Barnsley 10km result 2014

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 250:- As part of my extended comparative study on ‘The History of Coventry Godiva Harriers and other clubs in the city during the last 140 years’ this medal and the person who won it are quite important. Know where the medal is from Blog??

So Blog, I have just returned from God’s Own Country where my younger daughter ran in the Barnsley 10 kilometres (6¼ miles to you Colin). Chip timing was used, the race started at 10:00 but the results didn’t emerge until 12:20 and then with scant apology for the lateness. Stacks of runners, plenty of capable marshals, well-marked course, country route with road closure but only half the highway was shut allowing traffic to flow on the other half …. The Coventry Half Marathon organisers and the Coventry Leisure Services should have been present to witness what an ordinary running club can do efficiently with no fuss or bother … and they then could have gone away and called a meeting of local athletic clubs in Coventry to promote a race which would not be the usual embarrassment to which we have become accustomed.

Interesting as well, was the water feature in the centre of the town. Coventry has its water feature near Shelton Square which is a dribbling joke on the rare occasions that it works. Coventry has its water feature at the War Memorial Park which is a joke, or would be, if it ever worked. In Barnsley, the feature consists of rows of fountains on a slope to allow the water to flow downhill to be recycled. Each fountain of water is a different height which grows from minimal flow to about 8 foot (2.5 metres Blog) in a parabolic arc but each fountain in the row is of a different height, each row being independent but slowly rising from the top one giving the impression of a wave flow from the top of the hill … and the kiddies can run under the arcs if they so wish and if they are able to judge all the changing flows without getting a soaking … great fun.

And what was so sad was the fact that I could use all the archives for my history search, use my camera to photo what I wanted, copy automatically onto my computer stick what I wished and the charge was precisely NO quids. Compare to Coventry … £5 to use a camera for 5 pickies from the microfiche, an arm and a leg for retrievals, and a bank loan to use the Transport Museum Archives. And funnily enough, Barnsley and the other town whose archives facilities I was using, have no wholesale plans to close all their libraries … unlike Coventry!!

                                         Colin

Coventry City Council cut transport for disable children??

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 249:- Yes Blog I know it is the same but for a very good reason

Read on Blog …..

I have already said to you Blog that the council has spent very many quids on this beautiful piece of architecture. Well last week the Coventry City Council announced that there was a strong possibility that transport for disable children to their Special Schools would be cut as part of the council’s financial package of cost cutting savings. So. Many quids on a fence which is totally unnecessary and no quids for getting disable kids to school which is totally necessary. I was so incensed at the two decisions that I did write to the editor of the local paper ….

Viz

Dear Editor,

                  Would you be kind enough to allow me a little space to let your readers know how pleased my 7 year old grandson is that the council have just spent a near six figure some on erecting a concrete barrier topped by three foot railings along the country lane where his granddad lives? My grandson can now sleep soundly at night, safe in the knowledge that his granddad is no longer in danger of slipping into the ditch at the side of the road when he goes to collect his morning paper. He does not mind being confined to a wheel chair nor attending a special school if his granddad can use the railings for support when he is out of breath after his afternoon stroll to the bus stop. He feels that having his mum and dad pay for his transport to special school each day is well worth their sacrifice knowing the huge amount of money spent on the road improvement in Washbrook Lane means his granddad can now leap up onto the railings to avoid the speeding cars coming down the country lane. And what is more, he is tickled pink knowing that his mum will get fit having to struggle the couple of miles to his school in all weathers pushing him in his wheelchair because they do not live on a direct bus route which they can use to get to school.

                                     Colin Kirkham

                                                                       Colin

Same agin Blog, same agin.

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 248:- Yes I know it is the same photo I sent you last time Blog. If I was that obtuse I am sure I would be in that nice Mr Cameroon’s cabinet by now. … read on …

So Blog, I want the benefit of all your vast collective knowledge. HOW, with a capital ‘H’, am I going to disguise that abomination which the council has inflicted on me?? Grow vines along it’s length? Just paint it green?? Be environmentally aware and put plant pots along it’s length?? By plant pots I mean inside out cut motor car tyres with the edges serrated to make them look prettier, then painted green to blend in. Try introducing lichen and mosses by smearing the concrete with mouldy yogurt??? I could go the other way of course and create op art / spray can graffiti in bright colours  … but the council might just notice that and get a tad upset?? So Blog, a bit of your de Bono lateral thinking if you don’t mind. BUT remember whatever I do, I am faced with the problem of accommodating next year’s scarecrow display. The theme by the way is 1975 to 2015 because it is the Allesley Village 50^th anniversary of the Festival. So Blog, I want the benefit of all your vast collective knowledge. HOW, with a capital ‘H’, am I going to think up scarecrows to comply with that title??? - a bit of your de Bono lateral thinking if you don’t mind Blog.

I suppose Blog, you could write your suggestions on the back of a cheque made out for some quids for TINY TIMS CHILDREN’S CENTRE which offers assistance to disable children at no cost to their parents, who, in many cases, have enough problems trying to cope financially anyway without the burden of forking out for Bowen Physio bills.

                           Colin

Cripples, take up thy beds and walk ....

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 247:- No question!!! .. just a before and after photo of how the council has spent nearly a six figure sum on ‘improving the safety’ of the Lane where I live!!!! And yesterday they announced that they are scraping the funding of transporting disable children to their special schools and the parents will have to pay … and how much will save the council, you ask Blog. Let’s put it this way, if the council hadn’t been so kind to me by protecting my safety as I walk down the Lane by the installation of the protective barriers, all the disable kiddies could travel to their special school for about the next four years. Blog, it makes you weep. Priorities with a capital ‘P’????

