9dVO-DOedJBBUHPVB9Qy_6lqvvdLxR1Fcxt5WK8p2ujDiMjqFJPpPl_WwQ3R8/w640-h384/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123095746.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zjt_coY4soELQRmeX8VED2hp8nzXcZQlluw55RkE04HG9ypjNwdyvXPcGGIwMFcLSGiew64LoZFMhdRcHA5J_TFM5q1og0VDcklBAQ2tvJwfcKNtFjtCc5asqz1zs_OQeKmmBakdTd9RGOUqdgiH9NsOYClls0q_jioSzYo2qqp4zUmg4Aqy/s1443/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123095258.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1443" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zjt_coY4soELQRmeX8VED2hp8nzXcZQlluw55RkE04HG9ypjNwdyvXPcGGIwMFcLSGiew64LoZFMhdRcHA5J_TFM5q1og0VDcklBAQ2tvJwfcKNtFjtCc5asqz1zs_OQeKmmBakdTd9RGOUqdgiH9NsOYClls0q_jioSzYo2qqp4zUmg4Aqy/w640-h388/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123095258.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">For two decades, a toxic inferno has smouldered in Rainham, directly across the River Thames from Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith and Slade Green, turning Launders Lane in Rainham from a peaceful neighbourhood into a battleground for clean air, which can also affect residents this side of the River Thames. This illegal rubbish dump, nicknamed "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Mount Toxic</i></span>" by residents, has become a source of perpetual fires, spewing a noxious cocktail of fumes that plague the community with respiratory issues, burns, and a serious fear for their health. The fires are not exclusive to the summer. They reignite with alarming regularity, fueled by the smoldering debris of years of illegal dumping. The London Fire Brigade has reportedly attended over 70 fires at the site since 2018 and the organisation has said the site poses a significant risk to its firefighters due to its unstable nature. Mountains of waste, towering over three houses high, contain a toxic cocktail of materials – from plastics and tyres to hazardous chemicals. This inferno burns not just with heat, but with the acrid sting of uncertainty. Residents describe foul-tasting smoke that infiltrates their homes, turning everyday tasks into a suffocating ordeal. The consequences are seriously affecting the community. Children suffer from nosebleeds and coughing fits, their play is affected - they are choked by the invisible grip of toxic fumes. Adults report chronic respiratory problems, burning eyes, and skin irritations from mere proximity to the site. One mother shared the heartbreaking story of her son, diagnosed with cancer, unable to play outside due to the toxic air. The health concerns are far from anecdotal. Studies have shown elevated levels of harmful pollutants in the air around Launders Lane, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead" target="_blank">lead</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene" target="_blank">benzene</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzo(a)pyrene" target="_blank">benzo-(a) pyrene</a>, all linked to serious health problems like cancer and respiratory illnesses. The long-term effects of this toxic exposure are yet unknown The fear extends beyond the immediate physical effects. Residents live with the constant apprehension of another fire, another plume of poison engulfing their homes. They speak of a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>living hell</i></span>," their lives tethered to the intermittent rubbish fires. Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Hina Bokhari has said the site is “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>potentially major health hazard in the area</i></span>” and has asked London Mayor Sadiq Khan to put pressure on Havering Council and the Environment Agency to solve the issue. She added:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Air pollution of this kind could have serious long-term impacts on people living in the area, especially young children, many of whom have to stay indoors when the fires are burning. It may only be January, but summer will come around fast and residents will be faced with the impact of months of fires yet again if this issue is not tackled. We cannot allow human health to continue to be placed at risk like this. We also cannot continue to expect London’s firefighters to continue to put their lives at risk tackling fires at this site year in year out when the problem is resolvable</i></span>.” Despite years of complaints and protests, the fire persists. Blame passes between Havering Council, the Environment Agency, and the London Fire Brigade, each claiming it's not their sole responsibility. Experts believe it could cost as much £10 million to finally put out the fire with cash-strapped Havering Council only saying they will closely monitor air pollution levels for a year. Meanwhile, residents are left asking for solutions, their pleas lost in the bureaucratic labyrinth. The Launders Lane fire is a stark reminder of the environmental and human cost of inaction. It's a story not just of negligence, but of the systemic failure to protect communities from the invisible hazards lurking in their back gardens. This problem is not purely limited to Rainham. The dump site is only a couple of miles as the crow flies from the aforementioned Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith and Slade Green. If the wind is blowing in the direction of the local area, then it is highly likely that we will also suffer from the air pollution that our neighbours in Havering get - I know that it is common to see the River Thames as some kind of barrier, and that somehow Essex is a separate entity, but in situations such as this, The London Borough of Bexley is in very close proximity to the illegal dump, its fires and the resultant chemical air pollution. In many ways it is our problem too. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWFSI9xtng9pT1zBuo5RURYt3xY4mzd0xFr4x4bkNbPwIpVtzyAstMieDKJYYczENHtdHQgVCpA4THyVDr6I3VxiNuyf3gHLqhhE1ejJRLdHL1dJDSzruEuB2s_zpq3WWKo7AfRmJWHxJ7MxDeFhog27y8fzTyO-wEVNFgj22izK6P-R5kJ3N/s1111/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240124191641.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1111" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWFSI9xtng9pT1zBuo5RURYt3xY4mzd0xFr4x4bkNbPwIpVtzyAstMieDKJYYczENHtdHQgVCpA4THyVDr6I3VxiNuyf3gHLqhhE1ejJRLdHL1dJDSzruEuB2s_zpq3WWKo7AfRmJWHxJ7MxDeFhog27y8fzTyO-wEVNFgj22izK6P-R5kJ3N/w640-h432/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240124191641.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunnHHDQaIjZy_R5f7DQusPTsK04LtCBIRJj6blWuR9A2vXpAF0tI0ZVDNoSxQufsvOWXjcx-7UC_9wjF8lAQII_iZcnrDtKMhZva6YxpGesomBoNZwhnZdhnrMT_r2BtNerzoFUT_UHvSMeR61YGzXqZWPRk5HHJGyJ4rJxHqlYQXHeZY5cM6/s642/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123164158.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunnHHDQaIjZy_R5f7DQusPTsK04LtCBIRJj6blWuR9A2vXpAF0tI0ZVDNoSxQufsvOWXjcx-7UC_9wjF8lAQII_iZcnrDtKMhZva6YxpGesomBoNZwhnZdhnrMT_r2BtNerzoFUT_UHvSMeR61YGzXqZWPRk5HHJGyJ4rJxHqlYQXHeZY5cM6/w406-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240123164158.png" width="406" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A serious house fire took place in Manor Road, Erith in the early hours of Monday morning. The ground floor of the terraced house was severely damaged, and the upper floor of the building was badly affected by smoke from the blaze. Three adults and two children were rescued from the property by the Fire Brigade - three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Erith, Bexley and Plumstead fire stations attended the scene. The occupants of the property were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation. Smoke inhalation is one of the leading causes of death in fires, far exceeding the flames themselves. Toxic fumes and gases released during combustion can quickly overwhelm and incapacitate, making escape nearly impossible. This is where smoke hoods step in, offering a precious lifeline in the midst of blinding darkness and choking air. Following the blaze, it has been suggested that the condition of the fire victims was helped by the fire brigade's use of smoke hoods to protect the respiration of fire victims. Traditional firefighting relies heavily on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-contained_breathing_apparatus" target="_blank">self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)</a> for firefighters, providing them with clean air amidst the toxic fumes. However, for civilians caught in a fire, escape routes are often shrouded in choking smoke, hindering their ability to flee to safety. This is where smoke hoods come in. These hoods, made of heat-resistant material, are equipped with chemical filters that remove harmful gases and particulates from the air. While they don't provide oxygen, they offer precious minutes of breathable air, allowing trapped individuals to navigate smoke-filled corridors and reach safety. Since 2018, the London Fire Brigade has equipped all front line firefighters with fire escape hoods. These compact devices are designed to be easily carried and deployed, allowing firefighters to offer immediate protection to anyone trapped in a smoke-filled environment. The hoods, typically made of heat-resistant material, feature a snug-fitting seal around the neck and a chemical filter that removes harmful gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. These hoods provide invaluable protection to vulnerable individuals who may not be able to evacuate quickly, such as the elderly, children, or people with disabilities. Firefighters can fit the hoods on unconscious victims or those with limited mobility, giving them precious minutes to escape the inferno or wait for rescue. Using smoke hoods effectively requires more than just carrying them. London firefighters undergo rigorous training in the safe and efficient deployment of these devices. This includes understanding the limitations of the hoods, such as their 15-minute lifespan and the importance of maintaining a clear escape route. As technology advances, smoke hoods are becoming even more sophisticated. Research is ongoing into developing longer-lasting filters and incorporating features like communication systems and heat shields. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23ZlmjqkEoR5AsU7kKv-xqu-bzYKqIh8Wm_eZkwd4mgmrrdTeu9lwg4DzNIh3N-PDCxxSvMiDfeimi9C7_S6fCfotNnQfmIwFM7aK3TkB-DYe6StBM6dSjiikbdKfegOgIuWUkPGzaPsXLvWLDAHQ2UBDJJ_m9-oeWUN4_BBL9Y1NXBFfCx1E/s4032/PXL_20240124_114445310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23ZlmjqkEoR5AsU7kKv-xqu-bzYKqIh8Wm_eZkwd4mgmrrdTeu9lwg4DzNIh3N-PDCxxSvMiDfeimi9C7_S6fCfotNnQfmIwFM7aK3TkB-DYe6StBM6dSjiikbdKfegOgIuWUkPGzaPsXLvWLDAHQ2UBDJJ_m9-oeWUN4_BBL9Y1NXBFfCx1E/w640-h360/PXL_20240124_114445310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfM4sdt3snkDYUidmrdNw3EWLzn6S-d1b5WcFFQJj9lltJIf0EyvsoYsXyU0l4KRTfdf8ST8Xw5RaLMa2rtibtnUgr8hb7HLziZTNmtmDrO3TLLpLzJ1Fi2RVS4wWOe62hlz95oLYH3KZz1Wz9r9D1KFHWfxM7j_cEd4PZwEYkaAFBwHkoZAQ/s4032/PXL_20240124_114451007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfM4sdt3snkDYUidmrdNw3EWLzn6S-d1b5WcFFQJj9lltJIf0EyvsoYsXyU0l4KRTfdf8ST8Xw5RaLMa2rtibtnUgr8hb7HLziZTNmtmDrO3TLLpLzJ1Fi2RVS4wWOe62hlz95oLYH3KZz1Wz9r9D1KFHWfxM7j_cEd4PZwEYkaAFBwHkoZAQ/w640-h360/PXL_20240124_114451007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Following my previous articles on the increasing levels of unreliability in local buses, I came across another example of a broken down Arriva bus on Wednesday morning. As you can see in the photos above - click on either to see a larger version - an Arriva double deck bus had broken down in the bus halt in front of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ErithRiversideShoppingCentre/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Shopping Centre</a>. A mechanic was (unsuccessfully) trying to repair the vehicle. As I have previously written, I was a passenger on a Woolwich bound 99 bus on the 10th of October last year, when it stopped in Erith town centre for a change of drivers. As is often the case during these changeovers, the drivers had a chat; I happened to be sitting in the seat nearest the front of the bus, opposite the drivers cab, and was able to hear the conversation quite clearly. The two drivers were bemoaning the fact that the buses they drove were breaking down far more regularly than in the past. They both agreed that the reason for this was down to penny pinching by the bus operator, Arriva. Apparently buses used to have a minor mechanical service every week, but Arriva had recently instructed their engineers to carry out the minor service on a monthly basis to save on parts and labour costs. This the drivers agreed was the main cause for the increase in mechanical breakdowns. I can only report on the overheard conversation and cannot guarantee its veracity; I have also been told that the secondary reason for the increase in bus breakdowns is because many of the vehicles are old and at or nearing the end of their service lives. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5__uIPUBysiJ3r0n8eUcaFbPTX4T9gDDhdwuOqEs-vHsbp07L5jWFFOwzVvGvkSvU5YhI7pXooEnUj4c-_VrGPPHdaYQXHS04LDTCK91x3P0E4BAnyAEODEumkpDoHKiJMKPAf211PbQ9YT_D1fwKOtTNZXhBOAJJmcNtn2_5K5ZQUGpMZuG/s1728/IMG-20240127-WA0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1728" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5__uIPUBysiJ3r0n8eUcaFbPTX4T9gDDhdwuOqEs-vHsbp07L5jWFFOwzVvGvkSvU5YhI7pXooEnUj4c-_VrGPPHdaYQXHS04LDTCK91x3P0E4BAnyAEODEumkpDoHKiJMKPAf211PbQ9YT_D1fwKOtTNZXhBOAJJmcNtn2_5K5ZQUGpMZuG/w640-h428/IMG-20240127-WA0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to the aforementioned Dana Wiffen for bringing my attention to an article published in The Daily Express newspaper yesterday. The article follows the one that I wrote and published in the previous edition of the Maggot Sandwich about fly tipping in Ray Lamb Way and Wallhouse Road, which lead to the Darent Industrial Estate from Erith. I do sometimes wonder if someone from the press reads my articles! Talking of issues previously raised by me, one reader called Alan has brought to my attention a documentary about Smart Meters which is to be broadcast next Wednesday evening at 8pm an Channel 5. It could be worth a watch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@VicStefanu" target="_blank">YouTuber Vic Stefanu</a>, who descibes his channel as:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Videos dedicated to travelling around our beautiful world! My channel is dedicated to culture, nature, history, science, art, architecture and to hundreds of interesting subjects from my visits to over 170 countries! You can find almost anything here!</i></span>" In this video Vic explores <a href="https://londonist.com/london/best-of-london/londons-longest-pier" target="_blank">Erith Pier</a> - in my opinion it is always interesting to get views and feedback from people unfamiliar with the local area. As always please feel free to comment to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ke7nBrawbfk?si=46ET5iG-IG-mRD98" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-77005813585284483032024-01-21T10:30:00.002+00:002024-01-21T10:53:24.160+00:00Rubbish.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztTWrQRDkc7pOONjq6UxQZ1yM-NDkEXM8EgGcE4noJ41A_4K20Zx1vbnATYvGrTPkDQwdnOJvfdK9Rx9eolviL3WHIN4yl6mGPCcuRqv7Murf_kt0dIC8nH44qjIOgwX053E_K0PvbrDXgD12UtjGPDTFXs9eJ4qbd3klwht9uZ1BfxeeZqZf/s1508/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240119102645~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1508" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztTWrQRDkc7pOONjq6UxQZ1yM-NDkEXM8EgGcE4noJ41A_4K20Zx1vbnATYvGrTPkDQwdnOJvfdK9Rx9eolviL3WHIN4yl6mGPCcuRqv7Murf_kt0dIC8nH44qjIOgwX053E_K0PvbrDXgD12UtjGPDTFXs9eJ4qbd3klwht9uZ1BfxeeZqZf/w640-h326/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240119102645~2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Locals will be well aware of the serious problems with fly tipping in the London Borough of Bexley; one of the worst hot spots for this criminal activity is the <a href="https://portoflondonstudy.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/marshes-erith-slade-green-crayford-and-dartford-by-peter-luck/" target="_blank">Slade Green Marshes</a>, much of which are going to be redeveloped for housing, as I reported two weeks ago. The problem is particularly bad on the verges of Ray Lamb Way and Wallhouse Road, which lead to the <a href="https://erith.cylex-uk.co.uk/map/darent%20industrial%20park%2C%20landau%20way.html" target="_blank">Darent Industrial Estate</a> from Erith. You can see an example of the problem above - click on the photo to see a larger view. Bexley Council has announced it has put in a bid to secure funding from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Environment,_Food_and_Rural_Affairs" target="_blank">Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)</a> to install CCTV cameras along Ray Lamb Way and Wallhouse Road. Berkeley Homes, an adjacent landowner, has also offered to fund new security measures on the land. The plans would also see a realignment of ditches and the installation of natural barriers along the ditches. There is also a plan to create new culverts to improve water flow as the area is prone to serious flooding. The Kent Messenger has reported a quotation from local Councillor <a href="https://www.bexleylabour.org.uk/stefano/" target="_blank">Stefano Borella</a>;-"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>As councillors for the area, we have tried for many years to stop the fly-tipping issue on Ray Lamb Way which has been taking place over many years, which is criminal behaviour, We are hopeful that the new proposals from Berkeley Homes and financial bid to the Defra from Bexley Council, will resolve this issue and make fly-tipping more difficult in this area. We want to return this area to the wildlife not the fly-tippers</i></span>.” It makes sense for Berkeley Homes to fund the anti fly-tipping enterprise; after all, the company needs t protect its investment; any potential tenants or house buyers visiting the future housing development would undoubtedly be put off after seeing the piles of fly - tipped rubbish lining the roads on the approach to the site. As well as being an eyesore, the rubbish causes flooding in wet weather, as the drainage culverts get blocked, and infamously in very hot weather they have in the past caused serious fires. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_Agency" target="_blank">The Environment Agency</a> said it continues to carry out “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>targeted days of action</i></span>” with partners to disrupt those who are intent on breaking the law when carrying waste. The public body says it will work to “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>develop a long-term and robust solution</i></span>” to stop the complex fly-tipping issues on Ray Lamb Way and Wallhouse Road. More on this issue later.</div><p style="text-align: justify;">I had several fascinating responses to my Blog update last Sunday; indeed one regular reader and occasional contributor put together the following piece of feedback to the article I published on concerns about the future of <a href="https://www.jetstreamtours.com/the-tours/ferry" target="_blank">the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service</a>. Jeff writes:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>I have occasionally used the ferry-to access some walks in Thurrock (Coastal Path, Thames Estuary Path). A few observations:- <span style="text-align: left;">1. One group of users not mentioned - school children from north of the river, heading to Kent's grammars (related to me by one of the more talkative crew members). </span><span style="text-align: left;">2. Thurrock is absolutely broke - the equivalent of 'Special Measures'. The reason is included in <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001p965" target="_blank">BBC One - Panorama, The Millionaire Who Cheated a Council</a> The heading tells you all you need to know but otherwise <a href="https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023-07-31/the-sunshine-millionaire-how-one-man-took-130m-from-british-taxpayers" target="_blank">The Sunshine Millionaire: How one man took £130m from British taxpayers — The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (en-GB) (thebureauinvestigates.com)</a> is a text version. Last September they had to terminate (I'm almost sure) all subsidised bus services. I've tried to find a reference - certainly all the ones I know of have gone. I don't think they would not be allowed to subsidise anything without ministerial interference. Public Transport is not an essential service. </span><span style="text-align: left;">3. The service is not particularly well advertised, especially at the rail stations. At Tilbury Town Station, the ferry terminal is referred to as Tilbury Riverside. There is a bus which links them (as well as calling at several other places). I found out by observation that if you have a ticket from the Town station (operator - C2C) , you can catch the bus for free. Does it work for SouthEastern - don't know but anyone would probably get away with it. Checks are not rigourous. This does not appear to be well known, I have been across about half a dozen times and I have told plenty of people who didn't know. I have even overheard two people talking - 'Do you know where you are going?', 'No, I'm following the man.' I looked round and found that I was 'the man'. You can walk if you particularly like diesel fumes (Port traffic). Gravesend - I don't think there is anything (at one time I believe the ferry was operated by British Rail). The bus and rail are not particularly well co-ordinated going towards Southend (if the bus is on time and the train is late, and you have a ticket you might be OK, otherwise no. There are barriers, and they won't let you through without a ticket. </span><span style="text-align: left;">4. It had been suggested that the ferry be used to transfer workers for the London Gateway from Kent when that is fully operational (they would then get picked up by bus). </span><span style="text-align: left;">5. The problem is that there is no consistency in passenger numbers. I would guess at peak time it is crowded,; I catch it just after 10am, return between 15:00 and 16:30. It may also depend on cruise traffic. Once, the ship above had docked. Some of the passengers got on the ferry to explore the delights of Gravesend. It was crowded, it would be crowded when they came back. A lot, lot more were trying to catch the bus. It is a single decker, not particularly long. I don't think they would have got a particularly good impression of the UK. </span></i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>6. Tilbury is pretty grim. Anyone ever comments about Erith, send them to Tilbury!! There is a celebration of the arrival of the Windrush along the pedestrian access to the ferry (is that the best we can do). Few people use that as you are likely to miss the ferry/ bus - most use the vehicle access and dodge the traffic</i></span>". </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK2uPZu3-lTlA_okdBcYFMdQ-2bsjRW1XAL0K8lmMYzmk7bFL5rFjXXtKornttXe80pCYP7cnGnyo908MXXEWKE2xBwCL3EinmXkf9UQAYbTjYdby1WbiNo7KgGefif87bqt2dyib4DRh4mOw-UX0JIy6zex_Y_dhgH9CAzRK3HeeD0dM-bjH/s977/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240118132035.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="977" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK2uPZu3-lTlA_okdBcYFMdQ-2bsjRW1XAL0K8lmMYzmk7bFL5rFjXXtKornttXe80pCYP7cnGnyo908MXXEWKE2xBwCL3EinmXkf9UQAYbTjYdby1WbiNo7KgGefif87bqt2dyib4DRh4mOw-UX0JIy6zex_Y_dhgH9CAzRK3HeeD0dM-bjH/w640-h604/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240118132035.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Greenwich born Del Palmer, a name synonymous with the music of former Welling and later Eltham resident <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush</a>, was more than just a bassist and engineer. He was a creative confidante, a musical partner, and a vital force in shaping the sound of one of England's most iconic artists. Sadly, Palmer died on January 5th 2024, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond his work with Bush. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Derek Peter Palmer (3 November 1952 – 5 January 2024) was an English musician and sound engineer, best known for his work with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush</a>, with whom he also had a long-term relationship from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. </span>Del's musical journey began early. By 15, he was already honing his skills on the bass, forming bands like Cobwebs and Strange and later, Tame. His musicality wasn't limited to one instrument; he dabbled in keyboards and percussion, showcasing a versatility that would become a hallmark of his career. <span style="text-align: left;">Palmer's path crossed with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush</a> in the late 1970s. He joined her band for her debut album, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kick_Inside" target="_blank">The Kick Inside</a>," and their musical connection soon blossomed into a personal one. Their partnership, both romantic and creative, proved to be incredibly fruitful. Palmer played bass on most of Bush's albums, from the soaring melodies of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionheart_(Kate_Bush_album)" target="_blank">Lionheart</a>" to the complex soundscapes of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hounds_of_Love" target="_blank">Hounds of Love</a>." </span><span style="text-align: left;">Palmer was also credited as an engineer on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush's</a> Hounds of Love (1985), The Sensual World (1989), The Red Shoes (1993) and Aerial (2005). Furthermore, Del Palmer is prevalent in some of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush's</a> music videos; in 1982, he played the get-a-way car driver in the video to "There Goes a Tenner", and in 1986, appeared in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTUcoR8_pyE" target="_blank">the critically acclaimed extended video to "Experiment IV", in which he plays a patient in a secret military base where the 'experiment' of the song's title is performed on him with horrific consequences. The clip, described as a 'film in miniature' also features Hugh Laurie, Peter Vaughan, Dawn French and Paddy Bush; it was banned from broadcast on the BBC programme, Top of the Pops, due to the graphic nature of the video. The music video, directed by Bush herself, went on to be nominated for the Best Concept Music Video at the 1988 Grammy Awards</a>. Also in 1986, he appeared in the video to "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV7w5TaYjRA" target="_blank">The Big Sky</a>" as a guitar playing Army Major, which, in 1987, was nominated for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Del Palmer also played Houdini, the man about to be kissed by Bush on the front cover to her 1982 album, The Dreaming. He's credited with engineering on three further albums involving Bush: Midge Ure's Answers to Nothing (where Palmer engineered her vocal guest recordings), Roy Harper's Once and Alan Stivell's Again. He played bass guitar on Lionheart, Never for Ever, The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, The Sensual World and Aerial (on 5 tracks), and on one track on 50 Words for Snow. Del </span><span style="text-align: left;">Palmer died on the 5th January 2024, at the age of 71. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush" target="_blank">Kate Bush</a> paid tribute to Palmer, saying: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It’s hard to know what to say… He was a big part of my life and my work for many years. It’s going to take a long time to come to terms with him not being here with us. He was incredibly creative – talented in lots of different ways. He was a brilliant musician, bass player, a great artist – he was always drawing. Once he covered a whole recording console in cartoons. It took him days and it looked absolutely stunning. He taught himself to be a recording engineer, engineering several of my albums and later releasing his own music. I’m going to miss him terribly</i></span>". Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzcsAf9a2gJx0p5u9WV1ZgZd89j5oaxkLXL02crwYfivtCEc3cDureOdhBrcyWnHuNaH69MCkU9WSlWW0h54MD5ag_YBw2CSrM-l7J20II2bPRm_bTnE99jCtFOkZxCQs9wckXKhyxcAwjSN1OyOz9XMxmZpdcJHb7PCI0JIrLkKON8RnXrlW/s1289/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240116132438.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1289" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzcsAf9a2gJx0p5u9WV1ZgZd89j5oaxkLXL02crwYfivtCEc3cDureOdhBrcyWnHuNaH69MCkU9WSlWW0h54MD5ag_YBw2CSrM-l7J20II2bPRm_bTnE99jCtFOkZxCQs9wckXKhyxcAwjSN1OyOz9XMxmZpdcJHb7PCI0JIrLkKON8RnXrlW/w640-h456/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240116132438.png" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp42mHcVIJLavLKCx3weLPqMR1IclGRZYtjAf6IORGFWTDm5ht5fRv8maI_ZDLxeD32IJigR3CM0LlnYaNHS9UqNm_gUhpLDEbizL_WuYbY98OWefpoTqYEkxbGyUmkE-kyIyUA7ag1DdlrhyphenhyphenjypvEtzAZRh7qbPnxqIkwiP4nxBPiGP0Zk1q-/s1920/sinclair-ql-1920x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp42mHcVIJLavLKCx3weLPqMR1IclGRZYtjAf6IORGFWTDm5ht5fRv8maI_ZDLxeD32IJigR3CM0LlnYaNHS9UqNm_gUhpLDEbizL_WuYbY98OWefpoTqYEkxbGyUmkE-kyIyUA7ag1DdlrhyphenhyphenjypvEtzAZRh7qbPnxqIkwiP4nxBPiGP0Zk1q-/w640-h480/sinclair-ql-1920x.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Last week marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of what should have been a revolutionary British computer; </span><span style="text-align: left;">Sinclair Research launched the QL on January 12th 1984, nearly two weeks before Apple Computer launched its new Macintosh computer on the 24th. Both machines had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_68000" target="_blank">Motorola 68000-family processors</a>, a mere 128 kB of memory, and just a pair of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port" target="_blank">serial ports</a> for Input/Output. Both launched with powerful bundled applications. Both had brutally cut-down specifications to make them price competitive, and both were big technological gambles on unproven technology, previously only available in vastly more expensive computers. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Following the massive success of the Sinclair <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX80" target="_blank">ZX80</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81" target="_blank">ZX81</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" target="_blank">ZX Spectrum</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Sinclair" target="_blank">Sir Clive Sinclair</a> wished to produce a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>serious</i></span>" business computer. It </span><span style="text-align: left;">would eventually be released as the QL - short for "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Quantum Leap</i></span>" - and it would indeed be launched early in 1984, on 12 January at the Inter-Continental Hotel on London’s Hyde Park Corner. Many more months would pass before the new Sinclair micro arrived in buyers’ hands, however, prompting wags to dub it the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Quite Late</i></span>". </span>In charge of creating the QL was David Karlin, a young engineer in his early twenties who had just returned to the UK from a stint in Singapore with the Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, where he had been engineering digital signal processor chips. Back in the UK – not entirely a move of his own choosing as it was his wife of the time who wanted to return - Karlin approached a recruitment consultant about a possible job opportunity he’d seen advertised. The advisor said the post wasn’t right for him and suggested instead a vacancy that had just come up at Sinclair Research. A meeting with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Sinclair" target="_blank">Clive Sinclair</a> later and Karlin was hired as Chief Design Engineer, Computers. <span style="text-align: left;">David was one of a number of high flying engineers Sinclair Research brought on board on the back of rocketing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" target="_blank">ZX Spectrum</a> sales. Karlin wasn’t particularly keen to return to Cambridge, where he’d taken his degree and MA – in Engineering and Electrical Sciences – but Sinclair was willing to pay him the salary he’d been making at Fairchild, well in excess of what he might otherwise earn in the UK, so he couldn’t really say no. David Karlin </span>had a computer he desperately wanted to build. His time at Fairchild had begun with a brief induction period at the company’s Palo Alto HQ. There he had encountered a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Star" target="_blank">Xerox Star</a>, the colossally expensive workstation that introduced the WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointer) user interface and which - unknown to him at the time - inspired Steve Jobs and Apple to build the Lisa then the Mac, and Microsoft’s Bill Gates to start work on Windows <a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2016/09/riot.html" target="_blank">I have written extensively about the Xerox Star in the past, which you can read about by clicking here</a>. David was enthralled, and like Jobs and Gates realised that here lay, in concept, the future of personal computing. <span style="text-align: left;">His notion, then, was to “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>create a £500 Xerox Star</i></span>”, and it was this vision that helped persuade Clive Sinclair to give him a job. It also helped that Sinclair Research desperately needed to devise a business micro for recently de-nationalised UK IT giant ICL. </span>He envisaged a desktop computer that would feature a proper keyboard and “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>some kind of networking</i></span>”. It would come supplied with a dedicated monitor and its own printer, “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>both of which I considered to be really the minimum for a decent business machine</i></span>”, he recalled in an interview “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>In fact, in terms of broad spec, you could say I was trying to design what the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW" target="_blank">Amstrad PCW 8256</a> would eventually become</i></span>.” <span style="text-align: left;">He also wanted some kind of windowed user interface, which would in turn require high-resolution bit mapped graphics, plenty of memory and a fast processor. Intriguingly, though, he did not plan to add a mouse. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>That seems an odd choice now, but at the time, I was fairly confident that people could do enough with arrow keys</i></span>,” he said in a 2014 interview with <a href="https://www.theregister.com/" target="_blank">The Register IT news website</a>. </span>At the start of 1983, with the basic system logic outlined and a CPU selected, Karlin started to devise the machine that would be based on these components and to specify the core software that would be required. In March 1983, he was given a nine-month deadline to deliver the ZX83, which was the original code name for what would eventually be renamed the QL. This would allow the machine to be launched just before Christmas. <span style="text-align: left;">Even then it seemed, to some, a crazy deadline: Sinclair hadn’t yet succeeded in creating a machine in such a short time frame, and this was no extension of a well-understood, established platform. Sinclair’s chief hardware engineer, Jim Westwood, appears to have been a lone senior management voice arguing that more development time was necessary, but his advice was effectively ignored. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The short development period would be tough enough for a new desktop machine, but it seems doubly arduous if Sinclair was indeed intending that the ZX83 be a portable computer, as Nigel Searle’s May 1983 comments to the press suggested, although this never came to pass. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Westwood, like many others in the micro business at that time, realised that the market for business computing was about to grow the way the home computing market had been, and wanted to get a foot in the door. The ZX83 / QL project would certainly have allowed software developer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psion_(company)" target="_blank">Psion</a> to do so with much less risk than launching standalone applications would. If the ZX83 / QL sold as well to business as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" target="_blank">ZX Spectrum</a> had to teenagers, it would establish <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psion_(company)" target="_blank">Psion’s</a> <a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr03/yr03_q2.htm" target="_blank">Quill word processor, Easel graphics tool, Archive database and Abacus spreadsheet – together later called the xChange suite</a> - as a new de facto standard in 16-bit business applications. </span>At the launch, Sinclair would begin taking orders for the QL at the end of January. The computer would ship with 128KB of Ram, and be priced at £399 plus £7.95 postage and packing. There was no mention of the 64KB version, originally intended to go on sale for £299, because <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psion_(company)" target="_blank">Psion’s</a> business applications would need more memory. <span style="text-align: left;">Sinclair had not managed to get its previous computer, the ZX Spectrum out on time, and the proprietary storage medium - the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive" target="_blank">Microdrives</a> took even longer to arrive: they were more than a year late. A few observers rightly guessed it wouldn’t do so this time round either. But such fears did not stop many thousands of eager customers - more than 9000 by the end of February, rising to 13,000 as of late April - sending off their credit card details or their cheques, which the company had no hesitation in cashing. </span><span style="text-align: left;">That the QL subsequently failed to appear as promised was bad enough, but worse, customers were out of pocket. In an attempt to cap the growing flow of bad publicity, not to mention the growing interest in the saga of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_Standards_Authority_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">Advertising Standards Authority</a>, Sinclair promised to put the money into a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>trust fund</i></span>” and pledged not to touch the cash pile until the first QLs were dispatched. </span><span style="text-align: left;">By the middle of March, eight weeks after Sinclair began taking orders, no QL had shipped. Officially, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_QDOS" target="_blank">QL's operating system QDOS</a> was taking longer to finish than expected and one of the QL’s two dedicated processor chips required further hardware modifications. The press were vicious - one review read:- </span><span style="text-align: left;">“<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Shoddy finish and un-loadable software seems to be the least of their problems,</i></span>” wrote Your Computer magazine in its June 1984 issue (published in May 1984). “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Screen Editor can make the system crash and the promised real-time clock is missing - along with the manuals</i></span>.” The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive" target="_blank">Microdrives</a> - the proprietary storage system originally designed for use with the earlier <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" target="_blank">ZX Spectrum</a> - were exceedingly unreliable, fragile and prone to breakage, not something a business user would tolerate. If this was not bad enough, in early versions on the QL, the TV display modulator was located next to the sensitive read / write heads of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive" target="_blank">Microdrive</a>, causing load and save errors due to electromagnetic interference. </span><span style="text-align: left;">And yet, there were still issues with the machine - most, but not all, due to its storage system. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The manager of the local branch of Dixons told me that out of 1000 machines delivered to their warehouse, only 190 worked properly</i></span>,” claimed a Sinclair User magazine journalist in November 1984. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Further rumbles from Spectrum distributors seem to indicate similar troubles, with one hapless dealer spending a whole morning with six QLs and six sets of Psion software trying to find a combination that allowed all the Psion wares to be loaded</i></span>.”. </span>Even had the proprietary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive" target="_blank">Microdrives</a> been reliable, only Sinclair could produce them, and they were proving far less robust than audio cassettes when it came to high-speed duplication. Making them was not easy - in a May 1984 interview it was said that Sinclair was then punching out 100,000 a month with an eye to ramping up to 40 million a month at some undefined point in the future. It almost certainly never achieved that. <span style="text-align: left;">Software scarcity didn’t help sales any, and nor did the reputation for fragility and instability gained by those early, prematurely released models. A WH Smith spokeswoman said at the end of 1984 that sales had been “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>very slow, thus far</i></span>"; “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>disappointing</i></span>” was the word used by a Boots spokesman. Estimates in the press put the number of QLs in users’ hands at just 40,000, a fraction of the machine’s potential audience. None of Sinclair’s promised add-ons, among them a 512 KB memory expansion module, a hard drive interface and a modem, had yet materialised. I recall, back when I worked for the then largest independent computer retailer in the UK at the time - Silica Shop, who had their HQ in Hatherley Road, Sidcup, we had great trouble selling the Sinclair QL; build quality was terrible - the cases were very flimsy, and obviously made down to a very low price. The keyboards were worse - if you turned a QL upside down, several of the keyboard keys would drop off. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Microdrive" target="_blank">Microdrives</a> were maddeningly unreliable and also far too flimsy for serious use. Silica Shop staff only half jokingly referred to the QL as the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Quantum Lurch</i></span>". The QL effectively bankrupted Sinclair, who never recovered from the QL. in 1986, </span><span style="text-align: left;">Sinclair Research was sold to Amstrad for £5 million, less than half what it was considered worth the previous summer. One of the first things new owner Alan Sugar did was cancel the entire QL project. Quite apart from the QL’s woeful sales performance to date, Amstrad was doing very nicely selling its low-cost, business-centric, highly integrated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW" target="_blank">PCW 8256</a>. Sugar also made lots of Sinclair Research people redundant. Never again would Sinclair reach the heights of the days of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" target="_blank">ZX Spectrum</a>, and the company would fold a few years later.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UPsGJiaOF7CrwNIe572EpiLe3fMjzSfb-O1kp7c7w50B2Ng6ltx38MG8TR72IhnisqanEbvjz3Pv96Rhxd5l75J7dfmISQb-pfEgRzUJSk7XlS8JfGP6-9-HzGFv79ItnpfnF4AmXnaDfkuky4YEo5OzEfSW7ylqc0cjSfd34YAACFsEDxGZ/s955/Erith%20Riverside%20Gardens%201966.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="955" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UPsGJiaOF7CrwNIe572EpiLe3fMjzSfb-O1kp7c7w50B2Ng6ltx38MG8TR72IhnisqanEbvjz3Pv96Rhxd5l75J7dfmISQb-pfEgRzUJSk7XlS8JfGP6-9-HzGFv79ItnpfnF4AmXnaDfkuky4YEo5OzEfSW7ylqc0cjSfd34YAACFsEDxGZ/w640-h412/Erith%20Riverside%20Gardens%201966.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHumBZiC8ATzFaPb_fe0VErtX0dpwQ31O61BsR2EuUeEiwNvsFzkggltFs0ICngHLA27GRt0e-t4RVSdXT6wXuh_-hifOQj-pmjueKfu44pH7_uecR4OKgVmJy7mvccV94A9Tz4SVLQgdLdoTkJ35LE0HRtjXYKGRCYGsGYGwEBphtD5iayICb/s1600/Riverside%20Gardens%20recently.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHumBZiC8ATzFaPb_fe0VErtX0dpwQ31O61BsR2EuUeEiwNvsFzkggltFs0ICngHLA27GRt0e-t4RVSdXT6wXuh_-hifOQj-pmjueKfu44pH7_uecR4OKgVmJy7mvccV94A9Tz4SVLQgdLdoTkJ35LE0HRtjXYKGRCYGsGYGwEBphtD5iayICb/w640-h392/Riverside%20Gardens%20recently.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Regular readers will be aware of how much I like "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>then and now</i></span>" photographs of the local area; the upper of the two photos above was taken in July 1966, and it shows what Erith Riverside Gardens looked like then. The lower photo shows what the gardens looked like much more recently. Unfortunately due to physical changes in the garden layout, I was unable to get a shot from the very same position as that in the original, but it is close enough for an easy comparison. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The end video this week was taken on the 19th of July 2022 during the heatwave. It shows the fire which spread through the fly - tipped rubbish on the <a href="https://portoflondonstudy.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/marshes-erith-slade-green-crayford-and-dartford-by-peter-luck/" target="_blank">Slade Green Marshes</a>, as mentioned in the article at the start of this update - who says I don't plan these things? What is also notable is that the fire service were so stretched at the time that fire engines had to come from as far away as Surrey to extinguish the blaze, as local resources were already attending emergencies at other locations. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Hopefully with the new actions being put into place, the issue of illegal rubbish dumping in the area will cease, though I am not holding my breath. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v2ZB3wjovcE?si=__2ubquKHmv89TJk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-27959782180498399462024-01-14T11:00:00.000+00:002024-01-14T11:00:09.993+00:00Crash.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ZMgQwhE7cRdnU3ykNXT8JP17jLrF3JmgOJL3QOqv9J7Sftn8tqLTKhJwqZTgvomtpaOsB8AwkJROgUPQ9lHBEd3z3n9NoRGSU-DNYgRWyeCSKAk_I67aJv_WOzJ9J7iQSJJlOfA8HAhC79zTJ4t-Rw5Ek8Z7y8trHutVtQvggQdeaqAQ_11/s1630/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240114084154.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1630" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ZMgQwhE7cRdnU3ykNXT8JP17jLrF3JmgOJL3QOqv9J7Sftn8tqLTKhJwqZTgvomtpaOsB8AwkJROgUPQ9lHBEd3z3n9NoRGSU-DNYgRWyeCSKAk_I67aJv_WOzJ9J7iQSJJlOfA8HAhC79zTJ4t-Rw5Ek8Z7y8trHutVtQvggQdeaqAQ_11/w640-h334/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240114084154.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above - click on it to see a larger version - recently in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4788257,0.1861753,3a,75y,354.94h,86.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svzwIZexhxopc5_VpwKmQvQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Appold Street Erith</a>, at the location of the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4788414,0.1861206,3a,75y,332.18h,76.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMOjX_41INml17zZR9YnEhg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Thames Water pumping station</a>. The site is the regular location of severe drain blockages, some of which have historically been attributed to Morrison's supermarket, which is adjacent. I am not aware of what the cause of the drain blockage was in this instance, but in many cases the cause is easily preventable. Fat blocks, or "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>fatbergs</i></span>" as they are nicknamed, are a growing menace in the UK. These congealed masses of grease, oil, and food waste clog drains, causing overflows, foul odours, and even structural damage. The culprit? people's well-intentioned but misguided habit of pouring cooking leftovers down the drain. Every year, UK drains suffer under the weight of an estimated 300,000 tonnes of fat and grease. This sticky menace arises from kitchens, restaurants, and food processing plants, where oils and fats find their way down the plughole, only to solidify in colder pipes. What starts as a thin film soon hardens, trapping debris and forming huge blockages. The consequences are far from pleasant. Overflowing drains flood homes and streets, spewing a toxic cocktail of sewage and grime. This poses a health hazard, attracting vermin and spreading harmful bacteria. Fatbergs also strain sewage treatment plants, leading to environmental damage and costly repairs. The financial burden is significant. Thames Water spends an estimated £1 million per year clearing fatbergs, a cost ultimately passed on to consumers through higher water bills. Restaurants and food businesses are also hit hard, facing fines for contributing to blockages and the expense of hiring specialist drain clearance services. Last week I was talking to a business owner in Bexleyheath. She had recently had her business premises flooded with raw sewage; when engineers from Thames Water visited to clear the problem, they explained that the reason for the stinking and noxious flood was because of a giant fatberg blocking the shared drains with adjacent other businesses. They suspected the culprit was an Indian restaurant two doors down from her premises. The business owner was left substantially out of pocket in respect of internal cleaning and redecoration, along with the replacement of ruined carpets in her office space. Tackling the fatberg problem requires a collective effort. Restaurants and food businesses need proper grease traps and disposal methods. Water companies and local authorities can play their part by raising awareness and offering disposal facilities. What do you think? Comments as usual to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74KVDOQgilTM4EfsgzzKX0NXLQaanGulodLMO4WfZSEwpFslxnkGABz4kg9YbbUs45jtnAB5G3yzsizrXmig3quHPwyY0iPf-Wx4uCzSqyZBN20DlMCgCQgB_LjMdUJ1fcYaZt1SN5JLV8O9P1DGh82jxmEtAq6KsVaa8AAzfpBCYujrZ8wKS/s965/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111095510.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="965" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74KVDOQgilTM4EfsgzzKX0NXLQaanGulodLMO4WfZSEwpFslxnkGABz4kg9YbbUs45jtnAB5G3yzsizrXmig3quHPwyY0iPf-Wx4uCzSqyZBN20DlMCgCQgB_LjMdUJ1fcYaZt1SN5JLV8O9P1DGh82jxmEtAq6KsVaa8AAzfpBCYujrZ8wKS/w640-h472/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111095510.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAVih5Sk5Dia51oFuR0JUfIK3alsp_ATKOp0PB_m6a-Z69lf8g62oUCTTGWm2NKc-WR9GrDv-YFFws6Lse2q1l8mVc4JFNi9NX-WeMN2XsHO9PJmZ23-mLCuLb3IvTizsuvPbOvP8fSR0xNo9GBDBW7uDEs-rLBW4JoDqW3yZt8jqwuva8xOg/s1515/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240113150800.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1515" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAVih5Sk5Dia51oFuR0JUfIK3alsp_ATKOp0PB_m6a-Z69lf8g62oUCTTGWm2NKc-WR9GrDv-YFFws6Lse2q1l8mVc4JFNi9NX-WeMN2XsHO9PJmZ23-mLCuLb3IvTizsuvPbOvP8fSR0xNo9GBDBW7uDEs-rLBW4JoDqW3yZt8jqwuva8xOg/w640-h330/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240113150800.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Flaxman Charles John Spurrell (1842-1915) was a man of many interests, a true polymath who excelled in the fields of archaeology, geology, photography, and even Egyptology. His life and work were deeply intertwined with the landscapes of Kent and East Anglia, where he unearthed hidden treasures and documented them with meticulous care. Spurrell's dedication to uncovering the secrets of his beloved Kent and beyond left an indelible mark on the understanding of the region's rich history and natural wonders. Born at Mile End in Stepney, London, Spurrell was the eldest son of Dr. Flaxman and Ann Spurrell and a descendant of the Spurrell family of Norfolk. He was a nephew of the Rev. Frederick Spurrell, a fellow archaeologist, and an uncle of the biologist and author Herbert George Flaxman Spurrell. Not long after his birth, the family settled in a large family house, living for many years at The Priory, Picardy Road, Belvedere (now the home of the <a href="http://www.belvedereprioryclub.co.uk/default.html" target="_blank">Priory Social Club</a> - photo above - click on it to see a larger version). Spurrell was educated at Epsom College, and went on to study medicine, although he never completed his studies. Spurrell's fascination with the world around him began early. He explored the chalk cliffs of his native Kent, meticulously documenting the geological formations and fossil finds. His keen eye and meticulous approach soon led him to collaborate with renowned geologist William Pengelly, studying the prehistoric flint mines known as dene holes. Spurrell's interest in geology naturally extended to archaeology. He meticulously excavated Roman and Saxon remains in Kent and East Anglia, unearthing valuable artifacts and shedding light on the region's rich history. One of Spurrell's most notable archaeological achievements was his work at the Neolithic flint mines of Cissbury Ring. His careful excavations revealed the intricate methods used by prehistoric miners, shedding light on a crucial chapter in British history. His meticulous records and detailed drawings of his discoveries continue to be invaluable resources for archaeologists today. Spurrell's dedication to documenting his finds extended beyond traditional excavation methods. He was a pioneer in the use of photography in archaeology, capturing the details of sites and artifacts with a keen eye for visual storytelling. His photographs, many of which are still preserved today, offer invaluable insights into the landscapes and objects he studied. Spurrell's reach extended beyond the shores of Britain. He collaborated closely with the renowned Egyptologist Flinders Petrie, participating in excavations at the site of El-Amarna in Egypt. His skills in photography and documentation proved invaluable in recording the intricacies of this ancient city. Spurrell's contributions were recognised by his peers. He was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1868 and the Society of Antiquaries in 1899. His dedication to his fields earned him respect and admiration from fellow archaeologists and geologists. Shortly after his mother’s death in 1896, Spurrell retired to Norfolk, where he resided first with his uncle Daniel Spurrell at the Manor House in Bessingham and later at The Den, another house on the estate. Despite what Petrie called “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>the entreaties of his friends</i></span>”, he seldom left Norfolk and his self-imposed retirement. On 27 March 1912 he married his cousin Katherine Anne Spurrell (1852–1919), a daughter of Daniel Spurrell and a noted daffodil breeder whose cultivars had won the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. He died on the 25th February 1915. When a housing estate was built at Joyden's Wood in Bexley in the 1950s, one of the roads was named Spurrell Avenue in his honour. Flaxman Charles John Spurrell was a man of many interests, each undertaken with distinction. He was an archaeologist, geologist, photographer, and Egyptologist, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a deep respect for the past. His life and work serve as a testament to the power of interdisciplinary exploration and the enduring value of meticulous documentation. Spurrell's legacy reminds us that the past is not just a collection of artifacts and ruins, but a living story waiting to be unearthed, one careful excavation and photograph at a time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7qHSM4QsBxio2g9W4nJE6nxtnHbtseXtOV31j3qRxPlY-QVmdQys2o52drJJYjPQO2HEcT2ByeAk-ytMrikZTM1bsz1NGSvq_oCSPJmtdwC2GWp_ao748ze4nuYazABGWZixvD_N8uFzdoZ2yQTPuIPyeq3b6TXsWMW04dPHWfvNVnp0OriB/s950/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240108145634.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="950" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7qHSM4QsBxio2g9W4nJE6nxtnHbtseXtOV31j3qRxPlY-QVmdQys2o52drJJYjPQO2HEcT2ByeAk-ytMrikZTM1bsz1NGSvq_oCSPJmtdwC2GWp_ao748ze4nuYazABGWZixvD_N8uFzdoZ2yQTPuIPyeq3b6TXsWMW04dPHWfvNVnp0OriB/w640-h352/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240108145634.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4tBHTXPAeig_wIEPpES4QkCwZl7-be-dngNiur-2X7rn_XYuytbqjnzpB7DKNqMjYuAQUXYA9Llyz7coycNtyS6eEuWmJdcoy614t7WidO2VK2XvE80dGvFVpXxYXkHQK8POtEYW9NDc6upsNqUxHtYZ5KhH5yeWHztWH68dwyqa2KOcR10D/s1600/Communicator%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4tBHTXPAeig_wIEPpES4QkCwZl7-be-dngNiur-2X7rn_XYuytbqjnzpB7DKNqMjYuAQUXYA9Llyz7coycNtyS6eEuWmJdcoy614t7WidO2VK2XvE80dGvFVpXxYXkHQK8POtEYW9NDc6upsNqUxHtYZ5KhH5yeWHztWH68dwyqa2KOcR10D/w640-h446/Communicator%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfO_pKC6cvQqA6J7AYj7Fdrha8rTKwvR2H6C01rzkp_fvcDUUC9z9wlH3sZmQJaak0s5lP8UGOeVKCkjj7ioNgsd4I8motM8Lu3RNP87IvxYsMJJef3qWRg60uRrIvF9IhZPJYZAKt5HfTrO19AyF7_HKxbo_o1_yyM6ByVysZX_jpmmhIJhM/s1087/Laser%20Studio.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1087" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfO_pKC6cvQqA6J7AYj7Fdrha8rTKwvR2H6C01rzkp_fvcDUUC9z9wlH3sZmQJaak0s5lP8UGOeVKCkjj7ioNgsd4I8motM8Lu3RNP87IvxYsMJJef3qWRg60uRrIvF9IhZPJYZAKt5HfTrO19AyF7_HKxbo_o1_yyM6ByVysZX_jpmmhIJhM/w640-h434/Laser%20Studio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week, <a href="https://radiotoday.co.uk/" target="_blank">radio industry news website Radio Today</a> published an announcement about a fondly remembered, but long gone offshore radio station which was hugely influential - albeit rather short lived. The station was called Laser 558, and it broadcast from a ship moored in the international waters of the North Sea for around eighteen months from May 1984. It provided a very different musical output to its' long established competitor, <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a>, which <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_pewty/albums/72157626890141711/" target="_blank">I was to work for some years later</a>. The press release on the relaunch of Laser 558 reads:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The former offshore radio station name Laser 558 is back as an online station promising to never be more than a minute away from music. The station says its programming and playlist place the listener back in the mid-80s playing the current hits of the time as well as dipping back through the music vaults in the same way that the original station did. The original jocks are back behind the mic, and the channel’s focus audience is the millions of people who remember the original station as well as fans of 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Original adverts from the 80s are also playing for items such as cassette tape decks via mail-order. In addition to the main station, app users can also listen to the original ‘AM’ feel with an AM version of the broadcast. There is also a third stream which plays original off-air recordings of LASER558 to complete the nostalgic experience. LASER558 Director Steve Bannister says: “LASER558 fills a gap in current radio trends where many nostalgic stations are mainly ‘DJ-free’ during much of the day. “LASER558 uses state-of-the-art production methods so that our favourite DJs from the 80s are still introducing music today. We are also looking at DAB+ Radio and Freeview TV as further ways for listeners to find us. “We’re hoping that this will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the launch of the original LASER558 in May 2024. Those wanting to learn more about us can visit <a href="http://laser558.live">laser558.live</a></i></span>" Laser 558, the offshore radio station that for a brief period between 1984 and 1986 became the most popular music radio station in the UK. Laser was known for its fast paced format “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>you are never more than a minute away from music</i></span>”, and exclusively employed American DJ’s, including some, like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Wolf" target="_blank">Charlie Wolf</a>, who went on to become household names. It all sounded very glamorous, and nothing like any rather more staid British radio station of the period. Most listeners believed the story that the station was crewed and operated exclusively by Americans, and supplied from mainland Europe, and therefore operating completely legally. The reality was that whilst the broadcasters were nearly all US citizens, the station and the supplies all came covertly from the UK – the main supply point was at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herne_Bay" target="_blank">Herne Bay</a>. The Laser ship was called the <a href="http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page442.html" target="_blank">M.V Communicator</a> – it was a converted Lowestoft hydrographic survey vessel originally named the Gardline Seeker. The work to convert the ship to a marine broadcasting station was carried out in Port Everglades in Florida – if you ever see a rerun of the <a href="https://miamivice.fandom.com/wiki/Miami_Vice_Wiki" target="_blank">Miami Vice</a> episode “<a href="https://miamivice.fandom.com/wiki/Phil_the_Shill" target="_blank">Phil the Shill</a>” (the one that guest starred Phil Collins) there is a long aerial tracking shot of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/10/miami-vice-box-set" target="_blank">Crockett and Tubbs</a> driving through Port Everglades – and the <a href="http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page442.html" target="_blank">M.V Communicator</a> can clearly be seen whilst it was being converted into a radio ship. When Laser 558 first came on air from the North Sea, the station tried using a novel wire antenna suspended from a helium balloon. Whoever thought of this idea clearly had no concept of the atrocious weather frequently experienced in the area. The strong, gusty and changeable winds soon destroyed the balloon antenna, and a conventional tower array was built to replace it. Laser quickly picked up a massive following in both the UK and Europe. Certainly, Laser's signal - and their following - reached into Holland, Belgium, and other Continental European countries. Laser 558's ship, the <a href="http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page442.html" target="_blank">MV Communicator</a> was anchored in the Knock Deep area of the Thames Estuary of the North Sea. The anchorage was approximately 3 miles off the Essex coast, not far from Harwich. It had a strong, loud signal on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_wave" target="_blank">Medium Wave</a>, it played far more music that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_1" target="_blank">BBC Radio One</a>, and operated a format of top 40 pop and familiar oldies, played back to back. The sound was slick and very professional, and soon listeners started to defect from local radio and BBC national stations to Laser. At this point the government became worried – they could not let this upstart pirate take all of their precious listeners from the BBC and ILR stations. Laser 558 claimed an audience of some 8,000,000 listeners and was seriously threatening the long established duopoly of the BBC and the IBA. