East Retford memories.

Officially the title is East Retford but in common parlance Retford is sufficient.  I had relatives whom we visited   For me the attraction was that the garden backed onto the engine sheds!

Our school chess team visited Retford each year and as a member of the team I was fortunate to miss afternoon classes on that day.

Far more exciting though was the family's regular visits to the trackside at Ranskill about five miles north of Retford.  A succession of A4s, A1s, A3s, A2s, the lone W1 and V2s stormed past.

Chesterfield FC sack manager

Last May I doubted the wisdom of Chesterfield appointing as manager the person who had just overseen the relegation of Barnet.  My doubts were well-founded.  Chesterfield are in the relegation zone of the National League.  No surprise then that the club has sacked the manager.

Another year gone

Another birthday recently, another year chalked off.  No new health problems to be concerned about.  Rather an uneventful year apart from one major celebration -our 25th. wedding anniversary in April.

Planning botch-up

It was obvious immediately on its opening that there was insufficient car parking at the hospital at Pembury. Tales abound of people driving round for up to an hour to find a space.  For my part I arrange for a lift to the hospital and make my way home by bus.

The problem for many people is that the bus is not an option.  Apparently the NHS Trust knew there would be a problem and pressed for more parking spaces.  The idiots in the local council's planning department, backed by councillors, refused. to agree to extra places citing central government 'green transport criteria'.  Bonkers.

More railway ramblings.

Just looked at a post on Facebook of a shunter having difficulty joining up the pipes between a steam locomotive and carriages.  His problems were compounded by having to connect not only the brake pipes but also the steam heating pipes.

Watching the video I was reminded of dark cold early mornings at Chesterfield Midland.  A train would pull in, detach a van,  shunt it into the bay platform, reconnect to the main train and then head off.  The shunter had passengers watching his every move as a delay would cause the following passenger train to be held outside the station much to the annoyance of passengers for Derby, Birmingham and Bristol.

In the 1970s-80s the railway carried much of the mail, often in the guard's van of passenger trains, or sometimes in a van the length of a passenger carriage added to a passenger train.  A train I caught from Birmingham New Street added a van to the front at New Street.

One train had a mail van at the rear.  One night at Derby there was a problem with a passenger carriage in the middle of the train. Rather than split the train and send the front portion on its way it was decided to detach the errant vehicle, join the train up and then send it on its way.  The reason for this manoeuvre was that the mail van had to go on.  Sadly, over an hour passed and the re-formed train failed to move.  An HST was pressed into service to take us on to Sheffield.  The van stayed in Derby.

Bev the Rev

Beverley Mason became a curate at St Paul's Rusthall in 2000. Clearly she rustled a few feathers as two years later she moved to Rainham. Not one of Rusthall's glorious moments.  After Rainham she became vicar at a church in Upper Norwood.  A small group of us attended her induction.  Since then Beverley has advanced to being an archdeacon and recently it was announced that she is to became Bishop of Warrington, a suffragan in the Diocese of Liverpool.

Well done Beverley.  One in the eye for the critics in Rusthall, one of whom managed to attract opprobrium for his domestic arrangements.

Chesterfield FC - a tale of woe.

After two successive relegations hopes were high that Chesterfield would at the very least put up a good showing in the National League. Indeed promotion was anticipated by the bookies and more optimistic fans. I was not so sure, the new manager had just overseen the relegation of Barnet to the National League.

The season began well with three wins, then the rot set in.  Two draws and eight defeats leave Chesterfield above the relegation places on goal difference. Difficult times.  Tomorrow Chesterfield visit fellow strugglers Maidstone United.  Must secure at least a draw.  Defeat and who knows, the manager may be shown the door.

A day out

I ventured out on a train trip today, to Gravesend, to meet a mate of long-standing and see how The Bench cafe was performing.  It was my first train trip since my heart problem was diagnosed.  Had a most enjoyable day.  The highlight was seeing the 'new' London Bridge station.  Amazing change and a huge improvement on the old infrastructure.

Liberal Dozycrats and 'Peoples Referendum'.

So, the Liberals want a second referendum as they didn't like the result of the one held in 2016.   Poor dears.