Mornin Blog,

               How people change depending upon circumstance. Six days I( went to the local hall which was packed to the rafters to hear a presentation by the council on plans to accommodate 30,000 houses, yes Blog, thirty thousand houses on green belt / green field sites around the city. The council were somewhat dragooned into the presentation after a so-called period of consultation on the issue which hardly anyone had been informed about – which is about par for the course with the city council on many contentious issues that affect the voting population of the city. The meeting was called by local groups not the council. The council officers were heckled, cat called but at the end of the day why should they care as they still get paid – probably double time rate for that meeting plus a lump sum for ‘danger money’! Our three councillors were in attendance … very interesting. One a highflyer cum consultant cum educational ex headmaster expert, stood at the front slouched against the wall and uttered not a dickie bird all evening. Bets that he would have been irate if a member of his staff had behaved in such a manner at his school. Another skulked at the very back of the room and no one knew he was there!! I certainly didn’t see him. You can bet on his next political circular he will be photographed leading the rebellious mob, organiser of the uprising, in the van?? Terribly sad that this is the face of politics in Coventry.

                                                                     Colin

Nuneaton Art Gallery and Museum

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 246:- This gentleman was portrayed on the wall of Nuneaton Art Gallery and Museum display when I visited on Sunday! Who is he you ask Blog? Well, who is he …..

… via the Museum I am hoping to find out more about him and his wife who both rode for Godiva Harriers Cycling Section before WW11. From my records I have found some race results and some background information, so watch this for further developments. I tell you all this in my letter to you Blog, because on 9^th November 2007 the following appeared on the Coventry Godiva Harriers web site

‘A comprehensive history of the Coventry Godiva Harriers is in the course of preparation, and is being compiled by Colin Kirkham.’

Of course it would be interesting to see another note or two … but as nothing much seems to affect what has been set in stone, I shall have to just concentrate on writing to you Blog to keep you informed. Several articles of History Information to you I have already sent, tell all your friends to join in the fun and I will find ways of new information getting through to me. Meanwhile I shall continue to spend many quids buying back Godiva’s history from shops, e-bay and auctions!!!!!!!!!!! Blog I kid you not. Many quids!!! Very many quids!!!!!!

                                             Colin

BBC Today programme

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 245:- I am attempting to write another history in a peculiar way. What has this medal to do with it you may ask Blog. So, ask yourself what this medal has to do with it!!!

Blog,

Best faux pas for years which I have been waiting for one of the radio cum tv satirical programmes to highlight. But it is another case of do as I say and not do as I do, protecting one’s own I am afraid!!! So in the absence of the BBC self-flagrante … two weeks ago, Sarah Montague was interviewing at length a lady who was grossly overweight to the extent of 40 stones, Blog I kid you not. Not surprisingly, the lady was confined to bed, and needed a hoist to get her out of bed. The interviewer spent a disproportionate amount of time discussing her weight, her girth and mental state as she attempted to slim down to something like 15 stones. She was called Mary Waters or similar I think. Montague concluded the interview by summing up the weight and size of the lady rounding off with ‘That was Mary Waters talking about her dimensions – er, I mean her dementia.’!!!

But we have all been there haven’t we Blog???

Spent a frantic three weeks recording a flood of information given to me for ‘The History of Coventry Godiva Harriers and other clubs in the city during the last 140 years’. You wait ages for one bit of info to come along then four come along together. Some very good stuff as well. I am not complaining, the more information I get, the more grateful I am. Some serious thought has to be given as to how to get all my history out to the plebs, as an MP might say. I said to you Blog, before that a book is a nice idea but financially out of the question as it would require lots of quids for self-publication and the number of copies needed to be sold to break even would be considerable ….. watch this space Blog. A bit of sideways de Bono thought needed I suspect????????????

                                                                                         Colin

Walking .... 1903 to ...

Blog oh Blog…

 …… the last time I told you the good news, but contrast that previous missive to you with the actions of the little toe-rag who not only broke into my garage but then broke into my car parked inside the garage two weeks ago …. 

At the weekend the National Cross Country Relays took place at Mansfield without a men’s team from Coventry Godiva Harriers, that famous all conquering club in the 60s / 70s and without a women’s team from Coventry Godiva Harriers, that famous all conquering club in the 60s / 70s. I shall now hold a minutes silence ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….  At the weekend the Warwick University students promoted their cross country relays around the jog trail around the campus. One of the signs they placed around the course was one warning ‘Slow Down – Slippery Surface’. Blog I kid you not!!!!

It was also a double birthday celebration for my elder daughter and her dad!!! So entering yet another decade I have to devise a challenge for myself … Hows about finishing ‘The History of Coventry Godiva Harriers and other clubs in the city during the last 140 years’?? ---- which reminds me that

1.      I will be giving another talk on the said subject tomorrow and if there are any expenses / fees they will, as usual, go straight to the TINY TIMS CHILDREN’S CENTRE in Coventry which provides physio for disable children.

2.      Have spent some considerable time researching the ‘Walking Boom’ which took place in 1903. It grasped the imagination of the nation with long and short walks here there and everywhere which reminds me of a long, very long walk sponsored by Billy Butlin .. and so to the  ……   

Photograph Quiz.

Photo no 244:- Who is the lady??? What has she to do with Billy Butlin?? Where did the long, very long walk take place??? And what was the name of the Coventry Godiva Harrier who took part and won a £100 prize for what and why??? Why was he sanctioned??

                                                                Colin