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) started to take action against the station, firstly by advertising in specialist magazines to warn boat owners of the penalties of supplying "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>pirate</i></span>" broadcasting ships. Notices began appearing around the British coastline warning not to supply the radio ships, though this was widely flouted. A ship called the <a href="http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page382.html" target="_blank">Dioptric Surveyor</a> was despatched by the Department of Trade and Industry Radio Investigation Service to monitor both Laser 558 and <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a>, in what became known as the “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Eurosiege</i></span>”. It was soon apparent that Laser, rather than <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Caroline</a> was the real target. This was mainly due to the constant on air jibes and arch comments made by Laser DJ’s – most notably by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Wolf" target="_blank">Charlie Wolf</a>, the station motor mouth, and at that time a serious rival in popularity to Radio 1's Steve Wright. Soon a spoof record was released called ”<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3jXVEYAnjc" target="_blank">I Spy for the DTI</a>” by the Moronic Surveyors (actually the Laser DJ’s) which got heavy play on Laser, and got into the lower reaches of the charts. In contrast, <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a> continued in their policy of not annoying the authorities, and they carried on pretty much unmolested. Eventually a mixture of running low on supplies, bad weather (the M.V Communicator was not an ideal ship for the North Sea and its heavy swell – it rolled terribly due to its very high freeboard - the height of the hull out of the sea - unlike the <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a> ship the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Ross_Revenge" target="_blank">M.V Ross Revenge</a> – a massive, former ice breaking trawler (which was solid as a rock in rough seas), and a lack of advertising revenue caused the Laser crew to bring the ship in to port, under escort from the DTI. The other reason for the failure of Laser 558 was its management, which was pretty financially incompetent, and also a few suppliers that managed to con a large amount of cash out of the station for very little in return. The whole project lasted only around eighteen months, but it did massively shake up UK radio, which up until that time was legally restricted as to the amount of music it was allowed to play. The “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_time" target="_blank">needle time</a>” rules dictated that fifty percent of broadcasting time had to be dedicated to speech; this was later relaxed when it was found that the audiences for Laser 558 were primarily attracted by the stations policy of “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>never more than a minute from music</i></span>”. In contrast <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a> continued at sea for another six years, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_pewty/albums/72157626890141711" target="_blank">which was when my own involvement with the station happened</a>. Back when Laser and <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Caroline</a> were both broadcasting to Northern Europe, I was still at school – I recall many occasions when there would be scuffles in the 6th form common room when some pupils wanted to listen to Laser 558 on the ancient valve radiogram we had, whilst I wanted to listen to <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a>. Strangely I cannot recall anyone wanting to listen to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_1" target="_blank">BBC Radio One</a> at the time. I think that just about says it all. <a href="https://laser558.live/" target="_blank">You can visit the new Laser 558 website by clicking here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Across the United Kingdom, a quiet revolution is taking place. British Telecom (BT) engineers are re-purposing broadband and telephone street cabinets into Electric Vehicle - EV charge points by kicking off a pilot to demonstrate the concept actually works. The first installation location will be in East Lothian, Scotland. The plan is to retrofit existing cabinets, currently used for providing broadband and copper phone line connections to households. These are set to be decommissioned during the full-fibre roll-out. Since they are already hooked up to a power source, the thinking is that engineers can retrofit a device to split the existing power supply, meaning that the current broadband can keep running, and a new charge point can be made available. A battery backup will mean that households shouldn't experience any disruption during installation. This ingenious initiative not only gives these green cabinets a new lease of life but also tackles the critical challenge of expanding the UK's EV charging infrastructure. Once the cabinet is no longer needed for broadband as the full fibre roll out continues, the kit can be recycled, and more charge points can be added. BT Group currently has 90,000 green cabinets installed on streets around the UK. It is estimated that around 60,000 could be repurposed to add much-needed charge points. The UK government hopes to increase the number of charge points in the UK to 300,000 by the 2030's, and using those cabinets will help toward that goal. According to BT Group, 60 percent of people think the UK's EV charging infrastructure is inadequate. The UK government has set ambitious goals for EV adoption, aiming for all new cars and vans to be zero-emission by 2035. However, one of the key roadblocks to achieving this target is the limited availability of charging points. BT's solution is both elegant and practical. The project's benefits extend far beyond reducing carbon emissions. It also provides a much-needed boost to local economies. The installation of charging points creates jobs for BT engineers and electricians, while also making it more convenient for people to own and use EVs. It is currently unclear what charging technology will be deployed on these repurposed street cabinets, but the initial publicity material supplied by BT would seem to imply that only Type 2 connectors capable of delivering 7kW are to be deployed. These are the most common charger types, but you can expect to spend several hours before an EV's battery is refilled. It may be that this is part of an initial deployment, with higher capacity, faster charging technology to be added at a later date. Cost and maintenance are also an issue. EVs make sense if you can charge at home and take advantage of low domestic tariffs. Unwary drivers might find themselves on the receiving end of an unexpected bill when using public charge points. BT Group has failed to spell out who would be responsible for maintaining the charge point. Updating an old cabinet is all well and good, but ultimately pointless if the charge point malfunctions and cannot be used. The project is still very much in its early stages, but the initial response has been overwhelmingly positive. With continued investment and support, BT's initiative has the potential to play a significant role in accelerating the UK's journey towards a more sustainable future. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrHghjljLJFmKLZPih7X2sCmBQHE2ALChBstpC7_binNpLSSuS7dgaY87fBrNw18Vr183644n4SXbyl4nVb9a1YBG7MD0Nfxy1ZUpFTVAU-B0BVlqcxMQHxp_NEpCvueKmsQnejUjGW7T0Cj8UbS6C6OMXDsAYau5DU8gZpltiMEti17nIYFe/s1130/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111104958.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1130" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrHghjljLJFmKLZPih7X2sCmBQHE2ALChBstpC7_binNpLSSuS7dgaY87fBrNw18Vr183644n4SXbyl4nVb9a1YBG7MD0Nfxy1ZUpFTVAU-B0BVlqcxMQHxp_NEpCvueKmsQnejUjGW7T0Cj8UbS6C6OMXDsAYau5DU8gZpltiMEti17nIYFe/w640-h416/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111104958.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I don't normally feature stories that have been covered in the national press, but this week I feel it is important enough to make an exception this time. The iconic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravesend%E2%80%93Tilbury_Ferry" target="_blank">Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service</a>, a vital link between Kent and Essex for over a century, is facing an uncertain future as a result of potential budget cuts at both Thurrock Council and Kent County Council. A public consultation has been launched, but rumours of the service's possible demise have cast a shadow of worry over its loyal passengers and the communities it serves. For generations, the ferry has served as a dependable artery, ferrying commuters, cyclists, tourists, and locals across the River Thames. It's not just a mode of transport; it's an important connection of the region, fostering foot and bike transport, commerce, and community spirit. The potential axe hanging over the service arises from the harsh realities of council budgets squeezed by rising costs and inflation. Both Thurrock, Essex and Kent are looking at significant financial challenges, and the ferry, despite its cultural and economic significance, is viewed by some as a potential casualty in the quest for efficiencies. Opponents of the cuts paint a stark picture of the consequences. Businesses in both towns, particularly those reliant on foot traffic generated by the ferry, fear being cut off from valuable customers. Commuters who rely on the service to reach work face longer, more expensive journeys, potentially forcing them to reconsider their jobs or homes. The impact on tourism and leisure activities that thrive on the cross-river connection is also a major concern. Proponents of the service argue that its value extends far beyond mere numbers. They highlight the ferry's role in reducing congestion on the roads, its contribution to a sustainable transport network, and its vital function as a bridge for emergency services. Additionally, the environmental benefits of a well-used ferry compared to additional car journeys cannot be ignored. The public consultation launched by the councils presents an opportunity for the community to raise its voice. Supporters of the ferry are expected to rally, urging both councils to consider the wider impact of a potential cut. Demonstrations, petitions, and social media campaigns are likely to gain momentum as the consultation progresses. The ultimate fate of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravesend%E2%80%93Tilbury_Ferry" target="_blank">Gravesend to Tilbury ferry</a> hangs precariously in the balance. The coming weeks and months will be crucial, as the community unites to defend this treasured link and urge the councils to prioritise its preservation. The future of the service, a symbol of cross-river unity and convenience, rests on the collective voice of those who cherish its unique role in the heart of both Kent and Essex.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MQh5oI8HPzxriEEaCuM_uNaRMXINEN8RmR2zozF_q-4IU22Z3fAt2Wc1z7-pLhkt_vu6XLy1JecbTVtqFtdSJLyBd4v9YulcnoFfK2UR8CqDcw5stdMSEdC7XYhn4POlkG6eDdHBkx9F-d7UfzO5RGZAFzfLGXP6QKxErk58FfXG1Ce6scpz/s1179/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111181505.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1179" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MQh5oI8HPzxriEEaCuM_uNaRMXINEN8RmR2zozF_q-4IU22Z3fAt2Wc1z7-pLhkt_vu6XLy1JecbTVtqFtdSJLyBd4v9YulcnoFfK2UR8CqDcw5stdMSEdC7XYhn4POlkG6eDdHBkx9F-d7UfzO5RGZAFzfLGXP6QKxErk58FfXG1Ce6scpz/w640-h482/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240111181505.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week was the 33rd anniversary of a terrible train crash that affected many people commuting into the City of London. Amidst the bustle of the London morning commute, tragedy struck on January 8th, 1991, at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Street_station" target="_blank">Cannon Street station</a>. A packed train, bound for the heart of the city, overran the buffers at the terminus, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Two lives were lost, and hundreds were injured, etching a dark mark on the history of British transport. The stopping service, composed of 10 cars of elderly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_415" target="_blank">Class 415</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_416" target="_blank">Class 416</a> units 5618, 5484 and 6227, and had over 800 passengers on board after passing through the busy interchange at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_station" target="_blank">London Bridge station</a>. The train departed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevenoaks_railway_station" target="_blank">Sevenoaks station</a> just before 8:00 AM. As it approached its final destination, tragedy unfolded. The train, unable to stop, slammed into the buffers at 10 miles per hour exceeding their safe limit by over twice. The impact sent shock waves through the carriages, with the brunt of the force borne by the fifth and sixth cars. These wooden carriages, relics of a bygone era, lacked the structural integrity of modern models. They crumpled under the force, the fifth car telescoping into the sixth, trapping and injuring passengers. The scene that unfolded was one of chaos and panic. Screams filled the air as dazed passengers scrambled to escape the mangled wreckage. Emergency services rushed to the scene, performing the herculean task of extricating the injured and tending to the wounded. The station became a makeshift hospital, with makeshift triage centres set up to handle the influx of casualties. In the aftermath, the nation reeled in shock. The crash claimed the lives of two individuals: a 24-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman. Over 540 passengers sustained injuries, ranging from minor bruises to life-changing trauma. The scars of the Cannon Street crash extended far beyond the physical. Survivors grappled with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder" target="_blank">PTSD</a>, flashbacks, and the emotional impact of witnessing such horror. A thorough investigation into the cause of the crash revealed a combination of factors. Driver error and possible drug abuse, compounded by fatigue and possible distraction, were identified as the primary causes. The outdated design of the wooden carriages, unable to withstand the impact, further exacerbated the severity of the incident. <a href="https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/specifications/lessons-learned-from-cannon-street-crash" target="_blank">No fault in the train's braking system could be found and the driver, Maurice Graham, was held to blame. He was not tested for drugs until three days after the accident, whereupon traces of cannabis were found in his system</a>. The public inquiry found that there was insufficient evidence to prove drug use had caused the accident. The inquiry found that the cause of the accident was solely that of driver error. The report also made the following observations:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The age of the elderly trains increased the effect of the impact. Of the two coaches that suffered the worst damage, one was built on an under frame dating from 1934, having been refitted with a new body in 1953 and involved in a previous collision with a locomotive in 1958; the other was built on an under frame from 1928. The interior design of the coaches' fittings and the large number of slam doors could have resulted in weaknesses in the structure of the rolling stock. More research is needed on the effect of impacts on passengers, particularly standing passengers, on board commuter trains. Automatic Train Protection, or ATP, should be installed as quickly as practicably possible. On-train data recorders would make the finding of evidence easier following railway accidents. Legislation should be introduced to make it an offence for railway staff with safety responsibilities to be intoxicated while on duty. (The main cause of the Eltham Well Hall rail crash). Sliding buffer stops might have minimised the injury compared to the hydraulic buffer stops in this incident. Arrangements for the booking-on of staff should be reviewed (a recommendation also made in the report for the Eltham Well Hall rail crash)</i></span>". The Cannon Street crash served as a wake-up call for the British rail industry. It prompted a wave of reforms, including improved training for drivers, implementation of automatic train protection systems, and the phasing out of older rolling stock. The tragedy also highlighted the importance of mental health support for railway personnel, recognising the toll that such demanding jobs can take on mental well being. Today, a memorial stands at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Street_station" target="_blank">Cannon Street station</a>, a sombre reminder of the lives lost and the lessons learned. While the wounds of the 1991 crash may have healed, the memory serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritising safety and human well-being in the transportation system.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, another train related subject, but this one is far more upbeat and pleasant; As regular readers will be aware, I have featured local model train exhibitions on a number of occasions in the past; indeed, I usually try to feature an end video which has some kind of local connection. This week I am featuring something with no form of connection to the local area. In this case the video is a just over twenty minute tour of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniatur_Wunderland" target="_blank">Miniatur Wunderland - the world's largest model train layout, located in Hamburg, Germany</a>. Personally model trains are not something that particularly interests me, but this layout is utterly stunning and mind bogglingly complex. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYVS7juTL4I?si=0Ib1Nn4eYo6U9L4t" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-18075747665038106412024-01-07T12:00:00.000+00:002024-01-07T12:00:08.139+00:00Cancelled.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlENoM1u0RJn_oxbXMDYl0RbRP-cNZTzqOw4_k1XagYl_FrGS2zxgPiXQKi4uCmVLxTZ8uDrskpL0xUlLwb_yzJ9RdRDCNq9JAtt_wkaXHm635B-lCX6dFajBXHzSP9wz_xAECV853-Ci0Krujl6hyphenhyphenYqWOsUXezOlEbT2ywEck5NdIBAKxQp33/s4032/PXL_20230103_192307835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlENoM1u0RJn_oxbXMDYl0RbRP-cNZTzqOw4_k1XagYl_FrGS2zxgPiXQKi4uCmVLxTZ8uDrskpL0xUlLwb_yzJ9RdRDCNq9JAtt_wkaXHm635B-lCX6dFajBXHzSP9wz_xAECV853-Ci0Krujl6hyphenhyphenYqWOsUXezOlEbT2ywEck5NdIBAKxQp33/w640-h360/PXL_20230103_192307835.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above (click on it to see a larger version) recently in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> Town Centre; the image shows the bus halt outside of <a href="https://bymcapital.com/erith-riverside-bexley/" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Shopping Centre</a>. Despite being located in the most Northerly part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Bexley" target="_blank">London Borough of Bexley</a>, Erith has an exceptionally good number of bus services, covering most of the borough and beyond; I would go so far as to say that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> has the best bus connectivity of any town in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Bexley" target="_blank">London Borough of Bexley</a>, with the exception of the much larger <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>. For those less inclined to use public transport for whatever reason, there has recently been some rather alarming news related to recent figures released on the sale of private cars. For years, the UK electric vehicle (EV) market boasted impressive growth, positioning itself as a leader in Europe's green motoring revolution. However, 2023 painted a different picture. Sales stalled, leaving industry experts and policymakers scratching their heads. One key factor is the government's withdrawal of the Plug-in Car Grant in June 2022. This £1,500-£3,000 subsidy made EVs significantly cheaper, enticing buyers to take the plunge. With its disappearance, EVs suddenly became less attractive compared to petrol and diesel alternatives. While battery prices are falling, EVs still carry a premium price tag, a barrier for many budget-conscious drivers. This disparity is even starker when factoring in the rising cost of living, pushing fuel-efficient petrol cars back into consideration. Concerns about range limitations and inadequate charging infrastructure continue to haunt potential EV buyers. The UK, while boasting progress, suffers from disparities in charger availability, particularly in rural areas. This "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>charging desert</i></span>" creates anxiety about running out of electricity before reaching a plug, deterring hesitant customers. The variety of EVs available in the UK, particularly in the affordable segment, is still limited compared to other countries. This lack of choice restricts options for budget-conscious buyers and hinders the overall appeal of EVs to a wider audience. The government's recent delay in banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 sent mixed signals. This move shook investor confidence and cast doubt on the UK's long-term commitment to electrification, prompting some manufacturers to hold back on aggressive EV investments. Fuel prices, while volatile, have dipped in recent months, making petrol and diesel cars seem relatively more economical in the short term. This, coupled with the fading lure of incentives, has nudged some buyers back towards traditional combustion engines. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxYhEabT0kFHKJgnHYavFo9YxYbn-7E_nejj7QRJCFuQ16Px29eY6BRxMLehomPJhKSjd4yy1A3EQ8-GXSciLZmK6KhgDd370T43h32kkT5btvChpHCnv3ykMpbgnfyLoOBXKH9q5lr4-cKV5xNHZimAomG8krP25sBGYFVCJt2htK1yAgHic/s915/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240102130220.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="915" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxYhEabT0kFHKJgnHYavFo9YxYbn-7E_nejj7QRJCFuQ16Px29eY6BRxMLehomPJhKSjd4yy1A3EQ8-GXSciLZmK6KhgDd370T43h32kkT5btvChpHCnv3ykMpbgnfyLoOBXKH9q5lr4-cKV5xNHZimAomG8krP25sBGYFVCJt2htK1yAgHic/w640-h436/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240102130220.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Sidcup's Nevil Shute Norway, or simply Nevil Shute as he was known to the world of literature, was a man of two distinct, yet brilliantly intertwined, talents. He was a skilled and innovative aeronautical engineer, leaving his mark on the world of aviation, and a talented novelist, whose stories resonated with readers across the globe. Born in 1899 in Ealing, Shute's life was shaped by a fascination with technology and storytelling. Shute was the son of Arthur Hamilton Norway, who became head of the Post Office in Ireland before the First World War and was based at the General Post Office, Dublin in 1916 at the time of the Easter Rising, and his wife Mary Louisa Gadsden. Shute himself was later commended for his role as a stretcher-bearer during the rising. His grandmother Georgina Norway was a novelist. Shute attended the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Academy,_Woolwich" target="_blank">Royal Military Academy, Woolwich</a>, and trained as a gunner. He was unable to take up a commission in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corps" target="_blank">Royal Flying Corps</a> in the First World War, which he believed was because of his stammer. He served as a private soldier in the Suffolk Regiment, enlisting in the ranks in August 1918. He guarded the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary, and served in military funeral parties in Kent during the 1918 flu pandemic. He later studied engineering at Oxford, and also qualified as a private pilot. An aeronautical engineer as well as a pilot, Shute began his engineering career with the de Havilland Aircraft Company. He used his pen-name as an author to protect his engineering career from any potentially adverse publicity in connection with his novels. Dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities for advancement, he took a position in 1924 with Vickers Ltd at Crayford, where he was involved with the development of airships, working as Chief Calculator (stress engineer) on the R100 airship project for the Vickers subsidiary Airship Guarantee Company. In 1929, he was promoted to deputy chief engineer of the R100 project under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_Wallis" target="_blank">Barnes Wallis</a>. When Wallis left the project, Shute became the chief engineer. The R100 was a prototype for passenger-carrying airships that would serve the needs of Britain's empire. The government-funded but privately developed R100 made a successful 1930 round trip to Canada. While in Canada it made trips from Montreal to Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. The fatal 1930 crash near Beauvais, France, of its government-developed counterpart R101 ended British interest in dirigibles. The R100 was immediately grounded and subsequently scrapped. Shute gives a detailed account of the development of the two airships in his 1954 autobiographical work, Slide Rule. When he started, he wrote that he was shocked to find that before building the R38 the civil servants concerned '"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>had made no attempt to calculate the aerodynamic forces acting on the ship</i></span>"' but had just copied the size of girders in German airships. The calculations for just one transverse frame of the R100 could take two or three months, and the solution '"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>almost amounted to a religious experience</i></span>." But later he wrote that '"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>the disaster was the product of the system rather than the men at Cardington</i></span>"; the one thing that was proved is that "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>government officials are totally ineffective in engineering development</i></span>" and any weapons (they develop) will be bad weapons. The R101 made one short test flight in perfect weather, and was given an airworthiness certificate for her flight to India to meet the minister’s deadline. Norway thought it probable that a new outer cover for the R101 was taped on with rubber adhesive which reacted with the dope. His account is very critical of the R101 design and management team, and strongly hints that senior team members were complicit in concealing flaws in the airship's design and construction. In The Tender Ship, Manhattan Project engineer and Virginia Tech professor Arthur Squires used Shute's account of the R100 and R101 as a primary illustration of his thesis that governments are usually incompetent managers of technology projects. In 1931, with the cancellation of the R100 project, Shute teamed up with the talented de Havilland-trained designer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._H._Tiltman" target="_blank">A. Hessell Tiltman</a> to found the aircraft construction company Airspeed Ltd. A site was available in a former trolleybus garage on Piccadilly, York. Despite setbacks, including the usual problems of a new business, Airspeed Limited eventually gained recognition when its Envoy aircraft was chosen for the King's Flight. With the approach of the Second World War, a military version of the Envoy was developed, to be called the Airspeed Oxford. The Oxford became the standard advanced multi-engined trainer for the RAF and British Commonwealth, with over 8,500 being built. For the innovation of developing a hydraulic retractable undercarriage for the Airspeed Courier, and his work on R100, Shute was made a Fellow of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Aeronautical_Society" target="_blank">Royal Aeronautical Society</a>. On 7 March 1931, Shute married Frances Mary Heaton, a 28-year-old medical practitioner. They had two daughters, (Heather) Felicity and Shirley. At this time he and his family lived for many years in a house in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4271863,0.1030456,3a,75y,187.97h,94.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD6IA_DHw6MpTl7PKeEi-AQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Hatherley Road, Sidcup</a>. While his engineering career flourished, Shute harboured a secret passion for writing. In 1926, he published his first novel, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Marazan</i></span>," under the pen name Nevil Shute. This decision to separate his literary persona from his professional life stemmed from a desire to protect his engineering reputation from the potential whims of the publishing world. Shute's novels often drew inspiration from his technical expertise. Books like "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Lonely Road</i></span>" and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>An Air Gone Mad</i></span>" explored the intricacies of aviation and its impact on human lives. But his true literary prowess lay in his ability to weave compelling narratives around everyday people caught in extraordinary circumstances. By the outbreak of the Second World War, Shute was a rising novelist. Even as war seemed imminent he was working on military projects with his former boss at Vickers, Sir Dennistoun Burney. He was commissioned into the <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100431680" target="_blank">Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR)</a> as a sub-lieutenant, having joined as an '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>elderly yachtsman</i></span>' and expected to be in charge of a drifter or minesweeper, but after two days he was asked about his career and technical experience. He reached the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>dizzy rank</i></span>" of lieutenant-commander, knowing nothing about "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Sunday Divisions</i></span>" and secretly fearing when he went on a little ship that he would be the senior naval officer and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>have to do something</i></span>". So he ended up in the Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapons Development. There he was a head of engineering, working on secret weapons such as Panjandrum, a job that appealed to the engineer in him. He also developed the Rocket Spear, an anti-submarine missile with a fluted cast iron head. After the first U-boat was sunk by it, Charles Goodeve sent him a message concluding "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>I am particularly pleased as it fully substantiates the foresight you showed in pushing this in its early stages. My congratulations</i></span>." His celebrity as a writer caused the Ministry of Information to send him to the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 and later to Burma as a correspondent. He finished the war with the rank of lieutenant commander in the <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100431680" target="_blank">RNVR</a>. Shute's novels are written in a simple, highly readable style, with clearly delineated plot lines. Where there is a romantic element, intimacy is referred to only obliquely. Many of the stories are introduced by a narrator who is not a character in the story. Shute's heroes tended to be like himself: middle-class solicitors, doctors, accountants, bank managers, and engineers—generally university graduates. However (as in Trustee from the Toolroom), Shute valued the honest artisans and their social integrity and contributions to society more than the contributions of the upper classes. Aviation and engineering provide the backdrop for many of Shute's novels. He identified how engineering, science, and design could improve human life and more than once used the anonymous epigram, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It has been said an engineer is a man who can do for ten shillings what any fool can do for a pound</i></span>." His 1957 masterpiece, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>On the Beach</i></span>," stands as a testament to this talent. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear war, the novel follows a group of survivors in Australia as they face the inevitable end. It's a poignant and thought-provoking tale of resilience, love, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable catastrophe. Shute's other notable works include "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>A Town Like Alice</i></span>," a heartwarming story of a woman's wartime courage and resourcefulness, and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Trustee from the Toolroom</i></span>," a suspenseful exploration of corporate espionage and betrayal. In 1950, Shute, disillusioned with the political climate in Britain, migrated to Australia, where he lived until his death in 1960. He continued writing throughout his time in Australia, his later novels reflecting his adopted home's landscapes and culture. Nevil Shute Norway's legacy is one of dual brilliance. He was a pioneer in the field of aviation, leaving behind a legacy of innovative designs that shaped the course of air travel. But it is his literary contributions that truly cemented his place in history. His novels, with their blend of technical expertise, relatable characters, and profound themes, continue to captivate readers to this day, offering timeless insights into the human condition and the ever-changing world around us. Shute's life and work remind us that creativity can take many forms, and that even the most technical minds can harbor a deep well of storytelling magic. He was a man of both wings and words, forever soaring in the realms of engineering and literature, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and resonate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCEKK4xFb-lCHqhkQMA4x_OCCgvyW-TiV1vQfNrDwESEyQy917oNhWfyvoDWQA-EvvLruFhvoXBwHWJfKo2Of4ECivq0JSpiUoGlKVgQ9elXzEh21JcT5gSl2oheYCn2vpnyzDI-dI-_YJ54_BzD7hC-JBm32s6ZnMmkT_MVI5o8EeZ1PrG8R/s1165/Beatles%20Vox%20advert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCEKK4xFb-lCHqhkQMA4x_OCCgvyW-TiV1vQfNrDwESEyQy917oNhWfyvoDWQA-EvvLruFhvoXBwHWJfKo2Of4ECivq0JSpiUoGlKVgQ9elXzEh21JcT5gSl2oheYCn2vpnyzDI-dI-_YJ54_BzD7hC-JBm32s6ZnMmkT_MVI5o8EeZ1PrG8R/w462-h640/Beatles%20Vox%20advert.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Vox originally had factories in both West Street, Erith, and in Dartford Road, Dartford. In recent years the Vox brand has been owned by the giant Japanese music instrument manufacturing company Korg. Founder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Walter_Jennings" target="_blank">Thomas Walter Jennings</a> started the business, then called JMI (Jennings Musical Instruments) in Dartford in 1958, when he took a prototype guitar amplifier which had been demonstrated to him by big band guitarist and Belvedere resident <a href="https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/dick-denney/" target="_blank">Dick Denney</a> two years earlier, and turned it into a working, commercial product – the Vox AC-15. The AC-15 was almost immediately purchased by Hank Marvin, and the unique sound of the Shadows was down primarily to the use of Vox amplification. Soon after, the “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>British Invasion</i></span>” of the early 60’s was under way, powered almost exclusively by Vox amplifiers. Keeping it local, Dartford’s own Rolling Stones used Vox, as did The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and in what was one of the very earliest pieces of celebrity product placement, Vox amplifiers were promoted and exclusively used by The Beatles, after manager Brian Epstein negotiated a deal – one which greatly benefitted JMI, who were pretty much called Vox by this point. As the audiences for gig got bigger, and the venue sizes increased, the need for more powerful amplification became evident – the 15 Watt AC-15 was not powerful enough; JMI effectively nailed two AC-15 amps together to create their all time classic Vox AC-30 amplifier – a model still in production to this day. Contemporary musicians who employ the AC-30 include Brian May of Queen, who was the first person to create a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>wall</i></span>” of AC-30’s to create his unique and totally distinctive sound; the late Tom Petty and Rory Gallagher, Pete Townshend, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler, Paul Weller, and the Edge of U2 – pretty much all of rock royalty use or have used Vox amplification. JMI also manufactured guitars, many of which were technically ground breaking – including active pickups, and built in sound effects – the down side of this was that they tended to be heavy and ugly, and did not pick up many celebrity users. JMI / Vox also invented the Wah Wah pedal – most famously used by Jimi Hendrix, and the fuzztone distortion pedal used by Jimmy Page, then of the Yardbirds, and soon to be of Led Zeppelin. Vox / JMI also created the very first wireless microphone system, early models of which gained a reputation from picking up interference from nearby mini cab radios. Another very successful and influential product made by JMI / Vox at Erith was the Vox Continental electronic organ, which most famously featured on “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Rising_Sun" target="_blank">The House of the Rising Sun</a>” by the Animals, and “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riders_on_the_Storm" target="_blank">Riders on the Storm</a>” by the Doors (actually, pretty much any Doors track heavily features the Vox Continental – it was integral to their sound, as unusually they did not have a bass player - the bass parts were played on the organ).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX8A2wnEVFbBWWywsXbqkdf85UCtAz-MqDJcmqpnN3M5q0URyUgecpS4G4lNHIGahVqCWTvlD97ZC-3MBmtpnPRFJlDVzjma57VN6hxyIAbgQBx6mN_mCJaqpJguSqr8NUjwyXvl26XEUIFyuEJRqx2alY3iSfGnwpRAFo1wDzmgqtD2nOmYS/s1190/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240103180904.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1190" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX8A2wnEVFbBWWywsXbqkdf85UCtAz-MqDJcmqpnN3M5q0URyUgecpS4G4lNHIGahVqCWTvlD97ZC-3MBmtpnPRFJlDVzjma57VN6hxyIAbgQBx6mN_mCJaqpJguSqr8NUjwyXvl26XEUIFyuEJRqx2alY3iSfGnwpRAFo1wDzmgqtD2nOmYS/w640-h452/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240103180904.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">An unfortunate story unfolded last week; the flamboyant and controversial charity worker Camila Batmanghelidjh died, aged only 61. I had a personal connection with her; in the early 2000's her charity the Kid's Company had office space in a building that was owned by my then employer, the accountancy giant KPMG. I was employed as a senior IT analyst, based in the office located in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.506958,-0.1043247,3a,75y,163.68h,97.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDkGVZlqzMEOGT2AFiQ-m2g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Blackfriars Road, Southwark - the office building is now long gone, replaced with a large hotel</a>. As part of KPMG's corporate social responsibility programme back in the day, they granted The Kid's Company charity some rent free office space in the building. Unfortunately, the Kid's Company staff did not seem to be able to grasp the fact that they had only a free tenancy - they did not have access to systems and services available to the KPMG areas of the office. Nevertheless I was constantly badgered for technical support by Kid's Company staff. Without exception the people working for the charity were lovely - committed, empathic and sincere. The trouble was, they had no idea of modern technology, and the organisation did not employ someone to support their computers, phones, copiers and printers. I digress. Camila Batmanghelidjh, a name synonymous with both remarkable charity work and a dramatic downfall, left a complex legacy when she died on New Year's Day, 2024. Her life and work were a tapestry woven with threads of compassion, ambition, and ultimately, controversy. Born in Iran in 1963, Batmanghelidjh came to England as a child and went on to study psychotherapy. In 1996, she founded Kids Company, a charity aimed at supporting disadvantaged children in London's inner city. Kids Company quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach, offering hot meals, educational support, and therapeutic services to thousands of children who fell through the cracks of traditional systems. Batmanghelidjh, with her flamboyant personality (she did dress in the fashion of the photo above on a daily basis) and unwavering belief in the potential of every child, became a media darling. She rubbed shoulders with politicians and celebrities, garnering millions in donations and accolades. The Guardian dubbed her "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>one of the most powerful advocates for vulnerable children in the country</i></span>," and she was even awarded a CBE for her services. Kids Company's success, however, was not without its critics. Questions were raised about the charity's financial management and its unorthodox methods. In 2015, allegations of mismanagement and inappropriate spending led to a government investigation and ultimately, the closure of Kids Company. Batmanghelidjh stepped down, her reputation tarnished. The following years were marked by legal battles and public scrutiny. While no wrongdoing was ever proven, the shadow of the scandal hung heavy. Yet, amidst the controversy, it is important to remember the undeniable impact Kids Company had on countless children. For thousands in deprived communities, Kids Company was a beacon of hope, offering a safe haven and a chance to break free from the cycle of poverty and neglect. Batmanghelidjh's vision, however flawed, undeniably ignited a movement for increased support for vulnerable children. Camila Batmanghelidjh's story is a complex one, filled with both triumphs and failures. It is a story that raises questions about the nature of charity, the role of government, and the challenges of helping those most in need. While her legacy remains contested, her commitment to serving vulnerable children cannot be denied. Comments as always to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvLmXFTjvcLg5FRvvfk-c8tLjdoJRXEVoeRa_vGDt8LfNhDUpqiIiACAJolZT1BPi7eVzJ8YJUK02a32SD92wmA6me35bWCNbQxQ-YpFbNbLChvV2Gpk-jkQuKv-hJyQ1Nt9X-BLKeazyaTVl2Qv4VQFOqKMhOPaXLytAFUmgwmRFUZ9iIlQV/s1286/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240105161037.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1286" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvLmXFTjvcLg5FRvvfk-c8tLjdoJRXEVoeRa_vGDt8LfNhDUpqiIiACAJolZT1BPi7eVzJ8YJUK02a32SD92wmA6me35bWCNbQxQ-YpFbNbLChvV2Gpk-jkQuKv-hJyQ1Nt9X-BLKeazyaTVl2Qv4VQFOqKMhOPaXLytAFUmgwmRFUZ9iIlQV/w640-h376/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240105161037.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGk7wjqrCEcNlse29zHe2quBm_FatCFlnsx8bTknpIHWyWPECRs4Q8jPquyw0PlIWj1E_-QxhHBTf7IIDX7I0xbiavhCq7K-XUBuzbHhIJ86-C2a2Filcw0Lf55lecMJjZj-oXCeXpRG_F_zou3kamduehyphenhyphenwrf1SvQMFTRqzhyphenhyphenRJN0ybzrEzv/s1092/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240105161122.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1092" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGk7wjqrCEcNlse29zHe2quBm_FatCFlnsx8bTknpIHWyWPECRs4Q8jPquyw0PlIWj1E_-QxhHBTf7IIDX7I0xbiavhCq7K-XUBuzbHhIJ86-C2a2Filcw0Lf55lecMJjZj-oXCeXpRG_F_zou3kamduehyphenhyphenwrf1SvQMFTRqzhyphenhyphenRJN0ybzrEzv/w640-h438/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20240105161122.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">From some research I have undertaken over the last week, it would seem that a large portion of the <a href="https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/slade-green/" target="_blank">Slade Green Marshes</a> is being sold off to property developers - indeed Berkeley Homes have already purchased a substantial amount of land for future house building. Specialist commercial estate agents Kallars describe the site as:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Formerly a breakers yard, Kallars present 33.5 acres of prime strategic land at Ness Road, DA8. Available to purchase in smaller lots; The site borders a similar parcel recently acquired by 'Berkeley Strategic Land Limited'. A section of hard standing from the historic yard remains and adjacent lies Darenth Industrial Park. The land is bordered on the South East by Burnett Road, which is an unclassified public highway. There is a lay-by at the junction of Ness Road, Wallhouse Road and Burnett Road, and the land can be viewed from the roadside/footpath. There is a gated access from Burnett Road. * various drainage watercourses that run across the land as flood defences. * easement for a water supply pipe and pressure drains running along the south and south east boundary. No pre-planning advice has been taken and buyers are asked to make their own enquiries before any unconditional purchase. Strong commercial/residential development potential (STP). The land is sold on an unconditional basis, purchasers considering alternative uses or even development are deemed to rely upon their own enquiries</i></span>". The former marshland site is up for sale for £290,000. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142742651#/?channel=COM_BUY" target="_blank">You can read more about it on the Rightmove site here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the UK's largest and longest running classic car shows is under threat; <a href="https://www.bromleypageant.com/" target="_blank">Bromley Pageant of Motoring</a> had been expected to return to its traditional home at Norman Park, Bromley later this year, but the venue now falls within the expanded ULEZ low-emissions zone. Whilst vehicles over thirty years old are exempt from the ULEZ charge, many of the classic cars, trucks and buses that are exhibited at the show are transported to and from the site via a trailer and a modern towing vehicle. Additionally many of the visitors to <a href="https://www.bromleypageant.com/" target="_blank">Bromley Pageant of Motoring</a> travel to the venue by car. As a result, the organisers have decided to cancel this year’s show while looking for alternative locations to bring it back in 2025. In a statement to Kent Online announcing the cancellation, the organisers said: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Following the introduction of the ULEZ zone across Greater London, we have taken considerable time to evaluate all options for the future of the Bromley Pageant of Motoring, including whether it would be viable to still hold the Pageant at Norman Park, Bromley. It became clear that Norman Park is no longer an option and any move to a new venue and date needs to ensure that this firm favourite of the classic car calendar has a bright future. We have made the very difficult decision to not hold the event in 2024 but are working on plans to bring back the Bromley Pageant of Motoring in 2025. We appreciate the support we have received from car owners, clubs, trade and visitors over the time we have had the honour of looking after the Pageant and we are as disappointed as you that it will not take place this year. We do look forward to what the future will hold for this wonderful event, and we hope to bring you further details later in the year.</i></span>” The end video this week is a look at last years' <a href="https://www.bromleypageant.com/" target="_blank">Bromley Pageant of Motoring</a>. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vq569D3ZV1E?si=CelDBZdUfdoTB3QS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-51247768984418492862023-12-31T11:30:00.000+00:002023-12-31T11:30:09.056+00:00N2O.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PE7fh_o7igIfMdE61G74BRWDxep3iMVoxqp4GKpy0TS8rea8nSf8KI0HZLn_659oyeoXIXjbAXLtd1OMxNIbstNCb5N_A5Kg1WzbLxOd4sZNcHo91GljjZRIN3Kd51X65cCDWwv4g04Z23kmZmqSGM2q5Jb5G-PIQLewXpvmx2eayo04VCAj/s1268/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231228123211.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1268" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PE7fh_o7igIfMdE61G74BRWDxep3iMVoxqp4GKpy0TS8rea8nSf8KI0HZLn_659oyeoXIXjbAXLtd1OMxNIbstNCb5N_A5Kg1WzbLxOd4sZNcHo91GljjZRIN3Kd51X65cCDWwv4g04Z23kmZmqSGM2q5Jb5G-PIQLewXpvmx2eayo04VCAj/w640-h414/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231228123211.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above a couple of weeks ago - it shows a box of industrial Nitrous Oxide - N2O canisters which had been empty and dumped in Erith, not long before the Christmas break. The UK's ban on Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas and which has the chemical formula N2O, came into effect on November 8, 2023. This controversial move has sparked debate, with supporters praising its potential to curb anti-social behaviour and protect public health, while critics question its effectiveness and raise concerns about unintended consequences. what is already apparent is that - unsurprisingly - drug addicts are still finding ways to purchase the now illegal gas. Nitrous Oxide does have legitimate uses, including as an anesthetic and pain reliever in dentistry and surgery, as a whipping agent in cream dispensers, and as an oxidiser in rocket propellants and fuel cells. However, Nitrous Oxide also has <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug" target="_blank">psychoactive</a> effects, leading some to inhale it for its euphoric and disorienting properties. This recreational use, particularly among young people, has raised concerns about potential health risks. The immediate risks of Nitrous Oxide misuse can be severe; inhaling pure Nitrous Oxide displaces oxygen, potentially leading to suffocation, especially in enclosed spaces. The extremely cold gas can cause severe frostbite on lips, mouth, and even lungs, leading to tissue damage and potential scarring. The disorientation and impaired coordination caused by Nitrous Oxide increase the risk of accidents, falls, and injuries. Beyond the immediate dangers, chronic misuse carries even more concerning consequences: Nitrous Oxide interferes with vitamin B12 absorption, leading to nerve damage, numbness, tingling, and potentially irreversible neurological problems. Long-term use can contribute to anxiety, depression, and even <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis" target="_blank">psychosis</a>, Studies suggest potential harm to unborn babies during pregnancy, with risks of birth defects and developmental delays. Although not classified as a classic addictive substance, Nitrous Oxide can lead to dependence and compulsive use. The government's decision to ban Nitrous Oxide was driven by concerns about its misuse and the potential for harm. The ban classifies Nitrous Oxide as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugs_controlled_by_the_UK_Misuse_of_Drugs_Act" target="_blank">Class C drug</a> under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_Drugs_Act_1971" target="_blank">Misuse of Drugs Act 1971</a>, making possession illegal, with potential penalties including fines, community punishments, and even imprisonment. If one is found to have been supplying the drug - this is a more serious offence, with harsher penalties, including up to 14 years in prison for large-scale suppliers. Comments to me as usual at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week, the world marked a significant milestone: the 90th anniversary of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM radio broadcasting</a>. On December 26, 1933, American inventor Edwin H. Armstrong patented the technology that revolutionised audio transmission, offering a crisper, cleaner listening experience compared to its predecessor, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM_broadcasting" target="_blank">AM radio</a>. Armstrong's innovation wasn't just about better sound quality. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM, or Frequency Modulation</a>, provided greater resistance to static and interference, allowing for broader musical bandwidth and faithful reproduction of high frequencies. This opened the door for a richer soundscape, making it ideal for broadcasting music, especially as the swing era was taking flight. The transition to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> wasn't immediate. Radio stations clung to the familiar AM technology, and early <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> receivers were costly and bulky. However, the advantages of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> were undeniable. By the 1960s, it had become the dominant format for music broadcasting, particularly with the rise of rock and roll, which demanded the fidelity <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> offered. The years that followed saw <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> blossom. both popular and classical music found its voice on the airwaves, pirate radio challenged the status quo in and around the UK's larger cities - London being home to dozens in the 1980's and beyond, and local stations became community hubs. Talk radio provided platforms for diverse voices, and the relaxation of licencing rules in the late 1990's led to a greater number of independent local <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> radio stations. Looking ahead, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> radio faces new challenges in the digital age. Competition from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting" target="_blank">DAB+</a>, streaming services and online platforms requires stations to adapt and innovate. Yet, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM's</a> unique strengths – its immediacy, intimacy, and local reach – offer potential for continued relevance. By embracing new technologies like digital radio and leveraging its inherent strengths, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting" target="_blank">FM</a> radio can still capture the imagination of a new generation of listeners.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzBJm1Fr5busubIo1tf9pebLka_h4sQL37gkd9vyssPWWQLVu94KRKiJgYcwKmeJE7H7bxMe2jEinHg3PooMZm33b7kiNMVz1UUWVkqRdzDAd2qQdUqVxoyLJSfhWfRFj2jkOu_ZRbZQCmp439DmuTouoBpAdfU4YW2pBg0Vn4oAIcYUZGX4L/s1280/Omaze%20Graphic%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzBJm1Fr5busubIo1tf9pebLka_h4sQL37gkd9vyssPWWQLVu94KRKiJgYcwKmeJE7H7bxMe2jEinHg3PooMZm33b7kiNMVz1UUWVkqRdzDAd2qQdUqVxoyLJSfhWfRFj2jkOu_ZRbZQCmp439DmuTouoBpAdfU4YW2pBg0Vn4oAIcYUZGX4L/w640-h360/Omaze%20Graphic%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyone watching terrestrial TV over the last few months cannot have failed to see adverts by Omaze, fronted by a woman who in my opinion gives the most cheesy and insincere performance currently on UK television. There is a great deal to be said about the Omaze house lottery - much of it mixed. For many, winning a luxurious house in a stunning location through the Omaze UK lottery seems like a dream come true. But against the odds, a surprising trend has emerged: most winners choose to sell these dream homes rather than move in. While Omaze covers expenses like stamp duty and mortgage, running costs and upkeep for these often grand properties can be hefty. Winners, unaccustomed to such costs, may find the financial burden daunting, pushing them towards sale. The houses are often stunning, but the location might not be ideal for everyone. Some winners find the property too remote, too crowded, or simply not the right fit for their existing family or career needs. Owning a large property can be a lot of work. Maintenance, upkeep, and potential renovations can become a burden, especially for those already juggling busy lives. Renting or selling can offer a lighter load. Additionally, selling the house presents an opportunity to instantly unlock a significant amount of cash. This can be life-changing, allowing winners to pay off debts, invest in other properties or businesses, or simply achieve financial security they might never have imagined. Cash offers more freedom than a single property. Winners can choose to travel, pursue passions, or support loved ones without being tied to a specific location. It is important to remember that Omaze is transparent about the potential financial burdens of winning a house. Their website outlines estimated running costs and encourages potential entrants to carefully consider their ability to manage them. Ultimately, the decision to keep or sell is a personal one. While some winners may find their dream home in an Omaze prize, others find that the financial realities or lifestyle considerations make selling the house the best choice for their future. So, the next time you see an Omaze draw advertisement, remember that the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>dream home</i></span>" might not always be the happily ever after it seems. It's a life-changing opportunity, but one that comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. The less said about the smarmy Omaze TV advert presenter, the better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEnBdK3fGzMKHMBy7H87TUIo1NXbzp8cPKXrpU5Wcu4Y0ykPFO5z5_ANttcSgkPb2rIco550dEbmsWPOZdx949XyKLCWuSGUJpN8rQIp2eH0uAigx9WF6EDS7HBFRVHRQ4udlpePhKYCwbyNvYh1iL25TzYpP2QZTlg07VAKp_hKuJVm54aE2/s426/Patrick_Young_Alexander.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="302" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEnBdK3fGzMKHMBy7H87TUIo1NXbzp8cPKXrpU5Wcu4Y0ykPFO5z5_ANttcSgkPb2rIco550dEbmsWPOZdx949XyKLCWuSGUJpN8rQIp2eH0uAigx9WF6EDS7HBFRVHRQ4udlpePhKYCwbyNvYh1iL25TzYpP2QZTlg07VAKp_hKuJVm54aE2/w454-h640/Patrick_Young_Alexander.