david weston

Not from a wall this, but 'toilet humour' non the less. A man waiting in the A & E gets up and starts to walk, stooped and shuffling. Two trainee doctors see him and go over. The first says " Excuse us asking, but my colleague and I were trying to ascertain what your condition might be. I think you are suffering with Haemorrhoids, and he thinks varicose veins are causing your difficulty in walking." The man replies. "Well, now then, let's see. You thought I had piles, and you were wrong. He thought I had varicose veins, and he was wrong. I thought I wanted to break wind AND I WAS WRONG !"

This is bringing out the worst in us ! Bert has won the pools and is giving a barbeque in the garden of his new house to all his old friends after showing them his gold-plated indoor loo, one of whom says, " Hey Bert, haven't you done well, you used to eat in't house and s . . . outside !"

Did you ex-councillors ever raise the issue of, and oppose the corrupt 'Fractional Reserve' banking racket, the outlawing of which would see cities and nations virtually free of indebtedness. A look at the You Tube cartoon, 'The Goldsmith's Tale' will enlighten you, one reason the powers that be don't like the internet ! It's nothing different to what Jefferson warned of when he said that he viewed the banks being allowed to issue the currency and set interest rates as a greater danger than a standing army ! Turning in his grave ?!

Can councillors divorce themselves from the actions of their parties when in government, ALL of whom have supported the catastrophic de-regulation of the financial sector which has led to the bailouts (capitalism on the Dole, on our tax money) and the cuts affecting our cities? How can working folk hope for salvation when their leaders use government as a stepping stone to corporate consulting where the real £millions are, eh Tony ? Wake up and vote for independents, the party system is as corrupt as Tammany Hall, and yes, they are all the same, Labour, Tory and Libs, thick as thieves at the Bilderberg meetings !

'The future of Britain is in you hands !' And the one which said 'I bought a great penis enlarger the other day.' then you followed the arrows to a drawing of a magnifying glass ! I think there's a urinal somewhere in the north of England which, due to it being locally famous for such graffiti, was re-built elsewhere to make way for some development, complete with the legendary wit on its walls. Any info on this ?

It's probably on one of Hillsboro's links, but little known is that the early Tri-ang-Rovex Princess had plastic wheels and 2 x sprung power pick-up 'tubes' located beneath the cab sides which contacted with each rail. Trix had a very advanced pick up system using the center rail as common and the insulated running rails each able to control two engines on the same track at different speeds. In addition, their superbly engineered, metal model of the Woodhead electric Bo-Bo's could pick up via a switch either from the overhead catenary they sold, or the normal track, as above, if you didn't have the overhead. The Woodhead locos were an odd choice for a foreign manufacturer as no British company did one until much later when the superb Tri-ang Woodhead Co-Co's appeared. (Bo-Bo's 4 wheels on each bogy, Co-Co's 6) The early plastic used by Tri-ang was prone to warping with carriage rooves in particular looking like bananas ! Tri-ang ( Lines Bros ?) took over Hornby and then it went to Airfix and I think then on to Humbrol . The school yard arguments over 'Hornby v Tri-ang' resulted in the Hornby brigade eventually giving in due to the better detail and realism of Tri-ang. " My grand-dad messes about with old train sets, has to get me to text for him !"

I can agree with you on interior choices moving away from the drab colours and styles of earlier periods, and well remember the impact Barry Bucknall had with his DIY TV programmes, but here we are talking not about the obvious need for re-building at the time, but the direction it took. It was not evolutionary ( a gradual development of existing, national styles ), but totally revolutionary, with its Blitz-like imposition of Soviet 'brutalist' styles overnight. Remember that some MP's and members of local councils, including Sheffield Council, had been to Russia to inspect such blocks at the time. Now, in the past there has certainly been such diversions from the general, national styles, with examples such as Art Deco buildings ( one example being on Abbeyfield Road and many to be seen on the 'Poirot' TV series ), but these were insignificant in number and impact. The 1960's was a time for necessarily massive developments in social housing nationwide, developments which were to change the landscapes, and the question has to be asked 'Why was this alien style triumphant over the rejected, 'British' styles submitted in the competitive clamour for a piece of the development cake ?'