Why the Liberals should use the tag 'Peoples Vote' is beyond me.  Didn't people  vote in the 2016 referendum?

An eventful journey

I caught the 281 at Meadow Road to travel to Rusthall.  As we turned left at the traffic lights at the top of Goods Station Road two young idiots walked out in front of the bus. The pedestrian lights were at red. There followed an altercation between the driver and one of the idiots.  We proceeded to the Metro Bank bus stop whereupon the driver got off the bus seemingly intent on meeting up with the lippy idiot.  Meanwhile passengers boarded the bus  without paying or showing travel-cards.

As we approached Sainsbury's an elderly passenger rose from her seat and started to walk to the front.  When the bus stopped she catapulted forward and hit the panel behind the driver.  Fortunately she did not break any bones and managed to walk off the vehicle, but she will have a few bruises to show for her failure to wait until the bus stopped before getting up.

Off we went again.  When we reached the Major Yorks Road roundabout we should have turned left. Instead we sailed on towards the town centre. Realising his mistake the driver turned round at the King Charles roundabout and thereafter the journey was uneventful.

Fine tuning

I have received a letter from Maidstone Hospital calling me in for an appointment on a Saturday morning.  My pacemaker needs a software update.  My life depends on a mini-computer functioning correctly.

Health update.

My pacemaker is working as it should.  My sugar diabetes count is back in 'normal territory', so all is well.  However must keep to my very low salt and  sugar content diets.

Kent police a laughing stock.

Interesting priorities.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/06/cat-thieves-warned-against-feeding-neighbours-pets-pensioner/

Name and shame

The link below is to an article.  The article shows how stupid some of our councillors are.

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/fed-up-residents-fail-stop-1601142

Chesterfield FC

Bottom of League 1 in 2017 and bottom of League 2 is 2018.  Not an enviable record.  So what does the club do?  It appoints a manager who was in charge of Barnet when it too was relegated from League 2 in 2018!

See:  https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/02/chesterfield-relegation-from-football-league

Doomed to the Conference!

Another defeat for Chesterfield at the hands of fellow-relegation contenders Grimsby Town leaves the Blues in a perilous position.  Relegation to the Conference is seemingly inevitable.  At least I shall have the opportunity next season to watch them play in Kent!

However the problem is that the downward spiral may continue.  A number of former League clubs play in Conference North.

What has gone wrong?

The Fish

Earlier this week I watched a video on YouTube about railways in the Grimsby area.  Many lines served the fish docks.  All are closed, mainly because road transport took the traffic away.  Now the road transport has gone as the trawler fleet has been decommissioned as a result of government and EU fishing policies.

My memory of the railway fish traffic is that of a train of empty fish vans being returned to Grimsby by way of Chesterfield and the 'Old Line' towards Barrow Hill. The van doors were left open for the return journey. The stench lasted for minutes after the train had gone.

Tunbridge Wells FC on the move?

It is reported that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is so strapped for cash that it intends to buy out the lease to Tunbridge Wells FC and sell the land to a property developer for housing. In return the council will provide the club with a well-drained pitch, a practice pitch and modern dressing room and club facilities

The playing fields in Southwood Road, Rusthall and adjoining fields have been identified as a possible location.  One advantage of the move is that the proposed ground is close to a bus route which cannot be said of Culverden.

What Rusthall FC will make of the proposals is not difficult to determine and doubtless local residents will complain about noise, traffic congestion and parking issues.  Should all go well the move will take place in time for the 2020-21 season.

This time of year is interesting!

Chesterfield FC: doomed to non-league football?

Six points adrift from safety and matches running out it is increasingly likely Chesterfield will be relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history. What has brought about this sad state of affairs?  The first match I saw was in the 1950s when Leeds United played Chesterfield in Freddie Capel's benefit match. John Charles played for Leeds.

I lived within the sound of cheering from Saltergate when Chesterfield scored.  I saw Gordon Banks play and in the late 50's early 60's I remember seeing Powell, Clarke, Sears, Havenhand, Hutchinson, Blakey, Smallwood, Lewis, Frear, Rackstraw, Randall, Frost, Fenoughty, Kettleborough, Moss and Maddison.  I saw Neil Warnock play a few times.