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Regular readers will recall that over the years I have written at some great length about local businessman, inventor and somewhat morally dubious character <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Maxim" target="_blank">Sir Hiram Maxim</a>. It is now well documented that in addition to inventing the automatic machine gun, the sprung mouse trap, and the fire sprinkler, he also constructed the first heavier than air flying machine, several years before the Wright Brothers. Whilst researching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Maxim" target="_blank">Sir Hiram Maxim</a>, I came across the story of another pioneering aviation engineer, whose story is much less well known, but just as fascinating. Patrick Young Alexander (28th March 1867 – 7th July 1943) was a British aeronautical pioneer fascinated by the possibility of heavier-than-air flight. He was an enthusiastic balloonist and he was also particularly active in meteorology. He performed many meteorological and aviation experiments, designing and building his own equipment. He travelled widely, visiting Australia in his youth and later making many visits to the USA — crossing the Atlantic at least fifty times. Alexander was born and brought up at Hern Villa in Belvedere, and later lived in both Sheffield and Bath. His mother was Harriotte Emma and his father was Andrew Alexander from Scotland. He had an elder brother, John Edmond. His father, Andrew Alexander, was a civil engineer of some standing and a mechanical engineer. He was interested in aeronautics and was a founder member of The Royal Aeronautical Society in 1866. He presented some papers to the society including "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Power in Relation to Weight in Aerial Navigation</i></span>". In 1875, he went to see Thomas Moy's Aerial Steamer at The Crystal Palace. This machine had many interesting design features and may have achieved a brief hop into the air; accounts vary. That year, Andrew Alexander became manager of the Cyclops works of Charles Cammell and Company in Sheffield, where he worked on the improvement of armour plate for warships. In 1878, Patrick Alexander, doubtless encouraged by his father, built an elastic driven model aeroplane of the Penaud type. In the late summer of that year, Patrick was taken by his father to see the Paris Exhibition. One attraction was irresistible: the enormous hydrogen balloon of Henri Giffard, which was capable of taking 52 passengers at a time on a tethered ascent to 500 metres (1,600 ft). The experience left a deep impression on Alexander, then 11 years old. When Andrew Alexander left the Cyclops works, the Alexander family moved from Sheffield to Bath and Patrick decided on a career in the Merchant Navy. On 1 April 1885, just 3 days after his 18th birthday, Patrick Alexander signed as an apprentice Merchant Navy officer. The very next day he sailed upon the Minero, a barque of 478 tones bound for Fremantle in Western Australia, a distance of 12,500 miles (20,000 km) in a vessel powered only by the wind. Sixty days into the journey, while aloft helping with the sails, Patrick lost his grip and fell. As he hit the deck, he broke his leg. The ship was still three weeks away from port and there was little that could be done other than to strap Patrick into a bunk for the rest of the journey, letting the leg heal without expert attention. The Minero had left England with a crew short by one member. At Fremantle, two of the crew jumped ship, possibly encouraged by rumours of gold being found in the desert; replacement crewmen were hard to come by and only one could be found. The Minero set sail for Cossack and Port Walcott some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the North, seeking a cargo, probably of wool and pearl shell, for the return to London. Patrick was getting about with the aid of a crutch and, given the shortage of crew, he was helping as best he could. On 10 August, in rough weather on a wet and slippery deck, Alexander fell again and re-broke his injured leg. He was taken to Victoria Hospital at Geraldton. The Minero returned to London without him. Patrick returned to England; despite treatment, it was clear that his injuries would leave him lame for life. Due to his disability, he chose to come ashore, and pursue other interests. In 1893, Patrick Alexander ordered a balloon of 100,000 cubic feet (2,800 m3) capacity from Percival Spencer. At the time, C.G. Spencer and Sons' largest advertised balloon was of 80,000 cubic feet (2,300m3) and when it was made it attracted much public interest. Capable of lifting 12 passengers, it was one of the largest balloons yet made. Alexander named her the Majestic. In 1894, Patrick took it to Germany where he conducted scientific ascents that excited interest among German scientists and the lay public, as well as that of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Ever since the first balloon ascent by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgolfier_brothers" target="_blank">Montgolfier Brothers</a> in 1783, it had been realised that for balloons to be really useful, they had to be navigable. Patrick Alexander applied his mind to this problem of airship propulsion. In 1893 and 1894 he filed a number of patents. His ideas included reciprocating oars and an adjustable-pitch propeller that resembled a pair of fans. One patent includes a means of heating the gas in the balloon envelope by using piped steam, the steam pipe also served to support the balloon in the shape of a parachute in the event of the balloon being burst or punctured. None of Patrick’s ideas ever came to anything; but throughout his life, he never lost faith in the practicality of airships. Patrick Alexander was very interested in the development of heavier-than-air flying machines. Early in the 1890s, he travelled to Germany to meet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Lilienthal" target="_blank">Otto Lilienthal</a> who was experimenting with gliders, and he continued to study ideas from a wide variety of sources. Patrick was in contact with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_Chanute" target="_blank">Octave Chanute</a> and others experimenting with flight. In the USA, sometime before 1903, Patrick visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Langley" target="_blank">Samuel Pierpont Langley</a> whose successful models had attracted much attention. At Christmas 1902 he visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers" target="_blank">the Wright brothers</a> at Kitty Hawk. On hearing that Patrick Alexander was planning a return trip to the USA in October 1903, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers" target="_blank">the Wright brothers</a>, not known for welcoming interruptions to their work, said they would be happy to meet him. However, Patrick missed a crucial telegram and never received their message. Patrick must have been most disappointed to have missed the opportunity to witness the first flights of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer" target="_blank">the Wright Flyer</a> on 17 December 1903. Sadly at the age of fifty, his inheritance gone, Patrick Alexander spent the remainder of his life at The United Services College, Windsor, where he taught students the basic principles of aeronautics. He would also hold model flying competitions for the students in the park, watched by the Eton College boys. A young apprenticed carpenter boy, who lived in the same road as Patrick Alexander, started the ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Windsor Model Aircraft Club</i></span>’. The boy was very keen at making propellers and testing them on model airplanes he built and flew in the park. The boy later became to be known the designer of the Hawker Hurricane fighter - the backbone of the RAF during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain" target="_blank">The Battle of Britain</a> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Camm" target="_blank">Sir Sydney Camm</a>. Patrick Alexander died on 7 July 1943, almost penniless — having given most of his money away. Today, he is not well known; having failed to make any singular, lasting contribution to aviation, and there being just a few modest memorials to his name. His primary contribution to the history of aviation was that through his tireless efforts, many journeys, writings, public speeches, and generous donations he was responsible for collecting and disseminating ideas across nations and continents without which development in the field would have proceeded more slowly. He was a generous man — generous with his time, his intellect and with his money. An inheritance and his business ability made him wealthy, but financial success meant little to him, and he ended up giving almost all of his money away. He was driven by native curiosity and ambition, and yet he was always supportive of the efforts of others, often making generous financial contributions, and was not jealous of their achievements. Patrick Alexander was buried in a small churchyard in Windsor. Ironically his headstone faces the flight path from Heathrow Airport. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Following publication of my article on large screen televisions last week, fellow local Blogger Richard of <a href="https://thethamesmeadgrump.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Thamesmead Grump</a> contacted me with the following message - which I reproduce in full, with his permission:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">I was reading your article about low income families and large screen TVs although I never realised the subject was “vexed”. Daily Mail readers may well be vexed but that is probably their default state about anything so not too much should be read into it. I do remember some years ago, the Sun used to bleat on a lot about prisoners being allowed to watch (shock, horror) colour TV in prison. This was before the its owners bought into mass media outlets like Sky, then their opposition seems to have faded away. </span><span style="text-align: left;">As far as flat screen televisions are concerned, I would challenge anyone to find any other sort. As far as I am aware, the old CRT screens have not been manufactured for many years. </span></i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>There is also some outdated assumption about the cost of these things. Considering the Daily Mail readership again and whose readers have probably not bought a new set in decades, as per your article, it's probably unlikely any of them know just how cheap they are to buy now. A quick look on the Argos website shows that you can buy a 65” set for a whisker under £380. If we assume it will last for only 5 years, that equates to just £76 a year, or £1.46 a week. Not a huge expense, even for a family living on the breadline. The TV licence costs more than twice that, even if they are watching TV on Granny's old 14” portable she bought from Dixon's in 1975 for about £500</i></span>".</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02SdEfzMPsya2DqCXiK346XxGLpPYzd-CzPUvbRVWCnmz58Q9VthkLo4TPKIn4s7CIXD0oU1M1MTkWUVOwbmBhDhJF9DhKu8CZQ_XLA5kbHxXjBG3251mC7GJ7DrcAfY14ljgujxjzdJ3lkKww34vRk9Zq0lF_xT5-TkPf4cjygHNWf0wZPcf/s1059/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231227112247.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="658" height="740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02SdEfzMPsya2DqCXiK346XxGLpPYzd-CzPUvbRVWCnmz58Q9VthkLo4TPKIn4s7CIXD0oU1M1MTkWUVOwbmBhDhJF9DhKu8CZQ_XLA5kbHxXjBG3251mC7GJ7DrcAfY14ljgujxjzdJ3lkKww34vRk9Zq0lF_xT5-TkPf4cjygHNWf0wZPcf/w398-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231227112247.png" width="498" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">You may have seen the advert above - or something roughly similar recently. It promotes a smart TV receiver unit that makes some very interesting claims over what it can do. The advert has been placed on social media sites including Facebook and TikTok, and has also appeared on tabloid newspaper websites, including The Sun. In the advert above, the device is just referred to as Smart TV, but in other places it is called the Seurico Magic TV Box, SyncTech Smart TV Evolution, UnboundScreen TV Evolution, Zonevel TV Streaming Device, and now HIDONE TV Streaming Device. These names all refer to the same piece of equipment. The HIDONE TV Streaming Device scam relies on wildly fabricated claims of proprietary technology developed in Silicon Valley that can exploit cable and media company feeds to unlock free access to any channel or streaming content. However, the reality is the device shipped out after purchase for up to £150 is merely an unlabeled £5 streaming stick available on Chinese e-commerce sites. The scammers rely on running compelling yet highly deceptive ads on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube that present the HIDONE device as tapping into satellite streams and using advanced artificial intelligence to crack encrypted feeds from cable networks. Some examples of the completely fabricated claims made about accessing copyright-protected content include: - “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Disrupting the cable TV industry by unveiling secret technology for tapping into premium channel streams without monthly fees</i></span>” “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Utilizing encrypted satellite signal interception algorithms programmed through TensorFlow machine learning” “Exploiting a loophole in Netflix DRM allowing their full catalog to stream for free forever” “Infinitely growing content library automatically generated from siphoning media company servers using HIDONE’s proprietary cracking interface</i></span>”. To the average consumer unaware of broadcast copyrights, these claims leverage buzzwords like <span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>“artificial intelligence</i></span>”, “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>satellite interception</i></span>”, and “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>content cracking algorithms</i></span>” to seem like the HIDONE device uses exclusive high-tech methods to tap cable TV and streaming content sources. However victims find after over paying £100+ for each device that it is actually just a generic unlabeled streaming stick identical to a £5 model on eBay. Needless to say, it lacks any sort of feed tapping or decryption capabilities to access channels or content for free - which in any case would be a criminal breach of copyright. The scam relies on convincing language, fake discounts, and a sense of urgency about time-limited deals to generate impulse purchases before prospective buyers thoroughly research the questionable pop-up companies behind the adverts. Refunds are notoriously difficult to obtain after falling victim when the devices inevitably fail to perform as advertised. The scam starts with carefully designed social media ads portraying the HIDONE device as a remarkable innovation allowing unbelievable access to premium channels. The scammers routinely run ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. These compelling ads tout things like “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>access any channel for free</i></span>” and leverage fake reviews and authority claims to portray the devices as incredible cable replacements powered by advanced technology. Some examples of the dubious claims and techniques used in the adverts include: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>All your favourite shows with no subscriptions required!</i></span>” which is patently impossible. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Developed by Silicon Valley legends and used by over 200,000 people!</i></span>” when no such pedigree exists. Outlandish claims of accessing any streaming service or live event for free, which violates copyrights, if it was actually true - which it is not. Fake reviews and perfect 5 star ratings to fabricate social proof. The goal is to present an extremely exaggerated depiction of the capabilities in order to generate a flood of clicks driven by the hype. But it’s carefully orchestrated deception. Some false claims are offering full access to thousands of cable TV channels without fees, unlocking Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and other streaming services to access all content for free, using advanced technology to secretly intercept and divert media feeds, and flawless compatibility with essentially all modern TV models. The fake social media ads funnel victims to dubious websites packed with more fake demonstrations, false claims, fake discounts and reviews as well as aggressive up selling urging purchase before fake timers run out. Many report the sellers instantly disappear after taking payment, leaving no way to contact them when the fraudulent streaming stick arrives and fails to actually unlock free access to cable channels or subscription streaming platforms as depicted in the deceptive and illegal adverts. It is an example of the time worn old adage - "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>if it seems too good to be true, it probably is</i></span>" - you have been warned. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpU70uYjz0Bua7lDZSnYF7jZaRg8k7Lc4g1Hq87UH9xk9n0M6Icn6JZnSnKTM56NRlSz3rraytwSI04AwK5nW-cshWw5_6n9VPIRxBE7Av6VJazUGRsGDKZ_fHFr0wuEhbrwArovJovh_7eD4BrDpkyhrghaW9mDfxxUnuvO6yIBe5dcB4Fux/s884/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231229152722.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="884" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpU70uYjz0Bua7lDZSnYF7jZaRg8k7Lc4g1Hq87UH9xk9n0M6Icn6JZnSnKTM56NRlSz3rraytwSI04AwK5nW-cshWw5_6n9VPIRxBE7Av6VJazUGRsGDKZ_fHFr0wuEhbrwArovJovh_7eD4BrDpkyhrghaW9mDfxxUnuvO6yIBe5dcB4Fux/w640-h608/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231229152722.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite an outright ban set to take effect today - December 31st, 2023, the sale of XL Bully dogs continues in the UK, raising concerns about public safety and the ethics of breeding and selling these potentially dangerous dogs. As you can see from the screen capture above - made on Friday of last week, XL Bully dogs are still openly for sale. In September 2023, the UK government announced the addition of XL Bully dogs to the list of banned breeds under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Dogs_Act_1991" target="_blank">The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991</a>. This means that breeding, selling, advertising, re-homing, abandoning, or allowing an XL Bully dog to stray will be illegal from December 31st. Existing owners will be required to keep their dogs muzzled and on a lead in public places, and ownership will be illegal from February 1st, 2024, unless the dog is registered on an exemption index. Several factors contribute to the continued sale of XL Bully dogs despite the impending ban: Loophole Exploitation: Some breeders are exploiting loopholes in the legislation, such as selling puppies before the ban date or claiming they are a different breed. Financial Incentives: Unscrupulous breeders are driven by the high price tag of XL Bully puppies, which can fetch thousands of pounds. Lack of Enforcement: Concerns exist about the capacity of authorities to effectively enforce the ban, particularly in identifying and tracking down XL Bully breeders and sellers. Owner Resistance: Some XL Bully owners oppose the ban and may attempt to circumvent it by keeping their dogs unregistered or selling them through private channels. Many - but not all - XL Bully owners are part of the criminal fraternity and use the ugly, aggressive and vicious mutant animals as a weapon and as a guard for their criminal activities such as mugging, burglary and drug dealing. The continued sale of XL Bully dogs in the UK casts a shadow over the impending ban and raises serious concerns about public safety and animal welfare. It is crucial that the government and relevant authorities take decisive action to enforce the ban effectively and address the underlying issues that fuel the demand for these potentially dangerous dogs. Only then can the UK truly put an end to the XL Bully sales and ensure the safety of its residents and animals alike.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a bit unusual; as you may be aware, the driving test centres in both Belvedere and Erith are regarded as the hardest places to take a driving test anywhere in the UK. In this video, a driving instructor takes a camera around one of the Belvedere test centres routes for driving test candidates. Comments and feedback as always to <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hcyqhp8tsBU?si=9hYwA1gDiaxEvygc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-89583030385960100252023-12-24T12:00:00.001+00:002023-12-24T12:07:31.838+00:00Whippet.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrLaCZjl2zin3zkI1GMJdDWgjK_ye1MrtDcQ87qX9a6S18dM12WemuOF3ie_4m1uOeOC8Qrw_dqsyiivQvbn-LgLp1DvWH2UKNiksBWnbrY7DKZwfQjjiAKFzPiRHdAKxBXTEk3rXVhKsbXXok8LMI-ro5-0Z7WY8phH8yfTcylcM3yAgumv7/s4032/PXL_20231111_154637825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrLaCZjl2zin3zkI1GMJdDWgjK_ye1MrtDcQ87qX9a6S18dM12WemuOF3ie_4m1uOeOC8Qrw_dqsyiivQvbn-LgLp1DvWH2UKNiksBWnbrY7DKZwfQjjiAKFzPiRHdAKxBXTEk3rXVhKsbXXok8LMI-ro5-0Z7WY8phH8yfTcylcM3yAgumv7/w640-h360/PXL_20231111_154637825.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rojeCRfR1r347o5b_YQ9V0zQpKR7pxS8z3vyMr5iu1RFAMr8g55LJFmRGp0NIUO6JMohyqWjF7rPpKxFM5J3O7c_uUKWZHIk-fVt_r3G9dTXGwQAAHohfb0YXQ6S2zIZac68sKMAJ1vtrXmlUMTa-PdcbGDWJJnIyIs2sY_L94W4SzjXcw31/s4032/PXL_20231111_154755265.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rojeCRfR1r347o5b_YQ9V0zQpKR7pxS8z3vyMr5iu1RFAMr8g55LJFmRGp0NIUO6JMohyqWjF7rPpKxFM5J3O7c_uUKWZHIk-fVt_r3G9dTXGwQAAHohfb0YXQ6S2zIZac68sKMAJ1vtrXmlUMTa-PdcbGDWJJnIyIs2sY_L94W4SzjXcw31/w640-h360/PXL_20231111_154755265.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The photos above - click on either to see a larger version - were taken by me recently in <a href="https://www.greatererith.com/completed-projects/pier-square/" target="_blank">Pier Square Gardens</a>, adjacent to the entrance of the landmark <a href="https://londonist.com/london/best-of-london/londons-longest-pier" target="_blank">Erith Pier</a>. The <a href="https://www.greatererith.com/completed-projects/pier-square/" target="_blank">Pier Square Gardens</a> are a pleasant and picturesque place to spend some time when the weather is good. Over the last month or so, I have had messages from a number of readers commenting that some of the people using the <a href="https://www.greatererith.com/completed-projects/pier-square/" target="_blank">Pier Square Gardens</a> are somewhat problematic. Since the small park in West Street was closed for redevelopment as a block of apartments, the group of street drinkers that used to congregate there appear to have migrated their group Eastwards into the <a href="https://www.greatererith.com/completed-projects/pier-square/" target="_blank">Pier Square Gardens</a>. I have had reports that a group of the street drinkers have been meeting in the park on a regular basis, making other visitors feel uncomfortable. I am aware that the local Councillors for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> have been made aware of the situation. More on this subject in the future. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Recently I have been taking the 99 bus from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> of a late afternoon, when it is already dark. What has struck me as the bus makes its' way through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slade_Green" target="_blank">Slade Green</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnehurst" target="_blank">Barnehurst</a>, is that even though it is dark outside, quite a considerable number of people leave their living room curtains open with the room in bright light. This means that passers by can easily see into the householders private space like they were living in a fish tank. Personally I dislike this kind of exhibitionism, but each to their own. This got me thinking; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slade_Green" target="_blank">Slade Green</a> especially is an area where a significant portion of the residents don't have a huge level of disposable income, yet from my observations from the 99 bus into people's living rooms, many of them seem to have absolutely huge televisions - 65" or even larger. This leads me to <span style="text-align: left;">the whole vexed subject of people on a low income who have a very large flat screen television. Some academic studies have been carried out on the subject, and the results have been actually quite surprising. It has been noted for some years that wealthier, middle class people tend to have fewer televisions in their houses, and they tend to be older models with smaller screens. The reason for this is thought to be that middle class people generally spend less time watching the television, as they are likely to attend theatre, cinema, sports and the arts, as well as eating out and socialising on a regular basis. The television is regarded as an incidental item. Researchers found that people with lower incomes tend to be more home – centric; their social lives are more likely to revolve around their living rooms and the television; they tend not to go out much, and when they do, it is more likely to be local to them – to a friend or neighbour living nearby. Thus they place a far higher value on items for the home like a large television or games console, which is their principal source of leisure and entertainment. This certainly seems to make sense – and would no doubt drive the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a> into a frenzy should it come across the story. I suppose that there are exceptions to this though; the world has changed greatly in the last decade or so; fast broadband connections mean that all sorts of media content can be streamed to the home; you no longer need to go to the inconvenience of a cinema visit, when you can see the movie in full HD / 4K quality in the comfort of your own home. I personally have little time for the theatre, and all of the hassle that it entails. I do like a live gig every so often, but nowadays it has to be something really special to entice me out of Pewty Acres on a cold and wintery evening. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuFBxWqFSL4NTg8oUQWCm5CxHAGgKij7-MtVFOcr-W3THOQCnK5S2smLDO27U3MBbaW-R4iAC0wPlCD469ZM7HQwFix5SZaX_hjAeFAoUHRPiD-QKa8iXvzG3pZ_ExNgNv_fBgKeGI2O7Zz77Jx1TrXOxphyphenhyphenaE2n4eHpZGeJh8Qr2mYfv-Qur/s1325/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231218125111.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1325" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuFBxWqFSL4NTg8oUQWCm5CxHAGgKij7-MtVFOcr-W3THOQCnK5S2smLDO27U3MBbaW-R4iAC0wPlCD469ZM7HQwFix5SZaX_hjAeFAoUHRPiD-QKa8iXvzG3pZ_ExNgNv_fBgKeGI2O7Zz77Jx1TrXOxphyphenhyphenaE2n4eHpZGeJh8Qr2mYfv-Qur/w640-h378/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231218125111.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A sports figure who is now sadly mostly forgotten, but who was a national champion in the early 2000's lived and worked locally - and someone I saw on several occasions shopping in Erith Morrison's supermarket back in the day. Born in Erith on February 2, 1962, Andy Fordham was the eldest of a brother and two sisters. He grew up in Charlton and attended Charlton Manor Primary School and Eaglesfield Secondary School. He was a keen track-and-field athlete in his younger days and was nicknamed '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Whippet</i></span>' at school. He displayed an early aptitude for darts, taking up the game at the age of 16. Initially, he played in local pubs and clubs, honing his skills and building a reputation for his powerful throws and unpredictable style. Fordham's love for darts blossomed early, honing his skills in local pubs and working men's clubs. His raw talent and natural ability soon caught the attention of the darts world, and by the late 1980s, he had established himself as a formidable force on the professional circuit. Outside of darts, Andy Fordham was for many years the landlord of <a href="https://www.therose-dartford.foodndrink.uk/" target="_blank">The Rose pub in Overy Street, Dartford</a>. In 1994, Fordham made his professional debut, joining the British Darts Organisation (BDO). His rise was meteoric, reaching the semi-finals of the BDO World Darts Championship in both 1995 and 1996. However, it was in 1999 that he truly captured the hearts of darts fans worldwide, triumphing at the Winmau World Masters, the prestigious non-ranking tournament. Andy Fordham's crowning achievement came in 2004 when he entered the BDO World Championship as a firm underdog. However, his powerful throwing and unwavering self-belief propelled him to the final, where he faced the formidable Mervyn King. In a thrilling match, Fordham demonstrated his unwavering spirit, coming from behind to defeat King and claim the coveted title of BDO World Champion. The victory cemented his position as one of the greatest darts players of all time and earned him the nickname '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Viking</i></span>' due to his imposing stature and powerful throwing style. Fordham's victory in 2004 was a watershed moment, not only for himself but also for darts as a whole. His infectious enthusiasm and larger-than-life personality resonated with fans worldwide, attracting new audiences to the sport. He became a true ambassador for darts, promoting the sport with his unique blend of skill, humour, and charisma. On 21 November 2004, Fordham, as reigning BDO world champion, faced off against Phil Taylor, the reigning PDC world champion, in a best-of-13-sets match at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Tavern" target="_blank">Purfleet's Circus Tavern</a>. The special pay-per-view event was billed as "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Showdown</i></span>" and was promoted and broadcast by Sky Sports. During the match, Fordham became unwell and complained of shortness of breath. He took a break after the seventh set and was advised not to continue by medical staff at the venue. Taylor was leading the match 5–2 at the time and declared the winner by default. After the incident Fordham visited a doctor, and following medical tests he was informed that, as a result of long term alcohol damage, his liver was operating at only 25% capacity. He was advised to stop drinking alcohol immediately. Fordham's health had long been a concern; at one point he weighed 31 stone (200 kg; 430 lb) and was in the habit of regularly consuming 24 bottles of lager and half a bottle of brandy before going on stage to play darts. He admitted to the media that he had felt more comfortable playing when not fully sober. The doctors' advice led Fordham to seek help and assistance via the television programme <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_Fit_Club" target="_blank">Celebrity Fit Club</a>, where he became friends with the journalist and TV presenter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ross" target="_blank">Paul Ross</a>. Beyond his competitive achievements, Fordham was known for his charitable work. He established the Andy Fordham Foundation to raise funds for various causes, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Darts4Kids charity. His generosity and compassion extended beyond the dartboard, earning him widespread respect and admiration. In 2013, Fordham underwent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bariatric_surgery" target="_blank">bariatric surgery</a>, successfully losing over 11 stone in weight. This transformation, coupled with his ongoing, mostly unsuccessful efforts to maintain sobriety, marked a new chapter in his life. On 15 July 2021, Fordham died in hospital from organ failure after a long battle with health problems. Fordham had been a very heavy drinker and was diagnosed with cirrhosis, with reportedly more than 70 per cent of his liver had been destroyed. He was only 59.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LKWBz1BBGO5yiwQj7gqzP76azHgtvP-rcy09VhQl88w0hTCtOauFYQhxMSNTNX2DXxHAicVVgNphUz6fCkavGqDFY7PC4YqNVm-bCiJgy4RjVDPOlssvHLqRoyQqZzlOFDPJ9F02TwhTQyT8lcUtwB8r9z-IV9SONrGdg5nBbj98_00FEcH2/s1362/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231222151433.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1362" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LKWBz1BBGO5yiwQj7gqzP76azHgtvP-rcy09VhQl88w0hTCtOauFYQhxMSNTNX2DXxHAicVVgNphUz6fCkavGqDFY7PC4YqNVm-bCiJgy4RjVDPOlssvHLqRoyQqZzlOFDPJ9F02TwhTQyT8lcUtwB8r9z-IV9SONrGdg5nBbj98_00FEcH2/w640-h406/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231222151433.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above recently in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>; there is a small space between the EweMove estate agents shop and the Natwest Bank branch in Townley Road. Until a few months ago the space was used by a rough sleeper, as it offered some shelter from the weather. The person built up a small but what looked quite cosy space - under the circumstances. The next time I passed a metal barrier and gate installed to block use of the space, as you can see in the photograph above - click on it to see a larger version. The UK's homelessness crisis is a stark reality, with thousands forced to sleep rough on the streets. Shop doorways, offering some semblance of shelter, often become their unwelcome haven. While shop owners understand the gravity of homelessness, they also face concerns about safety, hygiene, and customer perception. This creates a complex ethical dilemma: how to deter rough sleepers without crossing the line into cruelty or criminalisation. Many businesses resort to "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>defensive architecture</i></span>" - installing spikes, benches with uncomfortable contours, or even water sprinklers – to make their doorways unappealing for sleeping. These tactics, while seemingly effective, raise eyebrows. Critics argue they are inhumane, denying vulnerable people even a semblance of shelter, and create a hostile atmosphere for everyone. Additionally, their effectiveness is questionable, as rough sleepers simply move elsewhere, often into even less safe or visible locations. Increased security patrols and CCTV cameras are another common approach. While understandable for safety concerns, they can create an intimidating atmosphere, further isolating already vulnerable individuals. Additionally, their effectiveness in deterring sleep specifically is debatable. A growing number of shop owners are recognising the limitations of these reactive measures. Some are partnering with local charities and outreach groups to offer resources and support to rough sleepers, directing them to shelters or offering temporary storage for belongings. Others are engaging in collaborative projects to tackle the root causes of homelessness, advocating for increased government funding for housing and support services. Legally, the situation is nuanced. While trespassing laws exist, applying them to rough sleepers can be seen as harsh and counterproductive. The issue of doorway sleeping raises important ethical questions. Should businesses have the right to deter rough sleepers, even if it means denying them a basic need? Should the onus for addressing homelessness fall on individual shop owners? These questions are complex and require ongoing dialogue. The UK government's "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Rough Sleeping Strategy</i></span>" encourages a more compassionate approach, emphasising assistance over enforcement. However, some businesses feel their concerns about safety and hygiene are not adequately addressed under current policies. Ultimately, the responsibility for tackling homelessness lies beyond individual shop owners. Systemic changes, including increased affordable housing, mental health support, and job opportunities, are crucial. Until then, shop owners are left navigating a difficult terrain, balancing their business needs with the human reality of those sleeping on their doorsteps. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grid_plc" target="_blank">National Grid</a> is reportedly the latest organisation in the UK to begin removing China-manufactured equipment from its network over cyber security fears. The contract with the UK subsidiary of China's state-owned Nari Technology, NR Electric UK, was terminated after seeking advice from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cyber_Security_Centre_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)</a>, according to sources who spoke to the Financial Times. The components being removed from the UK's electricity transmission network are those tasked with managing the communication between energy projects and the grid, the newspaper's sources said. They are also involved in balancing the grid to minimize the risk of blackouts. It's understood that NR Electric UK wasn't given a reason for the termination of the contract, the decision for which was made in April, and its staff can no longer access the sites where the components are installed. Nari Technology, with annual revenues exceeding $6 billion, is owned by Nari Group Corporation – the biggest power infrastructure group in the world. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grid_plc" target="_blank">National Grid</a> was its largest customer. This is the latest example of a Chinese company being removed from the UK's critical infrastructure network over cyber security concerns. In Huawei's case, the decision to remove its kit was made largely out of fears that Beijing can legally compel companies to share data with it, which could in theory include data collected from operations in other countries, including the UK. The UK's decision to outlaw Huawei equipment from its 5G network was made in 2020, with telecom companies formally ordered to remove its technology by 2027. Pressures from the US are thought to have kick started the movement to oust Huawei from the UK's 5G network, and these have now spread to the EU, which earlier this year branded it a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>high-risk supplier</i></span>." While an EU-wide ban is being considered, Germany, which initially refused to rip Huawei's kit out of its 5G networks, has now said it will remove Huawei equipment regardless of the cost involved, and that "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>the risks have been known for a long time</i></span>." Last year, the UK also took steps to remove China's involvement in the Sizewell nuclear project, taking a joint stake in the project that essentially bought out China General Nuclear. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at the time that Britain's "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>golden era</i></span>" of China relations is over. Whilst the large power infrastructure is having Chinese designed and manufactured equipment being removed by law, the Smart Meters installed in UK homes will not be affected by this - if you have a Chinese manufactured Smart Meter, you will not be having it swapped out for one of alternative design and manufacture. The much vaunted, but actually quite apathetic roll - out of Smart energy meters in the UK has hit yet another problem; Consumers who have a smart meter fitted, and then change energy supplier quite frequently find that their meter then stops working, as the communication protocols used by different energy supplier vary considerably. Smart Meters send real – time power usage data back to the supplier via a 3G mobile phone signal. The trouble is many network operators are retiring 3G technology over the next few years, as I have previously written. A worrying number of UK authorities are still unaware of the impending switch-off of 2G and 3G mobile networks, according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Government_Association" target="_blank">Local Government Association (LGA)</a> figures. While 38 percent of respondents were fully aware, 27 percent were only partially aware, and 7 percent had no idea at all that the axe would be falling by 2033 at the latest. The numbers worsened when the researchers spoke to respondents in senior management. Almost half (48 percent) were "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>partially aware</i></span>" the UK's 2G and 3G mobile networks were due to be switched off and 14 percent were not at all aware. The actual switch-off will happen over the next few years. UK mobile operators have told government they do not intend to offer 2G and 3G mobile networks past 2033 at the latest, and there is a high likelihood that some networks will be shut down earlier. The UK government said it welcomes plans to end services ahead of time. Vodafone, for example, intends to pull the plug on 3G once and for all from January 2024 - next month. Although most consumers, with their 4G and 5G devices, will likely be unaware of the end when it comes, the same cannot be said of local authorities. According to the survey, almost two-thirds of respondents (63 percent) reported that their authority was still using devices or services reliant on 2G and 3G networks. Almost a third of respondents reckoned there would be costs involved and didn't have a handle on them, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) didn't know if there would be costs incurred. It is worrying considering the sheer number of devices out there, from alarm systems, traffic lights and parking meters to telecare kit, all of which will need to be upgraded or replaced before networks are turned off. And then there are those areas where 4G, let alone 5G, has yet to reach. According to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Government_Association" target="_blank">LGA</a>, more than half of councils that responded to its survey said their transport services – including parking – relied on the older networks. Almost half warned that environment, water supply, power and waste services would be hit. With operators starting to turn off their legacy networks, the survey demonstrates the need to raise awareness of the shutdown's implications and what needs to be budgeted for. This could potentially be a far more serious issue than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2000_problem" target="_blank">the Y2K bug from the start of the century</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPddqwVKT2ncdyuh5zokneslBrB2GXcp954r-tvH2gEKs914zoeZbZ8HVS33hOd9gOKSrs0XRpgHGJygRvdfdZfWumtZOCH8RJDOXcCvYUEZ14vwxZgO1GtKMMgdBFT-VMD5zmcdbKU1peKFUgURsjeZwlwUwd4qaKc5GAoxxGuem5wqB6kqJ/s1201/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231222150715.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1201" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPddqwVKT2ncdyuh5zokneslBrB2GXcp954r-tvH2gEKs914zoeZbZ8HVS33hOd9gOKSrs0XRpgHGJygRvdfdZfWumtZOCH8RJDOXcCvYUEZ14vwxZgO1GtKMMgdBFT-VMD5zmcdbKU1peKFUgURsjeZwlwUwd4qaKc5GAoxxGuem5wqB6kqJ/w640-h450/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231222150715.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A report was published recently that highlighted the security loopholes and outright failures that can be found in the cash till machines used by most high street banks. The cash machines, more correctly termed Automated Teller Machines, or ATM's can be hacked in many ingenious ways. In order to understand this, a basic understanding of how an ATM works is required. An ATM consists of two main parts: cabinet and safe. The cabinet (main body) contains the ATM computer, which is connected to all the other devices: network equipment, bank card reader, keyboard (PIN pad), and cash dispenser (the dispenser itself is in the safe, but the connector is not). The cabinet is practically unprotected, with only a plastic door secured by a trivial lock. What's more, manufacturers usually use the same lock for all ATMs of the same series. Keys for these locks can be purchased easily online, although attackers can also pick them or drill through the flimsy plastic. The safe is more robust, being made of steel and concrete, and contains only the cash dispenser and cash acceptance module. The computer usually runs on Windows, in a special embedded version designed specifically for ATM use. Only administrators should have access to Windows; other users should not have such access. This is why user-facing applications run in kiosk mode. These applications provide all necessary functionality to the user: this is the interface that we see during normal ATM use. To do its job, the application must communicate with ATM peripherals: get card information from the card reader, obtain user input from the keyboard, and send commands to the cash dispenser. This communication takes place using XFS (eXtensions for Financial Services), a standard for simplifying and centralising banking equipment control. With XFS, a hardware manager makes an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/API" target="_blank">API (Application Programming Interface)</a> available to all Windows applications and forwards requests to devices. Commands to each XFS-connected device are sent via the corresponding service provider (device driver). An ATM never decides to dispense cash all by itself. When processing a transaction, it contacts the bank's processing centre. This connection is either wired or wireless (for example, via a mobile data network). It is important to secure the connection against data interception. In most cases, software or hardware <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network" target="_blank">Virtual Private Network (VPN)</a> clients perform this task. So that is the basics of the ATM operation; now what of the exploit that have been found by crooks? Well the security report found that when their team of ethical hackers were let loose on some typical high street ATM units, they found that 15 were found to be still running the long unsupported Windows XP. 22 were vulnerable to a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>network spoofing</i></span>" attack where an attacker connects locally to the machine's LAN port and conduct fraudulent transactions. Such an attack takes around 15 minutes to complete. 18 were vulnerable to '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>black box</i></span>' attacks where an attacker physically connects a device to the machine and tricks it into spitting out cash. Positive notes these attacks can be carried out in about ten minutes with aftermarket computer boards (such as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi" target="_blank">Raspberry Pi</a>). 20 could be forced to exit out of kiosk mode via a USB or PS/2 connection. From there, an attacker could access the underlying Operating System of the machine and execute additional commands. 24 had no data encryption in place on the hard drive, allowing an attacker who had access to the drive to pull any stored data and configuration info from the machine. In general, the research found that, for the most part, the protections used by ATMs to prevent theft and tampering were more or less superficial, and anyone who really wanted to get into a machine could often do so in under an hour. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>More often than not, security mechanisms are a mere nuisance for attackers: our testers found ways to bypass protection in almost every case</i></span>," the researchers said. Since banks tend to use the same configuration on large numbers of ATMs, a successful attack on a single ATM can be easily replicated at greater scale. One of the top recommendations the report made to banks is to harden up the physical security of the machines themselves. By physically securing the cabinets to lock away access to the inputs and compute hardware of the machines, many of the techniques used in the study could be thwarted. Additionally, the researchers recommend banks keep on top of logging and monitoring security events on their networks. At this year's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEF_CON" target="_blank">DEF CON hacking conference</a> one researcher explained how he'd approached banks about flaws in their ATMs, only to be told such things weren't possible. It was only when he told them he was going public with the research that the flaws were fixed by the banks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a bit of fun. It depicts the officers and crew of the Royal Navy warship HMS Ocean performing Mariah Carey's song "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_I_Want_for_Christmas_Is_You" target="_blank">All I want for Christmas is you</a>". It is a few years old now, but very much worth a watch. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SDZcGz4vmJc?si=9ceKOYXkqtdd7EjJ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-60603515900213028582023-12-17T11:00:00.000+00:002023-12-17T11:00:18.480+00:00Fire.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpsrEhWvSnhjfrqdyXHSuc7k3MQTcdzruCaJos7wUe2ll68KkAbe4FzqjtcwojD3nM5KfJmPAd6zlrQVrYXGPiXvWOZ_zfIdpmgNVK3CI1418DkAzQd2fKm-N8wlORGO4XdhnXDVzcUiWkPVK6rd_QpuxTq4zKQ_QpCwQiXMlAeMm7PU0nB7v/s4032/PXL_20231209_160928199.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpsrEhWvSnhjfrqdyXHSuc7k3MQTcdzruCaJos7wUe2ll68KkAbe4FzqjtcwojD3nM5KfJmPAd6zlrQVrYXGPiXvWOZ_zfIdpmgNVK3CI1418DkAzQd2fKm-N8wlORGO4XdhnXDVzcUiWkPVK6rd_QpuxTq4zKQ_QpCwQiXMlAeMm7PU0nB7v/w640-h360/PXL_20231209_160928199.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above - click on it to see a larger version - last Saturday afternoon. It shows the bus halt outside the front entrance of <a href="https://bymcapital.com/erith-riverside-bexley/" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Shopping Centre</a>. The green discolouration on the tarmac was caused by the use of liquid absorbent granules. After carrying out some investigation, I was able to discover what had been going on. Earlier that day a bus entered the halt with an engine fire. The fire brigade were quickly on the scene and extinguished the fire, and then spread the absorbent granule material over the area to soak up the spilled diesel and engine oil from the bus's fire damaged motor. I know that locals have been questioning the reliability of local bus services recently. This bus engine fire may be a part of a larger problem. As I have previously reported, I was a passenger on a Woolwich bound 99 bus at the end of October, when it stopped in Erith town centre for a change of drivers. As is often the case during these changeovers, the drivers had a chat; I happened to be sitting in the seat nearest the front of the bus, opposite the drivers cab, and was able to hear the conversation quite clearly. The two drivers were bemoaning the fact that the buses they drove were breaking down far more regularly than in the past. They both agreed that the reason for this was down to penny pinching by the bus operator, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva" target="_blank">Arriva</a>. Apparently buses used to have a minor mechanical service every week, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva" target="_blank">Arriva</a> had recently instructed their engineers to carry out the minor service on a monthly basis to save on parts and labour costs. This the drivers agreed was the main cause for the increase in mechanical breakdowns. I can only report on the overheard conversation and cannot guarantee its veracity. If the reduction of maintenance on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva" target="_blank">Arriva</a> buses is correct, then I wonder if it could have been a contributory factor to the bus engine fire last week? Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_London_Authority" target="_blank">Port of London Authority</a> are proposing three new cross Thames ferry services, which would include one between Thamesmead and Barking Riverside. It said an electric ferry service carrying pedestrians and cyclists was feasible between North Greenwich and Isle of Dogs, the Royal Docks and Charlton and Barking Riverside and Thamesmead. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_London_Authority" target="_blank">Port of London Authority</a> commissioned the study in with the Thames Estuary Growth Board as part of an action plan to deliver the Thames Vision 2050, which aims to maximise the economic, social and environmental potential of the tidal river between Teddington and the North Sea. All three proposed routes are near major development areas that suffer from poor or non - existent north-south connections. Each of the southern piers would be within a 15-minute bike ride for more than 100,000 Londoners. The report said a ferry link would cost between £120m and £132m – a third of the cost of a bridge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrySxp95wNhuwSvC2-ZN0fomDvLgVUVqT6XOocQlxSveZR05BPdKxNNvIwR7HoUbSyEdUH5YCVWpzk9677wbistewglw_DmI-IML09mlYq5wQVxalMrI_jsjrqPLHR-bFs0QdmZkIjMPfDFBHlr8ABG-KEw0FoFxf8qSpVCiYAdCEidkrSBqGZ/s1108/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231212162238.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1108" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrySxp95wNhuwSvC2-ZN0fomDvLgVUVqT6XOocQlxSveZR05BPdKxNNvIwR7HoUbSyEdUH5YCVWpzk9677wbistewglw_DmI-IML09mlYq5wQVxalMrI_jsjrqPLHR-bFs0QdmZkIjMPfDFBHlr8ABG-KEw0FoFxf8qSpVCiYAdCEidkrSBqGZ/w640-h408/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231212162238.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The House of Lords last Monday began examining, line by line, a proposed new law that will allow Transport for London to regulate pedicabs and their drivers for the first time. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--236#:~:text=Current%20role%20holder-,Guy%20Opperman%20MP,Transport%20on%2013%20November%202023." target="_blank">Mr Guy Opperman, Minister for Roads and Local Transport</a>, hopes Parliament will have passed the new law,which was part of last month’s King’s Speech, by next Spring. The streets of London's West End are home to a burgeoning fleet of unlicensed pedicabs, posing a growing concern for public safety and the city's iconic black cabs. These unregulated three-wheeled vehicles, also known as rickshaws, have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, offering a cheap and convenient alternative to taxis. The popularity of pedicabs has surged in recent years, with many tourists and locals opting for this eco-friendly mode of transport. However, the unregulated nature of the industry has led to an increase in unlicensed operators. These individuals often lack the necessary training and qualifications, and their vehicles may not meet safety standards. In 2019, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Police" target="_blank">Metropolitan Police</a> launched a crackdown on unlicensed pedicabs, issuing over 200 fines and seizing numerous vehicles. However, the problem persists, with operators continuing to ply their trade illegally. The safety concerns associated with unlicensed pedicabs are significant. These vehicles often lack seat belts or other safety features, and operators may not be trained in handling emergencies. In addition, the lack of insurance coverage leaves both passengers and pedestrians vulnerable in the event of an accident. A recent study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Accidents" target="_blank">Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)</a> found that pedicabs are involved in a higher proportion of accidents than other modes of transport. The study also highlighted the lack of safety training for pedicab operators, which can contribute to accidents. The unregulated nature of the pedicab industry also makes it difficult to enforce safety regulations. Without proper licensing and registration, it is challenging to identify and sanction unlicensed operators. However, their lack of licensing and safety standards has raised serious alarms among authorities and industry stakeholders. Mr Opperman said in an interview in the London Evening Standard after a fact finding trip to the West End to check on the pedicabs that:- “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>There was a very large collection of pedicabs at various locations. They were blocking the pavement. They were clearly creating obstruction. Clearly they’re uninsured. They’re unregulated. You can’t be sure who is driving them. There are widespread reports… of massive overcharging. This is an anomaly that needs fixing. We were given examples of people being quotes £20 and then being charged £200, and people being quoted £15 and then, when they get to the destination, the driver saying, ‘No, I said £50’.” Pedicabs have escaped regulation due to a loophole in London’s taxi laws. They are the only form of public transport not regulated in the capital, meaning pedicab firms, drivers and vehicles do not need to be licensed and there is no control of fares</i></span>". The unregulated nature of pedicabs has led to a host of safety concerns. Without proper licensing and training, pedicab drivers may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to operate their vehicles safely, putting both themselves and passengers at risk. Additionally, the absence of standardized safety equipment, such as seat belts and helmets, further heightens the potential for accidents. The growing presence of unlicensed pedicabs has also caused friction with the city's black cabs, who have long held a monopoly on licensed street transport. The black cab industry argues that the proliferation of unlicensed vehicles undermines their business and poses a threat to public safety. In response to these concerns, calls for regulation of pedicabs have intensified. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London" target="_blank">Transport for London (TfL)</a> has acknowledged the need for action, stating that it is "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>considering the best approach to regulate pedicabs in London</i></span>." Because the current bill has Government support and is a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>narrow</i></span>” bill that focuses just on pedicabs, it has the best chance to date of becoming law. This would allow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London" target="_blank">TfL</a> to charge for licences, regulate fares, impose speed restrictions and carry out background checks on pedicab drivers. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London" target="_blank">TfL</a> would also be able to seize pedicabs that broke the law and issue penalty fines. It is unknown how many pedicabs operate in London but research by the House of Commons Library said estimates varied between 200 and 900 vehicles. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London" target="_blank">TfL</a> data shows there were 24 incidents reported over the last five years about driver conduct and road obstruction, and six sexual offences. In 2019 there were 13 collisions that resulted in injuries. It has been stated that some of the pedicab owners are believed to be acting as a front for money laundering criminal gangs, as their business is cash only and currently unregulated. Comments too me at the usual address - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJUJFOt9gjhi4Fwm7oA1tIvB8QtUeOjWeOEI4qeIqakV5YG6Y_yIeKnGGhIgTeP7xHhHUYSsZp-wFmVU32G_DtYVCrXJ5gb_hQfjQPf8KPUA7NToJIhLYhXeSUBC8VXt38ltA1ozOM-Y8tZa1VYWCqCHwjTl62Z06uvym-Pm0lyofdTeNfTdQ/s1517/Erith%20High%20Street%201910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1517" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJUJFOt9gjhi4Fwm7oA1tIvB8QtUeOjWeOEI4qeIqakV5YG6Y_yIeKnGGhIgTeP7xHhHUYSsZp-wFmVU32G_DtYVCrXJ5gb_hQfjQPf8KPUA7NToJIhLYhXeSUBC8VXt38ltA1ozOM-Y8tZa1VYWCqCHwjTl62Z06uvym-Pm0lyofdTeNfTdQ/w640-h360/Erith%20High%20Street%201910.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above shows Erith High Street in 1910. By the look of it, the photo was taken in the Spring / Summer and on a Saturday afternoon, due to the number of men one can see standing around chatting. Back in those days of large families and small houses, the men would be told to stay out of the house until meal times. Working hours were long, and it was quite normal to go to work on Saturday mornings - one of the reasons football matches usually kick off at 3 pm or thereabouts nowadays - a historical hangover. The only building in the photo above that still exists is the Cross Keys Centre, which you can just see in the centre distance. In 1966, Erith town centre underwent a dramatic transformation, as part of a wider nationwide effort to modernise and revitalise urban areas. The old Erith Town Centre was a mix of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, with narrow streets and a maze of alleyways. It was once a thriving commercial centre, but by the 1960s, it was considered to be outdated and overcrowded. The redevelopment project, which was completed in the early 1970s, replaced the town's traditional Victorian streetscape with a modern (for then) concrete and glass structure. The project was ambitious and controversial, and it has left a lasting impact on the town's character. While the redevelopment provided much-needed space for new shops and businesses, it also displaced many residents and businesses, and it changed the town's unique character. Some residents and businesses welcomed the redevelopment, as it brought new jobs and opportunities to the town. However, others were more critical, arguing that the new town centre had no soul and that it had destroyed the town's traditional character. The redevelopment was a move that many locals regret to this day.</p><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week I featured an article discussing the future of Britain's pubs; this week I have a follow - up article explaining how unscrupulous property developers close down and buy up previously working pubs in order to demolish them or convert them into housing. A campaign group imaginatively called <a href="https://campaignforpubs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Campaign for Pubs</a>, which is demanding rules that mean “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>any historic pub (at least 50 years old) couldn’t be converted or demolished until and unless it has been properly marketed at the independently assessed value as a pub for at least a year</i></span>”. <a href="https://campaignforpubs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Campaign for Pubs</a> sent a letter to the Prime Minister describing the current situation as a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>national scandal that viable, indeed profitable pubs are being deliberately run down, land banked and stripped out, some left to the elements or to become a target for vandals, all so unscrupulous owners can push Councils to get their own way</i></span>.” Those techniques were laid bare in the letter to the Prime Minister. One such way is pricing a pub for sale so high that only developers could afford, meaning groups or landlords who want to keep it as a pub are priced out. The letter explained: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It is the way that owners are permitted to sell pubs at hugely inflated freehold values – in other words pricing pub buyers out and making the loss of the pub inevitable; and the fact that an owner can ignore a bid as a pub, from a potential owner who wants to run it as a pub, to sell it at an inflated value for development</i></span>.” It also noted that pubs with big gardens “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>inevitably</i></span>” have a higher value to developers than publicans. The group criticised the current system which sees a lot of protection responsibility put onto the shoulders of local councils, which are often beaten down by the prospect of expensive legal bills. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Planning law isn’t strong or clear enough and in too many cases, councils don’t resist pub conversions when they face rich and greedy owners/developers going to appeal (something that is still denied to communities!), which then sees the Council hit with a legal bill they can scarcely afford</i></span>," the letter said “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Councils also are deceived that pubs are ‘un-viable’ simply because they are told they are by the very owners who are seeking to profit from the conversion or development</i></span>.” The group added: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Developers are buying (profitable) pubs just to run and shut them down and redevelop them. There is little to stop them</i></span>”. They slammed the current system which “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>only creates a right to bid, not the right to buy, so even if when the community group raises the money, an owner can simply ignore it – and instead sell for more money or redevelop the pub. One of the things that exposes the absurdity of the current situation is that as we lose of historic pubs to corporate greed and council indifference, there are micro pubs and bars opening in shops, showing that there is still a strong demand for pubs, yet we are losing so many historic ones unnecessarily, pubs that can and would be successful under the right ownership</i></span>". This story broke in the same week that Greenwich Council has received a petition from Charlton residents to restore the White Swan pub. The petition, which has received 1,267 signatures, looks to prevent the disused 19th century pub being converted into a Tesco store with flats above - <a href="https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/23982248.1-200-sign-petition-stop-greenwich-pub-becoming-tesco/" target="_blank">you can read the full story by clicking here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfyZLtx-YQPu3xdkhMS4BqqOoL_dmOb0rypPBjrhaWvRKGsOMfcZQgfzoE14h25IELxFzWv5Xc0JMmKHiLrUfTMAqRiG_CAmwGWXZ7iEWljQux_2QvIYdLTIBvuhML9tIHe9xCYuIiTR57yx3g34Z7LNdZospoP1M3gB1W9XuNcypySiL28vW/s461/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231214120053.