No one has mentioned the actual buses which worked the route in the 50'sand 60's, nor the older crews. The route 8/9 buses were predominantly Crossley DD42's manufactured in Manchester and I believe they were either surplus Manchester Transport vehicles or a trial order by the mostly Leyland/AEC Sheffield Transport Dept.. These buses were distinctive in having half-windows at the rear sides of the saloon and upper deck. The front mudguards were also unusual in that the forward edges of the curve came closer to the ground and were slightly pointed. There may have been some DD42 variations, but I remember them as above; difficult to describe, but there'll be photos somewhere and I don't know how to include a link ! The crews were older chaps on 'Part-Day' shifts where they did half their hours in the morning, followed by an average 4 hour break, and the remainder of the shift in the afternoon. Like these old timers, the buses also plodded around at a service speed which was timetabled much slower than most other city routes. In the 1970's there used to be an unofficial STD magazine, its name I forget, run by a lad at head office called Dennis Vickers, it was full of 'insider information' on due additions to the fleet, withdrawals, fleet numbers etc.. Dennis was bus mad and also owned a preserved Bedford OB coach. Anyone know his whereabouts today, or have copies of the mag ?

It's called 'change for the sake of change' Brian, not forgetting the profit motive. We are in the grip of those who regard iconic buildings, loved by generations, as being a link to a past and a continuity they seem to despise. The same breed being responsible for the creation of the concrete monstrosities of the 60's and 70's which are now largely hated and demolished. Not for them the appreciation of difficult, ornate stonework lasting for centuries, theirs is the architecture of 'Brutalism' and un-appealing simplicity, including their dominating corporate structures in glass and aluminium which are international, not national, in style to meet their globalist, one world ideals. Let's face it, with today's architecture you could be in any city in the world rather than recognising the unique national styles each region once had.

Hillpig, if capitalism works, then why is it now the biggest recipient of state handouts to save it from bankruptcy ? Capitalism is effectively on the Dole, on our tax money, and to some tune ! The "1% super rich and 99% poor", with the middle classes being slowly wiped off the map doesn't represent true, supply and demand capitalism which has been sidelined, so I think you should draw the distinction. I also think that those partisan contributors on the Forum should wake up to the fact that their parties are all on the same song sheet when it comes to major issues like US led international ventures, austerity, immigration and so much more, leading many (especially the manic, but proven correct many times, Max Keiser) to believe that all the so-called democratic parties are in the pockets of the financial powers. Independent politicians should be supported or there could be more people calling for Joanna Lumley's 'Good Dictator' to lead Britain.

So then, protests in between elections have never changed anything and should be dissuaded are you saying? And do you consider the low percentage voter turn out to be a measure of a healthy democracy when the actual majority choose not to vote ? I guarantee that few you ask will know who is their MP or local councillor these days, and it's not entirely voter apathy, more a realization that they don't trust any politicians anymore.You seem to be talking about true socialists like Bevan, Helen Wilkinson and their contemporaries who were of the people and for the people and Sheffield was extremely well served by that generation of poorly funded politicians. Not for them the retirement from politics to plum jobs with top, capitalist international corporations and Bliar's compounding millions pouring in. Get your dictionary out and look up the meaning of Socialism. New Labour has destroyed Labour.

If so many, including myself, think councillors are guilty of 'civic vandalism' and shady deals, then we should use our democratic right to attend the public galleries during meetings and make our voices heard. Give it a go as I have and watch their concerned looks when faces different to the usual few attendees show up. They usually back down to strong protest, so take a few with you. " Hey up Tom, we'd better watch our step here, where's this lot come from ? "

Well, the city council seemed to think that taking shoppers away from the city centre wasn't a bad idea when one of the first of the new tram routes opened was the one from the centre to Meadowhall !

A relative of mine, Mrs. Nellie Pickard, used to run a shop there, but I always thought it was a post office. She lived at number 11, Rivelin Valley Road in the bungalows and she did have a daughter named Mary. Could it be her ?

