Is JW himself conducting the Royal Philly ? or they just playing his music ??? Dom Dom Da Dom , Dom Da Dom, Dom Da Dom
Took this picture of one of the 2 surviving B1s. Grandson was more impressed with Sir Nigel Gresleybwhich was being filled further along. please log in to view this image
We don't do 'pomp', that's certainly true But we do 'enjoying ourselves doing something interesting' I'm sure that lots of small events won't be for everyone's taste, neither will some of the large ones, but we do seem to be happy turning up to regular large events in the City. During the previous summers there seems to have been a festival every weekend, and all really well attended. And some odd stuff too (I spent a night listening to Indian lads playing instruments in the church on Lowgate, which had been decked out with saris etc...and it was superb) I suppose there is a danger of burn out, but similarly you'd hope that people come from ourside too to fill the gaps of the 'over partied' I'm optimistic...
Thing is a lot of the things, like the one you mention, Tamla Motown revues, have no unique connection to Hull, people could see them anywhere, why travel to Hull to watch them? Wilberforce is an internationally known name and should feature heavily, Hull's part in the establishment of parliamentary democracy, which has influenced much of the world, by it refusing the king entry (and which showed how important Hull was as he wanted access to the armoury, the largest outside of the Tower .of London ) is another unique point. Just a shame there is nothing to look at where it happened. There are other things as well.
The Flying Scotsman was in Hull in 1968. I saw it earlier this year on tour. To be honest, I ****ing hate steam trains. Me Dad started work as a Station Porter during the war. He became a Fireman and eventually a Driver working out of Diarycoates and then Botanic. I hardly saw him as I grew up. The smell of coal still brings back the memory of his black overcoat hanging on the toilet door. He eat his meals off an enamel plate, as he was never home when we ate. I can remember his packing up box and his billy can along with the ever present bottle of evaporated milk. I can remember the knocker up coming round at ungodly hours. Long hard days of shovelling coal, up to ten tons a shift, made him lean, whilst the emphysema slowly corroded his lungs. Holidays in Switzerland and Austria provided respite from the ravages of the coal dust. Diesel locomotives were a blessing and he was thankful of their introduction. Sod the romance, it was hard work, hard on the body and hard on the soul.
I'm not suggesting everything's perfect And it can't be everything that suits everyone either I haven't even read the whole list, and isn't it only the first three months announced? (Could be wrong) I expect Wilberforce will feature heavily later in the year, because that's exactly who/what Freedom Festival celebrates And as for not letting King Charles in, well my first glance at the highlights of the programme showed a play about that exact event...which I bought tickets for Just enjoy the ride...some bits will be pretty bloody good I think
1968? That was the last year of steam. Must have been some sort of special occasion as it was withdrawn from service in 1963 and restored in 1968. The fireman's job was hard but the engine drivers were a highly regarded elite, especially on the main lines. Took years to become a driver. My uncle worked out of Neville Hill as a fireman, worked on a lot of Pacifics including Flying Scotsman (never on the .Flying Scotsman train though). They used to go in early before trips to London to make sure the logo looked immaculate. Whenever made it to the exalted position of driver. Did your dad go on rail trips to Austrua and Switxerland at a discounted rate because if his job? Holidays there in those days were expensive for a working man. That's if you are talking about holidays in the days of steam of course. You are quite right, the glamour wasn't as obvious to the people working on them. I remember some of us talking to the driver of one of the first diesel shunters in our local shed. He let us have a look in the cab and we were all saying he must miss driving steam engines compared to this. He nearly pissed his self laughing as he explained to us naive kids that it was much preferable just pushing buttons to get moving to yours of preparation. He proceeded to make a cuppa on the hot plate adding that making something to eat and drink was a lot easier as well. Yet steam engines continue to hold a fascination and not just in this country. The .NYMR carries more passengers now than it did in the days if British Rail, at far more expensive prices. Same with other steam preservation lines.
I knew someone whose father in law spent his working life as a wheel tapper on the railways. All day every day tapping the wheels to make sure they gave a nice ring, rather than a dull sound that would indicate a potentially dangerous crack. They got round to chatting with them about it at his retirement, and in 40 years he never found one solitary wheel with a problem, which they felt showed the quality of the engineering. It seemed to spark something of a thought process, perhaps 40 years too late, when I asked if he'd ever had his hearing tested.
Hope it is a great success. At least it has resulted in the city centre having things put right that should have been done donkey's years ago. Enjoy the play. Though Cityman seems to think that the inhabitants of the City of Culture are Philistines who don't like Culture. Maybe he is another who teaches for a gun when he hears the word Culture. Better leave it there with that quote as we don't want the thread locking,
I'm sure it's mentioned earlier, but one of the aims of the City of Culture concept, is to encourage people to have a more positive outlook about the City. I can't imagine why they feel we need to encourage that....
It's just the modern culture of believing that positive thinking can bring a thing about. I think it's bollocks myself. It's a clever ploy though. It creates a situation where any realistic assessment, or any objective criticism of a project can quickly and easily be dismissed as mere negativity.
No, it's someone else conducting it. I think the tickets may have been a tad more expensive if JW was the one conducting. Random fact of the day: I share my birthday with John Williams.
After many years in the doldrums, I'd quite like to see our City thrive. We have two fantastic opportunities with Siemens and then the City of Culture. FFS its upto every single citizen of Hull,. ex pats etc to make sure we make the most of these absolute one offs. If we don't, chances are we're probably ****ed. So Come On Citeee
It's already increasing pride within the city and starting to change perceptions of those outside it, it's a brilliant thing.
I speak to quite a few people who visit Hull and by and large they say they are impressed and enjoy their stay; whether that is nightlife or family excursions. Even lads who do work stays usually talk it up, although some of these are unimpressed, but when you ask where they have been put up it becomes clear. It's hard to understand why anyone would think the COC year as a bad or negative thing.
In my experience the only people who say bad things about Hull are people who have never been. Those who have actually visited, worked there or attended University are invariably impressed.
In 68, it was a preserved engine and it was used as a special. The holidays to Austria and Switzerland were organised by a driver, Martin Rooks (I think). The rail travel was free and you only paid for the hotel. It was not cheap but cheaper. Our holidays were something that set me apart from the other kids in school. It got me into trouble when asked were we had been on holiday and I said Switzerland, even the teachers thought I was lying. A kid from North Hull going there, was beyond belief. Newquay was a 16 hour journey and we went there twice. Hastings one year and Sandown on the Isle of Wight another. The journey to Davos took over 24hrs and it was a trip into the unknown. Me Mam and Dad travelled virtually every year into Europe, Italy, Germany, and the former Yugoslavia were all done by train. It gave me great delight and still does, to sit down with me Mam and talk about our holidays to places like Lake Bled or Lake Garda and now my Daughter and her family do the same with us. Me Dad took early retirement due to his ill health, he stopped smoking and out lasted his work mates. Retirement was the kiss of death for many, but I certainly believe that the clean air of the alps and lakes, extended his life. Emphysema did not get him in the end, it just contributed to his death. He beat cancer of the tongue and died at the good age of 83 and if I told him rail workers went into the depot early to polish a trains logo, he would have pissed himself.