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="461" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfyZLtx-YQPu3xdkhMS4BqqOoL_dmOb0rypPBjrhaWvRKGsOMfcZQgfzoE14h25IELxFzWv5Xc0JMmKHiLrUfTMAqRiG_CAmwGWXZ7iEWljQux_2QvIYdLTIBvuhML9tIHe9xCYuIiTR57yx3g34Z7LNdZospoP1M3gB1W9XuNcypySiL28vW/w640-h538/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231214120053.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In recent years, a curious phenomenon has been unfolding across the United Kingdom – the sudden appearance of cat stickers adorning various public spaces. These stickers, featuring a wide array of feline designs, have been spotted on lampposts, street signs, and even the side of buses, leaving many puzzled and intrigued. While the origin of these stickers remains shrouded in mystery, their sudden proliferation has sparked a wave of online speculation and amusement. The image above was taken from a shop front in Bexleyheath a couple of weeks ago. Cat stickers have also been noted on signs outside of the Bexleyheath Asda supermarket. The earliest sightings of these cat stickers can be traced back to 2017, when a few individuals began placing them inconspicuously around their neighbourhoods. Over time, the practice spread, with more and more people joining in on this feline graffiti campaign. The stickers themselves vary in style and design, ranging from simple black silhouettes - as per the photo above - to more elaborate illustrations and animations. Some feature realistic cat portraits, while others depict cartoon-like caricatures or even mythical feline creatures. The motivation behind this sticker spree remains elusive, but several theories have been proposed. Some suggest it's a playful prank or a way to brighten up the mundane aspects of urban life. Others believe it's a form of artistic expression, a way to inject creativity into public spaces. Still others speculate that it's a social experiment, designed to gauge public reactions to unexpected feline imagery. Whatever the reason, the cat stickers have undoubtedly captured the attention of the public. Social media has been abuzz with discussions, memes, and even fan art dedicated to these mysterious felines. Some people find the stickers amusing and harmless, while others express concern about vandalism or the potential for property damage. Despite the mixed reactions, the cat stickers have undoubtedly become a quirky and endearing part of British culture. They've sparked conversations, brought smiles to faces, and even inspired some to create their own feline masterpieces. While their origin may remain a mystery, the cat stickers have undoubtedly left their paw prints on the UK's urban landscape. Incidentally the owner of the Bexleyheath business adorned with the cat sticker in the photo above has decided to keep it in place!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the next couple of years, the Digital Voice programme will move ten million BT customers off traditional copper-wire phone lines to fibre cables that use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP" target="_blank">Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)</a> technology to make calls. In total 29 million homes must make the change by 2025. Phone numbers should not be affected by the switch, BT says. Nevertheless a substantial number of people who have had their land line phones migrated to the fibre optic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP" target="_blank">VOIP</a> solution have encountered problems. Some users report reliability issues - people phone the correct number and either get an engaged tone even thought the number being called is not busy, or they hear a ringing tone, but phone being called does not ring. Last year, regulator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofcom" target="_blank">Ofcom</a> raised concerns over the programme, warning BT did not have enough measures in place to support vulnerable customers in a power cut if they needed to call 999 because digital phones must be plugged into an electricity socket to work, and do not function in a power cut. Vulnerable households need to ensure they have an alternative in place, such as a mobile phone or an emergency battery pack to plug in for the landline phone. BT suspended the roll out until last summer, when it put additional measures in place. BT has started offering 'free' £85 battery packs to those most in need if there is a power cut so they do not lose contact. But batteries will not help if the internet itself also goes down because the phone relies on the digital connection. Concerned customers can demand a 'free' £80 hybrid phone that uses mobile phone signals rather than the internet. But it won't help people who live in areas with '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>patchy</i></span>' or no mobile phone signal. So far the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP" target="_blank">VOIP</a> installation locally has gone relatively smoothly, with much of Bexleyheath now converted to full fibre; much of Slade Green, Erith, Belvedere and Abbey Wood has still to be migrated.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video is a newly produced one on a subject that I have covered in the past. It tells the story of the very short lived Dartford Tunnel Bicycle Bus back in the 1960's. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQsk1r2_jwo?si=ehZk9jWhDrsO8EgK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-76132383723799416012023-12-10T11:00:00.000+00:002023-12-10T11:00:10.310+00:00Broadway.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rgGFzhGbPh6teThXF2NZjv3bxE1H8ZSF40oJn6w8BfhEV1jFa1R4VTkvQw2UWChb8N4INfOJ91SzC78M9CilSP5eprOoGGSMU5fuWWD-Ubr77sCYYgGAXp79lNJRuUyuQYHKpK81ptrcu2U0Qqdm_Avo-g3kKjWAXRrKYSpK3KN82nOafzMU/s1648/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231205110223.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rgGFzhGbPh6teThXF2NZjv3bxE1H8ZSF40oJn6w8BfhEV1jFa1R4VTkvQw2UWChb8N4INfOJ91SzC78M9CilSP5eprOoGGSMU5fuWWD-Ubr77sCYYgGAXp79lNJRuUyuQYHKpK81ptrcu2U0Qqdm_Avo-g3kKjWAXRrKYSpK3KN82nOafzMU/w640-h320/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231205110223.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I took the photograph above in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> last week - click on it to see a larger version; it shows Police responding to a fight between two groups of school children in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> Broadway. I gather this is quite a regular occurrence. I know that many locals avoid visiting the Broadway between 3 and 5 pm on school days, as they are concerned about the level of violence that can occur. In my personal experience, most of the kids are fine - it is a very small, vocal and violent minority that seem to cause the trouble. From my research, Bexley Police are taking a multi pronged approach to this worrying problem. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Police" target="_blank">The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)</a> has a number of initiatives in place to tackle school violence in Bexley. These include: - School Liaison Officers (SLOs): SLOs are police officers who are based in schools and work with school staff to identify and address potential problems. Police officers conduct targeted patrols around schools at times when children are most likely to be vulnerable, such as before and after school, especially in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> Broadway. Police work with schools and community organisations to provide support and intervention for young people who are at risk of joining gangs. Police officers regularly attend parent and carer meetings to provide advice and support. Police officers participate in a variety of community events and activities to engage with young people and build positive relationships. Despite the progress that has been made, there are still challenges in addressing school violence. Crime is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated, and young people are increasingly using online platforms to commit offences. Additionally, social media can be used to spread bullying and harassment, and it can also be used to organise and plan violence.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">As people gear up for Christmas, the whole thorny issue of gifts and gift wrapping comes up. I have a major issue with gift wrapping paper for Christmas presents; due to the treatment much of the paper receives during production, it cannot be recycled, and is especially bad for the environment, as the only way to get rid of it is to put it in landfill, or to burn it, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. What I have chosen to do is rather than wrapping Christmas presents, I will be giving them in sparkly gift bags, which can be reused, year after year. As I have previously written, this is also the reason that I don't send Christmas cards, as I believe them to be ruinously bad for the environment - wood and rags are pulped to make the cards, energy is used to print them, fossil fuels are used to transport them to the shops, electricity and gas are burned to light and heat the shops, then once they are purchased, more fossil fuels are used to deliver the cards around the planet, then after a few days they are discarded, and many cannot be recycled, due to the plastic or wax derived finishes that many cards have. I can understand the practice in the past; when a Christmas card sent to friends and loved ones would be a form of annual communication when you might otherwise not hear from them, but nowadays this is far from the case; instant worldwide online communications mean that from my perspective, Christmas cards are consigned to the past. one can send electronic, online greetings for a fraction of the cost of a postage stamp. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEXHcSpuuSq-tc_i4_gMpuV-X7eoK3eDCMLyNhsTtkX0X99uuvQ_tn8xMYCicaS-RNRxEkKKWG2uxNqoDiy1VoOTR9vwL7dPL9vl7iyBmHY7ZfXr4dgYkaZkS4RrG8yDSZTwLVneKCoLdtKPrB41iqht-_Nggo1ubs5vCcZ-Oq9H74F1x5RR1/s2928/BICC%20historic%20photo%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2149" data-original-width="2928" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEXHcSpuuSq-tc_i4_gMpuV-X7eoK3eDCMLyNhsTtkX0X99uuvQ_tn8xMYCicaS-RNRxEkKKWG2uxNqoDiy1VoOTR9vwL7dPL9vl7iyBmHY7ZfXr4dgYkaZkS4RrG8yDSZTwLVneKCoLdtKPrB41iqht-_Nggo1ubs5vCcZ-Oq9H74F1x5RR1/w640-h470/BICC%20historic%20photo%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the most widely known companies to have a historic association with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> was Callender's Cables, formerly known as The Callender Bitumen, Telegraph and Waterproof co. Originally the company was primarily concerned with the production of bitumen and waterproof damp course material for the building trade, with cable making little more than a side line. The rapid growth in telecommunications in the late Victorian era led to cables becoming the company's main product, and in 1896 the firm was reorganised as the Callender Cable and Construction co, which was later changed to British Insulated Callenders Cables, or BICC. By 1965 the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> based factory was the principal manufacturing facility for the world's largest cable group - the production area covered some 65 acres and provided employment for 1,300 local workers. Callenders were one of the main manufacturers of PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) - more of this later. Callenders also contributed much to the area of culture and the arts; Callenders Band, which was started in 1890 as a Salvation Army band. Some members wanted to play a wider variety of music, so the band was relaunched as a temperance promoting popular music band. They became popular around the country and gave many public performances, and had a regular feature on pioneering radio station 2LO during 1922. They continued with much popular support until the outbreak of World War 2, when the group was disbanded. It did reform briefly at the end of the war, but it did not achieve its' earlier success, and was disbanded for good in 1948. During the late 1930's Callenders Cables was strongly suspected of being a hot bed of communist activity, much of which later was discovered to have been fermented and controlled for Moscow by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melita_Norwood" target="_blank">Melita Norwood</a>, a well known communist who was at the time Britain's longest publicly undiscovered traitor - though MI5 knew about her for years, and chose to do nothing. I have written about her extensively in the past. I recall back in 1999, when she was first uncovered in the press, I was bemused to discover she lived only a few doors away from a very close friends' parents in Bexleyheath. What a small world we inhabit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uuveWNCwT3Kp1HebtL1QbBCpkfCJ-NibT-gHCUcbzKKqdzqjDh6Ci1FuzXCap5z4BG-udg3uf3y9w5jy-__UPc4AG9-5OisyaxUp8FC4rzuYDgiWJebDYJmbEvfX43D5EBnPl-EgeU7K29AUVb5jjFIjxZra9bmCjsJNonV7PuasvuzTZo25/s640/PLUTO%20control%20room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="640" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uuveWNCwT3Kp1HebtL1QbBCpkfCJ-NibT-gHCUcbzKKqdzqjDh6Ci1FuzXCap5z4BG-udg3uf3y9w5jy-__UPc4AG9-5OisyaxUp8FC4rzuYDgiWJebDYJmbEvfX43D5EBnPl-EgeU7K29AUVb5jjFIjxZra9bmCjsJNonV7PuasvuzTZo25/w640-h512/PLUTO%20control%20room.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above (click on it for a larger view) shows the Pipeline Under The Ocean (PLUTO) control room during operations in late 1944. Much of the multiple PLUTO pipe infrastructure was constructed in and around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> in the middle to late phases of World War II. The technology developed was later put to very good effect and made the United Kingdom one of the world centres for oil and gas engineering, something that is still true to this day. There is a lot of history in the local area relating to this stunning feat of military and civil engineering, and only a handful of those involved in the project are still alive now. PLUTO, the WW2 Pipeline Under the Ocean, was designed to supply petrol from storage tanks in southern England to the advancing Allied armies in France in the months following D-Day. A reliable supply of petrol for the advancing Allied forces following the D-Day landings was of the highest priority. Planners knew that the future invasion of Europe would be the largest amphibious landing in history, and without adequate and reliable supplies of petrol any advance would at best slow down and at worst grind to a halt. A loss of momentum could jeopardise the whole operation as German forces would have time to regroup and counter-attack. Conventional tankers and '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>ship to shore</i></span>' pipelines were in danger of cluttering up the beaches, obstructing the movement of men, armaments and materials and, in all circumstances, were subject to the vagaries of the weather and sea conditions and they were easy targets for the Luftwaffe. The idea of a pipeline under the ocean, (the English Channel), was an innovative solution. Oil storage facilities located near the English Channel were vulnerable to attack by the Luftwaffe. To reduce the risk of losses, a network of pipelines was, during early discussions about PLUTO, already under construction. The network was designed to carry fuel from less vulnerable storage and port facilities around Bristol and Liverpool to the English Channel. This network would later be linked to the planned pipeline at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight and Dungeness further to the west. The terminals and pumping stations were heavily disguised as bungalows, gravel pits, garages and even an ice cream shop! The Combined Operations Experimental Establishment (COXE) was involved in many diverse top-secret projects including the waterproofing vehicles, the removal of underwater obstacles on landing beaches and the testing of landing craft under a variety of sea and beach conditions. To this formidable list was added the supply of petrol to France using underwater pipelines. All these challenges were borne out of a culture that encouraged bold and imaginative solutions to intractable problems. Such a culture was encouraged at the highest level when Winston Churchill ordered Roger Keyes, the then Director of Combined Operations, and his successors, to think offensively when many were at the time rightly concerned with the defence of the country. In the early part of 1942 Geoffrey Lloyd MP, who was in charge of the UK's fuel policy, met with Mountbatten, Chief of Combined Operations (CCO) and others to consider the fuel supply issue. There was no 'off the shelf' solution that did not invite the Luftwaffe to attack shore installations or slow pipe-laying and support vessels. Lloyd approached Sir William Fraser CBE, Chairman of the Anglo-Iranian Petroleum Corporation.- They picked up on an idea of Mr Hartley, the Chief Engineer of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., to use existing submarine cable technology, minus the core, as the basic building block of a petrol pipeline. Siemens Brothers and Co Ltd., of Woolwich, who were experienced in the design and manufacture of such cables, eagerly took up the challenge. Other design work was undertaken by Henlys, Pirelli, Johnson and Phillips, the National Physical Laboratory and the Post Office. It was a complex task, and there were many failures arising from twists, kinks, bursts and collapse due to external water pressure and other powerful forces. One of the major companies involved in the production of the highly specialised pipeline was British Insulated Callender's Cables (BICC) of Erith, but even this was not enough to meet the volume of demand, so American firms - General Electric, Phelps-Dodge, Okonite Callenders and General Cable were drafted in. Of the 710 miles of PLUTO pipeline manufactured in total, 140 miles came from the USA. The first pipeline to France was laid on 12th August 1944, over the 130 km (70 nautical miles) from Shanklin Chine on the Isle of Wight across the English Channel to Cherbourg. A further three pipelines soon followed. As the fighting moved closer to Germany, seventeen other lines were laid from Dungeness to Ambleteuse in the Pas-de-Calais. The PLUTO Pipelines were linked to pumping stations on the English coast, housed in various inconspicuous buildings including cottages and garages. Though uninhabited, these were intended to cloak the real purpose of the buildings. Pluto Cottage at Dungeness, a pumping station built to look like a small house, is now a Bed and Breakfast. In England, the PLUTO pipelines were supplied by a 1,609 km (1,000 mi) network of pipelines (constructed at night to prevent detection by aerial reconnaissance) to transport fuel from ports including Liverpool and Bristol. In Europe, the pipelines were extended as the troops moved forward and eventually reached as far as the Rhine. In January 1945, 305 tonnes of fuel was pumped to France per day, which increased tenfold to 3,048 tonnes per day in March, and eventually to 4,000 tons (almost 1,000,000 Imperial gallons) per day. In total, over 781 000 m³ of gasoline had been pumped to the Allied forces in Europe by VE day, providing a critical supply of fuel until a more permanent arrangement was made, although the pipeline remained in operation for some time after Along with the Mulberry Harbours that were constructed immediately after D-Day, Operation Pluto is considered one of history's greatest feats of military engineering. The pipelines are also the forerunners of all flexible pipes used in the development of offshore oil fields. Much of the development and construction of this amazing war - winning engineering effort is down to the direct involvement of BICC in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a>, and their highly specialised engineers, something that local residents can be justly proud of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuXeBQZow6kflu_P25F2371FiGPxnB6P8l1d2mD-3uH2lDC42-RRx9WXA_guqYXZa8txZfk6fk7-SF2Ur74KB60moewLHPLK7l8Gc5psWxLr69P6tHwjsIka4IVJIvQxVXxt7Q_7p9ceVq2HiXuPQ2U0NGgMXBHpKxpN8tKcgXpk_85JyiCJx/s4032/PXL_20230815_112117040.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuXeBQZow6kflu_P25F2371FiGPxnB6P8l1d2mD-3uH2lDC42-RRx9WXA_guqYXZa8txZfk6fk7-SF2Ur74KB60moewLHPLK7l8Gc5psWxLr69P6tHwjsIka4IVJIvQxVXxt7Q_7p9ceVq2HiXuPQ2U0NGgMXBHpKxpN8tKcgXpk_85JyiCJx/w640-h360/PXL_20230815_112117040.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many thanks to regular reader and occasional contributor Gary for sending me some information, which led me to carry out some research of my own on the subject he raised. Much has been written recently about the decline of British pubs. The British pub has been a cornerstone of British culture for centuries. It is a place where people can gather to socialise, eat, drink, and watch sports. However, the pub industry has been in decline in recent years. A number of factors have contributed to this decline, including: - People are increasingly working longer hours and have less time for leisure activities. They are also more likely to eat and drink out at restaurants and bars rather than pubs. Supermarkets are selling more alcohol at lower prices, which has made it more difficult for pubs to compete. People are drinking less alcohol than they used to, and they are more likely to drink wine or beer at home rather than in pubs. The smoking ban in England and Wales in 2007 made pubs less attractive to some people who still smoke. The cost of running a pub has increased in recent years, due to factors such as rising energy costs and taxes. As a result of these factors, the number of pubs in the UK has been declining steadily. In 2001, there were over 52,000 pubs in the UK. By 2022, this number had fallen to under 40,000. The decline of the British pub is a sad loss for British culture. Pubs are important social hubs, and they play a vital role in the communities they serve. They are also a place where people can go to relax and unwind, and they can be a source of support for people who are going through difficult times. It is important to remember that pubs are not just businesses. They are also social institutions that play an important role in British culture. We must do everything we can to save them. While the British pub industry is facing challenges, there are still reasons to be optimistic. There are a number of pubs that are thriving, and there is a growing movement to support them. With a little effort, we can ensure that the British pub remains a cornerstone of British culture for generations to come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5dSzK10Vhc7Jx4m0ArCngHitQhex1VqQ0y5vrgfvrIsmh3wguNlYZmMHLeTfXiezMLLG2y-4URqdLe9kjyYCEnKXtPidzTXJ8nMFaG62YHBlGSUAJiMgenXHwACFcjhve0nxmh3MjrQQL4n_-ThSI6ZsHA9H8P0GdtNSYfbTT7nXdzqeN4mp/s1768/delia-smith.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1768" data-original-width="1768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5dSzK10Vhc7Jx4m0ArCngHitQhex1VqQ0y5vrgfvrIsmh3wguNlYZmMHLeTfXiezMLLG2y-4URqdLe9kjyYCEnKXtPidzTXJ8nMFaG62YHBlGSUAJiMgenXHwACFcjhve0nxmh3MjrQQL4n_-ThSI6ZsHA9H8P0GdtNSYfbTT7nXdzqeN4mp/w640-h640/delia-smith.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Delia Ann Smith was born on June 18, 1941, at the Wynberg Emergency Maternity Hospital in Woking, Surrey. Her childhood was spent in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>, where her love for food blossomed at an early age. Inspired by her mother's culinary prowess, Delia spent hours in the kitchen, absorbing the knowledge and techniques that would shape her future career. Despite her culinary aspirations, Delia's formal education did not reflect her passion for food. She attended Bexleyheath School, then a secondary modern school, and left without any qualifications at the age of 16. However, this setback did not deter her from pursuing her culinary dreams. Delia's first foray into the world of food writing came in 1969 when she joined the staff of The Mirror Magazine. Her first recipe for the publication was a simple yet satisfying dish of kipper pâté, beef in beer, and cheesecake. Her ability to explain complex cooking techniques in a clear and approachable manner quickly gained her recognition. In 1972, Delia joined the London Evening Standard as a cookery writer, where she penned a weekly column for over a decade. Her popularity soared, and her books began to sell in record numbers. Her debut cookbook, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>How to Cheat at Cooking</i></span>", published in 1971, became an instant bestseller, introducing her practical and accessible approach to cooking to a wider audience. Delia's culinary journey extended beyond the written word. In 1973, she made her television debut with the BBC series "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Family Fayre</i></span>", which showcased her signature blend of simplicity, flavour, and home-style cooking. Her television presence further cemented her status as a culinary icon, introducing her to a global audience. Over the years, Delia has published numerous cookbooks, each exploring different cuisines and culinary techniques. Her books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making her one of the most successful cookery writers of all time. Her impact on British cuisine is undeniable, and she has inspired countless home cooks to explore new flavours and cuisines. Delia's culinary legacy extends beyond her cookbooks and television appearances. She is also a keen football fan and has been a joint majority shareholder at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich_City_F.C." target="_blank">Norwich City F.C</a>. since 2004. Her passion for the club is evident, and she has been a vocal advocate for its success.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMUUd97qg2BNLtW6mVJO6gm-bnFVQVhDcgciQGwWLcNI7L_u7k8tqENJovJ55YV2rCHgygQxoMLWmpD8tKGEMaf21fQmQ09ngxnqPspvlM4YnPQ89o8TlRnYDfM-SvPBx287X4NPhshT4YzX_Q8e18jtFG93vArUVl_EqepUcVSeilTPjXodm/s4032/PXL_20231208_160749960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMUUd97qg2BNLtW6mVJO6gm-bnFVQVhDcgciQGwWLcNI7L_u7k8tqENJovJ55YV2rCHgygQxoMLWmpD8tKGEMaf21fQmQ09ngxnqPspvlM4YnPQ89o8TlRnYDfM-SvPBx287X4NPhshT4YzX_Q8e18jtFG93vArUVl_EqepUcVSeilTPjXodm/w640-h360/PXL_20231208_160749960.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lz9BNQoq3OGXj0Fl7wqXUBHE2d5FQXsmMW5QjpCTqfqVCIzz8yO5fm8PKhBQTcgtcsr7_mwaVf8CDgzyBaw78w-Kgg9qqVRfvQdcng_Mty92R0e5fg43JhyphenhyphenE6ZHepcufZXbDH54yOPiWDaqyr3ZEhByttix2_GHeKR28e-PZcAStEHBkJvSK/s4032/PXL_20231208_142016058.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lz9BNQoq3OGXj0Fl7wqXUBHE2d5FQXsmMW5QjpCTqfqVCIzz8yO5fm8PKhBQTcgtcsr7_mwaVf8CDgzyBaw78w-Kgg9qqVRfvQdcng_Mty92R0e5fg43JhyphenhyphenE6ZHepcufZXbDH54yOPiWDaqyr3ZEhByttix2_GHeKR28e-PZcAStEHBkJvSK/w640-h360/PXL_20231208_142016058.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ24X1IyfFtiQjBGW70UAsJfKa5H-XqmpNI4T0X3nhqtkD25U4_lG3NG4qTYdVFxSsly__9nLxScHktpRQ1mGT090LIH32cprItSgAbY-daJZhxrRciXOVhT83-DK2sLFTOsjNKpJMXG8Mtn_URnLlPjwf2y3mabuHe1f9ql7D_0bXweek0R98/s4032/PXL_20231208_143912887.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ24X1IyfFtiQjBGW70UAsJfKa5H-XqmpNI4T0X3nhqtkD25U4_lG3NG4qTYdVFxSsly__9nLxScHktpRQ1mGT090LIH32cprItSgAbY-daJZhxrRciXOVhT83-DK2sLFTOsjNKpJMXG8Mtn_URnLlPjwf2y3mabuHe1f9ql7D_0bXweek0R98/w640-h360/PXL_20231208_143912887.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The photos above were taken this weekend at the annual Christmas Tree Festival at Christ Church Erith. The event raises money for several good causes, including The Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. Hundreds of visitors turned up to the event, which is one of the most popular and well - attended in the local calendar. A very wide cross - section of the local community visited the church over the weekend - the event started on Friday lunchtime, and finishes on Sunday evening, with many live musical performances taking place whilst the visitors walked around the church, which was filled with decorated Christmas trees sponsored by local organisations and individual families. A very large number of local and not so local people visited the events; I spoke to a chap who had travelled all of the way from Eastbourne to pay a visit to the church. Visitor numbers were definitely up by a significant percentage when compared to previous years, and donations made were also up, though the final figure of the money collected for good causes is not yet available. The event is free, though donations to the various good causes that the event supports are always very welcome. The Christmas Tree Festival is one of numerous events which take place over the course of a year that really show how much of a sense of community involvement there is locally. Thanks to the numerous Maggot Sandwich readers who came over to say "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>hello</i></span>" during the festival whilst I was holding a donation bucket.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have written in the past about the late Lenny McLean "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Britain's hardest man</i></span>"; the end video this week is a reading of an excerpt from his autobiography. He lived for the last few years of his short life in a house close to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath_railway_station" target="_blank">Bexleyheath Station</a>. Lenny McLean was a man who lived life on his own terms. He was a bare-knuckle boxer, bouncer, bodyguard, and actor who had a reputation for being one of the toughest men in Britain. He was also a charismatic and witty individual who was known for his unique brand of humour. McLean was born in Hoxton, London, in 1949. He grew up in a tough neighborhood and was involved in street fighting from a young age. He was a natural boxer and quickly became a local legend. In the late 1960s, he began fighting professionally in unlicensed boxing matches, where he earned the nickname "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Guv'nor</i></span>." McLean's reputation for toughness extended far beyond the boxing ring. He was known for being a formidable enforcer who was not afraid to use his fists to settle disputes. He was also close with several notorious criminals, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kray_twins" target="_blank">the Kray twins</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardson_Gang" target="_blank">the Richardson brothers</a>. In the 1980s and into the 90's, McLean began to pursue a career in acting. He appeared in a number of films and television shows, including "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock,_Stock_and_Two_Smoking_Barrels" target="_blank">Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</a>". McLean's personal life was also turbulent. He was married twice and had three children. He was involved in several legal battles, including a high-profile assault case in the 1980's. During the filming of Guy Ritchie's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock,_Stock_and_Two_Smoking_Barrels" target="_blank">Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</a>, McLean fell ill with what he believed to be flu. He was diagnosed with pleurisy. A further X-ray examination proved he was suffering from lung cancer, which had metastasised to his brain. He died shortly afterwards on the 28th July 1998 aged 49 at his home in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>. The end video, as previously stated, is a reading of an excerpt from Lenny McLean's autobiography, detailing an underworld deal that went wrong, close to the Dartford Tunnel. Comments and feedback to me as usual to <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1iawwzaP64?si=0dbes0remt-Z49_C" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-49626928479395068622023-12-03T11:15:00.001+00:002023-12-03T11:36:44.242+00:00Light.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0rVCWzgfkOJjxWX3Q8tXQ67V-_PWFcP2sPt6OKzXyTLQp8i9xd5mgQ-L_pg5hPmbofE-G9Oux59h53nd-t-Q7ENr9Bo_JaO1nz6PbPlRsdM1Uv47UA7aaczwBYchmmpEkkoNrk-32lgBjEEje_TDRx1Al7sCp6hT3pzc6FiC9BWoZ0JXqGnq/s4032/PXL_20231129_194131968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0rVCWzgfkOJjxWX3Q8tXQ67V-_PWFcP2sPt6OKzXyTLQp8i9xd5mgQ-L_pg5hPmbofE-G9Oux59h53nd-t-Q7ENr9Bo_JaO1nz6PbPlRsdM1Uv47UA7aaczwBYchmmpEkkoNrk-32lgBjEEje_TDRx1Al7sCp6hT3pzc6FiC9BWoZ0JXqGnq/w640-h360/PXL_20231129_194131968.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLquhJl7GsgaMzWbU7_viDJ00s-XQWBjn4extuwcH-jTOsqb8yCtahOqThnH6w6HGpcfZk6G0OPrGBN4OrsdOuyAKOCiZwaZPKPeB3bYrPmcLplDsxGnC3_p4aznnabNpfwUNBsCjNIJwYNDHh6GWGf2olENtYldHOuX71M4kX9kBIasf7GIo/s4032/PXL_20231129_194003024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLquhJl7GsgaMzWbU7_viDJ00s-XQWBjn4extuwcH-jTOsqb8yCtahOqThnH6w6HGpcfZk6G0OPrGBN4OrsdOuyAKOCiZwaZPKPeB3bYrPmcLplDsxGnC3_p4aznnabNpfwUNBsCjNIJwYNDHh6GWGf2olENtYldHOuX71M4kX9kBIasf7GIo/w640-h360/PXL_20231129_194003024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">I took the photos above on last Wednesday evening; primarily I wished to capture the dramatic sky and the nearly full moon. It was only later when I was checking the photographs that I realised something else that I had caught in the images I took. Around two thirds of the street lights in and around Erith Town Centre are currently not working, as can clearly be seen in the images above. The areas in he photographs were actually a lot darker to the human eye - the camera was in night mode, which intensifies the available light using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence</a> to make a better picture, though it is not as accurate in depicting the real life situation. Poor street lighting is a growing problem in the UK, with a number of councils making cuts to their street lighting budgets in recent years. This has led to a number of problems, including increased road accidents: Poor street lighting can make it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians and other motorists, which can lead to an increased risk of accidents. A study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Accidents" target="_blank">Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)</a> found that a 10% reduction in street lighting could lead to a 5% increase in pedestrian accidents. Poor street lighting can make it easier for criminals to operate undetected, which can lead to an increased risk of crime. A study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Cambridge" target="_blank">University of Cambridge</a> found that a 20% reduction in street lighting could lead to a 6% increase in crime. Reduced public safety: Poor street lighting can make people feel unsafe when walking or cycling at night, which can deter them from using these modes of transport. A study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustrans" target="_blank">Sustrans</a> charity found that 40% of women said that they would feel unsafe walking alone at night in an area with poor street lighting. Poor street lighting can make people feel unsafe and deter them from going out at night, which can lead to social isolation. A study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Health_Foundation" target="_blank">Mental Health Foundation</a> found that people who live in areas with poor street lighting are more likely to report feeling lonely and isolated. Poor street lighting can have a negative impact on the economy by deterring people from visiting businesses and shops at night. A study by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Retail_Consortium" target="_blank">British Retail Consortium</a> found that a 10% increase in street lighting was associated with a 2% increase in retail sales. In addition to these problems, poor street lighting can also be a nuisance to residents, making it difficult to see when walking or driving at night. It can also be a safety hazard for children, who may be more likely to be involved in accidents if they are playing in poorly lit areas. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSDvzkjCk4PmcmjP771MN_LK5oluf_Rw17wfFElOSBn9nBO72CoCOzNTIuMkQ2TUicP-2F1pecu38uFua66i6aOdUt5KTSkutrTFNluD2FTbA_XeMaP6Ncc2FHeSTxoxtzNdADjcfh-4sIP-upjmm65-owLCap15Xh27t3uw2rOgXQqC68ZWK/s1500/Pembroke%20Road%20Crossing%201970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSDvzkjCk4PmcmjP771MN_LK5oluf_Rw17wfFElOSBn9nBO72CoCOzNTIuMkQ2TUicP-2F1pecu38uFua66i6aOdUt5KTSkutrTFNluD2FTbA_XeMaP6Ncc2FHeSTxoxtzNdADjcfh-4sIP-upjmm65-owLCap15Xh27t3uw2rOgXQqC68ZWK/w640-h424/Pembroke%20Road%20Crossing%201970.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXgpTjmOJPQSJLgnGCSHsKebJ4MisP9jOemINgnzWDz_yYoL0lTkXqQpnxRc6dwCZ-kIEXnWa1f1CTQAWgoigx2JYEJFQtK_o30f1BnEQ46hVYM0mzZx2IPmGxW6jojjuRC460WC1nPqbF3fljpzBjl3GQ6KX1QuFUKxctjJYcrPZfXG2XqVm/s946/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231127105252.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="946" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXgpTjmOJPQSJLgnGCSHsKebJ4MisP9jOemINgnzWDz_yYoL0lTkXqQpnxRc6dwCZ-kIEXnWa1f1CTQAWgoigx2JYEJFQtK_o30f1BnEQ46hVYM0mzZx2IPmGxW6jojjuRC460WC1nPqbF3fljpzBjl3GQ6KX1QuFUKxctjJYcrPZfXG2XqVm/w640-h492/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231127105252.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week I featured a postcard of Erith from back in 1970; I had a number of readers contact me as a result of this. One of the images on the postcard was of Pembroke Road, Erith. The historic upper of the two photos above (click on it to see a larger version) shows the old Pembroke Road Railway Level Crossing back in 1970, along with a London - bound train which has just passed over the level crossing on its way to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belvedere_railway_station" target="_blank">Belvedere Station</a>. I can recall walking over this crossing with my Mum when I was very small, and remember looking into the gate operators little hut, to see him drinking tea. The level crossing was replaced with a metal footbridge back in the late 70's / early 80's. The road in the background has not changed very much, though the building on the left of the photograph is now a private house. I think back then it was a women's hair dressers, though I am not certain. A regular reader and occasional contributor Les wrote to me with his family connection to the level crossing. Les writes:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>There is always something that attracts my attention, and the Erith Postcard is the item this week. I too have the postcard somewhere in my collection. You may not know, however we were local. Newsagents, originally buying 3 Midfield Parade Barnehurst from the estate of George Cowell and then buying 152 Long Lane Bexleyheath from Henry Cowell [George's brother]. My only reason for linking this is the fact the two brothers were very much 'local newsagents' and they ran a series of Postcards of the area and the Erith one is I believe part of the series and I am guessing other than these 'landmarks' there was very little else to publish? The other reason it took my attention was the Level Crossing at Pembroke Road, which always has had a fascination to me as My Great, Great, Grandfather, William Holttum, (Holttum was my mother's maiden name])was killed by a Steam Locomotive on 21st December 1864 at the Pembroke Road, Level Crossing. I have attached the copy from our Family Tree on my Mother's side</i></span> (image above - click on it for a larger view) <span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>and you can see that he was vicariously, a butcher at Margate, Railway Porter at Margate and then at Chilham, finally becoming the Gate Keeper at Pembroke Road Level Crossing. I have always wanted to find out more about the accident but not sure how to find out. I was informed when my Mum's Cousins arrived out of the blue with the Family Tree back in the sixties, that all those with name Holttum or Holtum (one t) stem from the same source of ancestor. We originally came to England with William of Orange, however some time after 1688 as we only have documents back to 1713. It needs some updating, however is most interesting knowing how and why my family on my Mother's side ended up in Plumstead and Woolwich, having followed the Railway from the Sturry, presumably looking for work</i></span>".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-4KTFAone4pGUz5CTB_YVgSVOwNXtuQclyAn-325HtmxGLzBeJFjt9vekcvJaGpIsRUjGRjx3LymjCBFtBxHMQ2P_2LgmbJHBDJn_s_60fWyS1Anm7yff7itdrLfSI6mvAq9gvq28VMPFmYymk-lg_i4Tzw301_BokKYE-oamFFhl5rFbSQi/s786/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231128101013.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="786" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-4KTFAone4pGUz5CTB_YVgSVOwNXtuQclyAn-325HtmxGLzBeJFjt9vekcvJaGpIsRUjGRjx3LymjCBFtBxHMQ2P_2LgmbJHBDJn_s_60fWyS1Anm7yff7itdrLfSI6mvAq9gvq28VMPFmYymk-lg_i4Tzw301_BokKYE-oamFFhl5rFbSQi/w640-h470/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231128101013.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A fitness instructor who murdered a vulnerable disabled man from Upper Belvedere is shortly to be eligible for parole, after serving 17 years in prison for the crime. Back in February 2006 Khorram Azim used a choke hold to immobilise Kevin Beckingham (photos above) and then stabbed him in the neck five times, killing him. Kevin Beckingham, who was partially-sighted, epileptic and had a bone disorder, was killed in his sheltered home in Nithdale Road, Woolwich; His body was not discovered by one of the his carers until March 7, 2006. Mr Beckingham grew up in Upper Belvedere, and had not been living in his independent living flat for many months. Detectives found martial arts videos about how to do choke holds at Azim's home in Wood Place, Sidcup. He was also forensically linked to the murder of the 35-year-old disabled man by mobile phones found there. The 34-year-old denied murder but was found guilty by a jury after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2007. He had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Azim was given a life sentence for the murder, with a recommendation he should serve at least 17 years. He was also given a 30-month sentence for perverting the course of justice, to run concurrently. A statement issued by Mr Beckingham's family after Azim was sentenced said: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Azim has devastated our family and ruined our lives. We will never forgive him for murdering our son, Kevin. No sentence will be long enough to justify what he has done</i></span>." Investigating officer Detective Inspector Alan Moore, of the Met Police's homicide and serious crime command, said at the time:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Azim is a manipulative and controlling individual who surrounded himself with vulnerable people. He instilled fear in them in order to wield power over them and indulge his delusions. He claimed, among other things, to be a martial arts expert and a government agent. He targeted and murdered Kevin, a vulnerable man, to add to his delusional facade and, having done so, went to great lengths in his attempts to cover his tracks and implicate others around him. In the process he attempted to maliciously damage Mr Beckingham's reputation without any foundation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the witnesses for their bravery in coming forward and assisting the investigating team to convict this man. My thoughts today are with the family of Kevin, whose son was the innocent victim of a man who was motivated purely to kill</i></span>." Seventeen years later, Khorram Azim is now becoming eligible for parole. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIRNfHGp3KrDX9wGkYDqkzrROek86XtWD6pKACU9xamieJvN0sia3EYLij_V-w1-22gVEiBoIKTU5B7Ei9YM1eXWs8hL1431keKmm93Cpap9rMRZE4-c_f6ld2KwBUJ2nsifQsDSJgHOKs_J_P5UxH-8-A7xjxUvDM0n79E_6j7oOCeH_zRLZ/s4032/PXL_20231028_154937832.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIRNfHGp3KrDX9wGkYDqkzrROek86XtWD6pKACU9xamieJvN0sia3EYLij_V-w1-22gVEiBoIKTU5B7Ei9YM1eXWs8hL1431keKmm93Cpap9rMRZE4-c_f6ld2KwBUJ2nsifQsDSJgHOKs_J_P5UxH-8-A7xjxUvDM0n79E_6j7oOCeH_zRLZ/w640-h360/PXL_20231028_154937832.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVAO2LJ10uVsHPr_4PDrDZo4aVpEmfTm8jK4eGhtXOLGZRJN3ZOQs5udb0sRnDxIOKxkiG3J1Top_Lvdr1jAnAol_93TTTExlggF6xFGu8WEys_xssJmcX4R0b1r8W5Ku753ozHW2sdB1X7I4kohK9mg7tfT7dos7uGhKPP9znJlTC-qSwfT0/s1280/WA23-67%20Large.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVAO2LJ10uVsHPr_4PDrDZo4aVpEmfTm8jK4eGhtXOLGZRJN3ZOQs5udb0sRnDxIOKxkiG3J1Top_Lvdr1jAnAol_93TTTExlggF6xFGu8WEys_xssJmcX4R0b1r8W5Ku753ozHW2sdB1X7I4kohK9mg7tfT7dos7uGhKPP9znJlTC-qSwfT0/w640-h426/WA23-67%20Large.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On Monday of last week, <a href="https://www.theexchangeerith.com/" target="_blank">The Exchange</a> issued the following press release:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Mentsen, together with The Exchange – an Erith-based community group – has taken out the top prize in the ‘Production’ category of the Wood Awards with their project ‘The Exchange table and chairs’. In a true achievement of sustainable, skilful community-led design and production, these collapsible and stackable oak tables and chairs were made by local volunteers and staff at The Exchange, with the guiding hand of Mentsen – a two-time winner in the Production category for the Wood Awards. The Exchange is a community-owned organisation that uses the heritage of Erith’s beautiful old Carnegie Library - a space that was designed and built by local people - to inspire new community-led programmes and activities, including volunteer craft workshops, classes, concerts and performances, history tours, and more. As the items were to be made at The Exchange workshop by local people, the design consideration responded to the capability of the equipment and space to hand. With the space used for workshops and events during the day, they also had to be collapsible to be able to be stored away. After an intensive four days of skill sharing, the wood workshop team went on to produce twenty-six tables and over a hundred oak frame chairs with linen webbing seats. This brilliant and brave approach addresses true sustainable practice: giving people the skills to make beautiful furniture using quality materials and be able to fix it when broken. Mentsen is a London-based design practice established in 2011 by two Japanese designers, Yasuyuki Sakurai and Risa Sano. They offer product design and art direction for businesses and cultural organisations. In 2022, they won top prize at the Wood Awards for their project Furniture For 2 Bessborough Street. Lead judge of Furniture and Product Design for the Wood Awards, Corrine Julius said: “This project is an exciting demonstration of how working with wood can build community as well as physical products. Producing over 100 chairs with only 4-days of skill sharing, this community action process sets an inspiring example. We were especially impressed by the finish and rationalism of the two variations of the chairs, which are light-weight and comfortable.” The Wood Awards furniture and product panel is led by design critic, curator and journalist Corinne Julius. The panel includes Oliver Stratford, editor of Disegno magazine; Sculptor in Wood, Eleanor Lakelin, Sebastian Cox RDI, and Yael Mer, founder of Raw Edges. The Exchange Table and Chairs were selected from more than 200 entries, before being assessed in person at the Wood Awards exhibition at the OXO Gallery during London Design Festival. The furniture and product design pieces that won in other categories were Serenade from John Makepeace OBE who was awarded in the Bespoke category, and Rocaille Morphosis from Joanne Grogan of City & Guilds of London Art School, who won the student prize. This year’s best new timber building was announced as New Temple Complex, designed by James Gorst Architects. You can find out more information about the 2023 winners by visiting the <a href="http://www.woodawards.com">www.woodawards.com</a>. The handmade tables and chairs can be pre-ordered at <a href="http://www.tex-craft.co.uk">www.tex-craft.co.uk</a></i></span>".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBF-GYhNP6b1kNzukJReII4BeFITXwCGbeu4dpxKWSu1GotQyzourcSxsj9A43yAtgNJ_TmfZylSSMa9LpPmIvWKcGEkYK2laE7nUhKK_eo0lCy558kAjd91KornXFuVhZuCr0BXeZ4OXAH2Sw7ZKiHRvsMmckeN7FZIHReaFoDJ1RskV7NaaX/s841/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231202101437.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="598" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBF-GYhNP6b1kNzukJReII4BeFITXwCGbeu4dpxKWSu1GotQyzourcSxsj9A43yAtgNJ_TmfZylSSMa9LpPmIvWKcGEkYK2laE7nUhKK_eo0lCy558kAjd91KornXFuVhZuCr0BXeZ4OXAH2Sw7ZKiHRvsMmckeN7FZIHReaFoDJ1RskV7NaaX/w456-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231202101437.png" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_lhIIrSLfbTizJ3TmCB_o7l4nUau56af1pFr09NJ5zyvH9S55XTsoQt0ooZ392QNdPMxUEn4j_K2RkdqLpmswz0Saq-4naPTNCRpP8Hp3MaHcY4kjw9HhCs6pzgGVRingxuMIExLakgdqSQws39gKgY9pLR7UnCpRNlT8p8Zx0Y5ev8PD0_j/s809/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231202101230.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_lhIIrSLfbTizJ3TmCB_o7l4nUau56af1pFr09NJ5zyvH9S55XTsoQt0ooZ392QNdPMxUEn4j_K2RkdqLpmswz0Saq-4naPTNCRpP8Hp3MaHcY4kjw9HhCs6pzgGVRingxuMIExLakgdqSQws39gKgY9pLR7UnCpRNlT8p8Zx0Y5ev8PD0_j/w422-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231202101230.png" width="456" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Following my article last week on how both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_4" target="_blank">BBC Radio 4 Long Wave</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_5_Live" target="_blank">BBC Radio 5 Live</a> have cut the power of their radio transmissions by half, I received an email from regular reader Russell, who writes:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Greetings from Ireland! I borrowed my brother’s car here and tried tuning into Radio Five Live on AM. The reception was bad and full of crackle which I put down to the car having a poor radio or useless aerial. I now know from your blog the reason is low powered transmissions on 909 and 693 by the BBC and not the car. So much for national BBC broadcasting. The north west of N. Ireland is probably too far away and I imagine the signal in Scotland is also bad! They obviously want people switching to DAB or internet streaming but older cars such as the 2009 Ford I am using do not have these type of radios. The BBC would also point to the regional stations like Radio Ulster as an alternative but they don’t have premier league soccer commentary! It is also worth noting that DAB was switched off by RTE so people in border areas do not buy or cannot buy DAB radios!</i></span>"</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In another BBC related story, it is not yet as widely known as I feel it should be that the BBC is shortly to make some dramatic changes to a number of its popular TV channels. The BBC is to discontinue its standard definition (SD) TV channels on satellite and cable platforms from January 2024, though at present they will remain on Freeview terrestrial services. The corporation says the move is necessary to free up spectrum for new services, such as high definition (HD) and ultra high definition (UHD) channels. SD channels have a resolution of 720 x 576 pixels, while HD channels have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This means that HD channels have a sharper and more detailed picture. In addition, HD channels offer a wider range of colours and a higher frame rate. This means that HD channels can provide a more immersive and realistic viewing experience. The BBC began broadcasting HD channels in 2004. However, SD channels have remained available until now. The BBC is now discontinuing SD channels because the majority of viewers now have HD TVs. In fact, over 90% of UK households have an HD TV. The BBC has been broadcasting in SD since 1964, but the technology is now considered to be outdated. HD channels offer a much clearer picture, and UHD channels offer even better picture quality. The BBC says that it will provide support to viewers who are affected by the switch-off. The corporation will be offering advice on how to upgrade to HD equipment, and it will also be working with broadcasters and retailers to make sure that HD equipment is widely available. The BBC's decision to discontinue its SD channels is part of a wider trend of broadcasters switching to HD. In the UK, all of the major broadcasters have already switched off their SD channels. The move is being driven by the increasing popularity of HD TVs, and the falling cost of HD equipment. The BBC's switch-off is likely to have a significant impact on some viewers, particularly those who are older or low-income. However, the corporation says that it is committed to providing support to those who are affected, and it believes that the move to HD will ultimately benefit all viewers. What do you think? Comments to me at the usual address - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg393BZXtpbTSr102xrUaZxvZ3ZjUj9TI5GFhl6EYf8EjX2s00Lgux1nHKsLSf2ONjNOu_7zWP8vzMDJQKbcx1bKdg71ybta754zWW16hN6A2LcBskK6wo5xQVlKH3J3cM7dJ-p5jlqrO8Ovxo6bS1xLz63I6ehmNAP5qO2RLd8X9mckzl1HvnG/s1058/screenshot_1355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1058" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg393BZXtpbTSr102xrUaZxvZ3ZjUj9TI5GFhl6EYf8EjX2s00Lgux1nHKsLSf2ONjNOu_7zWP8vzMDJQKbcx1bKdg71ybta754zWW16hN6A2LcBskK6wo5xQVlKH3J3cM7dJ-p5jlqrO8Ovxo6bS1xLz63I6ehmNAP5qO2RLd8X9mckzl1HvnG/w640-h396/screenshot_1355.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFf2YRePknIXScbVLlofXEYpo0wcuf0AuvtA-KErAYwFmdu-JrOTb-r5e14Gh4oIYmIuFuiq0NrXP0Kzq26KjlJsLAHCLB6R-yyjMbkBrptkTFyj3_nKF7cFQZyv3qrOGuPLpCn4AepcnbdibXiCc55WwIFmnvXzQAuLGJysjq8ahyphenhyphen4t5hr7N/s515/Lady%20Gertrude%20Elenor%20Molyneux.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="310" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFf2YRePknIXScbVLlofXEYpo0wcuf0AuvtA-KErAYwFmdu-JrOTb-r5e14Gh4oIYmIuFuiq0NrXP0Kzq26KjlJsLAHCLB6R-yyjMbkBrptkTFyj3_nKF7cFQZyv3qrOGuPLpCn4AepcnbdibXiCc55WwIFmnvXzQAuLGJysjq8ahyphenhyphen4t5hr7N/w386-h640/Lady%20Gertrude%20Elenor%20Molyneux.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As I have written in the past, during The Great War, a large number of women took over jobs previously done by men. Many of these jobs were in heavy engineering and weapons manufacture in factories located in both Erith and Crayford. I had always assumed that the women were exclusively working class people from the local area, but research has uncovered a different story, which may well surprise many readers. In a contemporary magazine article, an unknown journalist wrote:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The first contingent of Titled Society ladies who volunteered to work for Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim as shell makers. In this group are Lady Gertrude Crawford, sister of the Earl of Sefton; Lady Gatacre, Lady Colebrooke, Mrs Pearson, Mrs Greig and other well-known ladies. The caption details that 'delicacy of manipulation is a feminine instinct' and therefore the work is certainly not 'unsuitable'! In August 1915, Eve in The Tatler was also listing some of the new workers at the Vickers’ factory: "Erith is the latest craze. Here, at Messrs. Vickers’, a gallant band of women are really doing it. Not just playing about, you know, but living at a hostel and taking the regular rate of pay – I think it’s not quite enough to pay for two stalls at the newest revue each week. Lady Gertrude Crawford and Lady Colebrooke are among the toilers, and Lady Gatacre too … Lady Scott, Captain Scott’s widow, is also working at this particular factory, but hers is skilled electrical work. (*Kathleen Bruce, Lady Scott, spent much of 1917 manufacturing electrical coils at the factory. She also devoted time establishing an ambulance service in France, working at the Ministry of Pensions and, in 1918, put her talent as a sculptor to use helping to reconstruct the faces of wounded soldiers). Vickers are willing to take a lot more women to train during the week-ends so as to have them ready for work at the new munition factories, for there won’t be enough men to go round, I’m told</i></span>." Lady Gertrude Eleanor Molyneux was referred to as GEM by her close friends and family. The lower of the two photographs above his is of her, which taken September 2nd, 1890. GEM became the first Chief Superintendent of the Women’s Royal Air Force – otherwise known as "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>the penguins</i></span>". Article from inaugural edition ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>RAF Spirit of the Air</i></span>’, 1st April 1918). She did not remain in this position long, feeling that she was little more than a ‘figurehead’ in the organisation. Shirley Grey - In 1901 Lady Gertrude was living in 3 Willow Place, Knightsbridge with 6 servants. Her brother Richard was a Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards, living in Hyde Park Barracks. Before the war Gertrude practised ornamental turning, like her father and grandfather. Ivory was turned at Croxteth Hall on a lathe. Gertrude continued this hobby after she was married to Captain John Halkett Crawford and she was awarded prizes at the Worshipful Company of Turners. Members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) worked in the air stations of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). The RFC and RNAS were to merge to form the Royal Air Force (RAF), however to ensure the specialised female workforce remained a separate service, the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) was formed on 1 April 1918. In 1918 Gertrude became the 1st Chief Commandant for the (WRAF). This organisation aimed to provide female mechanics to free up men, who were needed to fight on the front. Large numbers of women enrolled for various occupations, such as drivers and mechanics. Gertrude would have worked on a base in Britain. In May 1918 Violet Douglas-Pennant became the second Commandant for the WRAF. The WRAF was disbanded in 1920.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Following my article last week on the 60th anniversary of the opening of the original Dartford Tunnel, this week I have some archive video footage uncovered from the <a href="https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F268856" target="_blank">National Highways archives</a> showing the construction of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartford_Crossing" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth II bridge</a> between 1988 and 1991. To this day, it is still the only bridge across the Thames east of London since Tower Bridge opened in 1894. Comments and feedback to me as always at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i6i-br6wAZk?si=3ZnQgATM6trL_tK4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-63247956055545137822023-11-26T10:30:00.002+00:002023-11-26T10:36:22.443+00:00Auction.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM2fmlU_bklUwzRGJmTagTv728zOctF58jzdIOZ0C_s5eTzlGFnfThpiiUmmoiYyUhphhlv1MBb5NvM571svvbCW3GPGpbWsYjQsNZkK1VI0lDSShDJXXv9uLjRCN-hv5vT118vbWMty8e0PQ5n3KTxeAuDvd1EBx29vQef999cDEfff1vN6P/s4032/PXL_20231122_170249255.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM2fmlU_bklUwzRGJmTagTv728zOctF58jzdIOZ0C_s5eTzlGFnfThpiiUmmoiYyUhphhlv1MBb5NvM571svvbCW3GPGpbWsYjQsNZkK1VI0lDSShDJXXv9uLjRCN-hv5vT118vbWMty8e0PQ5n3KTxeAuDvd1EBx29vQef999cDEfff1vN6P/w640-h360/PXL_20231122_170249255.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I took the somewhat festive photograph on Wednesday evening. It shows the cone of LED lights located in Bexleyheath Broadway - a kind of impressionistic Christmas tree. In my opinion it works well. As some will be aware, I am not a fan of Christmas.