The war-time British film ' Millions Like Us' is useful for showing young people how Sheffield's industries were at that time, and up to the start of the decline in the 1970's . I don't know where it was filmed, but it perfectly depicts women factory workers as they were in the city in my childhood, cheery, big busted lasses in overalls and work turbans singing along to 'Workers' Playtime' on the wireless ! The canteen scene with the singer Bertha Wilmot will interest older members and is available on You Tube. " What's a wireless granddad ?" !

Anyone remember this mineral water company who delivered door-to-door in the 1950's ? The only other time I've come across the forename 'Rider' ( or is it 'Ryder' ) is with Rider Haggard, the author.

If you can find the threads under 'Rivelin Valley' ( not the similar ' Rivelin Valley and Loxley Valley' ) for 12.9.2012, there are some comments there re the swingboats .

My condolences to 'Bypassblade' . I think that if the deceased is very old ( what's very old ?!) it's more a time for celebrating a long life than having too much mourning. A friend died recently in his early 70's and having been a very heavy 'Woodbine' smoker all his life it was odd that his lungs had been pronounced clear during his last month in hospital and that his death was not attributed to smoking. This same friend was a great wit and once said " Life after death? I'm still trying to find if there's one before it !" The family buried a pack of 200 cigs and a lighter with his ashes ! Burngreave cemetery has a volunteer maintenance group if anyone would like to join. ---------- Post added 08-06-2013 at 20:49 ---------- 'Friends of Burngreave Cemetery' can be contacted [email protected]

Do Sheffield folk still observe the old custom of drawing the curtains when someone dies; usually the bereaved household plus the neighbours ?

Any Sheffielder, or 'ex', visiting Lisbon will be proud to see the that the tram points have the name 'Edgar Allen Foundry, Sheffield' cast into the side plates. These, along with the track supplied, must be pre-WW2 and still doing their job. During all those years Sheffield has seen its system and contemporary track abandoned and then re-laid ( so, along with Blackpool, who's saved a packet for the rate-payers ?!) Unfortunately from my perspective, that old Lisbon track now conveys not just the (re-chassied)ancient tramcars, but the super-modern ones which look incongruous in that largely well-worn but beautiful city.

I heard that the family were interned in a camp during either the first or second world war ( or both ?) Anyone know ?

Looking for a childhood friend, Stuart Hodgson formerly of 58, Carwood Road in the 1950's. On leaving school, Stuart took a job with an electrical company somewhere near the Spital Hill end of Carlisle Street. I believe he moved to the Roe Wood estate when C.Road was demolished and later to the Firvale area after marriage. 'Collo' would welcome any info on Stuart and his family, thankyou.

To find out if it may be Burngreave cemetery, please contact Mr. Dave Yates who is a member of 'The Friends of Burngreave Cemetery'. He was extremely helpful with a querie I had, even forwarding a photo of the particular grave. He can be contacted on [email protected].

As an absentee from the city for many years, am I right in thinking that the stadia built for the 'Student Games' (was it ?) are little used and still being paid for ? Given that I believe the City Hall was only paid for by the 1970's this wouldn't surprise. Europe is awash with such white elephant arenas, it's bread and circuses gone mad. Add up the cost of A. The building of these stadia. B. Building the 'Hole-in-the-road' and then filling it in within a generation. C. Getting rid of the trams ( unlike foresighted Blackpool ) and then bringing foreign-built new ones back within a similar short period, one of the first routes opened being to the Meadow Hall center taking shoppers away from the city shops, and D.Pond Street bus station's re-modelling after not that many years. It seems the Victorians built to last, and the back-handing officials of today build to re-build ! Well, if you don't visit your MP's surgeries and don't attend the odd council meeting, what do you expect ?!

Anyone else remember some burly, jovial Russian men visiting Pitsmoor in the early post-war years, talking to parents and photographing children, presumably for some Russian survey on British working-class conditions ? My friends and I were photographed at the time, with parental permission.