Chesterfield only once challenged for promotion to the second tier and failed through being caught up in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, beating Rangers. The very idea that Chesterfield could lose its league status was anathema.  But it has come to pass and it is probable that Chesterfield will join the long list of clubs relegated to the Conference, or even worse a further relegation to Conference North.

Opposition to Rusthall Parish Council

On the bus into town yesterday two people sat behind me expressing vehement opposition to having to pay money to the useless parish council.  Oh joy.

Parish Precept up again!

Rusthall Parish Council has increased its precept by an inflation busting 7.6%.  The effect is that I am forced to pay £43 per year to the parish council, whilst the borough council will receive £165 per year.  The parish council serves no useful purpose and should be ashamed of its charges.

Apathy in Rusthall

I mentioned recently that three of the nine parish councillors had resigned.  There has been no call for an election and the vacancies will be filled by co-option.  No surprise. There has not been a vote for a parish councillor since 2011.

Road delays in Tunbridge Wells

Major York's Road in Tunbridge Wells has been closed to enable carriageway repairs and the installation of a pedestrian crossing.  The road is busy all day and its closure has resulted in diversions of traffic onto other busy roads.  The bus services using the road have been diverted and the extra mileage, together with traffic jams has resulted in the timetables being rendered useless.

The cost to the bus companies and the cost of extra fuel used by road users, together with lost time, will add up to an enormous sum.  Yet there is a lack of urgency about completing the work.  No overnight work and no weekend working.  Poor show.

Demise of Essex Savers credit union

This week Essex Savers went into voluntary liquidation.  All savings are protected and will be paid back within seven days,

I have known for some time that Essex Savers was short of  operating funds.  I have no knowledge of the size of the shortfall.  The social cost of liquidation will be enormous as disadvantaged people will go to lenders who charge astronomical interest rates.

In Kent, the county council was the major player in the development and funding of the credit union - up to £500,000.  In Essex the county council did not contribute a penny.  Surely it was not beyond the wit of various councils and housing associations to come up with interest free loans or other mechanisms to support the credit union?  The cost to these bodies of the loss of the credit union will outweigh the cost of rescue as pressure will mount on social services, social security and housing.

Rusthall Parish Council loses 3 councillors

The parish council should have nine members.  It is down to six with the resignations of Fraser, Benoy and Punyer.  Should ten electors ask there would be a by-election to fill the vacancies.  Otherwise the council may fill the vacancies by co-option.  By-elections cost a lot: co-option opens the door to cronyism.

Since the first council election in 2011 the electorate has not voted for a parish councillor, seats have either been uncontested or filled by co-option.  Clearly apathy reigns, as I surmised it would.  Unlike some I did not go along with the hype generated by the likes of councillor Blackburn.  The parish council is a waste of money and would not be missed if it ceased to exist.  Unfortunately abolishing a parish council in virtually impossible.

Red Lion closes - again

The Red Lion in Rusthall has closed again.  A note on the door states it will reopen 'under new management'. Today the pub sign on the green opposite the pub has been taken down. Rumour is rife:  the brewery has sold the pub, it is being turned into a restaurant with an oriental theme.  Time will tell.

Still here!

It is just over two years since I was diagnosed with heart failure.  Since then a pacemaker has been fitted, I have type 2 diabetes and my cholesterol level has been too high. A daily intake of pills has reduced markedly my sugar and cholesterol levels and my pacemaker is doing its job.  I am told I look well!

Indeed I do feel well.  However my diet is restricted: very little salt and sugar and no more than two litres of fluid a day.  But I am able to get about and walk long distances - including uphill.

The NHS has done me proud - my GP, heart failure nurse, diabetes nurse and the staff at Maidstone and Pembury hospitals.

So what does the future hold?  Two years ago I doubted I would make it into 2017.  Now I expect to keep going for a few more years.

It's all in the head.

Here is an assertion:   a right is not an objective fact, it is a subjective human construct.  'Rights' are human constructs imposed by social pressure or legal force.  There are no objective standards of morality or rights, they are inventions of the human mind.  Rights are not self-evident, god given or inalienable.