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In a surprising move, BBC Radio 4 Long wave and BBC 5 Live recently experienced a reduction in transmission power, signaling an imminent close down. The decision has left listeners wondering about the future of these long-established radio channels. BBC Radio 4 Long wave, known for its distinct frequency of 198 kHz, has been a reliable source of news, drama, and cultural programming for decades. The long wave transmission allows for extensive coverage, reaching remote areas and providing a lifeline for those without easy access to alternative media. However, the recent reduction in power has sparked concerns among loyal listeners. Similarly, BBC 5 Live, a sports and news-focused radio station, has been a go-to for live sports commentary, talk shows, and breaking news updates. The decision to operate at half power has raised questions about the station's sustainability and the future of its unique blend of content. The BBC has cited various reasons for this reduction in power, including budget constraints, changes in consumer behavior, and the increasing dominance of digital platforms. As the media landscape continues to evolve, traditional broadcasters are faced with the challenge of adapting to new technologies and consumer preferences. The move to cut transmission power is not unprecedented, as several other BBC radio services have undergone similar adjustments in recent years. This shift reflects a broader trend in the industry, where digital platforms and streaming services have become more prevalent, drawing audiences away from traditional radio broadcasts. BBC Radio 4 Long wave and BBC 5 Live have played pivotal roles in shaping the cultural and informational landscape of the UK. The decision to reduce power and potentially close down raises questions about the future of traditional radio and the impact of such changes on the diverse audience that relies on these stations for information and entertainment. For some, the reduction in power is seen as a symbolic moment, signaling the end of an era for these long-standing radio channels. The unique frequencies and programming offered by BBC Radio 4 Long wave and BBC 5 Live have been a staple in many households, and the diminishing signal has left listeners nostalgic for the golden age of radio. As the BBC navigates the challenges posed by the digital age, it faces the delicate task of balancing tradition with the need for innovation. The decision to reduce power may be a pragmatic response to changing audience habits and economic pressures, but it also raises questions about the role of public broadcasters in preserving the diversity and accessibility of media. The recent move to operate at half power by BBC Radio 4 Long wave and BBC 5 Live marks a significant moment in the history of traditional radio broadcasting. As the digital revolution continues to reshape the media landscape, the fate of these iconic stations prompts reflection on the importance of preserving diverse and accessible sources of information and entertainment in an ever-changing world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNy7X2buIOmP8kzcouhCOYH01PM_IBA187_u7kEURhUx1FYcixnaylsQ-dSVaXcJyngpwfWxj_6_pOB0zqIJERL4Nw11GY-7WAMzAS1ZMp277S5wUPZRUI8hGvc8QlsG4pFiGb9s8KBJNvnx0r21rqJThZC4F4xQPUhRfgjhzUKO8SY4QeBcR/s937/Phone%20Box%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="527" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNy7X2buIOmP8kzcouhCOYH01PM_IBA187_u7kEURhUx1FYcixnaylsQ-dSVaXcJyngpwfWxj_6_pOB0zqIJERL4Nw11GY-7WAMzAS1ZMp277S5wUPZRUI8hGvc8QlsG4pFiGb9s8KBJNvnx0r21rqJThZC4F4xQPUhRfgjhzUKO8SY4QeBcR/w360-h640/Phone%20Box%202023.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above - click on it to see a larger version - shows a telephone box, which is located <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.468703,0.1906059,3a,75y,198.5h,69.61t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sxMsTCYsBnBm_3-N0ghh8dg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DxMsTCYsBnBm_3-N0ghh8dg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D175.1485%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">on the corner of Forest Road and Cedar Road, close to Slade Green railway station</a>. The phone box is quite unusual, in that in addition to coins, it also accepts payphone cards - which have not been produced since 2002. The history of the UK payphone card dates back to the late 20th century, a time when traditional coins were the primary means of payment for public telephones. As technology advanced, the need for a more convenient and flexible payment method became evident. This led to the introduction of payphone cards. In the early 1980s, the United Kingdom saw a gradual shift from coin-operated payphones to card-based systems. The first payphone cards were magnetic stripe cards, similar to credit cards, which users could purchase from designated outlets. These cards contained a pre-loaded value, allowing individuals to make calls without the hassle of carrying loose change. The magnetic stripe cards marked a significant leap forward in telecommunications technology, offering a more efficient and user-friendly experience. Users could easily insert the card into the payphone, and the system would deduct the appropriate amount for the call. This innovation not only simplified the payment process but also reduced the risk of vandalism and theft associated with coin-operated phones. Throughout the 1990s, the payphone card system continued to evolve. To be able to use credit-card style payment revolutionised things for many, not least cub scouts who had been conditioned always to carry a coin in case they needed to make a telephone call. The subsequent discovery by mischievous schoolboys that credit levels on phonecards could be tricked by the cunning application of masking tape may have been one of the factors leading to the introduction of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>smart</i></span>" phonecards. Smart card technology emerged, introducing a more secure and versatile payment solution. Smart cards, equipped with embedded microchips, enabled additional features such as balance checks and reload options. Users could top up their cards at various locations, ensuring uninterrupted communication. The design of payphone cards also became a canvas for artistic expression. Telecom companies issued cards featuring diverse themes, ranging from iconic landmarks to promotional partnerships. The colourful designs used by telecom companies led to the development of an enormous market for collecting phonecards. Collecting these cards became a popular hobby, and enthusiasts exchanged or traded them, contributing to the cards' cultural significance beyond their practical use. As the new millennium unfolded, the rise of mobile phones posed a formidable challenge to traditional payphones, including payphone cards. The convenience of carrying a personal mobile device diminished the need for public telephones, leading to a decline in their usage. By the mid-2000s, payphone cards began to fade into obscurity as mobile phones became ubiquitous. Technological advancements and the widespread availability of mobile networks rendered public payphones and their associated cards nearly obsolete. Telecom companies phased out payphone services, and the cards became nostalgic relics of a bygone era. It was estimated in the mid to late 1990s that some 100,000 people were collecting telephone cards in the United Kingdom (UK) alone. Phone card collecting became a major hobby for around a decade, although it has markedly declined nowadays. Every telephone card that was released by BT was issued in a limited number, although many of the public issues were issued in their thousands or even in their millions. Some telephone cards however were issued in print runs as low as just 500, 200 or even as low as just 50 Phonecards! So it's not hard to see how prices for some telephone cards were achieving seemingly ever increasing prices, with such high demand and high numbers of collectors all wanting to add them to their collections and albums. Today though in 2023 the picture is very different where demand, prices and collectible Phonecard value continues to fall. The main contributing factor was BT's decision to stop issuing BT Phonecards altogether in 2002. This was a commercial decision by British Telecom, which was due to an increasing downturn in the use of the BT pre-paid telephone cards as a way to make a phone call from a public telephone box. The rise of new technology in the form of the mobile phone was becoming the preferred method of making a call when away from the home phone. Without BT Phonecards being issued, new would-be collectors couldn't be tempted and bitten by the bug and love of collecting. In the 21 years that have followed since 2002, many collectors were able to complete their collections, well all but for the very rarest of Phonecards. While others simply stopped collecting altogether. Another contributing factor to the fall in the value of BT Phonecards was that employees of the manufacturing company <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landis%2BGyr" target="_blank">Landis and Gyr</a> (who produced many of BT's Phonecards) had amassed large personal collections. They then started selling off in large numbers mint/unused cards, which then flooded an already fragile and decreasing market, thus impacting prices even further downwards. This still goes on today, decreasing prices even further for particular telephone cards. Fast forward to today's telephone card collectors market in the UK and you'll find the hobby does still continue. Albeit, in a much smaller way with far fewer active collectors swapping, selling and collecting telephone cards. In general the prices paid today for BT Phonecards has fallen anything up to 90-95% off the last published Phonecard catalogue price lists for both BT optical cards (1981-1996) and BT chip cards (1996-2002). The majority of collectors these days periodically search and use auction websites such as eBay in the hope that those elusive and much needed cards to fill gaps in their collection are listed. As prices have fallen on average 90-95%, those collectors with the rare and rarer BT Phonecards are reluctant to list and sell at a fraction of the price they paid decades ago. It was reported at the height of collecting BT Phonecards in the mid 1990's a single BT Phonecard sold for £3,500. The same card appeared on eBay in 2016 and did not even achieve 10% of that price, the card selling for £240. Had the card been purchased in the heights of collecting and for £3,500, then the seller would have lost £3,260 on the price he/she had paid. So it is not hard to see why lots of collectors are choosing to retain their BT Phonecards and not wanting to sell at such a loss. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjuE5eDMdU7Ygtbjmz-4GLPt3C3z9u1YPH1UbdNIpvaKq16fNtdEqNowy1IKohdUL2VqiEU4gj2K3Lf2jcPKTLxOmrwLVhBJld96dhoj3wn91b7DA5_zwtVHGEsrMRa3la6eUPUUSwjzWgcWzs3F1HodLpgHBVsXAx-UDaWaDRATSLIbC-2hG/s1600/Dartford%20River%20Crossing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjuE5eDMdU7Ygtbjmz-4GLPt3C3z9u1YPH1UbdNIpvaKq16fNtdEqNowy1IKohdUL2VqiEU4gj2K3Lf2jcPKTLxOmrwLVhBJld96dhoj3wn91b7DA5_zwtVHGEsrMRa3la6eUPUUSwjzWgcWzs3F1HodLpgHBVsXAx-UDaWaDRATSLIbC-2hG/w640-h368/Dartford%20River%20Crossing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Dartford River Crossing. On November 18th, 1963, a groundbreaking engineering feat was unveiled to the public: the Dartford Crossing, a road tunnel running beneath the River Thames, connecting Kent and Essex. This remarkable structure, the culmination of decades of planning and construction, marked a new era of transportation in the region, providing a much-needed alternative to the congested ferry services that had previously served as the primary means of crossing the river. The idea of a fixed link between Kent and Essex had been circulating for centuries, with early proposals dating back to the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the 1920s that serious plans began to take shape. In 1928, Parliament approved the construction of a tunnel, and work commenced in 1938. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War II forced the project to be put on hold until 1955. Despite the challenges posed by the war, the determination to build the Dartford Crossing remained strong. Construction resumed in earnest in the late 1950s, and by 1963, the tunnel was complete. The official opening ceremony, presided over by Queen Elizabeth II, took place on November 18th, 1963, marking a historic moment for transportation in the region. The Dartford Crossing quickly became an indispensable part of the local infrastructure, providing a fast and efficient route for commuters, businesses, and tourists alike. The tunnel's impact was immediate and profound, alleviating traffic congestion, reducing travel times, and boosting economic activity in the region. It has not been without controversy; the original claim that the crossing would be free to use once the construction costs had been repaid were quietly dropped, much to the anger of local residents. The Dartford Crossing is more or less a captive market since the nearest alternative river crossing is a congested 15 miles away, which means that a crucial route that was supposed to become toll free in 2003 is earning the government millions. Local criminals are stealing legitimate registration plates from parked motor vehicles in order to circumvent the automatic number plate recognition system used to charge drivers for using the Dartford Crossing. Vehicle number plate theft is now endemic in the local area. Three or four years ago it was a relatively minor issue, but now it is one of the major problems for the Police and local residents. Just how many vehicles are driving around on illegal registration plates I do not know, but I suspect that the number is far higher than many realise. Incidentally, not many people are aware that there is a special service for cyclists. the good news is that it is free of charge, unlike for motorists. A special pick-up service is available at Essex Point or Kent Point, with a vehicle taking you and your bicycle through the Dartford Crossing. If your bike fits on a standard car roof rack, there is no need to pre-book. To use the cycle crossing service; Cycle to Essex Point or Kent Point, Follow the signs directing you to a yellow telephone. Use the phone to request the service; there is no number to dial – it’s a direct line. Wait in the designated area for a vehicle to take you and your bicycle through the Dartford Crossing. If the bicycle does not fit on a roof rack – if it is a tandem, for example – or you are travelling in a group of more than three cyclists, you will need to contact Connect Plus in advance. This is done by calling 0203 386 8826 or alternatively emailing <a href="mailto:dartfordsecurity@connectplusm25.co.uk">dartfordsecurity@connectplusm25.co.uk</a>. Essex Point is located at 859 London Road, Grays, Essex, RM20 3AT. It is accessible from the cycleway next to the entry slip-road for junction 31 of the M25 motorway. The Kent Point is at Crossings Offices Roundabout, South Orbital Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 5PR. The service is available seven days a week and 365 days a year, but it is not a 24-hour resource. Instead, cyclists can only use the Dartford Crossing at the following times: 3am to 9am. 10.30am to 2pm. 3pm to 9pm. 10.30pm to 2am. It usually takes 15 minutes for the lift to arrive, but it might take a little longer at peak times or if there is traffic congestion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYVQq8MUDo1NqWG4CPL4dMQPVM3IrQJrgxWTjz9TPHKRU9QLYE9FTgG7U3gg7JRGsOYrKT14xuIuMXhRLRaf42dzAYVa77uy3dY5P7OsH3WtkKJg3vxVyNJfEo4du5_DWC1fVCxdhK0bke0c_9t6fM_E51vrxoLTg2Nagy4yZP9nlUSgE3o01/s1300/Postcard%201970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1300" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYVQq8MUDo1NqWG4CPL4dMQPVM3IrQJrgxWTjz9TPHKRU9QLYE9FTgG7U3gg7JRGsOYrKT14xuIuMXhRLRaf42dzAYVa77uy3dY5P7OsH3WtkKJg3vxVyNJfEo4du5_DWC1fVCxdhK0bke0c_9t6fM_E51vrxoLTg2Nagy4yZP9nlUSgE3o01/w640-h436/Postcard%201970.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The image above shows a postcard from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> from back in the summer of 1970. Strange that a postcard should exist from a town that had not been a holiday destination since around 1900. The card shows the old Erith swimming baths, which was demolished and are now the site of a housing development - why such a bad looking concrete monstrosity of a structure would be commemorated on a local postcard escapes me. The second photo is of the old railway crossing at Pembroke Road, which has long been replaced with a footbridge. I dimly recall the crossing as a small child, though I cannot recall the crossing operators' house - that must have been a very noisy place to live! The third photo is probably the most recognisable today - it shows Erith High Street looking East. The Police station (now converted into fairly shoddy apartments) is still there, as is the Cross Keys pub (the tall building in the centre of the photo, now restored and converted into office space for the Aleff Group - an international environmental management consultancy). To the right of the Cross Keys are a couple of buildings which are now gone and replaced with the <a href="https://www.playhouse.org.uk/" target="_blank">Erith Playhouse</a> theatre. To the far right is the White Hart pub, which is now the home of African restaurant <a href="https://www.dewhitehartrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">The White Hart</a>. The final photo in the bottom right corner of the postcard shows Erith Pier as it was when it was a working entity as part of the deep water wharf. The giant cranes are now long gone, the wharf is now rebuilt as a large Morrison's supermarket, and the pier is a very pleasant place to walk when the weather is nice (or if you are an angler, it is a good place to fish, year round, day or night).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQftkU3K_Yt24zv28oC0wcZRiDA4jEFaardkHMpwr-UXP7k63ALc1rKNtkdxdgZ8_RKAgsuEt9pouQLbIHvizAhoi4k_g2uhNMF0Gh9uCb1xrTDvNhfeWbvpvTalUxdEVVsgenatu-eKYxY08sDTb4EYWCOs3fSqTZth2-LmA-Nv-ili7K2tIp/s1376/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231123090949.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1376" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQftkU3K_Yt24zv28oC0wcZRiDA4jEFaardkHMpwr-UXP7k63ALc1rKNtkdxdgZ8_RKAgsuEt9pouQLbIHvizAhoi4k_g2uhNMF0Gh9uCb1xrTDvNhfeWbvpvTalUxdEVVsgenatu-eKYxY08sDTb4EYWCOs3fSqTZth2-LmA-Nv-ili7K2tIp/w640-h430/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231123090949.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just for a bit of fun; can you work out where this rather unusual flower pot is located? Answers on a postcard, or better still email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j0HY9esHBvd-N1DfPWsVjXOBDZmG84Mp9L6CK-AMMi3GmK5yi7SfeqczQUqE674RI-ULVMGkwawfHwyzgRAQBkdnW1r5AokM80OS3GjM3Nqpmkgddy-g3Adn_a0bcVsqfA8qiVmdtx-Ii6_Dil-mtkBY4SILvhhyvNq4EXeWCo4nrAfpsuk8/s624/unnamed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="624" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j0HY9esHBvd-N1DfPWsVjXOBDZmG84Mp9L6CK-AMMi3GmK5yi7SfeqczQUqE674RI-ULVMGkwawfHwyzgRAQBkdnW1r5AokM80OS3GjM3Nqpmkgddy-g3Adn_a0bcVsqfA8qiVmdtx-Ii6_Dil-mtkBY4SILvhhyvNq4EXeWCo4nrAfpsuk8/w640-h426/unnamed.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The following press release was published by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexley_London_Borough_Council" target="_blank">Bexley Council</a> last Thursday morning:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Five housing estates in Bexley have become havens for wildlife after being planted with new trees, hedgerows and wildflowers. Volunteers from local housing provider Orbit spent five days working on the green spaces at Lesney Farm Flats, Lesney Farm Houses and Wheelock Close in Erith and Upper Abbey Road and Rutland Gate in Belvedere to make improvements for local residents and wildlife alike. 15 trees, 5000m2 wildflowers and 3000 hedgerow whips were planted across the estates by Orbit volunteers and Grounds Maintenance Contractors, SLS. Joanna Crouch, Environmental Sustainability Manager for Orbit commented: “We want to create sustainable communities for the future in which our customers are proud to live. Making our outdoor spaces more biodiverse not only helps wildlife to thrive but also improves customers’ wellbeing by providing better and more local access to nature.” Orbit has worked closely with the Wildlife Trusts charity to ensure that its approach to managing the outdoor spaces within its housing estates, aligns with both the Trusts’ aims to ensure that 30% of outdoor spaces support nature’s recovery by 2030 as well as the UN Convention’s goals on Biological Diversity</i></span>".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2shy3IDdspru-C9i-vCeZIrgX9O9C4TvVKQegbZyXr6qwbFxJjwEKqINxSgYLnRpwNQcmQt2jIo4vO7HMS_VYPXxcdIkg3yQ5dZxq9NHilVuVyfv57STopq3GyY_r52KCAfWHLKR1eXxiglCXB_y17ja8pImwwFO7__0NMwzeBbHbcdB20YE/s845/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231124150544.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="715" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2shy3IDdspru-C9i-vCeZIrgX9O9C4TvVKQegbZyXr6qwbFxJjwEKqINxSgYLnRpwNQcmQt2jIo4vO7HMS_VYPXxcdIkg3yQ5dZxq9NHilVuVyfv57STopq3GyY_r52KCAfWHLKR1eXxiglCXB_y17ja8pImwwFO7__0NMwzeBbHbcdB20YE/w542-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231124150544.png" width="542" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The large and nowadays rather run down and scruffy brick building located in Pier Road <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> in the advert above is called Electricity House – though many locals are unaware of this. It was built back in 1938 and opened in November 1939 as a showroom and offices for the local electricity company, which at the time was run by the council. Pre – war services such as gas, water and electricity supply were quite commonly managed and supplied by local councils; the idea of private companies being involved was something that did not happen until after the war had ended. Electricity House was also a place where new electrical customers could view domestic appliances which they could buy via hire purchase (it sounds like an early version of the former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrightHouse_(retailer)" target="_blank">BrightHouse</a>, but without the crippling interest rates). As well as the showroom, Electricity House was home to what contemporary accounts say was a very upmarket dance hall with a fully sprung Canadian Maple floor; there was also a small Pathe cinema. The local electricity business was astonishingly successful – probably much helped by the fact that it offered the cheapest metered electricity in the entire UK at the time – one penny per unit. Ten thousand local people signed up for electrification in the first month alone, attracted by the offer of free connection to the local power grid – unusual at the time – many suppliers would even charge for the copper cable to connect new customers. In 1939 the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> electricity board made a (for then) massive profit of £13,000. The idea was that the money would be used to improve local services and amenities for all, but the advent of war meant that early in 1940 Electricity House was handed over for war work, and once peace was restored, the money intended to benefit local people was absorbed by the LEB during nationalisation, and nothing was ever seen of it. Much of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> was still lit by gas until relatively recently. I believe that some houses in West Street did not get electricity until 1947 when the London Electricity Board was formed, and the local council control of power was nationalised. Electricity House last went up for sale by auction in October 2021, when it failed to sell. I have doubts over whether the next sale by auction on the 13th of December will be successful. I am aware that the medium to long term plans for the site are for it to be redeveloped as a number of apartment blocks, also covering the existing Pier Road car park. I feel that this may well deter any potential purchaser. <a href="https://www.strettons.co.uk/auction-property-for-sale/commercial-property-for-sale-in-9-pier-road-erith-bexley-da8-1ta-655b2788766254a85ddc1475/" target="_blank">You can read the full description of the property and the terms of the sale by clicking here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a short piece on the Here Comes The Sun festival, which was held at <a href="https://www.theexchangeerith.com/" target="_blank">The Exchange</a> back at the end of March this year. It gives a very good impression of what the excellent event was like. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ENgtATbFOk?si=JIpABmii3la8mfbL" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-14512045707752692212023-11-19T11:45:00.000+00:002023-11-19T11:45:12.202+00:00Complete?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-xK4ihhagEhQFycRlKr-Xy9vjWTKz_miGSFFl-7N2aG2mgRyvWc29bwyhWXzwLV-hhfv9oVg962AGmO6jK66S6r0RD2cDDbEIy47FJfsTf2aKUxByFTcGiJYH1oOXGCANiveoXcCq-Fs_4uxp0McB8MJ1wvh_ceFLTVzouqBf5eweK6dsiS5/s4032/PXL_20231118_155250635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-xK4ihhagEhQFycRlKr-Xy9vjWTKz_miGSFFl-7N2aG2mgRyvWc29bwyhWXzwLV-hhfv9oVg962AGmO6jK66S6r0RD2cDDbEIy47FJfsTf2aKUxByFTcGiJYH1oOXGCANiveoXcCq-Fs_4uxp0McB8MJ1wvh_ceFLTVzouqBf5eweK6dsiS5/w640-h360/PXL_20231118_155250635.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcAQQhUtwtYp7g_9HPsCntN0aUyflc97qNlpgHph6yGN8g0t9ntoRExRYzH7j9_6nlNLmnG55pmvcdA2rgCS35BUrGVMj_6KkuqcbJ4oEJz5r6kJOL2pIdpfi9y0a3S3ONOXi6k7gwOovo_2Nb9vIIaiuciGtwHhCHTjF2SGLTgBsTw-fZkPI/s4032/PXL_20231118_155132296.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcAQQhUtwtYp7g_9HPsCntN0aUyflc97qNlpgHph6yGN8g0t9ntoRExRYzH7j9_6nlNLmnG55pmvcdA2rgCS35BUrGVMj_6KkuqcbJ4oEJz5r6kJOL2pIdpfi9y0a3S3ONOXi6k7gwOovo_2Nb9vIIaiuciGtwHhCHTjF2SGLTgBsTw-fZkPI/w640-h360/PXL_20231118_155132296.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">After well over six months work, the redevelopment of Pier Road in Erith is almost complete, as you can see from the photos above - click on either to see a larger view. The stone used in the replacement paving matches that used in the Pier Gardens. The redevelopment of a key part of Erith town centre is welcome; however I do have several reservations. Firstly the new seating looks good now it is new, but the benches will be subject to abuse from local vandals - I suspect that they will now look as good this time next year; secondly the creation of flower beds within the central shopping centre is a bold and I feel courageous move. How long the plants will survive is open to speculation. You may recall that back in 2017 Bexley Council refurbished <a href="https://www.greatererith.com/projects/riverside-gardens/" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Gardens</a>. A contractor was hired to uproot and remove hundreds of plants and bushes and replace them with new ones. For a while the Riverside Gardens looked amazing - then we had a hot summer; the contractor did not water the plants, and despite pleas from local residents - including the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/191669150885961/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank">Friends Of Riverside Gardens Erith (FORGE)</a> who volunteered to water the plants - the contractor did not water the gardens and around eighty percent of the new plants died as a result. I have concerns that in addition to vandalism and theft, official neglect may end up killing the Pier Road plants. I hope that I am wrong. As can also be noted in the upper of the two photos above, the scaffolding surrounding Parkspring Court - the building that houses the Energie Fitness gym and the new Erith Library, as well as several dozen local residents, is still in place well over two years since it was originally installed. The scaffolding has now been in place for longer than it took for Parkspring Court to be built in the first place. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpRhmklyGLeh6bYJ0eygnbxJodh53quLTvY0I_jo19YMzFeaLTaQkNNH-MAY4N7-0RakVKQ4huBZdxJuF3tNFeD4hKEYuZe2zHTQsOFf1P5YITWXhN57c1raf2bTxEz14-I4K-cGrWViNornxnmZTy2ki_MRaD_7sAGUkj7Di5zqI10y9-NSU/s1410/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231113121459.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1410" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpRhmklyGLeh6bYJ0eygnbxJodh53quLTvY0I_jo19YMzFeaLTaQkNNH-MAY4N7-0RakVKQ4huBZdxJuF3tNFeD4hKEYuZe2zHTQsOFf1P5YITWXhN57c1raf2bTxEz14-I4K-cGrWViNornxnmZTy2ki_MRaD_7sAGUkj7Di5zqI10y9-NSU/w640-h396/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231113121459.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Self-service tills, also known as self-checkouts, have become increasingly common in British supermarkets in recent years. However, some supermarkets are now moving away from self-service tills and back to tills staffed by cashiers. This is due to a number of factors, including customer feedback, concerns about job losses, and a desire to provide a more personalised customer experience. I am vehemently opposed to the exclusive deployment of self service tills for a number of reasons; firstly it has been demonstrated that the average time to complete a supermarket self service transaction is up to three times as long as one carried out by a staffed till – and that is without allowing for system errors. Secondly, why would you have a dog and bark yourself? Quite often the checkout person adds to the whole retail experience, and can problem solve on the go. Elderly people, or customers with small children can also find self service stressful. On top of this, the supermarkets only introduce self service as they think it will reduce their staffing overheads. This has proved to be a false economy, as although the number of checkout staff is reduced, the number of supervisors and security operatives has to increase – who tend to be paid a higher rate than the checkout staff. Locally Morrison's in Erith had been proposing to replace all but four staffed tills with automated self service tills, though this seems now to have been thankfully cancelled. One of the main reasons why some supermarkets are moving away from self-service tills is customer feedback. Many customers have complained that self-service tills are slow, unreliable, and impersonal. They also say that they prefer to have their shopping scanned by a cashier, as this gives them the opportunity to ask questions and get help with their shopping.Self-service counters cost about £9,000 each, including installation, and manufacturer NCR estimates that they pay for themselves in about 15 months. A third more tills can be squeezed into a store and checkout staff can be deployed elsewhere. But the devices — and their frequent complaint of “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>unexpected item in bagging area</i></span>” — are disliked by many shoppers, who argue that retailers are asking customers to do their work for them and that it reduces interaction with staff. NCR argues that the counters cut prices. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Staff can be redeployed to the shop floor, so it can actually improve service</i></span>,” A claim that has since found to be incorrect in a very many cases. NCR believes that it is benefiting from modern social change, especially the growing convenience market. People are making more shopping trips, for fewer items — hence the spread of convenience outlets to meet demand — a phenomenon attributed by analysts to the breakdown in the nuclear family and traditional working patterns, along with societal changes brought by Covid lock down restrictions. NCR believes, moreover, that shoppers’ desire for healthy and fresh food and a growing desire to have cravings satisfied immediately have also driven the convenience boom. In my opinion, part of the whole shopping experience is the service and interaction with the staff - and as has been previously proved, the auto tills are not very secure. Another reason why some supermarkets are moving away from self-service tills is concerns about job losses. As self-service tills become more common, there is a risk that fewer cashiers will be needed. This has led to concerns from trade unions and workers' rights groups. Finally, some supermarkets are moving away from self-service tills in order to provide a more personalised customer experience. Cashiers can greet customers by name, help them with their shopping, and answer any questions they have. This can create a more positive and welcoming shopping experience for customers. One of the first British supermarkets to move away from self-service tills was Booths. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/10/booths-supermarkets-to-ditch-self-checkouts-in-north-of-england-stores" target="_blank">Last week, Northern supermarket chain Booths announced the removal of self-service tills from all but two of its stores</a>. The company said that the decision was made in response to customer feedback, which showed that customers preferred to have their shopping scanned by a cashier. Other British supermarkets that are moving away from self-service tills include Waitrose and Morrisons. Waitrose has announced that it will be removing self-service tills from some of its stores, while Morrisons has said that it will be reducing the number of self-service tills in its stores. Fairly recently, a report was published by the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/criminology" target="_blank">School of Criminology of the University of Leicester</a> on self service checkout tills. The report found that installing self-service checkouts increases lost revenue by 122 percent. Some of it is accidental – people forget to scan items, or get confused by instructions; other times shoppers get so frustrated with self-service kiosks that they feel justified in not paying. But the report states that mostly people shoplift because the technology makes it so easy. Mobile phone scanning technology is just as vulnerable – the study found that at the end of a typical shopping trip, up to ten percent of items had not been scanned, leading to “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>shrinkage</i></span>” (loss through wastage or theft) of about 3.9 percent of turnover. Unfortunately the technology makes it very difficult to prove that customers are deliberately stealing. One retailer admitted they almost never prosecute people. For that reason supermarkets are now introducing tagging systems so un-scanned items trigger alarms. Supermarkets such as Morrison’s in Erith have now expanded the number of self – service checkouts so that now half of all tills are of this type, although the latest reports indicate that they may now be back - tracking on this. Finding open, traditionally staffed checkouts are becoming a challenge to find. I have always wondered why you have to pay the same price for an item when it is purchased via a self – service till when compared to a traditional one – after all, you are doing work on behalf of the supermarket, and surely this should be reflected in a cheaper cost? If I wanted to operate a till, I would get a job at Morrison's. The move away from self-service tills in British supermarkets is a significant trend. It is likely that more supermarkets will follow suit in the coming years, as they seek to provide a better customer experience and address the concerns of workers - and because shoppers who dislike self service checkouts are voting with their feet, and the retailers have to act to prevent the loss of revenue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lAfTLH99rWirkMro3uy43RtuuoS6e6dlstMOWv7lcztUTteANQiVj6QCa_yqAFQVi2vQ3ZX8LzXuI9kfYuKxPwmNaFuZXbuBi1JWpr6XJB3Uu90AjnDUeRyZ37w9CxLi1Cv_2gkWqzyz1iyOOu9FFJs6wSms3YgBF3r0uQyc8jgAIa4oqLWw/s1187/HMS%20Soberton%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1187" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lAfTLH99rWirkMro3uy43RtuuoS6e6dlstMOWv7lcztUTteANQiVj6QCa_yqAFQVi2vQ3ZX8LzXuI9kfYuKxPwmNaFuZXbuBi1JWpr6XJB3Uu90AjnDUeRyZ37w9CxLi1Cv_2gkWqzyz1iyOOu9FFJs6wSms3YgBF3r0uQyc8jgAIa4oqLWw/w640-h402/HMS%20Soberton%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-RW6WKXj9umwi7d48_DCURpKVAqgDh4JV3mV0Po0goFM5C6kOvc0PEPKF11Xnu-xQDUH6XVQPsFfNcshwYxTqYkJfZgp-9czDKYTSBBhfk2-lNoS837fOKv7O2aUEgeg0s6_cuVldkoVV6D3oCLVXifm6dLlCwFrPU0tUbRkUXaDTRptBK94/s988/HMS%20Soberton%20final%20crew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-RW6WKXj9umwi7d48_DCURpKVAqgDh4JV3mV0Po0goFM5C6kOvc0PEPKF11Xnu-xQDUH6XVQPsFfNcshwYxTqYkJfZgp-9czDKYTSBBhfk2-lNoS837fOKv7O2aUEgeg0s6_cuVldkoVV6D3oCLVXifm6dLlCwFrPU0tUbRkUXaDTRptBK94/w422-h640/HMS%20Soberton%20final%20crew.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Older local residents with good memories may recall that in the mid nineties, a Royal Navy warship was moored for several years in the River Thames adjacent to Erith Riverside Gardens. The ship was HMS Soberton, a Ton Class minesweeper which was home to the Woolwich Sea Cadets whilst moored in the River Thames off Erith between 1992 and 1997. Prior to this, HMS Soberton was on active duty between 1958 and 1992. She was the sixth of 28 Ton class minesweepers built for the Royal Navy. The Ton class minesweepers were designed to be small and maneuverable, making them ideal for mine sweeping in shallow waters and coastal areas. They were also relatively inexpensive to build and operate. HMS Soberton was 53.2 metres long and had a beam of 8.2 metres. She displaced 450 tons and had a crew of 36 officers and men. She was armed with one 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun and two 20mm Oerlikon cannons. HMS Soberton spent most of her career on fishery protection patrols and exercises in UK waters. She also took part in a number of NATO exercises. In 1963, she participated in Operation CLEAR ROAD, a mine clearance operation off Esjberg, Denmark. In 1978, HMS Soberton underwent a long refit at Chatham Dockyard. She was recommissioned in 1979 and continued her fishery protection duties until 1992. Although the ship was designated as a minesweeper, it spent nearly its entire career as a fishery protection vessel. HMS Soberton appeared in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warship_(1973_TV_series)" target="_blank">TV series Warship</a>, Series 3, Episode 8 entitled "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYpz_ThmBGQ" target="_blank">A Quiet Run Ashore</a>" as the fictional HMS Ferrington. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYpz_ThmBGQ" target="_blank">You can see the episode on YouTube by clicking here</a>. The upper photo shows HMS Soberton under weigh off the coast of Holland, and the lower photo shows the ship in the Pool of London during her last visit prior to being paid off. HMS Soberton was at the time the longest serving active ship in the Royal Navy, having been in commission for 35 years. The lower photo shows the first and last captains of the ship; to the left is Admiral Sir Jock Slater KCB LVO, and to the right is Lieutenant Commander Justin Wood RN. After the ship was taken off the active navy list, she served as the home to Woolwich Sea Cadets until 1997. In 1998 she was taken to the Bakkerzonen ship breakers in Bruges, where she was then scrapped. HMS Soberton is no longer in service, but her memory is kept alive by <a href="https://tcaminesweepers.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Ton Class Association</a>, a group of former Ton class crew members and enthusiasts. <a href="https://tcaminesweepers.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Association maintains a website</a> and publishes a regular newsletter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuinzZbTHNZnzFiCrY1Q-49_oAGM708v3NlWns7NQAQl94vM2gXPOSTD3gEgE7XB9vVMd1uH1Lu4c42nuY9FR1vm-rKKW0Hv02JIKqQk-HRaZZwjIOSuvmdqxAhjpk39nkTIOIyPQS4E-bebs4fWr3aKI-zJPlB4ipikKYCVs-aMpjbX_mVW2A/s1300/Lady-Allen-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1300" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuinzZbTHNZnzFiCrY1Q-49_oAGM708v3NlWns7NQAQl94vM2gXPOSTD3gEgE7XB9vVMd1uH1Lu4c42nuY9FR1vm-rKKW0Hv02JIKqQk-HRaZZwjIOSuvmdqxAhjpk39nkTIOIyPQS4E-bebs4fWr3aKI-zJPlB4ipikKYCVs-aMpjbX_mVW2A/w640-h456/Lady-Allen-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2023/10/auction.html" target="_blank">Following my recent article on the artist Colin Gill</a>, I feel that it would be appropriate to follow this up with an article on his sister, Marjory Gill who was a ground breaking campaigner in her own right. Marjory Allen (nee Gill), Baroness Allen of Hurtwood (1897-1976), was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to improving the lives of children, particularly through her pioneering work in promoting the importance of play. Her unwavering belief in the transformative power of play led her to become a leading figure in the creation of adventure playgrounds, spaces where children could explore, experiment, and develop their creativity freely. Born Marjory Gill in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> in 1897, she grew up in a loving and supportive family that encouraged her creative pursuits. From an early age, she displayed a deep empathy for children and a strong sense of social justice. These qualities would later shape her lifelong commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of children. After completing her education, Marjory Gill embarked on a successful career as a landscape architect. Her designs were characterised by their emphasis on creating spaces that were both aesthetically pleasing and functional, particularly for children. She became a fellow of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_Institute" target="_blank">Institute of Landscape Architects</a> in 1930, a testament to her expertise and influence in the field. In the aftermath of World War II, Marjory Gill's attention turned to the plight of children living in war-torn cities. She witnessed firsthand the impact of displacement and trauma on their emotional and physical well-being. It was at this time that she worked with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNICEF" target="_blank">UNICEF</a> to aid children orphaned by war. She recognised the crucial role of play in providing children with opportunities for self-expression, resilience, and social interaction. Marjory Gill became a passionate advocate for the creation of adventure playgrounds, spaces where children could freely explore, experiment, and take risks. She believed that these playgrounds, with their open-ended environments and natural materials, would foster creativity, independence, and a sense of self-worth in children. In 1959, Marjory Gill founded the Adventure Playground Association (APA), an organisation dedicated to promoting the development of adventure playgrounds throughout the United Kingdom. The APA played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the importance of play and providing guidance for the design and implementation of adventure playgrounds. Marjory Gill's tireless efforts led to the establishment of numerous adventure playgrounds across the country. These spaces quickly gained popularity among children and families, providing much-needed opportunities for unstructured and imaginative play. Lady Allen of Hurtwood's legacy extends far beyond the physical structures of adventure playgrounds. Her unwavering belief in the power of play has transformed the way children's play spaces are designed and utilised. Her work has inspired countless individuals and organizations to recognise the importance of play and advocate for children's right to safe, stimulating, and accessible play environments. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsi9ALelI5yZ5gXGjwuPxQDI5tcA_2BqTpeDbbQxn3K1HLw6DR4U-8F04YLapt-NmIA1oY4Ymj-mWcBQg9zz3bIA77MQBpC4ZdYj0orc3iLPtKi0-jtEhVstx71KFqfoFJErwKFSoCG4aOYZZzRpdPwHHotcIYQAfXBUUJ9620OB5Y1PEztYrN/s1600/Sony-Betamax-Recorder.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsi9ALelI5yZ5gXGjwuPxQDI5tcA_2BqTpeDbbQxn3K1HLw6DR4U-8F04YLapt-NmIA1oY4Ymj-mWcBQg9zz3bIA77MQBpC4ZdYj0orc3iLPtKi0-jtEhVstx71KFqfoFJErwKFSoCG4aOYZZzRpdPwHHotcIYQAfXBUUJ9620OB5Y1PEztYrN/w640-h480/Sony-Betamax-Recorder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Something that might quite surprise you is that the price of old <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> video recorders is currently going through the roof; a couple of years ago you could not give one away if you tried. Suddenly they are turning up on eBay and the bidding competition is fierce. Prices of £250 and upwards have been noted. What is the reason for this? Well, it does not seem to be down to any love for the outdated video format (which whilst it failed in the domestic home market, it was the cornerstone of many TV news and outside broadcast units for many years). It would appear that people are coming across family videos recorded on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> cassettes and wish to digitise them. Most professional video transfer services can handle <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> and the common broadcast formats, but very few are capable of doing anything with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> format cassette. People with old recordings of weddings and family events realise that if they wish to be able to see them again, they will need to locate a device capable of playing the tape format - hence the sudden upsurge of interest. The ironic thing is, it is pretty likely that the tapes will be unwatchable even when a suitable player is used. Both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> cassettes deteriorate over time, even when stored in ideal conditions. A forty year old video tape will have de-magnetised and printed through so much that it will almost certainly show on screen as a mess of flickering static with a few under saturated, ghostly images of what remains of the original recording now. I recently have read quite a lot about the format wars between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> back in the early 1980's. From all that I have read, it became apparent that Sony, the creators of the Beta format were pretty much to blame for the demise of what initially was a far technically superior video format than the relatively pedestrian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> system. The main determining factor between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> was the cost of the recorders and length of recording time. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> is, in theory, a superior recording format over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> due to a higher screen resolution (250 lines vs. 240 lines), slightly superior sound, and a more stable image; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> recorders were also of higher quality construction. But these differences were negligible to consumers, and thus did not justify either the extra cost of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> VCR (which was often significantly more expensive than a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> equivalent) or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax's</a> shorter recording time. JVC, which designed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> technology, licensed it to any manufacturer that was interested. The manufacturers then competed against each other for sales, resulting in lower prices to the consumer. Sony was the only manufacturer of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> initially and so was not pressured to reduce prices. Only in the early 1980s did Sony decide to licence <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> technology to other manufacturers, such as Toshiba and Sanyo. What Sony did not take into account was what consumers wanted. While <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> was believed to be the superior format in the minds of the public and press (due to excellent marketing by Sony), consumers wanted an affordable video recorder (a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> machine was often around a hundred pounds less than an equivalent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> one back in the day); Sony believed that having better quality recordings was the key to success, and that consumers would be willing to pay a higher retail price for this, whereas it soon became clear that consumer desire was focused more intently on longer recording time, lower retail price, and compatibility with other machines for cassette sharing (as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> was becoming the format in the majority of homes). The real <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> killer was that for the first few years, the maximum length of recording was limited to one hour on Beta, whereas <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHS" target="_blank">VHS</a> could stretch to four hours with reduced image quality, critically long enough to record an entire American football game - the lucrative mass American market both systems were looking to crack. Sony had the attitude of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>We know best</i></span>" as to what the market wanted, and ignored requests for features that quickly became standard with their competitors. Consequently <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> is now considered alongside the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-track_cartridge" target="_blank">8 - Track cartridge</a> as a Dodo technology. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotape_format_war" target="_blank">You can read about the history of the video format war by clicking here</a>. If you are of the opinion that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax" target="_blank">Betamax</a> is far too mainstream, well known and commonplace, do yourself a favour by visiting <a href="https://v2000.palsite.com/" target="_blank">the Philips V2000 web site here</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Format_war" target="_blank">You can also read more about other format wars by clicking here.</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb3ZMUtxSjXPwJqullngHYUaa8_2vNVzkrZEkYRJ2VMeTs5PBplL6fyscPcxJshaMG9xEjLFIyLXrZM0VcoCseYZDN0h_do5INwGUirceUTuSoxNmXPlTLIhMv-KqQbnP-Cp0E5Y95HsI_ONIX95O-VF32zUiA1y-FR2ML-49u5Pc15_NMtHp/s4032/PXL_20231116_122631435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb3ZMUtxSjXPwJqullngHYUaa8_2vNVzkrZEkYRJ2VMeTs5PBplL6fyscPcxJshaMG9xEjLFIyLXrZM0VcoCseYZDN0h_do5INwGUirceUTuSoxNmXPlTLIhMv-KqQbnP-Cp0E5Y95HsI_ONIX95O-VF32zUiA1y-FR2ML-49u5Pc15_NMtHp/w360-h640/PXL_20231116_122631435.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are the owner, or you know the owner of the rather battered and worse for wear mobile phone in the photo above, then you need to get in contact with <a href="https://careservices.bexley.gov.uk/Services/1249/Metropolitan-Police" target="_blank">Bexleyheath Police Station</a>. I found the phone on Wednesday evening and handed it into the police station on Thursday morning. You will need to say where you lost it and also describe the rather unusual add - on phone case in order to prove ownership. If you have any questions or issues, then please email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The London Evening Standard published a report last Thursday on the issue of people using illegal e-bikes and e-scooters who have been blamed for an increase in injuries to bus passengers. Bus bosses said drivers were having to slam on the brakes to avoid people riding the battery-powered devices recklessly — with elderly passengers the most at risk of being hurt as a result. TfL has failed to hit an interim target of reducing by 70 per cent the number of deaths and serious injuries on, or caused by, its fleet of 9,000 buses. The long-term target of there being no deaths involving a London bus by 2030 also looks out of reach. Compared with the 2005-09 “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>baseline</i></span>” figure, there has been a 54 per cent reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured by a London bus. A worrying trend has surfaced – the illegal modification of e-scooters to bypass speed restrictions and exceed the UK's 15.5 mph limit. This reckless behaviour poses a significant threat to road safety and endangers both e-scooter riders and other road users. The ease of modifying e-scooters, often through simple software tweaks or online tutorials, has made this practice alarmingly common. E-scooters that were initially designed for safe and leisurely commuting are being transformed into high-speed vehicles, capable of reaching speeds comparable to motorcycles. This increase in speed significantly amplifies the risk of serious injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident. Modified e-scooters have been recorded at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour. The consequences of illegal e-scooter modifications are not merely theoretical; they have already manifested in real-world tragedies. A recent study revealed a sharp rise in e-scooter-related injuries, with many attributed to the use of modified vehicles. These incidents often involve collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles, resulting in severe head trauma, broken bones, and other debilitating injuries. The negative impact of illegal e-scooter modifications extends beyond the immediate risk of accidents. The perception of e-scooters as inherently dangerous and irresponsible is growing, potentially hindering their wider adoption as a sustainable transportation option. This stigma could undermine the efforts to promote e-scooters as a viable alternative to cars, thereby hindering progress towards reducing urban emissions. Cities such as Paris have banned e-scooters as a result of safety issues. Tackling this issue requires a multi-pronged approach involving law enforcement, manufacturers, and e-scooter users themselves. Stricter penalties for illegally modifying e-scooters are essential to deter this dangerous practice. Manufacturers should also take proactive measures to make speed restrictions more difficult to bypass and incorporate design features that prioritise safety. I have seen anecdotal evidence that some manufacturers of e-scooters deliberately make them easy to illegally modify to increase their speed, as this is a marketing ploy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a short tour of the twin statues of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown" target="_blank">Alcock and Brown</a>, the first people to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The statues are located in central Crayford, where the Vickers factory was situated. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_flight_of_Alcock_and_Brown" target="_blank">Alcock and Brown</a> used a modified <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Vimy" target="_blank">Vickers Vimy bomber</a> built in Crayford to make their historic journey. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kgNi0hjeQ6U?si=-HcV5B1HGIx31wl0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-34426214953295203782023-11-12T09:00:00.001+00:002023-11-13T08:10:54.450+00:00Empty.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqxn8jx-LZLS-xTbOugFsh86XI_1f3b1h6mrR6B5O8X_bkwEP-43R6_QFlWXNNPZKpJ3LTUMMwT3JiszVvbXnuh8GX0_5BiSDBi7Fspefxaj9OT2a1xoPLpR07jl661HlTpklAS5QOLCaqNPjUYAGU1ybnztOmrkt9tPk10TM9WAznE8u0F2O/s4032/PXL_20231103_141639973.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqxn8jx-LZLS-xTbOugFsh86XI_1f3b1h6mrR6B5O8X_bkwEP-43R6_QFlWXNNPZKpJ3LTUMMwT3JiszVvbXnuh8GX0_5BiSDBi7Fspefxaj9OT2a1xoPLpR07jl661HlTpklAS5QOLCaqNPjUYAGU1ybnztOmrkt9tPk10TM9WAznE8u0F2O/w640-h360/PXL_20231103_141639973.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above shows what in many ways is a landmark building in the centre of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a>. Recently the place was used as an office by law firm <a href="https://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-opening.html" target="_blank">MW Solicitors, who later changed their name to Taylor Rose, who moved into the building in April 2018</a>. They have now vacated it and relocated to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4577911,0.1367451,3a,75y,193.09h,97.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sh-dPtgPRcaiokZDcM4HXvQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">a brand new office on the site of the original Bexleyheath Library further down Bexleyheath Broadway</a>. Since then the building has remained empty and unused. Readers with a good memory may well recall that when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> Broadway was rebuilt and pedestrianised in the early 1990's, after the opening of The Broadway Shopping Centre in 1984, some new retail and bar / restaurant units were created on each side of the re-routed Mayplace Road West. On one side a block including <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a> pub, TK Maxx and some other retail units, and on the other side of the road is located <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> bus halt and a large, purpose built bar / restaurant building. Before the current structure was built the site was home to a former cinema called The Astor, which was turned into a bingo hall in 1967, which operated until 1986 when it was closed down and subsequently demolished to make way for the current building. The building was originally occupied by Yates Wine Lodge - an Oldham based pub chain with most of its outlets in the North of England. Yates is the oldest pub chain in the UK, with the first branch opening in Oldham in 1884. In earlier times, it invented its own range of drinks which it called Blobs, which consisted of sweet Australian wine and brandy, sugar, lemon and hot water. The pubs were the first to be visited on a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>pub crawl</i></span>", they were the first port of call on a night out. It was most popular on Fridays and Saturdays, and many were quieter in the early week; the pubs were not often seen as family pubs, though were regularly the start of a hen night or stag night or just the start of a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>pub crawl</i></span>". The reasoning being that "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Blob</i></span>" was an affordable and easy start to the night, with its cheap (comparatively), high alcoholic content and being hot, it didn't take many to get the consumer "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>in the mood</i></span>". Yates in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> was OK during the daytime - a bit like a trendier version of Wetherspoons, but at night it was a nightmare - under age drinkers and people binge drinking before getting the free mini bus to a nightclub in Swanley. I recall waiting at nearby bus stop after a Friday night cinema visit in around 2004; two women, who were apparently mother and daughter were fighting in the street - it turned out that they were both having a relationship with the same man. This was fairly typical of a night at Yates; It got so bad that the bus stops in Mayplace Road West were closed on a Friday and Saturday night, and Yates and <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">The Furze Wren</a> (then called Lloyds) opposite had different closing times enforced by magistrates to try and stop fights when the places turned out at closing time. One local commented at the time:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Don't think a single punter in there hasn't got any Burberry in their wardrobe. Regular 2-pot screamers getting into fights and girls (yes girls!) getting glassed - Nice!</i></span>" Another Bexleyheath local commented:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Yates is an awful place. Just a large, sterile drinking den with no atmosphere worth mentioning. The food is mediocre at best and the bar staff make you feel like you should be privileged your getting served by them. The clientele are the type that wouldn't know a decent pub if it came up and poked them in the eye. One good point is that places like this attract the scum and keep them out of the decent pubs in the area</i></span>." I could not have described the place any better. In 2005 the central Yates company was subject to a takeover by the Laurel Pub Company, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> Yates was sold off - it had become unprofitable after it introduced a £5 entrance fee on Friday and Saturday evenings, and the bar on the first floor had been closed down. It re - opened some time later, re-branded as RSVP Bar. This struggled on for a couple of years, but never recaptured the popularity of Yates when it was first open. The RSVP Bar seemed to make most of its money by selling alco-pops to teenagers, and many of its former customers instead went across the road to the increasingly successful <a href="https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/london/the-furze-wren-bexleyheath" target="_blank">Furze Wren</a> - which was / is operated by Wetherspoons. RSVP Bar closed and the building was empty for over a year, before a company took over the building with plans to turn it into an Afro - Caribbean restaurant. They spent ages on building work, with little progress towards opening being apparent. The whole restaurant project soon collapsed when a Nando's branch opened directly opposite it on the corner of Mayplace Road West and Geddes Place, essentially taking away the business. Subsequently in 2018 it became a short - lived office for lawyers MW Solicitors / Taylor Rose, but it is now empty once again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT-EMf6EC3NK_hKPVcSLLWxbGRRj_3svROlziI0LwnazVJCV3xk7DkP2o-NzkfTKzllwL2yJaieIe98-Zca3TJZxfUk8bJpTU6q8hdEohNE_o0cS4iqKfHLi-gprmtZjC7TiZviRy10w_LZnqXoXT8lhqgmjasY7vyKuS0yGlrMqf4kNk5U7-/s1200/BBC%20Radio%20Kent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT-EMf6EC3NK_hKPVcSLLWxbGRRj_3svROlziI0LwnazVJCV3xk7DkP2o-NzkfTKzllwL2yJaieIe98-Zca3TJZxfUk8bJpTU6q8hdEohNE_o0cS4iqKfHLi-gprmtZjC7TiZviRy10w_LZnqXoXT8lhqgmjasY7vyKuS0yGlrMqf4kNk5U7-/w640-h360/BBC%20Radio%20Kent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last Monday marked sweeping changes to many <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radio" target="_blank">BBC Local Radio</a> schedules, which has caused anger among many listeners. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Kent" target="_blank">BBC Radio Kent</a> has had much of its local content removed. The drastic cuts to the station’s output now sees a single afternoon show broadcast across all of Kent, Surrey and Sussex between 2pm and 6pm. The evening schedule is also now networked, with shared content broadcast across a huge part of the South East. At weekends, a single breakfast show also broadcasts across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The cuts mean some of the station’s most popular presenters have seen their shows moved or axed altogether. Some previously loyal listeners have vowed to boycott the popular station as a result of the cutbacks. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radio" target="_blank">BBC Local Radio</a> has long been a cornerstone of British broadcasting, providing a platform for local news, events, and discussions that reflect the unique character and interests of individual communities. For many listeners, especially those in rural or isolated areas, local radio serves as a lifeline, connecting them to their neighbours, providing essential information, and offering a sense of belonging. The BBC's cutbacks, however, threaten to diminish this vital service. By reducing local airtime and sharing more programming across stations, the BBC risks homogenizing local radio, diminishing its ability to cater to the specific needs and interests of individual communities. Moreover, the loss of local staff and presenters raises concerns about the quality of local news coverage and the ability to respond to local issues in a timely and meaningful way. One of the most significant impacts of the cutbacks has been the loss of local jobs. As programming is centralised, fewer staff are needed at local stations, leading to redundancies and a reduction in the number of people producing and presenting local content. This loss of expertise and experience has a direct impact on the quality and relevance of local radio programming. Another major concern is the reduced airtime for local news and events. With more programming being produced centrally, there is less time for local stations to cover the issues that matter most to their communities. This means that important local stories are going unreported, and listeners are missing out on vital information about their local area. The impact of these cutbacks is already being felt by listeners. Many have expressed dismay at the loss of long serving, familiar presenters and the reduction in local programming. They fear that the BBC's commitment to local communities is being eroded, leaving them with a less relevant and engaging radio service. The BBC's justification for these cutbacks centres on financial constraints. The corporation faces a challenging funding environment, with a decline in traditional licence fee income and increasing competition from digital media. However, many critics argue that the BBC should prioritise local radio, given its importance to communities and its unique role in British broadcasting. One response to an article on the Kent Messenger website on the cutbacks read:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Very sad indeed, Radio Kent will cease to be focused on Kent and become just another bland 'one size fits all' station that suits nobody. The BBC lost its way a long time ago</i></span>". The cutbacks to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radio" target="_blank">BBC local radio</a> represent a significant loss for communities across England. The plans have seen the corporation accused of abandoning its loyal radio listeners - including many older people - and using licence fee money to compete with commercial local news providers. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radio" target="_blank">BBC’s local radio</a> output has traditionally differed significantly and targeted different audiences to commercial stations, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMFM_(radio_network)" target="_blank">KMFM</a> in Kent. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radio" target="_blank">BBC local radio</a> has been a trusted source of information, entertainment, and connection for decades, and its diminished presence will leave a void in the lives of many listeners. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeCzuvtYaSPqa0kZHqZH9Rshx-KiD6-RRBHKN-bmI8HewEeaM1RTEms1H41-wTgCE7egLBGlRGSPwk6XO_L0QPPN1V15GGobMTPsdvMLV5-W-PgEg8JiLEPTJqf6SWekwD3Lv22Wcgrb-WiLtara_2es9bjd2YrPewOYsCLAqaM7-kTNHLKlt/s1104/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231109105722.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1104" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeCzuvtYaSPqa0kZHqZH9Rshx-KiD6-RRBHKN-bmI8HewEeaM1RTEms1H41-wTgCE7egLBGlRGSPwk6XO_L0QPPN1V15GGobMTPsdvMLV5-W-PgEg8JiLEPTJqf6SWekwD3Lv22Wcgrb-WiLtara_2es9bjd2YrPewOYsCLAqaM7-kTNHLKlt/w640-h444/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231109105722.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsCspfLo3DDNhgK69Fl9hfifHFFBtX5LNxs1o9QvNwyCijovizv_WBrx54_5QJQk-ynjCw1loOQCSZOK6a-G1YIoWxaFvtEKMekmDQ-385GjA9pi9o1qD2ZtlO5EdzNLYKOpvtM7i0e6cFEOcN3mcgb03JK4qwZX6gucHaKGIaGQvuPZoYMvY/s1110/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231109105847.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1110" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsCspfLo3DDNhgK69Fl9hfifHFFBtX5LNxs1o9QvNwyCijovizv_WBrx54_5QJQk-ynjCw1loOQCSZOK6a-G1YIoWxaFvtEKMekmDQ-385GjA9pi9o1qD2ZtlO5EdzNLYKOpvtM7i0e6cFEOcN3mcgb03JK4qwZX6gucHaKGIaGQvuPZoYMvY/w640-h446/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231109105847.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Mystery surrounds The Wrong 'Un pub in Bexleyheath Broadway. The Wetherspoon's pub has been up for sale for over a year now, and to date no buyer seems to have been found. According to the website of commercial property agent Savills, the lease on the pub lasts until the end of March 2028. I understand that a number of companies have investigated the premises, but at the time of writing it remains on sale. I think it will prove difficult for Wetherspoon's to get rid of the place. It was rumoured back in June that a buyer had been found, but from what I can gather, this has not been completed - all I can find out is that the pub is still "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>under offer</i></span>" - something that has not changed for at least five months. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In another slightly radio related issue, many commercial radio stations have recently been broadcasting commercials funded by the NHS to try and encourage people to complete and return bowel cancer testing kits. I understand that the take up of kits to vulnerable groups is far lower than the health authorities were anticipating. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK, with over 45,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK, killing over 16,500 people each year. The NHS offers free bowel cancer screening to eligible people aged 60 to 74. The screening test is a simple stool test that can be done at home. If the test is positive, further tests will be needed to confirm whether there is bowel cancer. However, the take-up of bowel cancer screening in the UK is low. In 2021, only 61% of eligible people took up the screening offer. There are a number of reasons why the take-up of bowel cancer screening is low. These include:- Lack of awareness: Many people are not aware of the bowel cancer screening programme or do not know that they are eligible. I would guess that this is the principal reason for the current radio advert campaign. Fear of cancer: Some people are afraid of being diagnosed with cancer and so avoid being screened. Embarrassment: Some people may feel embarrassed about doing the stool test. Practical barriers: Some people may have practical barriers to accessing screening, such as transportation difficulties or lack of time. The low take-up of bowel cancer screening is a serious concern, as it means that many people are missing out on the chance to detect cancer early, when it is most treatable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJY7fnajO-68hngwdu6tQtat7FKqrwXtDmNAQbM7_EAtByZOiC5TDpCFZEB3wp0iU4zY28E1UhX_kjTmm0o40j9OoIRNs5LhP4s0kCg9ay-rv-nU05mwdK0MGZ5hbLjusGDuCDCMM5VPAj18WnQZxqRxfchKSRJDvdhYYy0MQd1frxUP5zXn6/s891/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231110095254.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="642" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJY7fnajO-68hngwdu6tQtat7FKqrwXtDmNAQbM7_EAtByZOiC5TDpCFZEB3wp0iU4zY28E1UhX_kjTmm0o40j9OoIRNs5LhP4s0kCg9ay-rv-nU05mwdK0MGZ5hbLjusGDuCDCMM5VPAj18WnQZxqRxfchKSRJDvdhYYy0MQd1frxUP5zXn6/w462-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231110095254.png" width="462" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Following my article last week about smart power meters, and how many that are currently installed in British homes and businesses will need to be replaced before 2G and 3G phone networks are phased out. Subsequent to this, it was brought to my attention that another issue with all UK mart meters may shortly come to pass if the British government follows the example of the French. Let me explain. The French government is planning a trial to temporarily halve the maximum power levels of Linky smart electricity meters (photo above - click on it to see a larger version) this winter in an effort to limit blackouts. The trial would involve around 200,000 homes with Linky meters, and would see their maximum power levels reduced from 6kVA to 3kVA for up to four hours in a single day. The trial is being carried out in response to concerns over the resilience of the French electricity grid in the face of rising energy demand and the potential for supply disruptions. The government is hoping that the trial will help to identify any potential problems with the grid and to develop new ways to manage electricity demand. There are a number of reasons why the French government is concerned about the resilience of the electricity grid. Firstly, energy demand is rising in France, driven by factors such as the electrification of transport and heating. Secondly, the country is increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources, which can be intermittent in nature. Thirdly, France is interconnected with the European electricity grid, which means that it is vulnerable to disruptions in other countries. The French government has already taken a number of steps to improve the resilience of the electricity grid, such as investing in new infrastructure and developing new energy storage technologies. However, the government believes that the Linky smart meter trial is a necessary additional measure to ensure that the grid can cope with the challenges of the coming winter. The Linky smart meters are being used to carry out the trial because they allow power company Enedis to remotely control the power supply to individual homes. This means that Enedis can reduce the power supply to homes during periods of high demand, without having to physically send out engineers. The trial is expected to begin in December 2023 and will last for six months. Participants in the trial will be informed by letter and will not have the right to opt out. However, they will be compensated for any inconvenience caused by the power reductions. The trial has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the move, arguing that it is necessary to protect the electricity grid and to avoid blackouts. Others have criticized the trial, arguing that it is an unfair burden on consumers and that it will lead to higher energy bills. The trial will be closely watched by the energy industry and by governments around the world. If the trial is successful, it could lead to the widespread use of smart meters to manage electricity demand and to prevent blackouts. This is quite likely to happen at some point in the future in the UK. Another reason to avoid having a smart meter installed?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoiRj4GOVC82gUq8e08-JosXEo5DO-iFmmtpTRYKxSi766OXXttu9x7kJSlkizmtaU_TENqR3e0Brr9hgi0aDasuwvbdxAW-mM_329PeSB7aa0TkocoSO2cmdLbtfDXWdhsZeiQ_zuVNlwq1Ow1KTpHblJv8EBU9ltXqITspiEVFTfG4XURkb/s628/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231106124823.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="628" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoiRj4GOVC82gUq8e08-JosXEo5DO-iFmmtpTRYKxSi766OXXttu9x7kJSlkizmtaU_TENqR3e0Brr9hgi0aDasuwvbdxAW-mM_329PeSB7aa0TkocoSO2cmdLbtfDXWdhsZeiQ_zuVNlwq1Ow1KTpHblJv8EBU9ltXqITspiEVFTfG4XURkb/w640-h584/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231106124823.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Last week I wrote a topical article about the Gunpowder Plot, and its alleged links to Erith. One thing I uncovered whilst carrying out my historical research was a little known fact. England's premier Elizabethan spy master - Sir Francis Walsingham was born and raised locally in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foots_Cray_Place" target="_blank">Foot's Cray Place</a>. Sir Francis Walsingham was a key figure in Elizabethan England, serving as principal secretary to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth I</a> from 1573 until his death in 1590. He is best known for establishing a highly effective intelligence network that played a crucial role in protecting England from foreign threats, particularly from Catholic powers such as Spain. Walsingham was also a skilled diplomat and statesman, and he was deeply involved in many of the major events of the Elizabethan era, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Walsingham was born around 1532 at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foots_Cray_Place" target="_blank">Foot's Cray Place</a>. He was the only son of William Walsingham, a successful lawyer, and Joyce Denny, the daughter of a courtier. Walsingham attended Cambridge University and then travelled in Europe, where he studied law and languages. He became a committed Protestant during his time abroad, and he returned to England in 1553 when the Catholic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_I_of_England" target="_blank">Queen Mary I</a> ascended to the throne. During Mary's reign, Walsingham was forced to live in exile due to his Protestant beliefs. He spent time in Switzerland, Italy, and France, where he continued to study and develop his political skills. He also began to build up a network of contacts with other Protestants across Europe. When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I" target="_blank">Elizabeth I</a> became queen in 1558, Walsingham returned to England and was appointed as one of her secretaries. He quickly became one of Elizabeth's most trusted advisors, and he played a key role in her government. Walsingham is best known for his work as a spymaster. He established a vast network of spies and informers throughout Europe, and he used this network to gather intelligence on England's enemies. This intelligence was essential in helping England to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588. On 18 August 1588, after the dispersal of the armada, naval commander Lord Henry Seymour wrote to Walsingham, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>you have fought more with your pen than many have in our English navy fought with their enemies</i></span>". In addition to his work as a spymaster, Walsingham was also a skilled diplomat. He represented England in negotiations with France, Spain, and other European powers. He was also a strong advocate for English colonisation and trade, and he played a role in the development of England's maritime power. In foreign intelligence, Walsingham's extensive network of "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>intelligencers</i></span>", who passed on general news as well as secrets, spanned Europe and the Mediterranean.While foreign intelligence was a normal part of the principal secretary's activities, Walsingham brought to it flair and ambition, and large sums of his own money. He cast his net more widely than others had done previously: expanding and exploiting links across the continent as well as in Constantinople and Algiers, and building and inserting contacts among Catholic exiles. Among his spies may have been the playwright <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Marlowe" target="_blank">Christopher Marlowe</a>; Marlowe was in France in the mid-1580s and was acquainted with Walsingham's kinsman Thomas Walsingham. Walsingham died in London on April 6, 1590. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Walsingham is considered one of the most important figures in Elizabethan England. He was a brilliant statesman, a shrewd diplomat, and a master spymaster. His work helped to protect England from foreign threats and to make England a leading power in Europe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2iDOT7kXd5fw2e89FPkb3I5ApStKBXrT7iRGwiqhWGcsyvM5Z3Pga1BmLKeFRXeyrXf4jEMjLzFFoGD7_4JVMP0DKWpaQaAzD97Sh7OpNf_SdT_ltiNRcXIpq_WWG2VhyphenhyphensGf6QJHmuWAKxtrqKEzYiVlRQTqJBMTdHJOI8fwbB9GFx2vH3kt/s1280/IMG_9354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2iDOT7kXd5fw2e89FPkb3I5ApStKBXrT7iRGwiqhWGcsyvM5Z3Pga1BmLKeFRXeyrXf4jEMjLzFFoGD7_4JVMP0DKWpaQaAzD97Sh7OpNf_SdT_ltiNRcXIpq_WWG2VhyphenhyphensGf6QJHmuWAKxtrqKEzYiVlRQTqJBMTdHJOI8fwbB9GFx2vH3kt/w640-h480/IMG_9354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkjB3f6ztkfJYi8o2Kzt-Gf-RQiPUPUSatb9qTSp8QEA6EaAsYa0T7Su9tSrStPoHi71eu7UNrwagDINKzRA6P-3uC5SmQshxdgfgQdkD2a7DwMMUtdMeqeSEwyu46RF7khOI3EUuF18gpJh9UX9EFAGEyzm7810vvnznVGn44PCrJUZYJf94/s1280/IMG_9353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkjB3f6ztkfJYi8o2Kzt-Gf-RQiPUPUSatb9qTSp8QEA6EaAsYa0T7Su9tSrStPoHi71eu7UNrwagDINKzRA6P-3uC5SmQshxdgfgQdkD2a7DwMMUtdMeqeSEwyu46RF7khOI3EUuF18gpJh9UX9EFAGEyzm7810vvnznVGn44PCrJUZYJf94/w640-h480/IMG_9353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Occasional Maggot Sandwich technology contributor Miles wrote a piece on the new EV charging station which recently opened at the Sainsbury's supermarket in Crayford. As an experiment he then ran the article he wrote through the Chat GPT 4 Artificial Intelligence system to see what the result might be. Suffice to say that he was impressed. Here is Miles article after it had been rewritten by AI:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Currents of Change: A First-Hand Look at Sainsbury's Crayford EV Charging Haven - As the world pivots towards sustainable energy, Sainsbury's Crayford stands at the forefront of this revolution with their recent launch of fifteen 150kW CCS ultra-rapid chargers, accompanied by a solitary 50kW CHAdeMO charger. During a routine run to pick up groceries, I seized the opportunity to test out their state-of-the-art facility and, frankly, the experience was nothing short of impressive. Spacious Bays: A Breather for Your Car - Immediately noticeable was the generous space allocated to each bay, a thoughtful design that mitigates the risk of those all-too-common car park scuffs. This is a far cry from the cramped quarters that are often the norm elsewhere, where entering your vehicle feels akin to a contortionist's act. Innovative Cable Management: Accessibility Redefined - Long-time followers of Hugh's blog may recall my concerns about the cumbersome weight of charging cables, which posed a challenge for those with physical limitations. Sainsbury's Crayford has ingeniously countered this with an overhead pole system that not only supports the cable's weight but also offers the flexibility to reach charging ports located anywhere on the vehicle. Simplified Payment: The End of 'App Hell' - The dreaded 'app hell' that once plagued EV charging has been relegated to the past. Aligning with recent government mandates, the chargers at Crayford come equipped with credit card readers. This user-friendly addition is a boon for those who prefer a straightforward tap of the card over navigating multiple phone apps. Ultra-Rapid Charging: Quick Turnaround - The name 'ultra-rapid' certainly lives up to its billing. Post-shopping, I returned to a fully charged car in what felt like a blink of an eye. During this brief wait, I had the pleasure of engaging with a cordial Welsh gentleman, curious about my EV — a testament to the camaraderie within the EV community. Cost Considerations: A Bitter Pill - However, excellence comes at a price. At 75 pence per kilowatt-hour, the cost of convenience steeply parallels that of fueling an internal combustion engine vehicle — a far stretch from the economical £10 it would cost to charge at home. It's an area ripe for competitive adjustment. Concluding Thoughts: More Than Just Charging - The roll out of these advanced chargers across the nation is heartening. As the charging process evolves to become more seamless and expeditious, the case for electric vehicles strengthens for the average consumer. Our collective gaze must now turn towards making public charging more economically accessible</i></span>". A facinating piece and a valuable assessment of the new EV recharging facility. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is also about an electric vehicle. It is an episode from the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIB5XXHNAWWzTOw6guIMYCg" target="_blank">Harry's Garage</a>" YouTube channel. <a href="https://www.tradeclassics.com/harry-metcalfe/" target="_blank">Harry Metcalfe</a> is a motoring journalist, publisher and farmer who produces what many consider to be the finest motoring channel on YouTube. In this episode he gets acquainted with the forthcoming electric sports car, the Caterham Project V, which will be built in the new Caterham factory in Dartford, which I understand will be the successor to the original Caterham Cars factory in Kennet Road, Crayford. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RauqcIreKWs?si=9kY02EVCxvTJ0V26" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-82785861240127809082023-11-05T11:15:00.000+00:002023-11-05T11:15:15.110+00:00Crossing.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN99PP388mRGsdInZZ-cviF3PTPq9UdMz4xA0APzGn12uNs8rpLmyAA-PPHUt0tsoXcxJUjWG9xgD9UgmhICu4Wt-ulEPEOoyGKrpHiBeRA0w84pFCVxZ_cFiz1EpF5JuzPg-kz5EPeUJYI-9MQ64cGEK37dKXJMfwaIb5sI3Jh0QhFEoh4ar/s4032/PXL_20231029_150948366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN99PP388mRGsdInZZ-cviF3PTPq9UdMz4xA0APzGn12uNs8rpLmyAA-PPHUt0tsoXcxJUjWG9xgD9UgmhICu4Wt-ulEPEOoyGKrpHiBeRA0w84pFCVxZ_cFiz1EpF5JuzPg-kz5EPeUJYI-9MQ64cGEK37dKXJMfwaIb5sI3Jh0QhFEoh4ar/w640-h360/PXL_20231029_150948366.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The pedestrian crossing in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4783399,0.1863509,3a,75y,251.71h,87.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL0A7eCw9OLkYDp3H24XqAA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Manor Road Erith, adjacent to Appold Street</a> is typical of many in the London Borough of Bexley; the road markings are almost completely worn away due to a lack of maintenance. I have logged a support ticket with the <a href="https://fix.bexley.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Bexley Fix My Street website</a>, but I will not be holding my breath for the lines to be repainted any time soon. I have witnessed two recent occasions when drivers seemed to not recognise that there was a pedestrian crossing and nearly hit people crossing the road. Unfortunately this is something that is becoming increasingly common. <span style="text-align: left;">Local councils across the UK are facing a financial crisis, and one of the areas that is being hit hardest is road maintenance. Councils are having to make difficult decisions about which services to cut, and road repairs are often seen as a non-essential service. </span><span style="text-align: left;">One of the main reasons for the financial crisis is that local councils have been subject to severe cuts in funding from central government. In the past decade, councils have seen their budgets slashed by almost 50%, and this has had a major impact on their ability to deliver services. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Another factor that is contributing to the problem is the rising cost of road maintenance. The cost of materials and labour has been increasing in recent years, and this is putting a further strain on council budgets. </span><span style="text-align: left;">As a result of these factors, local councils are having to make difficult decisions about which roads to repair and which ones to leave in a state of disrepair. This is leading to a growing backlog of road repairs, and this is having a negative impact on motorists and pedestrians alike. </span><span style="text-align: left;">A recent survey by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Limited" target="_blank">RAC</a> found that the number of potholes on UK roads has increased by 20% in the past year. The survey also found that the average cost of repairing a pothole is now £50. This means that the backlog of road repairs is costing the UK economy millions of pounds each year. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The problem of road repairs is not just a financial one. It is also a safety issue. Potholes can cause serious damage to vehicles, and they can also be a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Limited" target="_blank">RAC</a> estimates that over 100,000 car accidents each year are caused by potholes. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The government has acknowledged the problem of road repairs, and it has pledged to provide additional funding to local councils. However, many experts believe that the government is not doing enough, and that the backlog of road repairs will continue to grow in the coming years. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In the meantime, local councils are having to do the best they can with the resources they have. This means that some roads will inevitably be left in a state of disrepair. This is a frustrating situation for motorists and pedestrians alike, but it is one that is unlikely to change anytime soon. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In addition to the above, here are some specific examples of how financial cutbacks are impacting road repairs in the UK: </span><span style="text-align: left;">In 2022, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Government_Association" target="_blank">Local Government Association (LGA)</a> warned that councils in England were facing a £14 billion backlog of road repairs. </span><span style="text-align: left;">A 2023 survey by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Limited" target="_blank">RAC</a> found that the average number of potholes reported per mile of road in the UK had increased by 20% in the past year. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In 2023, the government announced an additional £500 million in funding for road repairs. However, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Government_Association" target="_blank">LGA</a> said that this was not enough to address the backlog of repairs. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The financial cutbacks that are being faced by local councils are having a real impact on the quality of our roads. It is important to raise awareness of this issue and to put pressure on the government to provide more funding for road repairs. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vvd1on89Jz1j5NA9SUKfnpy3uMcar3-lu3uRv0onK9r-SH0uuu-ZVrjSJpPncJFfECUAYSu0rJfIiwizEMuPdSoV3EQENDoPTH0wngSub52YI9NYvaSc61cgd096BT_ONAS6kq33vpQE0lHAE8ooTdNTOawA5xWwY-PYvOBOHjiskftQ24cC/s4032/PXL_20230811_093347691.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vvd1on89Jz1j5NA9SUKfnpy3uMcar3-lu3uRv0onK9r-SH0uuu-ZVrjSJpPncJFfECUAYSu0rJfIiwizEMuPdSoV3EQENDoPTH0wngSub52YI9NYvaSc61cgd096BT_ONAS6kq33vpQE0lHAE8ooTdNTOawA5xWwY-PYvOBOHjiskftQ24cC/w640-h360/PXL_20230811_093347691.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The government has announced that plans to close railway ticket offices in the South East of England have been cancelled. This comes after a public outcry over the proposals, which were seen as a threat to accessibility and safety. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Delivery_Group" target="_blank">Rail Delivery Group (RDG)</a>, which represents train operators, had proposed closing nearly all of the 974 ticket offices in England. This would have left just 23 offices open in the South East, and none at all in some areas. The government had initially backed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Delivery_Group" target="_blank">RDG's</a> proposals, but it has now reversed its decision following a consultation with passengers and stakeholders. The consultation found that the vast majority of people were opposed to the closures. I suspect that the government also viewed the proposed closures as a vote loser. The cancellation of the closures is a victory for campaigners who had warned of the negative impact they would have on passengers, particularly the elderly and disabled. Ticket offices provide a vital service for many people, and their closure would have made it more difficult for them to travel by train. The region's train services are essential for businesses and commuters, and the closure of ticket offices would have had a negative impact on the economy. The government's decision to cancel the closures is a positive step, and it is hoped that it will set a precedent for other parts of the country. Ticket offices play an important role in our transport system, and they should be protected. <span style="text-align: left;">In addition to the above, here are some specific reactions to the cancellation of the closures:- </span><span style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_of_Rail,_Maritime_and_Transport_Workers" target="_blank">Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT)</a> welcomed the decision, saying that it was a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>victory for common sense</i></span>". </span><span style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_for_Better_Transport_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">Campaign for Better Transport</a> also welcomed the decision, saying that it was a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>victory for passengers</i></span>". </span><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Delivery_Group" target="_blank">The Rail Delivery Group</a> said that it was "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>disappointed</i></span>" with the decision, but that it would work with the government to implement its plans. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The cancellation of the closures is a positive development for passengers and the local area. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwG3ImeZv_xKm4RWGym17mG5_4da1ml-J9blss4EwEmBln7ODbt2dgkpruoQJa8MpctZv6lO4SqExM6km2Gb1vEjFGidW1pZTJkGg24Hs8N26IvyNEgN1NNm_3pTejD2JwFldLcazmEbEO-0Yt8iHb3jBYjRt1TpEZTxfb_-nwsE3zEOdRQwT/s1500/what-are-smart-meters-banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1500" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwG3ImeZv_xKm4RWGym17mG5_4da1ml-J9blss4EwEmBln7ODbt2dgkpruoQJa8MpctZv6lO4SqExM6km2Gb1vEjFGidW1pZTJkGg24Hs8N26IvyNEgN1NNm_3pTejD2JwFldLcazmEbEO-0Yt8iHb3jBYjRt1TpEZTxfb_-nwsE3zEOdRQwT/w640-h270/what-are-smart-meters-banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I have previously written, the roll out of smart energy meters in the UK has been an embarrassment for both the power companies and the government. Now there has been a further development - a group of MP's are calling for government to put together a timetable for the replacement of millions upon millions of smart meters that will be defunct when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G" target="_blank">2G</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G" target="_blank">3G</a> mobile networks are switched off. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Accounts_Committee_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)</a> comprised of cross-party MPs penned a report to update the roll out of the smart meters, with multiple deadlines missed along the way of the failing £13.9 billion project. The report echoes an earlier one by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Audit_Office_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">National Audit Office (NAO)</a>, which found that as of March 2023, energy companies had rolled out the devices to just 57 percent (roughly 32.4 million out of a potential install base of 57.1 million) homes and businesses. Of these devices, around 9 percent were not functioning properly. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Accounts_Committee_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">PAC</a> says in its latest report: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>A fifth more (an estimated seven million) will lose functionality when the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G" target="_blank">2G</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G" target="_blank">3G</a> mobile communications networks are closed if they do not receive costly hardware upgrades (the cost of which will ultimately be borne by the bill payers)</i></span>." UK communications regulator Ofcom announced last month that UK mobile operators do not intend to provide <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G" target="_blank">2G</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G" target="_blank">3G</a> mobile networks for many more years, though the precise dates of closure vary between operating companies. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Accounts_Committee_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">PAC</a> wants to know what the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Energy_Security_and_Net_Zero" target="_blank">Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)</a>, as well as energy regulator Ofgem, are doing to plan the smooth running of a replacement scheme. It asks both to set out "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>what they will do to ensure suppliers assign more importance than at present to replacing those smart meters not functioning properly</i></span>" and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>a timetable for replacing the communication hub element of smart meters that will lose functionality when the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G" target="_blank">2G</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G" target="_blank">3G</a> mobile networks are switched off</i></span>." It is hardly surprising the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Accounts_Committee_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">PAC</a>, which studies public audits such as those written by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Audit_Office_(United_Kingdom)" target="_blank">NAO</a>, is concerned about deadlines because the smart meter project has missed several deployment deadlines so far. The scheme started in 2012 when government placed the legal burden on energy suppliers to ensure they would complete the smart meter roll out by 2019. The deadline was then pushed back: first to the end of 2020, then to 2024. A consultation was launched in February, under which the intent is to install the devices in 80 percent of homes and 73 percent of small businesses by the end of that 2025, although at the time of writing this target seems rather ambitious. The project was estimated to cost £13.5 billion ($16.4 billion) between 2013 and 2034, based on 2011 prices. The benefits in terms of cost savings to households from knowing the amount of energy they are consuming was pegged at £19.5 billion ($23.6 billion). One observer commented that:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>the service life of these new meters is shorter than the old ones they replace. That's especially so for the gas meters that are now battery powered. So before they've finished rolling out the new meters, they'll already be replacing the older ones - and that's leaving aside the issue of replacing the ones that have stopped working, stopped when changing supplier, etc., etc</i></span>." Another person commented:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Customer functionality wasn't really core to the project. The original thinking was that smart meters can report usage data to the half hour and that would allow much better management of the grid. Unfortunately that's a fallacy, as the data can't be processed usefully in time to tell grid operators anything they already know from the system frequency, which is how networks have been managed since forever. Other benefits were the potential for half hourly or dynamic pricing - like you'd want to be connected to a grid system and not know how much you were going to be paying, and the automatic disconnection of supply when a battery fails - because if their meter fails, it's far better you go without heating or hot water for a few days than that (horror of horrors) you get un-billable gas until they fix their stuff</i></span>". More on this subject next week, with a revelation in respect of some French smart meters, and how this could potentially set a precedent for the UK. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">With today being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night" target="_blank">Guy Fawkes Night</a> - something that until now has been relatively unknown is that Erith is thought by some historians from <a href="https://careservices.bexley.gov.uk/Services/1225" target="_blank">Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre</a> to have played a pivotal role in the Gunpowder Plot. In some information they released just in time for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night" target="_blank">Guy Fawkes Night</a> back in 2012, when they indicated that their research showed that in the summer of 1605, Erith Manor House, which was located on what is now Erith High Street, was rented under a pseudonym by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Vaux" target="_blank">Anne Vaux</a>, the daughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Vaux,_3rd_Baron_Vaux_of_Harrowden" target="_blank">Lord William Vaux</a>, the head of one of the wealthiest and most prominent Catholic families in the country at the time. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Vaux" target="_blank">Anne Vaux</a> was known to arrange for safe houses to be made available for Catholic priests to hide up and hold underground church services – Catholics were widely persecuted in England at the time. Erith Manor House was considered an ideal location for Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and the other plotters against the King to hide up, as it had, according to Catesby “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>a secluded but convenient location</i></span>” on the banks of the Thames, which had the added benefit of offering an easy escape route by boat, should the situation arise. What the plotters did not realise was that the intelligence service of the time was aware of them – spymaster <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Standen_(spy)" target="_blank">Sir Anthony Standen</a>, first assistant to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Walsingham" target="_blank">Sir Francis Walsingham</a>, who was then head of the English Secret Service, working directly for King James I, had broken up a plot (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye_Plot" target="_blank">The Bye Plot – click here for more details</a>) eighteen months before hand, and was now acutely aware that other Catholic activists had designs on the life of the Protestant monarch. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Standen_(spy)" target="_blank">Sir Anthony</a> had informants all over the place, and soon became aware of the small group of men who were acting very suspiciously in and around Erith. Several of the plotters had also been seen in a number of taverns in Southwark, and it is possible that they were followed back to Erith, where their safe house was then discovered. When agents subsequently raided the house, the conspirators had already made their escape, and the place was deserted. Some of this is extrapolation from verified facts – it is certain that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Vaux" target="_blank">Anne Vaux</a> did indeed rent Erith Manor House using the cover name Mrs Perkins, though it is not certain the Gunpowder Plotters did use it as their primary base of operations – there may well have been an underground Catholic church in the house, which in itself would have aroused suspicions. Unfortunately there is no opportunity for Erith Manor House to become a tourist attraction, as it was demolished in the 19th century after falling into a state of disrepair. Personally I think the story is somewhat fanciful. A group of wealthy gentlemen taking residence would stand out like a sore thumb in a sleepy fishing village, as Erith was back at that time. Their fine clothes and expensive horses would mark them as outsiders, and this would be certain to at the very least provoke curiosity from local people. I think it far more likely that their base of operations was located in Southwark, which in those days was effectively lawless, as well as being closer to their intended target.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There have been numerous reports in both the local and national press about a higher than usual number of residential fires over the last few weeks. There have also been a number of violent assaults by youths against others in the form of firework attacks. Both the increase in fires and the attacks can be directly attributed to the misuse of fireworks. I have heard an increasingly large number of people voice the opinion that the law regarding the sale of fireworks to the public really needs to be revisited. Personally I am of the view that one should need a licence to purchase fireworks, and that these would only be permitted for public displays, outdoor concerts, weddings and suchlike. The problem is that at the moment total idiots have access to fireworks, which are basically low explosives. The number of accidents and injuries that occur every year at this time are mainly down to irresponsible and malicious abuse of fireworks. Banning the general sale of them to individuals would go a long way to mitigate this. What do you think? Would this be an affront to personal liberty? Is it a price too high to pay? Let me know your thoughts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI60ENGOqEC66580Y0iWWs241C1KJw85QXUwhP2Jw0YEmjW6Yu13M3bUAPMYol2uuNNVeWQ5MWdHgbL0hT-GArxZs-JeHikbCXFloSJhJ3aFowGw5qJyObYvRVtKFE-aF9Gf6dCwotPBKqHYOExE5YJ40YgPFjptREb_L04-A5875F7dUbr147/s1600/Erith%20Swimming%20Baths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI60ENGOqEC66580Y0iWWs241C1KJw85QXUwhP2Jw0YEmjW6Yu13M3bUAPMYol2uuNNVeWQ5MWdHgbL0hT-GArxZs-JeHikbCXFloSJhJ3aFowGw5qJyObYvRVtKFE-aF9Gf6dCwotPBKqHYOExE5YJ40YgPFjptREb_L04-A5875F7dUbr147/w640-h404/Erith%20Swimming%20Baths.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above shows the original Erith Swimming Baths, which was opened in 1907; the pool was of relatively modest dimensions - it measured 60 x 25 feet, and was heated with waste heat from the adjacent Erith Power Station in Walnut Tree Road. The old baths were closed in 1967, when work on the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_pewty/2350563410/in/dateposted-public/" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Swimming Baths</a> began. That has now in turn been demolished, and the site on the corner of Walnut Tree Road and Erith High Street that is now the location of the Riverside housing development which overlooks the Riverside Gardens, which are to the West of the Erith High Street conservation area, and date back to 1937, when they were created to replace the former <a href="http://gfmt.blogspot.com/2018/04/17042018-messrs-cannon-and-gazes-mills.html" target="_blank">Cannon and Gaze flour mill</a>, which was built on the site in 1903. Another firm that was established on the riverfront at Erith was Herbert W. Clarke and Sons, which was set up in 1890. They started out as barge owners and lighter men, but by 1911 they took over Anchor Bay Wharf, which until then had been owned by Eastern and Anderson. As soon as Herbert W. Clarke and Sons took possession of the wharf, they formed a new import and export business, which mainly exported coal to Holland and Belgium. Nearby was a company called Mayer Newman and Co. who were engaged in the scrap metal business – the scrap yard still exists today. It is now called <a href="https://uk.emrlocal.com/yards/emr-erith-scrap-metal" target="_blank">European Metal Recycling</a>, but is still in the same location in Manor Road. Further East along Manor Road was a truly massive factory and works owned by Turner’s Asbestos Cement Co. Ltd. The site covered a little over forty three acres; by 1912 the company pioneered the development of asbestos roofing material, and also produced a wide range of guttering, piping and fireproof insulation material, as well as a lot of other components for the building industry. We are still living with the legacy of this today; many old buildings need to have specialist demolition contractors to remove Turner’s asbestos building products, as the dust asbestos produces when cut or abraded is severely poisonous. I think if the company was still around today, they would have been sued into bankruptcy – but of course, around a century ago, nobody was any the wiser. Another world renowned company that had a base in Erith were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Doulton" target="_blank">Royal Doulton</a>, who had an extensive factory located just off Church Manorway. They made salt glazed piping and tiling. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Doulton" target="_blank">Royal Doulton</a> also made their fine china in Erith, when experimental designs were produced that depicted local scenes as their decoration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9WlI5BYckvuNq54uMf4gXJVFmaVzGPH8PZVh56zEjPm5qGHZ4aP6r7PjH7M5CareD2WtEzLV2mTmncO5q1qNL-vYRjEca1Cg-CdJdKzkOYY2yJVyEQ7WSUOG9s0gLd9iM2J7Wy-IsrBiScLPsPmxOFHFKF3wOwFHQbFnFhHPEKTcNpQmVlNS/s919/Illegal%20E-Scooter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="891" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9WlI5BYckvuNq54uMf4gXJVFmaVzGPH8PZVh56zEjPm5qGHZ4aP6r7PjH7M5CareD2WtEzLV2mTmncO5q1qNL-vYRjEca1Cg-CdJdKzkOYY2yJVyEQ7WSUOG9s0gLd9iM2J7Wy-IsrBiScLPsPmxOFHFKF3wOwFHQbFnFhHPEKTcNpQmVlNS/w620-h640/Illegal%20E-Scooter.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Electric scooters (E-Scooters) are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, but their legal status is still unclear. While it is legal to own and sell e-scooters in the UK, it is currently illegal to use them on public roads, pavements, or cycle lanes. There are a few exceptions to this rule. First, E-Scooters can be used legally on private land with the permission of the landowner. Second, the government is currently running trials in 31 regions where it is legal to use rental E-Scooters on public roads and in cycle lanes. To use a rental e-scooter in one of these trial areas, you must have a valid driving licence and be over the age of 18. The government is considering legalising the use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads, but no decision has been made yet. If E-Scooters are legalised, it is likely that there will be restrictions on their use, such as a minimum age requirement and a speed limit. There are a number of reasons why the government is considering legalising E-Scooters. First, E-Scooters are seen as a sustainable and environmentally friendly form of transport. Second, E-Scooters could help to reduce congestion on roads and public transport. Third, E-Scooters could provide a convenient and affordable way for people to get around. However, there are also some concerns about the safety of E-Scooters. E-Scooters, depending on their specification can reach speeds of 40 mph, or more with certain models - which could pose a risk to riders and pedestrians. Additionally, there have been reports of e-scooters being involved in accidents. Overall, the legal position of E-Scooters in the UK is still unclear. However, the government is considering legalising the use of privately owned E-Scooters on public roads. If E-Scooters are legalised, it is likely that there will be restrictions on their use. Government data shows that in 2022, there were 1,402 collisions involving E-Scooters in Great Britain and 12 deaths caused as a result. E-Scooter riders bear the brunt of this. Eleven of the 12 people killed were riders, as were 1,106 of the 1,446 people injured. Last June, Linda Davis was killed after a 14-year-old boy collided with her while riding a private E-Scooter on the pavement. She is thought to be the first pedestrian killed in an E-Scooter collision in the UK. The boy later received a 12-month referral order. Heralded by some as the future of transport when first introduced, E-Scooters are now known for cluttering up pavements and for antisocial behaviour. In the UK, sentiment towards them has soured. According to a survey carried out by the National Accident Helpline, 60% of Britons say E-Scooters should be banned from public roads. In September, Paris banned E-Scooters - Brussels is expected to scale back the number available to rent in the city from 20,000 to 8,000 in January. After four years of continuous growth, E-Scooter ridership in Europe fell for the first time this spring, by 10%. Most UK authorities agree that some kind of regulation is needed, and I am aware that the Metropolitan Police expect the private use of E-Scooters to be legalised in some form or another in the future. An article last week in The Guardian quoted Mark Shaffer, founder of the <a href="https://personalelectrictransport.co.uk/esdf-update/" target="_blank">E-Scooter Defence Fund</a>, a group that advocates for people who are prosecuted for using private E-Scooters. He said "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The only people left riding private e-scooters at the moment are either petty criminals or kids</i></span>". Indeed the image of E-Scooters has been largely tarnished by their use by criminals - masked individuals speeding illegally along pavements. I have been told that many drug dealers use E-Scooters when delivering illicit pharmaceuticals to their drug addict customers. E-Scooters have passionate champions and detractors, but among them there is almost uniform agreement that the government needs to legislate and regulate them. There is a campaign called "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Just Put a Reg On It</i></span>" which wants all E-Scooters to be fitted with mandatory registration plates - although personally I can see a major flaw in this - as I wrote last week, the UK has a major problem with both false and stolen vehicle registration plates. I feel that many of the current E-Scooter users who are part of the criminal fraternity would think nothing of putting a false number plate on their vehicle. Conversely, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Transport" target="_blank">The Department for Transport</a> estimated that E-Scooter trials across the country had led to a total reduction of between 269 and 348 tonnes of CO2 by December 2021 and said they had replaced car journeys 21% of the time. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nq-H4sm79z77-rE-lFENEoNJWD6RokFyffaJjoY9EsR6O2tqbf08A3wrwjC12Eyu6zBjXZCtb6t-aJ5xr_H_199Cdi7K-E-xFf9goAKBFECGPqJyqYBeDLlW63qmzgK3zpB_icdX-BR9nqyJUsJAd40321eWktorbz65XbpNLtFvQhlN0ayC/s546/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231104171553.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nq-H4sm79z77-rE-lFENEoNJWD6RokFyffaJjoY9EsR6O2tqbf08A3wrwjC12Eyu6zBjXZCtb6t-aJ5xr_H_199Cdi7K-E-xFf9goAKBFECGPqJyqYBeDLlW63qmzgK3zpB_icdX-BR9nqyJUsJAd40321eWktorbz65XbpNLtFvQhlN0ayC/w552-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231104171553.png" width="552" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above - click on it to see a larger view - yesterday morning whilst on a 99 bus. I was sat in my favoured position - the single seat at the front of the bus, adjacent to the driver. When the bus got to the stop by <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.484609,0.1529979,3a,75y,184.67h,90.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sV0DH7nk_PQn2W18ND20ziw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DV0DH7nk_PQn2W18ND20ziw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D259.1003%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">Brook Street in Upper Belvedere</a>, it became apparent that the previous bus had broken down, and was waiting for a mechanic to arrive. This is the third 99 bus that I have personally witnessed having broken down in the last week. As I wrote in my last update, I overheard a conversation between two bus drivers that seemed to indicate that the bus operating company - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva" target="_blank">Arriva</a> - has recently reduced the frequency of mechanical servicing on its buses from once every week to once a month in an effort to reduce operating costs. It would seem that this seems to be a false economy, as the number of bus breakdowns appears to have substantially increased. I would not be surprised if the cost of recovering a broken down bus and subsequently repairing it far exceeds the bill for a weekly mechanical service. Have you witnessed a broken down bus in the local area recently? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a short piece showing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva" target="_blank">Arriva</a> buses in Erith Town Centre and using the De Luci Fish Roundabout - the novelty is that none of them breaks down!</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/upX7hXEz_uM?si=Ny40ic1oQNq5cnZg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-75916656059054717332023-10-29T11:00:00.000+00:002023-10-29T11:00:10.029+00:00Breakdowns.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6jVd5sacOfECNfs7gp3ajeW-RNwc5q4vH0eJv8-PeJ2fX52bp9lciZl2oLVJUtfHdbA6BOvi0eQ1CIBtvHwKmAUclDmog8mjEvG4GOc_-bYOHLB1ScXWD583BmPNN4Yg_MujuUyOYQc3MYvNo7aA9VTNGF-C6bVXyuKm1heDL0TmUTUYdQNZ/s1666/99%20Bus%20broken%20down%20in%20Manor%20Road.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1666" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6jVd5sacOfECNfs7gp3ajeW-RNwc5q4vH0eJv8-PeJ2fX52bp9lciZl2oLVJUtfHdbA6BOvi0eQ1CIBtvHwKmAUclDmog8mjEvG4GOc_-bYOHLB1ScXWD583BmPNN4Yg_MujuUyOYQc3MYvNo7aA9VTNGF-C6bVXyuKm1heDL0TmUTUYdQNZ/w640-h360/99%20Bus%20broken%20down%20in%20Manor%20Road.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">An overheard conversation has given some explanation as to exactly why local buses appear to be breaking down more frequently than before. I was a passenger on a Woolwich bound 99 bus last week, when it stopped in Erith town centre for a change of drivers. As is often the case during these changeovers, the drivers had a chat; I happened to be sitting in the seat nearest the front of the bus, opposite the drivers cab, and was able to hear the conversation quite clearly. The two drivers were bemoaning the fact that the buses they drove were breaking down far more regularly than in the past. They both agreed that the reason for this was down to penny pinching by the bus operator, Arriva. Apparently buses used to have a minor mechanical service every week, but Arriva had recently instructed their engineers to carry out the minor service on a monthly basis to save on parts and labour costs. This the drivers agreed was the main cause for the increase in mechanical breakdowns. I can only report on the overheard conversation and cannot guarantee its veracity; coincidentally on my return to Erith I photographed the broken down 99 bus that you can see in the photo above - click on the image to see a larger version. What do you think? Email me in confidence to <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Incidentally I was a passenger on a 469 bus from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Wood_railway_station" target="_blank">Abbey Wood Station</a> on Friday lunchtime; the bus made its' way along Woolwich Road towards Upper Belvedere when I noticed a small group of banner wielding protesters surrounding a large white van parked at the roadside; the van was operated by a contractor on behalf of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London" target="_blank">TfL</a> and was equipped with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number-plate_recognition" target="_blank">ANPR cameras</a> to monitor passing motorists for ULEZ compliance. The anti ULEZ protesters were using their protest banners to block the view of the van's cameras. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photograph of the incident at the time. It would seem that the anti ULEZ protests initially covered by the press are continuing, even if they are not getting the column inches that they received in the past. Local criminals are stealing legitimate plates from parked motor vehicles in order to circumvent the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number-plate_recognition" target="_blank">automatic number plate recognition system</a> used to charge drivers for using the Dartford Crossing and also the controversial ULEZ charge. Vehicle number plate theft is now endemic in the local area. Indeed, according to a recent report published by the Daily Telegraph, highly organised vehicle crime gangs are using falsified car registrations to avoid detection by the police. One in twelve of the 37 million vehicles on UK roads could have cloned registration plates, according to the new research. The vast number of cloned plates, in which a car’s identity is disguised by the false use of an authorised registration or characters amended to a registration that does not exist, are associated with serious criminal activity. Dr Ken German, a director of the <a href="https://www.iaati.org/" target="_blank">International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI)</a>, who collated figures from various official sources, said in the Telegraph article that according to the police there are thousands of cloned plates spotted every day by their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number-plate_recognition" target="_blank">automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)</a> and CCTV cameras clearly in an attempt (they suggest) to avoid detection when stealing petrol, parking illegally, speeding or committing more serious offences such as burglary or robbery. About 1.75 million of the 37 million vehicles of all types in the UK (about 32 million of those being cars) are estimated be wearing cloned registration plates. This is made up of 250,000 vehicles of all types - including cars, motorcycles, HGVs, vans, caravans, motor homes, construction plant and agricultural machinery - reported stolen last year, plus the 500,000 vehicles written off by insurers. There are also about a million vehicles still un-recovered from the last decade. The remainder of the one-in-12 total - about 1.25 million vehicles - is made up of legitimate registrations that have been doctored so they read differently. More than 100,000 sets of number plates are stolen every year but many more will have been altered with paint, a felt tip pen or black tape to deceive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number-plate_recognition" target="_blank">ANPR</a> cameras or witnesses to a crime. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Last Thursday marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of the now dominant word processor application - Microsoft Word. The very first version of Word – or Multi-Tool Word as it was initially known – came out on October 25th, 1983 for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS-DOS" target="_blank">MS-DOS</a>. It featured 16-bit graphics and text mode support, as well as support for a mouse. It is fair to say that Word was not quite an overnight success. It faced stiff competition from incumbents, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordStar" target="_blank">WordStar</a>, which, at the time of Word's release, accounted for nearly a quarter of the word processor market. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPerfect" target="_blank">WordPerfect</a> also presented a threat, having debuted on DOS the previous year. The first version of Word was not exactly a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) application, but Microsoft soldiered on and added features incrementally over the years until the final iteration – Word 6.0 for DOS in 1993. By then, there was a new Word in town that would replace all competitors – Word for Windows. Word for Windows would go from obscurity to accounting for 90 percent of the word processor market by revenue in under 10 years. However, back in 1983, Word was just one option in a word processor market dominated by the competition. Just as Word once challenged the dominance of its rivals, it has seen its market share eroded in recent years by web based competitors like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Docs" target="_blank">Google Docs</a> and the free and open source <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice" target="_blank">LibreOffice</a> application suite.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhiSbuOBEkcxAd2HNwHTJvw5KWheWw5avbirmcsJWuXvPeU5CiTFjtHOgCQqi7OIaDJ96vD_lZFfck5sDrHCsJpDbXaL9uH6-UD1Haemht6TT1ioPx3VPb0cY2usULhLkxqItrhDnttXLcCqh6mTaITC57YVBc-EHJLfCuE6Mj-JFQlvSN9gV/s994/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231026180424.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="994" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhiSbuOBEkcxAd2HNwHTJvw5KWheWw5avbirmcsJWuXvPeU5CiTFjtHOgCQqi7OIaDJ96vD_lZFfck5sDrHCsJpDbXaL9uH6-UD1Haemht6TT1ioPx3VPb0cY2usULhLkxqItrhDnttXLcCqh6mTaITC57YVBc-EHJLfCuE6Mj-JFQlvSN9gV/w640-h428/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231026180424.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I don't normally comment on stories that make the national press, as professional journalists do a far better job than I; on this occasion I am making an exception to this rule due to the local connection to the story in question. As many will already be aware, Plumstead resident and minor celebrity Dave Courtney was found dead in bed after apparently committing suicide. Courtney was born in London in 1959. He grew up in a tough neighbourhood in Bermondsey, and became involved in crime at a young age. He was allegedly associated with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kray_twins" target="_blank">the Kray twins</a>, two of the most notorious gangsters in British history. In the 1970s and 1980s, Courtney was involved in a variety of criminal activities, including racketeering, extortion, and violence. He was arrested and charged multiple times, but he was always acquitted. In the 1990s, Courtney began to write books about his life in the underworld. His books were bestsellers, and he made a number of television appearances. He also began acting in films and television shows. In 1998, Courtney appeared in the gangster film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock,_Stock_and_Two_Smoking_Barrels" target="_blank">Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</a>. He played the role of Dog, a debt collector who is beaten up by Vinnie Jones's character, Big Chris. The role was said to be based on Courtney's own life. After his appearances in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock,_Stock_and_Two_Smoking_Barrels" target="_blank">Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snatch_(film)" target="_blank">Snatch</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders" target="_blank">EastEnders</a> Courtney became a well known media figure. He also wrote several books, including "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>My Life as a Gangster</i></span>" and "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Dave Courtney: The Real Lock Stock</i></span>." Courtney became a minor celebrity. He wrote two books about his life, and appeared in several other films and TV shows. He also ran a nightclub and a debt collection agency. Courtney's life was one of controversy. He was accused of being a police informant, and he was also known for his violent temper. In 1991, he was convicted of manslaughter for killing a man during a fight. However, he was acquitted of murder after claiming that he had acted in self-defence. Despite his criminal past, Courtney was also known for his generosity and his loyalty to his friends. In January 2009 he was given an 18-month conditional discharge at Bristol Crown Court, on a charge of possessing live ammunition without a firearms certificate. His defence of not knowing that the single live pistol round was live rather than a stage prop prompted Judge Ticehurst to comment, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It perhaps undermines your street credibility and your stage performance that you cannot distinguish between a real round and a fake round. But perhaps that's not for me to say</i></span>." In May 2009, Courtney filed for bankruptcy, reportedly owing £400,000 to creditors, including taxes of £250,000. He was a popular figure in the London underworld, and he was respected by many of his peers. In recent years, Courtney had suffered from health problems, including cancer and arthritis. He had also been struggling with his mental health, suffering from both anxiety and depression. Subsequent to his death, the following message was posted to his Facebook account:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Following examination of Dave's personal effects by Mr Brendan McGirr, a video has been found that was filmed on the 5 July 2023 in his Camelot Castle home in Plumstead. The video clearly shows Dave had not taken the decision to take his own life lightly, and had gone into thorough planning and preparation to ensure as little pain as possible for his loved ones in the aftermath of his death</i></span>.” Dave goes on to speak in the video, saying: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Well as you can all see I am in sound mind and body. Sorry I’ve took the coward's way out – don’t go racking your brains and thinking why, I will tell you exactly why. There is no woman trouble or nothing like that – I am hurting, I am disguising a lot of pain. I’ve got rapid ruminal arthritis which is crippling me up. I have to hide the fact that I can’t get up, downstairs and in and out of the car and I’m not enjoying it at the moment. That is really it. I don’t want to waste having a wicked life like I have, absolutely superb, any day I can think back on it was funny and brilliant and the rest of it in pain trying not to end it because it would upset everyone else. I’m not enjoying it and I do what I want so that really is why I am not here today. Don’t be sad, please don’t be sad. I’m sure I left enough people in this world to stick up for Dave</i></span>.” Courtney was a unique and complex figure. He was a violent criminal, but he was also a charismatic and intelligent man. He lived a life of excess and danger, and he died tragically young. Courtney's legacy is likely to be debated for many years to come. Some will remember him as a ruthless gangster, while others will see him as a complex and contradictory figure. However, there is no doubt that he was one of the most colourful characters in the British underworld. His house - <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4843224,0.088148,3a,75y,323.61h,90.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smwA4YMLqC77ENMzv1V1nmw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu" target="_blank">29, Chestnut Rise, Plumstead, called Camelot Castle, was decorated with Union Jack flags and the cross of St George, a painted depiction of himself as a knight and a large knuckle duster</a>. <span style="text-align: left;">In May 2023, Courtney was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He also suffered from severe arthritis. His friends and family believe that his health problems may have contributed to his decision to take his own life, as is indicated by the posthumous video. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfMvCxHNf7kX9DsiypM0TXsqOhASRmeRbYota98wIxF3pYwI4ed1SLthyphenhyphenGktlk5gfwk34wFVFLAYOf3BBU_6lnx0nv4WN6MPAikW0QS9I4Y3hH5Bk7tNFPTGGzS8b1BHVWMdH9W6oKQZM7PYwCjewhmRHo7uI_P6DItKW7zAnpAsx5UFJMj-q/s875/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025103622.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="632" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfMvCxHNf7kX9DsiypM0TXsqOhASRmeRbYota98wIxF3pYwI4ed1SLthyphenhyphenGktlk5gfwk34wFVFLAYOf3BBU_6lnx0nv4WN6MPAikW0QS9I4Y3hH5Bk7tNFPTGGzS8b1BHVWMdH9W6oKQZM7PYwCjewhmRHo7uI_P6DItKW7zAnpAsx5UFJMj-q/w462-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025103622.png" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike3SrJYOn67ZZpvy1GkQ_Gl1lVxIv8T_nakq8izgVJlO9sPKTjEBw9z90RwkA4s74IPwl2q0GQvG0Lzfe5715Hr2IYJzF3LlQNg3Jerl2V_bWhOpOuiWHbIFBNwld5iQibFJkJj_4_kpdjN3PYcEuUTIzgzvGgVIZMS03xmkVgzgoVDSw-A-y/s861/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025104459.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike3SrJYOn67ZZpvy1GkQ_Gl1lVxIv8T_nakq8izgVJlO9sPKTjEBw9z90RwkA4s74IPwl2q0GQvG0Lzfe5715Hr2IYJzF3LlQNg3Jerl2V_bWhOpOuiWHbIFBNwld5iQibFJkJj_4_kpdjN3PYcEuUTIzgzvGgVIZMS03xmkVgzgoVDSw-A-y/w466-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025104459.png" width="466" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The following article has been published by <a href="https://bexleywatch.org.uk/" target="_blank">Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association</a> and outlines ways to avoid a number of scams:- "</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">When somebody rings you, can you always trust the phone number that they are calling from? The answer is no, because scammers are increasingly using a technique called ‘number spoofing’, where they can mimic the number of a real company, and make it pop up on your phone screen when they call. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Nick Stapleton has been investigating number spoofing scams for BBC Morning Live, including a case where criminals spoofed the phone number of the UK Supreme Court to fool people into handing over their money. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Nick met with ethical hacker Doug Tognarelli, who works with businesses to increase their cyber security. In less than five minutes, he showed that he was able to spoof the phone number of the Supreme Court: the final court of appeal in the UK for all civil cases and most criminal ones. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Nick Stapleton met with Maia, a forensic scientist, who was scammed in May. She received a call saying she had been the victim of identity theft, and that someone from the Supreme Court would follow up directly. She was told to search for the court’s phone number online, and it did indeed match. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Maia told Morning Live: “They told me that they needed me to move my money to other safe accounts, because the investigation now will start, and then my bank accounts would be blocked. I was scared and I was like, hold on a second, Who am I transferring the money to? and the tone changed a bit; she was kind of threatening and told me that I had to cooperate”. </span><span style="text-align: left;">To make the scam more convincing, Maia was told the call was also being monitored by the Ministry of Justice, and that she would receive a further call from them. Again, the phone number tallied up with the official one for the government department, which oversees courts and prisons. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Maia felt pressured into cooperating with the caller, and she began to transfer money. After being on the phone for over two hours, she had transferred more than £10,000. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Maia started to feel suspicious; so she went to the Supreme Court’s website. There she discovered a warning about scammers cloning their phone number. She said: “I was in a state of shock, and then I said ‘you need to stop now, I know that you're a hacker. I'm going to call the police’. At that moment, she hung up.” </span><span style="text-align: left;">Maia reported the scam to her banks and luckily she was able to get most of her money back. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In response to the BBC investigation, a spokesperson from the UK Supreme Court said: “We know that scammers are cloning our phone number and logo and have advisory messages to the public on our website. We never call asking for money or threatening arrest and advise people receiving a call, letter, or email to follow the scams advice on our website.” </span><span style="text-align: left;">The Ministry of Justice told Morning Live: “We sympathise with anyone affected by these shameful scams. The Ministry of Justice will never contact you using an automated message. If you receive a call like this please hang up and report it to Action Fraud.” </span><span style="text-align: left;">The Do Not Originate list is designed to stop scammers using phone numbers to trick people. It’s run by communications watchdog Ofcom, and stops certain numbers from being spoofed before a call can connect. Companies, government agencies like HMRC, and other public bodies can add their phone numbers to the list (pdf). </span><span style="text-align: left;">Ofcom has told the BBC: “Scammers can cause huge distress and financial harm to their victims, and protecting people from harm is a priority for Ofcom. These criminals are becoming more sophisticated and tackling them requires efforts from a range of bodies. We’re working closely with the police, other regulators and industry to tackle the problem. </span><span style="text-align: left;">“One of our initiatives in countering scam calls is the Do Not Originate list. This has proved to be an effective tool, and we review and update the list regularly. We don’t make its contents public, to reduce the risk of scammers using this information to their advantage”. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Be Scam Safe. Remember: -</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>• Never give out your personal information in response to an incoming call, or rely upon the Caller ID as the sole means of identification, particularly if the caller asks you to carry out an action which might have financial consequences. No legitimate organisation will ever ask you to transfer money over the phone.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>• It’s OK to hang up on a caller if something doesn’t seem right. You could be stopping a scam from happening.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>• If you want to check if it’s a genuine organisation that has called you, you can hang up and call them back. Call the phone number on the organisation’s website. Remember this scam only works with incoming calls, not outbound ones that you make.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>• Wait for a few minutes before making the call - this ensures the line has cleared and you're not still speaking to the fraudster or an accomplice.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="text-align: left;"></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>• If someone calls you saying they are from your bank, you can hang up and call 159 to be connected to most major UK banks.” 159 cannot be spoofed and will never call you</i></span>". You can find more information on this and other forms of fraud, and how to detect and avoid them by visiting the <a href="https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Blog here</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkPonwlRuj4Dx-27Br_PM6hWJawselF2WHjGJHmt0u3SltRv4Q1d_XK0x9nQs0lMzBu3McZFrPZ5faKyX3RcEcvjA1VxQbgeiueEr9kEoy15rkmBbaldszcrGS4uz8aHmCrBeMmWR7sjKVdKs-kZVV8P9xmqjkv7BzXfwi7a6K8FmQ25_4FXe/s940/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025040730.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="694" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkPonwlRuj4Dx-27Br_PM6hWJawselF2WHjGJHmt0u3SltRv4Q1d_XK0x9nQs0lMzBu3McZFrPZ5faKyX3RcEcvjA1VxQbgeiueEr9kEoy15rkmBbaldszcrGS4uz8aHmCrBeMmWR7sjKVdKs-kZVV8P9xmqjkv7BzXfwi7a6K8FmQ25_4FXe/w472-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231025040730.png" width="472" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Regular readers may recall that <a href="http://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2023/10/auction.html" target="_blank">three weeks ago I broke the scoop story</a> that the house where former EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two small children were murdered and buried in the back garden of the bungalow at 54 Pembroke Road, Erith in 2015 was to be put up for sale by auction. <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/24514342/home-eastender-sian-blake-murdered-failed-to-sell/" target="_blank">On Tuesday the Sun picked up on the story and published an article on the situation, which you can read in full by clicking here</a>. The bungalow failed to reach its' auction reserve price on Tuesday, and at the time of writing it remains unsold. I suspect that the bungalow will eventually have to be demolished and a new structure built on the site. For what is essentially a sleepy suburban residential street, Pembroke Road has a dark reputation. Earlier this year a man called Kai McGinley was shot dead in Pembroke Road at 8.50pm on February 9th. Six people are due to stand trial for conspiracy to murder and other charges at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on the 3rd of January 2024. The fatal shooting took place only metres away from the Sian Blake murder location. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We have recently passed the 36th anniversary of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_storm_of_1987" target="_blank">the Great Storm of 1987</a>. I doubt that many locals will be happy to commemorate the event, as the storm hit the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Bexley" target="_blank">London Borough of Bexley</a> particularly hard. Something approaching twenty percent of the mature trees in the borough were uprooted or seriously damaged by the exceptionally high winds. I recall walking along the Woolwich Road in Upper Belvedere the morning after, and seeing a number of the large trees in the recreation park down across the road – the fire brigade were cutting them up with chainsaws requisitioned from the plant hire shop in Nuxley Road. One of the very impressive Georgian houses opposite the Eardley Arms in Woolwich Road was seriously damaged – the whole third floor and roof were crushed by a mature sycamore tree that had fallen directly onto it. I recall reading in the local paper that the insurance claim to rebuild the historic house was greater than if they had demolished it and built afresh. Just as well the listed building was lovingly rebuilt, as it is one of the nicest residential properties in the whole of Upper Belvedere. My most vivid memory of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_storm_of_1987" target="_blank">the Great Storm</a> was looking out of my bedroom window at the fury of the weather outside; some workmen had been laying a new paved pathway directly outside of my parents house. A pile of large concrete paving slabs had been made ready for the workers to continue laying them the next morning – these I saw flying through the air as if they were pieces of paper. Very worrying, as my parents house was right at the highest point in the area, leaving an unrestricted avenue for the hurricane to attack. The garden shed roof ended up in a neighbours’ back garden – very much like one of the opening scenes from “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film)" target="_blank">The Wizard of Oz</a>”.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW4T01A8FeKHOPNQdZkBjdZyMJZq4qF_WVhpHLeVVEklXrn_mruvtQ3Y2Pg5LbZdlYxfenVA0NYmIgqM-P-CJN4L6zBQg9tifdSrOarY6CNwCy4GWjRPnL6W2xNbutV4IG6ssQc1Yo_NLLweZqoUzJwFNr57DcLQ5gjxL8xfRHrBRAQ_AZOpO/s4032/PXL_20231028_151455336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW4T01A8FeKHOPNQdZkBjdZyMJZq4qF_WVhpHLeVVEklXrn_mruvtQ3Y2Pg5LbZdlYxfenVA0NYmIgqM-P-CJN4L6zBQg9tifdSrOarY6CNwCy4GWjRPnL6W2xNbutV4IG6ssQc1Yo_NLLweZqoUzJwFNr57DcLQ5gjxL8xfRHrBRAQ_AZOpO/w640-h360/PXL_20231028_151455336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took the photo above - click on it to see a larger version - at <a href="https://www.theexchangeerith.com/" target="_blank">The Exchange</a>. The occasion was a book launch. Ghanaian photographer and author Yaw Pare hosted a special private view and book signing of his photography book, Remnants of a Haunted Past: Forts and Castles of Ghana.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is a short documentary on the numerous bird species that can be seen whilst one walks through the Dartford and Crayford marshes. Comments and feedback to me as always at my usual email address: - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uXMeqeMT_q4?si=v6Ox8werH4vGLZ71" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-31435674881917853262023-10-22T11:00:00.000+01:002023-10-22T11:00:10.950+01:00Ferry.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJex40uLaSs-eufyT678WwMHYrD9RvYyf9UlE_wCCQ_ECtBPkIEGy0coip94KPLMPqkAtIyzkmt-JULWguvLdZpW4dT7TXnkugurx_BYQADdFlm1PNzk4rCEuKbVJC4ElqLohlPqnzMXw4eshyUW94lHwZLi3V4LWPI036UQvMisrfV_evB_xQ/s4032/PXL_20231014_135625777.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJex40uLaSs-eufyT678WwMHYrD9RvYyf9UlE_wCCQ_ECtBPkIEGy0coip94KPLMPqkAtIyzkmt-JULWguvLdZpW4dT7TXnkugurx_BYQADdFlm1PNzk4rCEuKbVJC4ElqLohlPqnzMXw4eshyUW94lHwZLi3V4LWPI036UQvMisrfV_evB_xQ/w640-h360/PXL_20231014_135625777.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHtludgJ45QkpCckwBnchbrw1Anoc8jKNReGeUuqnxgWiJNiisSAD_zvCR17lGXV1VefuB8hnLvJgamBGQ0K6PM6rVlwWcgykSQhtRX7ndcwLsb6fT1feg7Y_DeiA2K1JKqFfg1ZOycwTBISfCc9feHe6ewjdmhyCcZaqpUeEkj8szYKV-gvZ/s4032/PXL_20231014_140326965.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHtludgJ45QkpCckwBnchbrw1Anoc8jKNReGeUuqnxgWiJNiisSAD_zvCR17lGXV1VefuB8hnLvJgamBGQ0K6PM6rVlwWcgykSQhtRX7ndcwLsb6fT1feg7Y_DeiA2K1JKqFfg1ZOycwTBISfCc9feHe6ewjdmhyCcZaqpUeEkj8szYKV-gvZ/w640-h360/PXL_20231014_140326965.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On August 9, 2023, two life-size bronze statues of Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were unveiled in Dartford, the hometown of the two Rolling Stones legends. The statues, which are collectively known as "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Glimmer Twins</i></span>," were created by sculptor Amy Goodman and were commissioned by Dartford Borough Council. The statues depict Jagger and Richards in mid-performance, with Jagger holding a microphone in one hand and Richards playing his guitar. The statues are located in Dartford town centre, on One Bell Corner. The unveiling ceremony was attended by a number of guests, including Keith Richards' daughter Angela Richards and Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite. In a speech at the ceremony, Kite said that the statues were a fitting tribute to Jagger and Richards, who he described as "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>two of the most iconic and influential musicians of all time</i></span>." Kite also said that the statues would be a major tourist attraction for Dartford and would help to put the town on the map. He added that the statues were a reminder of Dartford's rich musical heritage. The Glimmer Twins statues have been well-received by the public and by critics. Many people have praised the statues for their realism and for their capture of the energy and dynamism of Jagger and Richards. The statues have also been praised for their contribution to the regeneration of Dartford town centre. I have featured the sculptures briefly in the past, but I have only managed to see them in person in the last week; I also took time whilst in Dartford to visit the excellent exhibition on the design and creation of the statues which is located in the Peter Blake Gallery in Dartford Library, as can be seen in the lower of the two photos above - click on either to see a larger view. The history of Dartford Library can be traced back to the early 1900s. In 1904, a group of local residents formed a committee to establish a public library in Dartford. The committee raised funds through subscriptions and donations, and in 1906, the first public library in Dartford was opened in a small room in the town hall. The library was initially open for only two hours per day, two days per week. However, it quickly proved to be popular with the local community, and in 1911, the library moved to larger premises in the town centre. Dartford Library as we now know it opened on January 1, 1916, thanks to a grant from the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie - it shares many architectural characteristics with Erith Library in Walnut Tree Road, now home to <a href="https://www.theexchangeerith.com/" target="_blank">The Exchange</a>. Dartford Library was designed by Thomas E. Tiffin AMICE, the then-Dartford Urban District Council surveyor, and built in Bath by Messrs H. Friday and Sons and Ling, using Portland and York stone. The library was opened during World War I, and its first browsers were soldiers who were staying nearby in military hospitals, recovering from wounds received while serving in the trenches. In 1919, the library was combined with the Dartford Museum, which had previously been housed in the Technical Institute. The museum collection was transferred to the library, and a museum room was created on the first floor. In 1937, the library building was extended over what was once the Dartford tin works. During the Second World War, its cupola dome served as an air raid watch post. In 2016, the library had a major refit and internal access was created between it and Dartford Museum. The library also opened the Peter Blake Gallery for the display of works by local artists.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyIDm5wNqkwbbAuXd3Q5ci2T4rNURn3OJvrpDl391XuFZkaw99ZiyFQmkqY50ZSL3mba99aDp1UNuQMjqAjVkKISWDkPLYN1Z2ZtzHy9dtV6tXkRlalxX2UnKdl9QGSZv5ZG-enT7fl7Q9b3FdHht968O1d1pWM9OQPaRzr-wXpXBXl-1heK/s625/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231020122153.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRyIDm5wNqkwbbAuXd3Q5ci2T4rNURn3OJvrpDl391XuFZkaw99ZiyFQmkqY50ZSL3mba99aDp1UNuQMjqAjVkKISWDkPLYN1Z2ZtzHy9dtV6tXkRlalxX2UnKdl9QGSZv5ZG-enT7fl7Q9b3FdHht968O1d1pWM9OQPaRzr-wXpXBXl-1heK/w608-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231020122153.png" width="608" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Talking of Peter Blake, it was only when I visited Dartford Library that I discovered something of local interest. <span style="text-align: justify;">I do not think that many readers will be aware that one of the most prolific and well regarded artists in the UK was born and raised locally. The aforementioned Sir Peter Blake is a British pop artist who is best known for his iconic album cover for the Beatles' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band" target="_blank">Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band</a>, and for the cover of the Band Aid charity record <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_They_Know_It%27s_Christmas%3F" target="_blank">Do They Know It's Christmas?</a>. Sir Peter Blake is one of the most celebrated and influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is best known for his work in the Pop Art movement, which emerged in the 1950s and 60s. Blake's art is characterised by its use of popular culture imagery, such as advertisements, comic books, and celebrity photographs. He is also a prolific painter, sculptor, and graphic designer. Blake was born in Dartford in 1932. He studied art at the Gravesend School of Art and the Royal College of Art. In the early 1950s, he began to produce paintings and collages that incorporated elements of popular culture, such as advertisements, comic books, and movie stars. This work was considered radical at the time, but it helped to establish Blake as one of the leading figures in the British pop art movement. In 1967, Blake was commissioned by the Beatles to design the cover for their upcoming album, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band" target="_blank">Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band</a>. The cover is a collage featuring over 50 life-size cardboard cutouts of famous people, including Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe, and Albert Einstein. The album cover was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to cement Blake's reputation as one of the world's most important artists. He is not afraid to use images that are considered to be lowbrow or kitschy. In fact, he often uses these images to subvert traditional art world values. For example, Blake's painting Marilyn Monroe (1962) depicts the Hollywood actress in a garish, pin-up style. The painting was considered to be shocking at the time, but it is now considered to be a classic example of pop art. Blake's work is not only about popular culture imagery. He is also interested in depicting the everyday. His paintings often depict gardens, shops, and people going about their daily lives. These paintings are often imbued with a sense of humour and wit. For example, Blake's painting Self-portrait with Badges (1961) depicts the artist wearing a denim jacket covered in badges. The badges feature images from popular culture, such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. The painting is a celebration of Blake's love of popular culture and his own unique sense of style. Blake has continued to produce a wide range of artwork throughout his career. His paintings often depict everyday objects and scenes, such as gardens, shops, and people. He has also created sculptures, tapestries, and stained glass windows. In 2002, Blake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to art. He is a Royal Academician and a member of the Order of the British Empire. Now aged 91, Sir Peter Blake continues to work today. He is a prolific artist and his work is still in high demand. He is a living legend of British art, and few people are aware of his local roots in Dartford. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nTLDnV0rhFLLCWU2eMGagmHXu1GWvdvWVMIFxUdtLKm6zRp-M92-pat0n3QsNd1qeivPOc9j9VIfU4LU154rMpaKwKP1UewaykGmB_v47OMIGqpXeh-68rdsKXNYfXWuh6Qp-BiuZQxkIY_aDvUp6R4MBzzye4oVSMoj0OX9MNooGJIQkaIZ/s4032/PXL_20231013_152552352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nTLDnV0rhFLLCWU2eMGagmHXu1GWvdvWVMIFxUdtLKm6zRp-M92-pat0n3QsNd1qeivPOc9j9VIfU4LU154rMpaKwKP1UewaykGmB_v47OMIGqpXeh-68rdsKXNYfXWuh6Qp-BiuZQxkIY_aDvUp6R4MBzzye4oVSMoj0OX9MNooGJIQkaIZ/w640-h360/PXL_20231013_152552352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This week I noticed activity in the former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_Zone" target="_blank">Shoe Zone</a> shop unit in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Erith_Riverside_Shopping_Centre_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1051514.jpg" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Shopping Centre</a>. As I have previously written, the number of empty units in the centre is a major cause for worry; I had hoped that a new retailer was moving into the centre, but after consulting with one of the shop fit - out workers, it turns out that the existing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specsavers" target="_blank">SpecSavers</a> store is merely relocating from smaller premises in the centre. I hope to be able to report that new retailers are moving in, but at the time of writing, no information is available. If you have any insight into this story, then please contact me in complete confidence at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have written in the past about the dangers of the recreational misuse of Nitrous Oxide. Unlicenced dealers of laughing gas will face up to 14 years in prison as Nitrous Oxide becomes illegal from November - it will be banned from November 8, 2023, and serious repeat offenders could be jailed for up to two years, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Office" target="_blank">The Home Office</a> said last week. The ban was promised as part of the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan. It will make the substance a controlled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugs_controlled_by_the_UK_Misuse_of_Drugs_Act" target="_blank">class C drug</a> under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_Drugs_Act_1971" target="_blank">Misuse of Drugs Act 1971</a>. The UK government's decision to ban Nitrous Oxide has a number of potential consequences, both positive and negative. On the positive side, the ban is expected to reduce the number of people using Nitrous Oxide recreationally, which can have a number of negative health consequences. Nitrous Oxide can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, and it can also lead to more serious health problems such as permanent nerve damage and vitamin B12 deficiency. The ban may also help to reduce the amount of Nitrous Oxide canisters that are littered in public places. However, the ban is also likely to have some negative consequences. For example, it could lead to an increase in the black market for Nitrous Oxide, which could make it more dangerous for people who are still determined to use it. The ban could also have a negative impact on businesses that use Nitrous Oxide legitimately, such as dentists and caterers. Overall, it is too early to say what the long-term consequences of the UK government's ban on Nitrous Oxide will be. However, it is important to be aware of both the potential positive and negative consequences of the ban. Here are some specific examples of the potential consequences of the ban:-Reduced recreational use: The ban is likely to reduce the number of people using Nitrous Oxide recreationally, which could lead to a decrease in the number of Nitrous Oxide-related health problems. Increased black market activity: The ban could lead to an increase in the black market for Nitrous Oxide, which could make it more dangerous for people who are still determined to use it. For example, people may be more likely to purchase Nitrous Oxide from untrustworthy sources, which could increase the risk of contamination or overdose. Negative impact on legitimate businesses: The ban could have a negative impact on businesses that use Nitrous Oxide legitimately, such as dentists and caterers. For example, dentists may need to find alternative methods of pain relief, which could increase the cost of dental treatment. Caterers may also need to find alternative ways to prepare certain dishes, which could limit their menus. Social and economic impacts: The ban could also have some social and economic impacts. For example, it could lead to increased social isolation for people who use Nitrous Oxide socially. It could also have a negative impact on the local economy, if it leads to a decrease in business for businesses that use Nitrous Oxide legitimately. It is important to note that these are just some of the potential consequences of the ban. It is too early to say what the actual consequences will be, as the ban has yet to be implemented. As regular readers will be aware, I am a keen student of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences" target="_blank">The Law Of Unintended Consequences</a>. I get the feeling the forthcoming Nitrous Oxide ban may well become a victim of this. No doubt time will tell - more on this subject in the future. Comments and feedback to me as always at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EpWbjUHc3uMP3EapqoNye5UqhyphenhyphenJQjh8afisK0QhR05w91dWICJhXLkeIVJUbtwEQA2tYecCGawjHexlLZL5T0w3RSSoyNW3OxEtoXPJVTige9O2zlvhjU6aTCcWNgOxaZOMtgSevEQLbrnONfRPu1S3wAtKSqqKlshzlfgvT6J_Ph2pSlGp6/s805/Walworth%20Boy%20Scout%20newspaper%20story.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EpWbjUHc3uMP3EapqoNye5UqhyphenhyphenJQjh8afisK0QhR05w91dWICJhXLkeIVJUbtwEQA2tYecCGawjHexlLZL5T0w3RSSoyNW3OxEtoXPJVTige9O2zlvhjU6aTCcWNgOxaZOMtgSevEQLbrnONfRPu1S3wAtKSqqKlshzlfgvT6J_Ph2pSlGp6/w488-h640/Walworth%20Boy%20Scout%20newspaper%20story.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to Ian of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Saveoursplashpark/timeline?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">The Belvedere Splash Facebook group</a> for bringing this historical story to my attention. It concerns a tragedy that took place 111 years ago. On Saturday the 3rd August 1912, the 2nd Walworth Troop of five adults and twenty-four young scouts sailed from Waterloo Bridge for Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey. They moored at Erith for the night and set off again early the next morning. The Scouts were divided into two groups, with one group sailing in a 24-foot (7.3 m) yawl called the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Albatross</i></span>" and the other group sailing in a 22-foot (6.7 m) yawl called the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Seabird</i></span>.". The weather conditions on the day of the accident were poor, with strong winds and high waves. The Albatross was the first to get into trouble, capsizing in the rough seas. The Seabird was able to rescue some of the Scouts from the Albatross, but in total nine Scouts drowned in the accident. The scoutmaster Sydney Marsh had tried hard to rescue many boys, diving in yet again when he was exhausted. The contemporary news stories tell of how villagers took the survivors in. One of the boys, Pat, wrote home: “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>All our wet things were taken off and we were put into the coastguards houses. We were fed with jellies and beef tea, and when our gear was dry we got up.</i></span>” He wrote how they had no socks or boots because their routine was to take them off and be barefoot in the boat. The dead were:- Harry Gwynn, aged 13, James Skipsey, aged 12, Thompson Filmer, aged 12, Noel Filmer, aged 14, William Boland, aged 12, Edward Smith, aged 11, Albert Dack, aged 11, Percy Huxford, aged 12, and Frank Masters, aged 14. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" target="_blank">Winston Churchill</a> was then First Lord of the Admiralty. He arranged for the Navy to provide a ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>warship hearse</i></span>’ to take the bodies to London. While scouts and relatives watched, heads bowed, the white coffins shrouded in flags were taken in pairs on rowboats out to the warship, which took them quietly down the Thames. The Port of London stopped work when the ship arrived. The coffins were taken by hearse to St John’s Church in Walworth where more than 100,000 people came to pay their respects. There was a storm during the service. Then a procession through Camberwell and Peckham to Nunhead Cemetery, watched by over a million people. The tragedy was a major blow to the Scouting movement, and it led to a number of changes in safety procedures. For example, the Scouts introduced a new rule that required all Scouts to wear life jackets when sailing. The Leysdown Boy Scout Tragedy was caused by a number of factors, including:- Lack of experience: The Scouts who drowned were relatively inexperienced, and they were not aware of the dangers of the waters. Poor supervision: The Scouts were not properly supervised by their Scoutmasters. Bad weather: The weather on the day of the tragedy was poor, with strong winds and high waves which were beyond the capabilities of the relatively untrained young scouts to navigate. It is interesting to note that one of the boy scouts who survived the tragedy was named Edward Beckham, who was to become the great-grandfather of footballer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beckham" target="_blank">David Beckham</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscguw_QQTaJTNk6DwFyBWHiD0lLMa385J108ixAmq76uADUojVQw0dfGVHQnsXeCHqzw-ZnqV0IbVpk7J0UipTutVrzFMfTOsWBBYmYIbkGYEPJcsW3FmPLl2lMNkfPzxhZG5fL3wptRgO9OYSayftoV_iioXsm8D1k32vvhHTrwmClHq1nVX/s1600/John%20Burns%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscguw_QQTaJTNk6DwFyBWHiD0lLMa385J108ixAmq76uADUojVQw0dfGVHQnsXeCHqzw-ZnqV0IbVpk7J0UipTutVrzFMfTOsWBBYmYIbkGYEPJcsW3FmPLl2lMNkfPzxhZG5fL3wptRgO9OYSayftoV_iioXsm8D1k32vvhHTrwmClHq1nVX/w640-h362/John%20Burns%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Coincidentally, in another maritime themed story, it is now five years since the last of the old Woolwich ferries - the John Burns - was towed down the River Thames in October 2018 on its' way to France to be scrapped. I took the photo above from Erith Pier on the day - click on the photo to see a larger version. At the time it was hoped that the replacement of the old and worn out ferries with new vessels would improve the regularity and reliability of the free ferry service in Woolwich; however this has not been the case. The new Woolwich ferries in the UK have been plagued by reliability issues since they were launched in 2018 / 2019. The ferries have been frequently delayed or cancelled due to technical problems, and they have been criticised for their poor performance in bad weather. The unreliability of the new Woolwich ferries has caused significant disruption for commuters and residents of South East London. Many people rely on the ferries to get to work or school, and the frequent delays and cancellations have caused them to miss appointments and lose wages. The unreliability of the ferries has also made it difficult for people to attend social events or visit friends and family on the other side of the river. The Woolwich Ferry is a vital transport link for South East London, and the unreliability of the new ferries has had a negative impact on the local economy and quality of life. Businesses have reported a loss of customers due to the ferry disruptions, and residents have complained of feeling isolated from the rest of London. As I have previously written, there are far fewer river crossings East of Tower Bridge than there are to the west of it. Transport for London (TfL) has admitted that the new Woolwich ferries have not performed to expectations, and it has taken a number of steps to improve their reliability. TfL has increased the number of maintenance staff working on the ferries, and it has also introduced a new schedule that gives the ferries more time to complete their crossings. However, the reliability of the new Woolwich ferries has not improved significantly since TfL took these steps. In the first six months of 2023, the ferries were cancelled on average 10 times per month. This is a significant improvement on the first half of 2022, when the ferries were cancelled on average 20 times per month. However, the ferries are still not as reliable as they should be. TfL has said that it is committed to improving the reliability of the new Woolwich ferries, and it is working closely with the ferry operator, Briggs Marine, to identify and fix the problems. However, it is clear that it will take some time before the ferries become fully reliable. In the meantime, commuters and residents of South East London are left to deal with the disruption caused by the unreliable ferries. Many people are calling on the TfL to take further action to improve the reliability of the ferries, such as replacing them with more reliable vessels.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week was taken at the Erith Model Railway Exhibition 2023 which was held at the Longfield Academy back in January. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tRip0kQnxFs?si=A8C-tYrIlNeN9bN9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-21764889748487817412023-10-15T09:15:00.001+01:002023-10-15T09:18:17.109+01:00Theatre.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPRxDuiQM3P-23vGGLTw03j0GoHcbzQhaPEJvJr6A3uA6N5YOvDSK7AcTJDnWRn_CCiFA0ewLUvreKdmv7xo0iMs4u8NrVPoY8Pl7F6pWVb_7hrTzR9MmE5K2yjQvHJclE9hZmlxwKQsIp7wtvslC4VxyZgLYHL7fZNlY0orN3jIMvV-1dpRn/s4032/PXL_20231003_142851508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPRxDuiQM3P-23vGGLTw03j0GoHcbzQhaPEJvJr6A3uA6N5YOvDSK7AcTJDnWRn_CCiFA0ewLUvreKdmv7xo0iMs4u8NrVPoY8Pl7F6pWVb_7hrTzR9MmE5K2yjQvHJclE9hZmlxwKQsIp7wtvslC4VxyZgLYHL7fZNlY0orN3jIMvV-1dpRn/w640-h360/PXL_20231003_142851508.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Erith Town Centre has been looking like a building site for such a long time that it is almost a stretch to recall the time before the extensive construction work went under way. Parkspring Court - the block of apartments that includes the <a href="https://energiefitness.com/gym/erith" target="_blank">Energie Fitness gym</a> and the new <a href="https://arena.yourlondonlibrary.net/web/bexley/-/erith-library#/" target="_blank">Erith Library</a> has now been covered in scaffolding for well over two years, due to work to remove the same kind of cladding that was instrumental in the notorious <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenfell_Tower_fire" target="_blank">Grenfell Tower fire</a>. It has now taken the contractors longer to remove and replace some exterior cladding than it did for the original builders of Parkspring Court to build the entire structure from scratch! Additionally the paving works also seen in the photo above - click on it to see a larger view - are also taking far longer than anticipated to complete. One would have thought taking up and replacing the old and uneven paving slabs on the area between Cross Street and Erith High Street - the area containing <a href="https://www.farmfoods.co.uk/store-finder.php?branch_code=098" target="_blank">Farmfoods</a> and <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/services/clinic/erith-health-centre-bexley/RPGEG" target="_blank">Erith Health Centre</a> - would have taken a month at most; in fact the work has been going on for the best part of six months, and no end would appear to be in sight. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Kent" target="_blank">BBC Radio Kent</a> featured an article on Friday morning on an invasive species which is present in large numbers in the River Thames. The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir Sinensis) is a large, invasive species of crab that is native to East Asia. It was first recorded in the UK in the River Thames at Crossness in 1935, and is now well-established in the river and other waterways across the country. It is thought to have arrived in the UK in ballast water, which is the water that is used to stabilise ships when they are empty. Chinese mitten crabs are now well-established in the Thames and other rivers in the UK, and they are considered to be one of the most damaging invasive species in the country. Chinese mitten crabs are easily identifiable by their furry claws and squarish body. They can grow up to 10cm wide and weigh up to 500g. The crabs are aggressive, omnivorous and feed on a variety of animals and plants, including fish, molluscs, worms, and algae. Chinese mitten crabs are a problem because they are an invasive species. This means that they have no natural predators in the UK, and they can out compete native species for food and habitat. The crabs can also damage river banks by burrowing into them. In the River Thames, Chinese mitten crabs have been known to damage fishing gear and block water intakes. They can also pose a risk to human health, as they can carry parasites that can cause food poisoning; they can also carry a parasite that can cause <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiostrongylus_cantonensis" target="_blank">lungworm disease</a> in humans. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiostrongylus_cantonensis" target="_blank">Lungworm disease</a> is a rare but serious condition that can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, and even death. There are a number of things that can be done to control the spread of Chinese mitten crabs. One is to trap the crabs and remove them from the water. Another is to educate the public about the crabs and encourage them to report any sightings to the authorities. <span style="text-align: left;">The UK government is working with a number of organisations to control the spread of Chinese mitten crabs. </span>If you see a Chinese mitten crab in the River Thames, please report it to the Environment Agency. You can do this by calling <b>0800 80 70 60</b> or by visiting the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency" target="_blank">Environment Agency website</a>. It is also important not to release the crab back into the water. If you catch a crab, you can kill it by placing it in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Chinese mitten crabs are edible and are considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. However, it is important to note that the crabs can carry parasites that can cause food poisoning as previously mentioned - so putting one in the freezer with your food to kill it may actually be not such a good idea after all. If you choose to eat Chinese mitten crabs, it is important to cook them thoroughly. The UK government advises against eating Chinese mitten crabs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFquuoyxdiHnfNMqNr7eXaldBle_Z8ocDuvGaJ4FjfatiZfVUjkVXi9n4xa4vChA1sxt39wNn-zUBvimvK2ZXAvM4oEu1SxYNXaTq7WTMIxihPtxUU5sYwDxS9Em_RgXzmNVxiC42NUNkEJtDyHpYSu2LtVRkBips4Uz8vtTV20IwBJShrI7Tv/s1901/Orchard_Theatre.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1901" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFquuoyxdiHnfNMqNr7eXaldBle_Z8ocDuvGaJ4FjfatiZfVUjkVXi9n4xa4vChA1sxt39wNn-zUBvimvK2ZXAvM4oEu1SxYNXaTq7WTMIxihPtxUU5sYwDxS9Em_RgXzmNVxiC42NUNkEJtDyHpYSu2LtVRkBips4Uz8vtTV20IwBJShrI7Tv/w640-h344/Orchard_Theatre.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cBLx5C-H4A0W4yyBFN3VFZh62zn1xU7oQYAX6r2_OXxdJoQXtTitLkcAZPJKNFwutOYqrNsn1HbExElhLo91AQNHdaoCyjki_O0-hpSP-zPmPkxPGj3bL9uBB9PnfeDT8W1ARYEX5NYmWGHwB1rDOKe_0hJqqhqx0NJ9N7x5tW_GEtcXbHud/s4032/PXL_20231014_144832367.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cBLx5C-H4A0W4yyBFN3VFZh62zn1xU7oQYAX6r2_OXxdJoQXtTitLkcAZPJKNFwutOYqrNsn1HbExElhLo91AQNHdaoCyjki_O0-hpSP-zPmPkxPGj3bL9uBB9PnfeDT8W1ARYEX5NYmWGHwB1rDOKe_0hJqqhqx0NJ9N7x5tW_GEtcXbHud/w640-h360/PXL_20231014_144832367.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Following the recent announcement by Dartford Borough Council that the Orchard Theatre may be closed for up to a year, following the discovery of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinforced_autoclaved_aerated_concrete" target="_blank">RAAC concrete</a> in the building's main structure and roof, a temporary theatre is to open to host event whilst the main theatre is closed for remedial engineering works. The following announcement was published on Friday:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">Orchard West - </span><span style="text-align: left;">a new state-of-the-art temporary 1000 seat venue has been confirmed. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Together with Dartford Borough Council, we are pleased to confirm a new state-of-the-art temporary theatre venue will open later this year and ahead of our annual pantomime. The new venue will be called the Orchard West and will operate for the duration of the closure of the Orchard Theatre. Located just a few minutes-walk from the Orchard Theatre, our temporary home will be complete with comfortable seating, heating and cooling systems and full front-of-house and backstage facilities and will provide a high-quality theatre going experience. </span><span style="text-align: left;">We are now confirming our opening date, transferring shows and arranging seat transfers and kindly ask ticket holders for future events to wait to be contacted by the theatre team who will be in touch with further details and options as these become clear. In the meantime, pantomime tickets can be booked online. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Dartford Borough Council says “The shows will go on” as it confirms 1,000 seat temporary venue yards from The Orchard Theatre during essential works. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Council Leader Jeremy Kite and Trafalgar Theatres Chief Executive Helen Enright have confirmed a new temporary venue, Orchard West, will open later this year - and in time for panto season! </span><span style="text-align: left;">The temporary state-of-the-art theatre will operate for the duration of the closure of the town’s theatre for essential works and provide a high-quality, comfortable theatre-going experience. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Located just yards from the existing theatre, Orchard West will help to protect jobs and businesses within the local economy. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Dartford Borough Council (DBC) and Trafalgar Theatres are set to construct and open a state-of-the art temporary theatre venue in Dartford, following new concerns over RAAC concrete in The Orchard Theatre’s roof forced closure of venue in September. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Orchard West is scheduled to open in late November as a fully-functional, temporary, enclosed performance space with 1,000 seats – complete with comfortable seating, heating and cooling systems, access provision and full backstage and front-of-house facilities including indoor toilets and bars. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The venue will be capable of presenting many of the shows originally scheduled at The Orchard over coming months – with more to be added - and the temporary venue will be up and running in time for this year’s glittering pantomime Beauty and the Beast starring soap star, actress and singer Shona McGarty. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Located on the Westgate site just a stone’s throw from The Orchard Theatre, Orchard West will be a unique and exciting setting for audiences to continue to enjoy live performances in a warm, safe and comfortable environment. Crucially, the venue will also support the continuing employment of the theatre team, visiting artists and backstage crew - plus many local businesses in the surrounding area who rely on footfall from theatre goers. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Dartford Borough Council sought bids for the temporary venue project though a competitive procurement process. Responses were received from suppliers who have delivered similar projects around the world such as large-scale theatrical venues and major sporting events. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, building work to replace the auditorium roof at the Orchard Theatre is set to begin this month with works expected to be completed in late 2024. </span><span style="text-align: left;">As opening dates, transferring shows and seat-transfers are being determined over coming days, ticket-holders for future events at The Orchard Theatre are being asked to wait to be contacted by the theatre team who will be in touch with details and options as these become clear. Pantomime tickets can be booked online, and further information will be posted on the Orchard Theatre website <a href="http://www.orchardtheatre.co.uk">www.orchardtheatre.co.uk</a> and on social media channels as plans for the new venue are realised. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford Borough Council said: “Our theatre is such an important part of life for so many Dartford residents that when we were forced to close the venue, we were determined to find a way for the show to go on. The provision of Orchard West until we can re-open our much-loved venue means that not just our amazing pantomime, but a whole range of productions from local groups right through to the big names and West End performances can continue to light up the cultural life of our town. Dartford Borough Council prides itself on putting the needs of residents first and we are proud to have both the determination and the resources to have found a solution to this unforeseen problem. Stepping in like this is not the action every Council would take but we cherish arts and culture and urge our residents to support the theatre like never before.” </span><span style="text-align: left;">Helen Enright, CEO of Trafalgar Theatres and COO of Trafalgar Entertainment said: “The Orchard West will be a unique and exciting theatre-going experience for Dartford residents and visitors alike - and we can’t wait to welcome customers back in time for panto! We’re certain that audiences will be curious to find out more as details of the new venue and the shows to be presented are released over coming weeks. </span></i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>“Working with Dartford Borough Council to deliver this project in a short-time frame – and hearing messages of support from thousands of theatre goers over the past few weeks - has cemented our commitment to the cultural life of the town. It is enormously encouraging that DBC recognises the importance of local theatre to the whole community and understands the valuable contribution it makes to the local economy. Despite the setback of the Orchard Theatre closure Council leaders have moved rapidly to protect jobs and businesses and to ensure that ‘the shows will go on’. We applaud them for their positive spirit and approach to our partnership</i></span>". Comments as usual to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w0RW4BxYrp2OOM5L4-u47Y2f5nUwVbcfpmEwmwrSM2Eff4Fj7umbQdfaY639Y6tMRVqk90bEx9Q3bPZKUsgJfutMdLfVv_e0KKgwh_pw26cFakcOMiweZ0SVQeeeoFDmfD6Wb3AdKfJcJuKgHJh3hj6ym_gNaW7ea9ujroBxGuWYwUPOuQhM/s1196/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231011122026.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1196" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w0RW4BxYrp2OOM5L4-u47Y2f5nUwVbcfpmEwmwrSM2Eff4Fj7umbQdfaY639Y6tMRVqk90bEx9Q3bPZKUsgJfutMdLfVv_e0KKgwh_pw26cFakcOMiweZ0SVQeeeoFDmfD6Wb3AdKfJcJuKgHJh3hj6ym_gNaW7ea9ujroBxGuWYwUPOuQhM/w640-h432/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231011122026.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">German discount supermarket rivals Lidl and Aldi get a lot of column inches in the press due to their perceived high quality goods and very competitive prices. Both supermarket chains are expanding across the UK, and are seen by many as the way forward in the discount grocery sector. There is another European supermarket chain which tried to do the same in the 1990's but it failed in a fairly spectacular manner, and is now almost completely unknown outside its' native Denmark, where it still exists. Netto was a discount supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4587307,0.1304139,3a,75y,206.22h,88.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz55rB8wSBpEY83_Oz9jEIA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">They had a store at the Crook Log end of Bexleyheath Broadway, in what is now a small Asda - the building is unusual as there is no front entrance - you have to enter via the doorway located in the car park at the rear of the building</a>. It was founded in 1981 in Denmark by Salling Group, and arrived in the UK in December 1990. Netto primarily expanded in central England, before moving into London. Netto was one of the first discount supermarkets to operate in the UK, and it quickly became popular with shoppers due to its low prices. The chain offered a limited range of products, but it focused on essential items such as food, toiletries, and household goods. Netto's yellow and black branding became well-known throughout the UK, and its stores were often located in areas with lower incomes. The chain was particularly popular with families and budget-conscious shoppers. In 2010, Netto UK was sold to Asda for £778 million. Asda re-branded the majority of Netto stores under its own brand, but it was required to sell 47 stores to other companies due to competition laws. In 2014, Salling Group returned Netto to the UK as a 50:50 joint venture with Sainsbury's. The joint venture opened 16 stores across the UK, but it was not successful. In 2016, the two companies announced that they were ending the joint venture and closing all of the stores. Netto's exit from the UK market was due to a number of factors, including competition from other discount supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, as well as the changing retail landscape. Despite its relatively short time in the UK, Netto was a popular brand with shoppers. The chain's low prices and convenient locations made it a popular choice for budget-conscious shoppers and families. Nowadays the UK brand is largely forgotten. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Speculation is rife on social media surrounding the circumstances of the Luton Airport multi storey car park fire last week; many online pundits are saying that the fire was caused by an electric vehicle (EV). Personally I think that no full judgement can be made until after a complete Fire Brigade investigation. Authorities said initially that the blaze appeared to be accidental and started in one car, believed to be a diesel vehicle, but at the time of writing nothing has been proved. Having said that, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as the world transitions to cleaner energy sources. However, there are some fire safety concerns associated with EVs, primarily due to the lithium-ion batteries that power them. Lithium-ion batteries are very energy-dense, which means they can store a lot of energy in a relatively small and lightweight package. This makes them ideal for EVs, but it also makes them more susceptible to fire. There are a few different ways that an EV battery can catch fire. One is if the battery is damaged, either in a crash or from other causes. Another is if the battery is overheated, either due to a manufacturing defect or from improper use. When an EV battery catches fire, it can be very difficult to extinguish. The fire can burn for hours and can produce toxic fumes. This is because lithium-ion batteries can continue to burn even after they are disconnected from the power source. This is why it is important to be aware of the fire dangers associated with EVs and to take steps to mitigate those risks. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The following rather unusual and tongue in cheek announcement from Bexley Police was published last week by <a href="https://bexleywatch.org.uk/" target="_blank">Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association</a>:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>In a bizarre turn of events, local police are appealing for the owner of a large stash of 121 wraps of cocaine to come forward and collect it from their lost and found property store.The stash was discovered by PCSO Worrall while on routine patrol of Franks Park. He noticed two males acting suspiciously and hiding something inside a tree stump. He remained situationally aware and turned on his body worn camera to capture their description and the vehicle they got into. Once it was safe to do so, PCSO Worrall searched the area and found a very large stash of cocaine. The investigation is now ongoing to catch up with the rightful owners, but in the meantime, police are appealing for them to come forward and collect their stash. "We understand that this may seem like a strange situation," said a spokesperson for the police. "However, we want to assure the rightful owner that they will not be in any trouble. We just want to return their property to them."If you believe that you may be the owner of the cocaine stash, please contact the police on 020 8721 2050</i></span>".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI6txJXcNS20UKlDZFYJSG7lT79lDMyTk_TiMR1JsJ-MTEdfgFpe-H6Pxhtk5-G41siu378OprhMmhex4XOxtOxqMB4S0NGr5XklD9GxEh4TkCafAwy9t3OacgzRuGo-070D43Cih8s2ngLL1HzdGqGt3sdu2ZDLjpV2DrXD8pZPRklj54kAn/s988/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231009121517.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="988" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI6txJXcNS20UKlDZFYJSG7lT79lDMyTk_TiMR1JsJ-MTEdfgFpe-H6Pxhtk5-G41siu378OprhMmhex4XOxtOxqMB4S0NGr5XklD9GxEh4TkCafAwy9t3OacgzRuGo-070D43Cih8s2ngLL1HzdGqGt3sdu2ZDLjpV2DrXD8pZPRklj54kAn/w640-h538/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231009121517.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">With the cost of living crisis biting harder than ever, UK consumers are looking to save money. Some are cancelling subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+; instead they are turning to extremely cheap streaming TV boxes running the Android operating system which are being sold via a number of online market places, some of which have their operations based in China. Some of these streaming accessories promise free access to normally subscription based services - but also come with more than the purchaser bargained for. When you buy a TV streaming box, there are certain things you would not expect it to do. It should not secretly be laced with malware or start communicating with servers in China when it is powered up. It definitely should not be acting as a node in an organised crime scheme making millions of dollars through fraud. However, that has been the reality for thousands of unknowing people who own cheap Android TV streaming devices. This article was compiled from a number of sources, including Wired magazine, Linus Tech Tips, The Register and Google News. In January, professional security researcher Daniel Milisic discovered that a cheap Android TV streaming unit called the T95 (photo above - click on it for a larger image) was infected with malware right out of the box, with multiple other researchers confirming the findings. But it was just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, cyber security firm Human Security revealed new details about the scope of the infected devices and the hidden, interconnected web of fraud schemes linked to the streaming boxes. Human Security researchers found seven Android TV boxes and one tablet with the back doors installed, and they have seen signs of two hundred different models of Android devices that may be impacted. The devices are in homes, businesses, and schools across the US, Europe, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, Human Security says it has also taken down advertising fraud linked to the scheme, which likely helped pay for the operation. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>They’re like a Swiss Army knife of doing bad things on the Internet</i></span>,” said Gavin Reid, the CISO at Human Security who leads the company’s Satori Threat Intelligence and Research team. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>This is a truly distributed way of doing fraud</i></span>.” Reid says the company has shared details of facilities where the devices may have been manufactured with law enforcement agencies. First, Badbox. Cheap Android streaming boxes such as the T95, usually costing less than $50 / £35, are sold online and in brick-and-mortar shops. These set-top boxes often are unbranded or sold under different names, partly obscuring their source. In the second half of 2022, Human Security says in its report, its researchers spotted an Android app that appeared to be linked to inauthentic traffic and connected to the domain flyermobi.com. When Milisic posted his initial findings about the T95 Android box in January, the research also pointed to the flyermobi domain. The team at Human purchased the box and multiple others, and started diving in. In total the researchers confirmed eight devices with back doors installed—seven TV boxes and one cheap tablet, The company’s report, which has data scientist Marion Habiby as its lead author, says Human Security spotted at least 74,000 Android devices showing signs of a Badbox infection around the world—including some in schools across the US and the UK. The TV devices are built in China. Somewhere before they reach the hands of resellers—researchers don’t exactly know where—a firmware backdoor is added to them. This backdoor, which is based on the <a href="https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/blog/triada-trojan/6858/" target="_blank">Triada malware first spotted by security firm Kaspersky in 2016</a>, modifies one element of the Android operating system, allowing itself to access apps installed on the devices. Then it phones home. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Unbeknownst to the user, when you plug this thing in, it goes to a command and control (C2) in China and downloads an instruction set and starts doing a bunch of bad stuff</i></span>,” Reid says. Human Security tracked multiple types of fraud linked to the compromised devices. This includes advertising fraud; residential proxy services, where the group behind the scheme sell access to your home network; the creation of fake Gmail and WhatsApp accounts using the connections; and remote code installation. Those behind the scheme were selling access to residential networks commercially, the company’s report says, claiming to have access to more than 10 million home IP addresses and 7 million mobile IP addresses. The findings tally with those of other researchers and ongoing investigations. Fyodor Yarochkin, a senior threat researcher at security firm Trend Micro, says the company has seen two Chinese threat groups that have used back doored Android devices—one it has researched deeply, the other is the one Human Security looked at. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The infection of devices is quite similar</i></span>,” Yarochkin says. Trend Micro has found a “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>front end company</i></span>” for the group it investigated in China, Yarochkin says. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>They were claiming that they have over 20 million devices infected worldwide, with up to 2 million devices being online at any point of time</i></span>,” he says. Based on Trend Micro’s network data, Yarochkin believes these figures to be credible. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>There was a tablet in one of the museums somewhere in Europe</i></span>,” Yarochkin says, adding he believes it is possible that swaths of Android systems may have been impacted, including in cars. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It’s easy for them to infiltrate the supply chain, and for manufacturers, it's really difficult to detect</i></span>.” While the attackers have been slowed, the boxes are still in people’s homes and on their networks. Unless someone has technical skills, the malware is very hard to remove. “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>You can think of these Bad boxes as kind of like sleeper cells. They're just sitting there waiting for instruction sets</i></span>,” Reid says. Ultimately, for people buying TV streaming boxes, the advice is to buy branded devices, where the manufacturer is clear and trusted. As Reid says, “<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Friends don't let friends plug in weird IoT devices into their home networks</i></span>.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week is from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/linustechtips" target="_blank">Linus Tech Tips</a> - one of the largest and most respected specialist technology channels on YouTube. Here is a concise ten minute article on just why the Chinese made Android streaming TV boxes such as the T95 and many others are such bad news, and why you should avoid them like the plague. Comments to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1vpepaQ-VQQ?si=IIkFvZ-ub27ASCpI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-1582049709075895682023-10-08T12:00:00.000+01:002023-10-08T12:00:11.118+01:00Auction.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlbI3qwNBSvebNFG7DmBztnHKSL8b5Qg762QP7kG2s14ZCrrbZKlSsk1N1JNKUaBdFNrh3LWW5h2J6tQiQ2k1ijq74ZoK360yc1dtbP2IRG9D99r1XEkuChmlTEhP5ACJ2iBV3LCFQGyq2Vcmdw2_cDFjNwbK1sW18FoOspBwXSkOvywSfkci/s945/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231006100822.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="945" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlbI3qwNBSvebNFG7DmBztnHKSL8b5Qg762QP7kG2s14ZCrrbZKlSsk1N1JNKUaBdFNrh3LWW5h2J6tQiQ2k1ijq74ZoK360yc1dtbP2IRG9D99r1XEkuChmlTEhP5ACJ2iBV3LCFQGyq2Vcmdw2_cDFjNwbK1sW18FoOspBwXSkOvywSfkci/w640-h458/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231006100822.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Uyi7DB_OVLIGNO_nkY_7mTl8DBnFsf3v0LtfZXyCx027ckrnwW2vIVAsCmfB3wbL0FK_HCwSDRo8FCmgknCJSAIvE5HLK_zJuzD10fiB7TcldcLRjLrtfl4TAhx73ZLQK9frMapLXDao9o1Lx1Z_ZUayCKZVhqMHTOvXjkQ1LVuTmhJQqLr/s810/Sian%20Blake%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="810" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Uyi7DB_OVLIGNO_nkY_7mTl8DBnFsf3v0LtfZXyCx027ckrnwW2vIVAsCmfB3wbL0FK_HCwSDRo8FCmgknCJSAIvE5HLK_zJuzD10fiB7TcldcLRjLrtfl4TAhx73ZLQK9frMapLXDao9o1Lx1Z_ZUayCKZVhqMHTOvXjkQ1LVuTmhJQqLr/w640-h426/Sian%20Blake%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140847035#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank">The detached bungalow located at 54 Pembroke Road, Erith is to go for sale by auction on the 24th of October at midday, with a guide price of £285,000</a>. The property has been empty and unoccupied since December of 2015. I suspect that this will not be like most real estate auctions, due to the history of the property. Thanks to a regular reader and occasional contributor who wishes to remain anonymous for bringing this story to my attention. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140847035#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank">54 Pembroke Road</a> has a dark and terrible recent history, which will undoubtedly deter many prospective property buyers. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140847035#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank">54 Pembroke Road</a> was the scene of a barbaric triple murder back in 2015, when former Eastenders actress Sian Blake and her two young children (photo above - click on it to see a larger version) were murdered by her partner, drug dealer <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/simpson-kent-arthur.htm" target="_blank">Arthur Simpson-Kent</a> in the house, and their mutilated bodies buried in shallow graves in the back garden. Sian Blake, 43, and their sons, Zachary, eight, and four-year-old Amon, after the actress, who was terminally-ill with <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motor-neurone-disease/" target="_blank">Motor Neurone Disease</a>, planned to leave <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/simpson-kent-arthur.htm" target="_blank">Arthur Simpson-Kent</a> and take the boys with her. Once he had killed the three, he buried their bodies in the garden of their bungalow in number <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140847035#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank">54, Pembroke Road, Erith</a>. The bodies were not discovered by the Police for three weeks, when sniffer dogs were used to search the property. All three had been repeatedly beaten and stabbed in a series of frenzied attacks. Simpson-Kent, who admitted three counts of murder, was sentenced at the Old Bailey in October 2016 by a judge who said he had been convinced he should receive the most severe punishment available for his ''<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>truly horrific</i></span>'' crimes. Mr Justice Singh, when passing sentence said he had been left ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>in no doubt</i></span>’ that <a href="https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/simpson-kent-arthur.htm" target="_blank">Arthur Simpson-Kent</a> should spend the rest of his life in prison.‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning. At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake. Further, and in any event, there were serious aggravating features of this case. Each of the victims was particularly vulnerable because of age or disability. There was an abuse of position of trust. There was concealment of the bodies. He made efforts to remove evidence of his crimes at the house, including repainting. He sought to lay a false trail by using Sian Blake's mobile phone. He lied to the police and others about the whereabouts of the family</i></span>.’ He was thus awarded the very rare sentence of a <a href="https://vardags.com/law-guide/criminal-justice-system-explained/whole-life-orders" target="_blank">Whole Life Order</a> – which means the only way he will ever be let out of prison is on the written orders of the Home Secretary, something that has rarely if ever happened. In his case, life really does mean life in prison, with no chance of parole. The house has been empty ever since the Police dug up the back garden and discovered the three bodies buried in shallow graves. I am aware that at least one application for planning permission has been made in the past in respect of the property, where the applicant proposed to demolish the existing bungalow and to replace it with a small block of flats, but to the best of my knowledge, nothing came of this. Bearing in mind the recent history of the bungalow, and the apparent poor physical state of it, I would surmise that any purchaser would also wish to demolish it to build something new on the site. If you have any information regarding this story, please contact me in confidence to <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">BBC Essex and <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Radio Caroline</a> presenter <a href="https://www.rayradio.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Ray Clark</a> has quit his BBC local radio show which is broadcast across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk after claiming he was treated '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>cruelly</i></span>' by bosses who kept him in the dark for a year about the future of his show. It comes after fellow BBC presenter Sophie Little blasted '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>ageist</i></span>' local radio cuts in the final episode of her cancelled show, Treasure Quest. The Radio Norfolk regular told listeners: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Local radio is a vital public service. And it is my opinion that these drastic, sweeping cuts that are taking place to BBC local radio stations all across the country are not only detrimental to anyone that enjoys switching on their local station and hearing their favourite shows but also detrimental to the local communities who value and use it. 'Actually, these cuts are unbelievable unfair to those who need local public service broadcasting the most – those who are lonely and isolated, or those who are unable to leave their house, or unable to use the internet, or unable to pay for broadband. </i></span><i style="color: #cc0000;">Those who not only take comfort from the company of a familiar voice coming out of their radio but who truly rely on it to keep going. </i><i style="color: #cc0000;">The BBC's mission, as defined by Royal Charter, is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences… but I will say this how I see it – I feel the cuts are ableist, ageist and they place economic barriers for some people too</i>." The BBC has announced plans to cut back on local radio services in the UK. The cuts will see a reduction in the amount of local programming produced, and more sharing of content between stations. The BBC says the cuts are necessary to save money and to focus on digital-first delivery. However, the cuts have been met with criticism from politicians, listeners, and journalists. Opponents of the cuts say that they will damage the BBC's relationship with its local audiences and will make it more difficult for people to hear about the issues that matter to them. They also argue that the cuts will lead to job losses and will make it more difficult for new voices to be heard on the BBC. The BBC has defended the cuts, saying that they are necessary to ensure the future of local radio. The BBC says that it will continue to produce high-quality local journalism and that it will continue to serve its local audiences. However, the BBC has not been able to guarantee that there will be no job losses as a result of the cuts. The controversy surrounding the BBC local radio cuts has highlighted the challenges facing the BBC in the digital age. The BBC is facing increasing competition from commercial and digital media, and it is under pressure to reduce costs. However, the BBC also has a public service obligation to provide high-quality programming to all audiences. The BBC needs to find a way to balance these competing demands. It is important for the BBC to maintain its local radio services, as they play an important role in connecting the BBC with its local audiences. However, the BBC also needs to be realistic about the financial challenges it faces. It is possible that the BBC will need to make further cuts to local radio services in the future. However, it is important to note that the BBC has a long history of adapting to change. The BBC has successfully transitioned from radio to television to the internet. The BBC is also one of the most trusted news organisations in the world. As far as <a href="https://www.rayradio.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">Ray Clark</a> is concerned, he has recommended that his BBC Essex listeners re-tune their radios to <a href="https://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html" target="_blank">648 kHz AM or go online to hear his programmes on Radio Caroline</a>. What do you think? Email me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>. More on this story in the end video this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBnyKYgc59TmgN1Bk04owyu40HlcYOgBv9bX6siS28Nj_b6FZfJEEhxihXIBpaQh-wO1QLkYPfDUQQ-wtCkLC9ULiu8_bWtHeCrWs_NSJjb085B0DPVp6ApRW-SB9FQYuysx6_RGESfjZ5juk_SD7hZUd27IvNbl1HaV_IIHWswDCJiQu5wAL/s603/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231002175757.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="603" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBnyKYgc59TmgN1Bk04owyu40HlcYOgBv9bX6siS28Nj_b6FZfJEEhxihXIBpaQh-wO1QLkYPfDUQQ-wtCkLC9ULiu8_bWtHeCrWs_NSJjb085B0DPVp6ApRW-SB9FQYuysx6_RGESfjZ5juk_SD7hZUd27IvNbl1HaV_IIHWswDCJiQu5wAL/w640-h442/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20231002175757.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As regular readers will be aware, I have recently been featuring historical local figures; this week I am writing about someone born and raised in Erith who is a well - known journalist, broadcaster and YouTuber, but is still alive, although nowadays they live in the USA. James Stephanie Sterling, also known as Jim Sterling and Commander Sterling, is an English-American freelance video game journalist, critic, pundit, and popular YouTuber. Before becoming independent in September 2014, she was the review editor for Destructoid, and an author for The Escapist. Sterling is noted as one of the main examples of a YouTuber achieving success through crowdfunding. Sterling identifies as a transfem and uses both she/her and they/them pronouns. This article uses she/her pronouns for consistency. Sterling was born in Erith on the 1st January 1984, where she lived near the poverty line for much of her childhood and was emotionally abused by her mother's partner. This abuse is what prompted her to take on the "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Jim Sterling</i></span>" name, saying that she would have had it legally changed, if not for legal issues. In a video from November 2015, before coming out as non-binary, Sterling stated in a video that she was "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>not a monogamous guy, nor a straight one either</i></span>." In June 2020, she became a naturalized United States citizen. In August 2020, Sterling came out as non-binary. Sterling uses she/them pronouns. In late June 2020, while discussing the Speaking Out movement and misconduct within the video game industry, Sterling touched upon her own disorders:-"<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The events of recent weeks have been particularly affecting for me, as I've begun to come to terms with my own history. While all of this talk of abuse is going on, I've had a psychiatric evaluation where I was confirmed to have bipolar type 2 and complex PTSD as a result of what can only be described as a couple decades of having my sense of identity systematically destroyed by caregivers, followed by people convincing me I was making stuff up and that I wasn't even mildly depressed</i></span>". <span style="text-align: left;">Sterling presents The Jimquisition, a weekly YouTube video series in which she discusses current issues surrounding video games, often involving consumer protection and ethics in the video game industry. The series originated on Destructoid's YouTube channel and was later moved to The Escapist's channel, before being released on Sterling's own channel. </span>James Stephanie Sterling is a staunch advocate for ethics in the gaming industry. They have consistently used their platform to address issues of sexism, racism, and discrimination in video games. Sterling has also been vocal about the importance of accessibility in gaming, calling for more inclusive design practices to ensure that everyone can enjoy video games, regardless of their abilities. Sterling has been critical of a number of video games and video game companies over the years. She has spoken out against companies such as Electronic Arts and Activision for their anti-consumer practices, and she has criticised games such as No Man's Sky and Fallout 76 for their misleading marketing and poor quality at launch. Sterling has also been a vocal advocate for workers' rights in the video game industry, and she has spoken out against companies such as Ubisoft and Riot Games for their alleged mistreatment of employees. Sterling's commitment to advocacy extends beyond the screen. They have been a prominent supporter of various charitable initiatives, such as raising funds for trans and LGBTQ+ organizations and contributing to mental health awareness campaigns. Sterling's work has been praised by many critics and fans for its honesty, its insight, and its willingness to challenge the status quo in the video game industry. She has been called one of the most important voices in video game journalism today. Her YouTube channel has 784,000 subscribers and a total number of views exceeding 543 million. In 2016, Sterling was nominated for a BAFTA Games Award for Best Games Journalist.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A petition to scrap the proposed toll on the Blackwall Tunnel has gained over 10,000 signatures in a matter of days. The toll is due to be introduced in 2025, when the new Silvertown Tunnel opens. The petition, which was launched by Conservative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_French" target="_blank">MP Louie French</a>, argues that the toll will be a burden on local residents and businesses, and will lead to increased congestion on other roads. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Blackwall Tunnel toll is a stealth tax on motorists and businesses in South East London</i></span>," said French. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It will add to the cost of living and doing business, and will push people onto other roads, making congestion worse</i></span>." The petition has been backed by a number of local businesses and groups, including the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The Blackwall Tunnel toll is a bad idea for businesses and residents alike</i></span>," said Peter John, head of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. "I<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>t will add to the cost of doing business and make it harder for businesses to compete. It will also make it more difficult for residents to get to and from work and to access essential services</i></span>." The Mayor of London, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadiq_Khan" target="_blank">Sadiq Khan</a>, has defended the toll, saying that it is necessary to fund the maintenance and improvement of London's transport infrastructure. He has also said that the toll will help to reduce congestion and improve air quality. However, critics of the toll argue that it is unfair to target motorists in South East London, who already pay high taxes and have to deal with congestion. They also argue that the toll will have a negative impact on the local economy. The petition is due to be closed today - 8th October 2023. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, the government will be required to respond to it. There are arguments for and against the toll - Arguments in favour of the toll:- The toll will help to fund the maintenance and improvement of London's transport infrastructure. The toll will help to reduce congestion and improve air quality. The toll will help to manage demand for the new Silvertown Tunnel. Arguments against the toll:- The toll will be a burden on local residents and businesses. The toll will lead to increased congestion on other roads. The toll is unfair to target motorists in South East London - river crossings in West London are all free - why should drivers in the East of the capital be unfairly discriminated against? The toll will have a negative impact on the local economy. The petition to scrap the proposed Blackwall Tunnel toll has gained significant support in a short period of time. It remains to be seen whether the government will respond positively to the petition, but it is clear that there is a strong public opposition to the toll. What do you think? Email me at the usual address - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzUZYspe2wthigVTiECYwUCAxN2Nj2XpQ6OSgfqbzIzMKpzPKpoCNZcDnc2Sd2PeNYF3r2RyULJksB8sLnrX4QYb27QABfSXo-kf8jzl5JcjgvxUd6bVGOaA0icWWRfFCKqjCNg84b3Y8_dtKVCSWAtQo_-MHX9vBVlHghBGNbf2vJHclP3us/s685/Artist%20Colin%20Gill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="610" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzUZYspe2wthigVTiECYwUCAxN2Nj2XpQ6OSgfqbzIzMKpzPKpoCNZcDnc2Sd2PeNYF3r2RyULJksB8sLnrX4QYb27QABfSXo-kf8jzl5JcjgvxUd6bVGOaA0icWWRfFCKqjCNg84b3Y8_dtKVCSWAtQo_-MHX9vBVlHghBGNbf2vJHclP3us/w570-h640/Artist%20Colin%20Gill.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Another historic local person of note is the artist Colin Gill (1892-1940) who was a British artist who is best known today for his work as a war artist during the First World War. He was born in Bexleyheath, and studied at the Slade School of Art. In 1913, he became the first recipient of the Rome Scholarship in Decorative Painting to the British School at Rome. Gill's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. He joined the Royal Artillery and served on the Western Front. In 1916, he was seconded to the Royal Engineers to work as a front-line camouflage officer. He was gassed in 1918, and was subsequently invalided out of the army. He never fully recovered from his injuries, and suffered from ill health for the remainder of his short life. Gill's experiences in the war had a profound impact on his art. He began to paint scenes of battle and the aftermath of war. His paintings are often stark and unflinching, but they are also deeply moving. <span style="text-align: left;">One of Gill's most famous paintings is Heavy Artillery (1919). This painting depicts a battery of heavy artillery firing on enemy lines. The painting is full of movement and drama, and it conveys the power and destructive force of modern warfare. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Another important painting by Gill is Evening After a Push (1919). This painting depicts a group of soldiers resting after a battle. The soldiers are exhausted and weary, but they are also defiant and determined. The painting is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. </span><span style="text-align: left;">After the war, Gill continued to paint, but he also turned to other forms of art, such as mural painting and portraiture. He taught at the Royal College of Art from 1922 to 1925. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Gill's paintings were exhibited at the Imperial War Museum in 1921, and they have since been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. His work is a powerful and important record of the First World War, and it continues to resonate with audiences today. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In addition to his wartime paintings, Gill also produced a number of murals and portraits. His most famous mural is Boadicea at Colchester, 61 AD (1929), which is located in the Colchester Town Hall. The mural depicts the British warrior queen Boadicea leading her army into battle against the Romans. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Gill also produced a number of portraits of prominent figures, including the artist Eric Gill, the poet Siegfried Sassoon, and the writer H.G. Wells. </span><span style="text-align: left;">In 1940, he traveled to South Africa to work on a series of murals for the Magistrates Court in Johannesburg. He died suddenly of a heart attack while working on this project - it is thought he suffered heart and respiratory damage when he was gassed in the trenches, and that this contributed towards his early death. He was only 48 years old. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Nowadays, Gill's work is held in many public collections, including the Tate Gallery, the Imperial War Museum, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. He is considered to be one of the most important British artists of the war period. </span><span style="text-align: left;">His work is also notable for its technical skill and its innovative use of colour and form. Gill was a master of composition and perspective, and his paintings are often highly detailed and realistic. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Gill's work is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of peace. His paintings are also a testament to the power of art to bear witness to the truth of human experience.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qJcz4DONyZ8k85hAvMzltgqE9wrzL-wtMjv5Xg11WkgFRKFgnUJAMO-qrCI7VR3h71_UwLuDnCdhd_oKmO0Hodb58jHjRui4Yl52-SIWziIhDNvz8i7rHhQJT41kn8Oz0Z_PxWVaXkN9V7z6ungD3BrnTzpueggDg-s3fhXiq0HZ2RbNirYg/s1600/Ferry%20plaque.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qJcz4DONyZ8k85hAvMzltgqE9wrzL-wtMjv5Xg11WkgFRKFgnUJAMO-qrCI7VR3h71_UwLuDnCdhd_oKmO0Hodb58jHjRui4Yl52-SIWziIhDNvz8i7rHhQJT41kn8Oz0Z_PxWVaXkN9V7z6ungD3BrnTzpueggDg-s3fhXiq0HZ2RbNirYg/w640-h426/Ferry%20plaque.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The plaque shown in the photo above (click on it for a larger view) is one of the least known artefacts in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> - very few locals are even aware that it exists. The plaque, which marks the eight hundredth anniversary of the start of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainham,_London" target="_blank">Rainham</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> Pilgrim's Ferry, which began in the year 1199. The plaque was erected on the wall next to the wooden jetty adjacent to <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4818614,0.1803569,3a,75y,6.46h,83.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY6b_reN3AweCg1TNSpNDnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu" target="_blank">Erith Riverside Gardens</a> back in 1999. The Pilgrim's Ferry was used to allow travellers to cross the River Thames between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erith" target="_blank">Erith</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldharbour,_Havering" target="_blank">Coldharbour Point in Rainham</a>. There was an unsuccessful campaign back in 2010 / 2011 to try and get the ferry service restarted, as part of the "<a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/loop-walk" target="_blank">London Loop</a>". The ferry last ran on a regular daily basis back in 1854.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3LNfRd1KBrhUm1HI_RfO6o614PU9sjeX9Inte3gdQVVpAJZnHKdLykqTTkanFxjfc4qoQWt47Tck5TXmh6grhXzsNFbhGordVCB8rf3XPWHWd2EBkzcGuBle6HhP7G2d0eDNq2nBv9OMNaVXuzNfd4uI85B5bBTu_exvUorzJvItEeXim2y/s4032/PXL_20231004_123134907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3LNfRd1KBrhUm1HI_RfO6o614PU9sjeX9Inte3gdQVVpAJZnHKdLykqTTkanFxjfc4qoQWt47Tck5TXmh6grhXzsNFbhGordVCB8rf3XPWHWd2EBkzcGuBle6HhP7G2d0eDNq2nBv9OMNaVXuzNfd4uI85B5bBTu_exvUorzJvItEeXim2y/w640-h360/PXL_20231004_123134907.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sometimes landmarks can be so everyday that locals essentially ignore them. I feel that this is very much the case in respect of the Bexleyheath Clock Tower, pictured above - click on the photo to see a larger version. <span style="text-align: left;">The Bexleyheath Clock Tower is a landmark in the town. It was built in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. The tower was designed by Walter Maxted Epps and is in a freely treated Renaissance style. It is built of red brick and has four clock faces, each of which is 3 feet 4 inches in diameter. The tower is 46 feet tall and is topped by a weather vane. The tower was officially opened on 17 July 1912 by the Mayor of Bexley, Alderman George F. Andrews. The opening ceremony was attended by a large crowd of local residents and dignitaries. In 1940, the bell in the clock tower was removed for scrap metal during World War II. The bell was not replaced until 1998. In 2012, the clock tower was refurbished to mark its 100th anniversary. The refurbishment included cleaning the tower, repairing the brickwork, and repainting the clock faces.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The end video this week comes from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RingwayManchester" target="_blank">YouTube channel Ringway Manchester</a> - which specialises in news and history related to radio communications. In the video below, the channel explains the current dire situation with BBC local radio, as per my article earlier in this weekly update. Comments to me at the usual address - <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSIX0BLqFgg?si=q5EzdlfVZ1K6rBLO" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0Erith, UK51.480818 0.17467523.170584163821154 -34.981575 79.791051836178838 35.330925tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-85727219169004040942023-10-01T12:00:00.000+01:002023-10-01T12:00:20.383+01:00Lashes.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40SuBTXpCaM1vN2LZCzRktX6hr1UPQvxaZFZwLLJzFpHOdvVIRn6kpVwgGDC7NhmVkx3_WVKe_283ti9YdTyVqFyH7zLE68X9TQpV1GM66wc1kuWSdGtJvy2t5ZAOZdiFneuCuI29s5y84Nj8L3cyHrIdmSmM08Cn6n6l3vZPcvHIcqPMpRcB/s1439/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230919111604.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1439" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40SuBTXpCaM1vN2LZCzRktX6hr1UPQvxaZFZwLLJzFpHOdvVIRn6kpVwgGDC7NhmVkx3_WVKe_283ti9YdTyVqFyH7zLE68X9TQpV1GM66wc1kuWSdGtJvy2t5ZAOZdiFneuCuI29s5y84Nj8L3cyHrIdmSmM08Cn6n6l3vZPcvHIcqPMpRcB/w640-h384/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230919111604.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sea going tug the <a href="https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9695511" target="_blank">Svitzer London</a> can be seen in the photo above - click on it to see a larger version. The 447 ton tug was built in 2014 and operates on the Thames, Medway and the Southern North Sea. She was moored off Erith last week, when I took the photo. Many local residents are only dimly aware that Erith has a long and distinguished history as a maritime town; indeed one of the most important marine engineering companies in the world still has its' headquarters in the town. <a href="https://www.kortpropulsion.com/" target="_blank">Kort Propulsion</a> have their head office in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4817078,0.1806779,3a,75y,59.88h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s340GIozagdFwjHhCEFdISw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">the old River Police building in Erith High Street</a>, adjacent to the wooden jetty seen in the photo above. <a href="https://www.kortpropulsion.com/" target="_blank">Kort Propulsion</a> describe themselves thus:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>For more than 90 years, Kort Propulsion has been synonymous with developing and supplying outstanding propulsion packages for the marine industry. Coastal shipping, offshore, towage, inland waterway, dredging, fishing and ROV, are among the market sectors of this Thameside firm that pioneered the Kort Nozzle – a groundbreaking shrouded propeller assembly – back in the mid-1930s. Based at Erith, Kent with a partner manufacturing facility at Dartmouth, Devon, Kort designs and supplies propulsion equipment for vessels from the small to the large. Global customers range from Australian and Philippines’ offshore wind farm businesses, to Romanian waterway operators. The brand is strong: everyone knows who we are. Ship propellers must be highly efficient, with energy converted to thrust with only a minimum of loss and without generating unwanted vibration and inboard noise. Erosion damage due to propeller cavitation – the formation of an empty space within a solid – must also be avoided. Kort is employed by many owners, shipyards and designers at the design stage to ensure vessel performance meets specification. Finding the right balance between these demands is a major task of the designer. The next design step is to define the blade geometry that satisfies all these requirements. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated by computational analyses and often followed by model experiments. As any naval architect or vessel operator knows, a propulsion system which is matched to complement a vessel’s hull design will maximise this vessel’s performance and manoeuvrability. The design and supply of nozzles, propellers, conventional and high lift rudders, bearings, shafting, steering and stern gear is Kort’s core operational area. This single source means vessel designers, builders or operators can secure a complete package of propulsion and manoeuvring devices with confidence. We are propeller experts and designers, and with over 90 years experience, our expert team can advise on the single system or combination of systems that best suit a particular vessel. We supply unique products including our own range of tunnel thrusters and small steerable propulsion and our data and trials allow us to design effective,quality propellers for the future. As well as customised packages, designers, builders and owners can access Kort’s consultancy services; a facility popular among smaller shipyards and boat builders without access to their own consultancy or technical departments. Whether it’s a fisherman with a single boat or a large tug operator we offer the same quality service. Owners and designers come to us with powering and propulsion estimates and specific needs such as speed. We perform the calculations to achieve those objectives and guarantee performance. Again this is all based on the experience and knowledge we have developed over the past 90 years</i></span>". <a href="https://www.kortpropulsion.com/" target="_blank">You can learn more about Erith based Kort Propulsion by clicking here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Qurl5hma0S_k6oARk6SMaL_6nSBTI25y2PGtwKkwT8sVyjLS6LrrhNFHoCK5SsX-WiPkoP9bcZTyg1L2GOjMwHT2DyIUSz8F-Lwd7mx5pygHm8AQxXUdB1qhmUzP9wS7i6PE5o6SUXA_rUwYgOuRX5b7kbT_7IBMrgZcpECLaWDh_STNrdj/s668/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230925093159.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="593" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Qurl5hma0S_k6oARk6SMaL_6nSBTI25y2PGtwKkwT8sVyjLS6LrrhNFHoCK5SsX-WiPkoP9bcZTyg1L2GOjMwHT2DyIUSz8F-Lwd7mx5pygHm8AQxXUdB1qhmUzP9wS7i6PE5o6SUXA_rUwYgOuRX5b7kbT_7IBMrgZcpECLaWDh_STNrdj/w568-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230925093159.png" width="568" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This October marks the twelfth anniversary of one of the most horrible crimes to take place in the local area; Nicola Edgington, a woman with a history of severe mental illness and extreme violence, murdered one person and seriously injured another in a frenzied attack which took place in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4566953,0.1386839,3a,75y,226.98h,93.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-5k96DNeQnn1BHmhttr-KA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">Albion Road, Bexleyheath, by the war memorial outside of the Ten Pin Bowling Alley</a>. It was not the first time that Nicola Edgington had killed someone. Her history gives some insight into what caused her mental disturbance which led to deaths. Edgington has a younger brother and younger sister. Edgington told police that she was abused by her father when younger. She shoplifted during her adolescence and used violence against her brother and mother since childhood. She had stays in care homes at times. She worked as a hairdresser, shop assistant and saleswoman. According to reports in the press, she has been a prostitute, pole dancer and drug dealer. At age 17, Nicola miscarried twins after being punched in the stomach by a violent boyfriend and at 19 she was pregnant again, by a drug-dealer boyfriend, and gave birth to a son three months prematurely. It was Marion (Nicola's mother) who helped Nicola care for the baby, until Marion gave the boy to social services foster care. Edgington married a Jamaican man who is the father of her younger son. The sons were taken into care and then to Jamaica by her ex-husband. On 4 November 2005, Edgington stabbed her 60 year old mother, Marion, nine times in Forest Row, East Sussex for which she was convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility (based on diagnoses of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia" target="_blank">schizophrenia</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder" target="_blank">emotionally unstable personality traits</a>) at Lewes Crown Court on 23 October 2006. She was detained indefinitely under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Health_Act_1983" target="_blank">Mental Health Act 1983</a> and, following treatment and psychiatric evaluation, was released conditionally in September 2009, moving into a Greenwich flat. In September 2011, Edgington sent a message via Facebook to her brother saying she wasn't getting the help she needed, missed her mother, and had had a miscarriage. She left her phone number and asked him not to tell their father, Harry, that she had made contact. Her brother replied that she killed their mother and he found the body, that the miscarriage was good news, and that she should kill herself by cutting her wrists. Edgington sought help from the controversial <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Church_of_the_Kingdom_of_God" target="_blank">Universal Church of the Kingdom of God</a> prior to the attacks, as she had prior to the killing of her mother, which may have disturbed her further. On the 6th, 7th and 9th of October 2011, Edgington contacted police several times by phone and once in person reporting that individuals were making death threats against her (naming one individual), and later that two cocaine users were refusing to leave her flat and may have stolen from her. Despite initially being graded as serious and requiring police attendance, no police were dispatched to investigate. On the morning of 10th October 2011, Edgington pleaded numerous times with police and local mental health services to physically detain her under their legal powers as she felt she was having another psychotic breakdown, saying she had killed someone before and that the more scared she became the more dangerous she could be. Although taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, she was left there by police prior to being securely admitted, and the psychiatric staff decided they were only going to admit her on a voluntary basis despite her risk profile and secure care plan being in her psychiatric file. Later in the morning of 10 October 2011, while waiting for staff to change shift and admit her, Edgington left the hospital through a door that should have been locked, took two buses, and stabbed two strangers in the street in separate attacks in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4566953,0.1386839,3a,75y,226.98h,93.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-5k96DNeQnn1BHmhttr-KA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu" target="_blank">Albion Road, Bexleyheath</a>. She bought a knife from Asda with which she tried to kill 22 year old Kerry Clark, who survived and took the knife off her. Edgington subsequently stole a knife from a butcher's shop and stabbed 58 year old Sally Hodkin, who died of her injuries within minutes. Edgington was arrested later the same morning. According to psychiatrists, Edgington was suffering from <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-paranoid-delusions-5218314" target="_blank">paranoid delusions and hallucinations</a>, with a religious subtext. She believed a 100-eyed monster was guarding the throne of God against enemies, and saw shops looking like a nuclear holocaust had taken place; she believed Jesus had come back to save everyone's souls except hers which she couldn't understand as she loved God. She also felt she was in a computer simulation and had various bizarre beliefs relating to famous figures and films. On 7 February 2013 at the Old Bailey, Edgington was convicted by jury of the attempted murder of Clark and of the murder of Hodkin. Judge Brian Barker jailed her for life on 4 March 2013, with a minimum tariff of 37 years. Barker wrote that despite Edgington's firm long-standing diagnosis of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia" target="_blank">schizophrenia</a> and probable <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis" target="_blank">psychosis</a> around the time of the attacks, he believed the over-riding factor was borderline personality disorder (in the UK usually referred to in ICD terms as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder" target="_blank">Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, Borderline Type</a>) with rational ability. He referred to a recent medical report indicating no need for hospital treatment for Edgington. Despite Edgington having sought multiple times to have herself detained by the police or medical services prior to her actions, Barker stated that the killing was premeditated in a way that showed a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>consistent and calculated course of criminal conduct</i></span>". Barker included the random and unprovoked nature of the attacks as aggravating factors indicating more guilt, while disregarding the mitigating factor of mental disability since the psychiatric authorities disagreed about it. In the inquiry which followed the case, The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Police_Complaints_Commission" target="_blank">Independent Police Complaints Commission</a> said:- "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Police in Greenwich were not notified that Edgington was living in the area following her release from hospital in 2009 after she killed her mother. Officers and police staff did not carry out a Police National Computer (PNC) check during their interactions with her on the day of the murder which would have alerted them to her conviction for manslaughter. Officers missed an opportunity to use their powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act when Edgington tried to leave the A&E department shortly after she arrived with police. Edgington's second 999 call from the A&E department was downgraded because she was considered to be in a place of safety and an officer was not asked to return, despite Edgington saying she could be very dangerous</i></span>". <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Police_Complaints_Commission" target="_blank">IPCC</a> Commissioner Sarah Green said: "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>While our investigation found that no police officers or staff breached the code of conduct, it is of great concern that no PNC check was carried out which would have immediately alerted them to Edgington's violent history. Without this PNC check, both the police and staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, were without crucial information which may have influenced their future decisions, increased the urgency of the situation and could have escalated the medical attention she was given</i></span>." Ms Green said she hoped both the Met and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust - which was managing Edgington's care after she was released into the community - would "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>learn lessons from this tragic case to improve the handling of high-risk individuals such as Nicola Edgington in the future</i></span>." The prosecution said Edgington had a borderline personality disorder, was emotionally unstable and regularly blamed others for her situation, while the defence said she had schizophrenia. John Cooper, QC, mitigating, said Edgington was a woman in crisis and had not been given the help she asked for. He said she had done what she was told to do; she had called police and taken herself to hospital and had also called her mental health support workers while she was on the bus she took to the scene of the killing, which was also the bus route to <a href="https://oxleas.nhs.uk/services/service/bracton-centre-inpatient-services-142/" target="_blank">The Bracton Centre</a> - a secure mental health hospital in Dartford where she had previously been treated. Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity <a href="https://www.sane.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sane</a>, said the case was a "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>shocking indictment</i></span>" of psychiatric services and all of the agencies involved. "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>The most worrying aspect of this is that it could have been prevented. Edgington told people she was not taking her medication and had become a danger to herself and others, yet felt she had to prove it to be taken seriously. If the system cannot cope with the relatively few cases of people with mental illness and a history of violence, how can we prevent the stigma which blights the lives of so many thousands who suffer from mental illness and are never violent?</i></span>" In a very recent development, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Cases_Review_Commission" target="_blank">Criminal Cases Review Commission</a> confirmed it had referred the case of double killer Nicola Edgington to the Court of Appeal, adding there was a '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>real possibility</i></span>' her murder conviction will be overturned and replaced with a manslaughter conviction due to Edgington having diminished responsibility at the time of the murder due to her severe mental illness. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Cases_Review_Commission" target="_blank">CCRC</a> – the miscarriages of justice watchdog – said it was referring her conviction to the Court of Appeal '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>because new evidence about her mental health suggests that her responsibility may have been significantly diminished at the time of the offence</i></span>'. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Cases_Review_Commission" target="_blank">CCRC</a> said it referred Edgington's conviction after '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>commissioning fresh psychiatric assessments</i></span>'. More on this story in the future. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosoO48jlZ1maysc9dUQCBuUxxv-yykTz_xVLW8uKJyk5Ud3KZRyNx3FkjricG_R4QS-bvlnk9On387HCE-NbS8Cq0N_mz6jQOfqT4iaEL8Q99RTGaH_h1_qqm9wujmmeDfC8SlknqPs5AJ_pHB9pfyVj4V1qDPl0mpfFIAfDa2bZJRn-wQA7b/s899/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230926113956.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="899" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosoO48jlZ1maysc9dUQCBuUxxv-yykTz_xVLW8uKJyk5Ud3KZRyNx3FkjricG_R4QS-bvlnk9On387HCE-NbS8Cq0N_mz6jQOfqT4iaEL8Q99RTGaH_h1_qqm9wujmmeDfC8SlknqPs5AJ_pHB9pfyVj4V1qDPl0mpfFIAfDa2bZJRn-wQA7b/w640-h478/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230926113956.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Dartford Library / Museum is currently hosting an exhibition on the creation of the bronze sculptures recently installed in the town - entrance to the museum is free. Details here:- ‘<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>It’s only rock ‘n’ roll (but I like it)’. Amy Goodman presents - The Making of the Glimmer Twins. The bronze sculptures, commissioned by Dartford Borough Council and funded by contributions from Bellway London’s Copperhouse Green development, celebrate the lives and achievements of Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and inspire a new generation of creative Dartfordians to go out and change the world. This exhibition provides deeper insights into Amy Goodman’s artistic process and captures the making of The Glimmer Twins.</i></span></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Date: August 10th 2023 – November 25th 2023</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Opening Times:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Weekdays: 10.00am to 5.00pm</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Saturday: 10.00am to 4.00pm</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Sunday: CLOSED</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Address: Dartford Library Central Park, Market Street, Dartford, DA1 1EU</i></span>"</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczg785QnhXgbY9z1nCZcqqhX2adA_sGMgYDdnb2ch1DUq79OYwrO1LXbC5IF7nrDc_7wULXGDevlLspOq2TJ9rYnu8bkJ7nVd8gqR9CSRaSbfRoqXqud5xyqNEG6cFcQoyo7FePnXRYPNNQaRN-7WYVvRx235GzE6rRQ4e131r8h174Kvkl3-/s1178/Vidor%20radio%20advert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczg785QnhXgbY9z1nCZcqqhX2adA_sGMgYDdnb2ch1DUq79OYwrO1LXbC5IF7nrDc_7wULXGDevlLspOq2TJ9rYnu8bkJ7nVd8gqR9CSRaSbfRoqXqud5xyqNEG6cFcQoyo7FePnXRYPNNQaRN-7WYVvRx235GzE6rRQ4e131r8h174Kvkl3-/w412-h640/Vidor%20radio%20advert.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do you recall the Vidor brand of batteries? They used to be sold all over the place, especially in shops such as Woolworths. They were cheaper than Ever Ready or Duracell, and very popular, if not nearly so long lasting or reliable - to be honest in my experience they were pretty rubbish. The brand Vidor was based in Erith, and they produced a range of consumer electronics in the years after the war; their battery production facilities were located in South Shields and Dundee, whilst their television and radio factory was located in <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4849117,0.1728055,3a,75y,38.7h,88.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjU5yDo6DyLV9yNgOLGwQNw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu" target="_blank">St Fidelis Road, off West Street, Erith</a>. In 1934 T. N. Cole, managing director of the Lissen battery company, left that company sometime after it had been taken over by Ever-Ready; he purchased the Burndept radio company and set up the Vidor battery company, in direct competition with Lissen/Ever-Ready. Vidor's name came from the initials of Thomas's two daughters, Valerie and Denise, and his wife Rebecca. As a concession to Ever Ready and his agreement with the company, he did not run Burndept and Vidor himself, but employed Mr. R.P. Richardson as Managing Director. In 1935 Thomas brought an action appealing against the agreement with Ever Ready. An out of court settlement was made and from that time on, relations between Ever Ready and Vidor were strained, not helped by popularity of Vidor batteries with radio dealers because of their competitive prices, which were around twenty five percent cheaper than their rivals. In 1939 a Vidor portable radio shown at the <a href="http://www.r-type.org/timeline/time-018.htm" target="_blank">National Radio Exhibition</a>. After World War II, between 1947 - 1958 Various models of radio were manufactured. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENokCTxAVEc" target="_blank">You can see a video of a 1955 Vidor My Lady Anne portable valve radio in operation by clicking here</a>. The company appears to have been absorbed into several others in the late 60's / early 70's, and the battery making part of the business was sold to an Argentinian company, who as far as I can ascertain, still own the brand.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiLFU2K62I_F6YEBtBuJ2JhseoJOuYhed5w3zIZ7h0-9v4rweYkFVAKPPiiGgY0S-hPf1N3x5QC5gcMoKJL7Mc2DYLqsKFujhEh5yn6fUWhvsi2cmiaeFZNxfM_lXiVgWWJ9y4iYPfwCSjwNwlZSsNgwLRTtt1LZhWtm1xvndrctpEmr_9UNV/s4032/PXL_20230920_121712978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiLFU2K62I_F6YEBtBuJ2JhseoJOuYhed5w3zIZ7h0-9v4rweYkFVAKPPiiGgY0S-hPf1N3x5QC5gcMoKJL7Mc2DYLqsKFujhEh5yn6fUWhvsi2cmiaeFZNxfM_lXiVgWWJ9y4iYPfwCSjwNwlZSsNgwLRTtt1LZhWtm1xvndrctpEmr_9UNV/w640-h360/PXL_20230920_121712978.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I have heard rumours locally that the Bexleyheath branch of Wilko has been saved and that the store is now not closing. After carrying out some research I can say with a degree of certainty that this is unfortunately not the case. The store will indeed be one of the last to close in the UK, but it is definitely closing - the date for it to finally close its' doors will be Thursday October the 5th. Whether another retailer will take on the very large store space is currently unknown. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYVGKuk1TCEBqN8mGwyEkejT3wnkxRAn7_6jb40Y50MOtWo17nE6rv77opmKcE7vPbzIjQDKmyzzS4c_Z47i2nTFKfLTMjVwNazEuIT_tb1urkLdN1PPMx_vnPEY0_WNCJM8YbeQK-dAntZPk3fNR7LKXJX2yyNfbMGMOhQWTG_q3HMwFYFVW/s566/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230930174420.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYVGKuk1TCEBqN8mGwyEkejT3wnkxRAn7_6jb40Y50MOtWo17nE6rv77opmKcE7vPbzIjQDKmyzzS4c_Z47i2nTFKfLTMjVwNazEuIT_tb1urkLdN1PPMx_vnPEY0_WNCJM8YbeQK-dAntZPk3fNR7LKXJX2yyNfbMGMOhQWTG_q3HMwFYFVW/w470-h640/DeepinScreenshot_select-area_20230930174420.png" width="470" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst I was in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexleyheath" target="_blank">Bexleyheath</a> on Friday afternoon, I encountered the vending machine in the photo above - click on the photo to see a larger version on the image. The machine is currently located adjacent to the entrance to WH Smith on the inside of the Broadway Shopping Centre. The reason for me taking the photo is that I doubted that some readers would believe me otherwise, due to what the vending machine is selling - false eye lashes! It seems to be the fashion among a proportion of young girls and women to wear false eye lashes at the moment. I did some research into these unusual vending machines, and I was quite surprised at what I discovered. These machines are designed to dispense pre-packaged false eyelash sets. Customers can choose from a variety of styles, lengths, and thicknesses, ensuring that they can find lashes to suit their desired look. The process is quick, easy, and mess-free, making it an attractive option for those who want to enhance their eyelashes on the go. False eyelash dispensing machines ensure hygiene and safety. The lashes are pre-packaged and sealed, reducing the risk of contamination. This is especially important in a post-pandemic world where cleanliness is a top priority. Dispensing machines could expand beyond false eyelashes, offering a wider range of beauty products such as lipsticks, skincare items, and nail products. All very interesting - how successful and popular such vending machines will become is currently unknown. I do these things so you don't have to!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BT has revealed details on its UK-wide rollout schedule as it switches over from analogue phone lines to a digital voice service to hit the deadline of retiring the analogue service by the end of 2025. The former state-owned telecoms giant, which still operates the bulk of Britain's telecommunications infrastructure, has previously flagged up plans to switch from the old analogue phone lines to internet-based voice calls operating over a fibre network. BT said that pilots of the switchover in Salisbury (Wiltshire) and Mildenhall (Suffolk) were successful, and it is now beginning the next phase in the roll out of its new home phone service, "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Digital Voice</i></span>," on a region-by-region basis. This kicked off with the East Midlands in July, then Yorkshire and the Humber region in August and Northern Ireland in September. The future schedule will cover London and the North West of England this autumn, followed by the South East, West Midlands, East Anglia and Wales in spring 2024. Scotland, the North East and South West of England will be switched during the summer of 2024. According to BT, it is contacting customers at least four weeks ahead of the switch, to make sure they are ready to move to Digital Voice. The company said it will also be in contact with some broadband customers in England to invite them to switch their landline to Digital Voice ahead of advertising campaigns in their area. Digital Voice will typically mean that anyone still wanting a landline can simply plug their existing telephone into the back of their broadband hub. Those who do not wish to switch can be transferred to a broadband-only plan, BT said in an article on The Register technology news website last week. However, BT claimed that switching to Digital Voice won't cost anything, and customers will not pay more than their current home phone plan, unless they are upgrading to Digital Voice while re-contracting their home broadband plan. BT is not the only telecoms company doing this – other companies that still provide landlines, such as Virgin Media and KCOM in Hull, are also in the process of switching customers to internet telephony as part of an effort to replace copper lines with fibre connections. While many people these days use mobile phones rather than a landline for calls, there have been concerns voiced about those who still rely on one, such as more elderly citizens or those with a healthcare pendant that can be used to call for help in an emergency. In the latter case, a power cut could mean the phone service is unavailable. BT said it will not be "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>proactively switching</i></span>" anyone with a healthcare pendant, those who only use a landline or have no mobile signal, or customers that have disclosed additional needs, where the company is aware of this situation. Any customers that fall into one of these categories should contact the company to ensure their data is up to date. Free battery backup units will be available for customers with additional needs, BT claims, and other customers can also choose to purchase a battery backup unit if they so desire. BT also said it can offer a hybrid phone with a built-in battery that can switch to a mobile network if necessary. BT has also announced that its focus between now and December 2025 is to move all customers off the old analogue PSTN service. It expects the majority of customers will move to Digital Voice, and said 99 percent of existing phones are compatible and the only change most users will experience is the need to plug it into the back of the broadband router rather than the socket on the wall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div><div>The end video this week is a compilation of historic CCTV footage taken of Nicola Edgington boarding a bus, going into Asda in Bexleyheath, and finally entering the tile and bathroom shop close to where she killed Sally Hodkin; the footage then shows her arrest by members of the Police. Comments and feedback to me at <a href="mailto:hugh.neal@gmail.com">hugh.neal@gmail.com</a>.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BSLK8zJ1yFQ?si=9zGPU1IAN1KcTF23" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.com0