Another thank you from me for this thread, having an absolute shitshow of a working day and I've needed to have another flick through to try and get my composure and especially my perspective back 🙏
Know a decent chap who restores old record players like that.
Owner of ‘Static records’ in Wigan. He might be interested if you want sell it.
Oh, what memories. At the time of the miners strike my brother and I were 15 or 16, so coming up for GCSE's.
So, my father, a school headmaster, and my mother a school teacher, was not going to let us miss any school homework time, oh no, he bought and set up 2 of those camping gaz lights, much safer than candles he said.
Funny thing is, I still have those lamps, last used when camping at a recent Eroica Britannia event!!!
I'd be happy to let anyone who would restore it have it oreetmon, I might contact them and see if they'd like it, be nice if it ended up with someone who'd appreciate it
drnosh I've not used one since I was in the scouts, nearly 40 years ago but I can still hear it in my head!
Today seems a good day to finish this and I've a few bits that I think are appropriate for the day.
This was in the box of books with the map of Caen and probably sat in that box in the garage for the last 38 years.
And two photos taken 75 years apart
And something else not from the garage,these were in a suitcase in the house, but something else that says what's really important about today, not a celebration of victory but and end to the pain and grief of war, a chance to build normal lives again.
Edna was Joan's cousin, she must have kept these all her life and left them to Joan when she died. A letter from radio mechanic Joseph Appleyard to Edna after spending time with her in London and the letter Edna received confirming a few months later he was missing presumed dead and the poem she wrote in his honour.
Steve wouldn't have been celebrating a victory today he'd of been remembering the 69 members of 46 Commando that never came home and all those that passed in the years that followed. There were just 4 of them left when he died . He was quietly proud of what he'd been part of but I think he'd of told you it was the French and Dutch who really understood what today was really about. He was very proud of his Dutch Liberation Medal and Legion d'Honneur.
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Again, nothing useful to add except this has been one of the best threads ever, thanks for taking the trouble to share.
avdave2 Thank you so much for this thread and for sharing these memories and momentos of Steve. As you say, a very fitting end to this thread. Very moving and poignant.
We should be proud of Steve and his life and you should give yourself a big slap on the back for your involvement in sharing it with us in such a classy way.
Humbled by the man this thread is dedicated to.
This has been awesome.
I do hope a museum is interested in the records as they should be on display.
cracking thread
Mind you I’ve seen the films so I already know the snipers always in the church tower
Nowadays the sniper will be laying on the floor and you'll not see them unless you happen to tread on them.
A great thread looking at hoarding through the ages.
Another one just wanting to say thank you so much. To you. Dave, for the fascinating thread, and the way you've shared this, and also to Steve, and the countless others who did their bit, and more.
As you say, not a day for celebrating, but a sober reflection, huge gratitude, and a fervent wish that some lessons will stay learned.
Thank you
Dave, your posts have been a real pleasure and some of the photos brought back memories of my Dad.
The military items have a real resonance today.
I'm sure that Steve would have been pleased with how you've told his story.
As you and others have said, it's an appropriate day to end the thread; quiet reflection for Steve and so many others.
Thanks.
as mentioned above this has been a great thread. All good things come to an end but I can't be the only one that's disappointed theres no new stuff going to be added tomorrow.
thanks for taking the time to share.
A shame the thread is coming to an end, but thanks for sharing this with us.
A marvellous thread about a marvellous man and his garage.
You are a star, Dave, for the friend you clearly were to him while he was alive, and for the way you've shared him with us through these pictures.
Thanks Dave, this has been a great thread.
My grandad was in the civil defence in WWII and was awarded the George Cross. He took me to many VC & GC dos- for a kid bought up on war films and Commando comic, listening to their stories (*) was a dream.
With no access to recording equipment in the late 70s/early 80s I’ve forgotten most of the tales / people I met. The exception being Odette Samson (SOE).
* most of the tales weren’t of the glories of war, rather the hi jinx they got up to in down time.
All of them, highly decorated as they were, were keen to point out that what they did was often no more heroic that what others did say in day out.
The only tale I recall was from post war when one of the guys had a problem with the Krays and called in a favour from a mate who was in the LRDG to pay them a visit.
This thread has been a great reminder of these people, and my grandad.
The hoarding also has echoes of my dad!
This thread has been one of my all time favourites on here.
Thanks to Steve for holding on to all of these treasures and thanks to you Dave for sharing them and rounding it off in such a befitting and poignant way.
Top work.
Another one adding my thanks for this thread, sounds like Steve was quite a guy!
Likewise, thank you Dave for taking the time to share this story with us. Ending is especially poignant for me, as my own great aunt Edna lost her first husband in the war. As you say, we celebrate the gift of peace, gratefully received from all those who suffered across the globe.
I'm really pleased that you've all been able to take something away from this and I've really enjoyed reading of the memories it's brought back for others. At some point I'll put everything together in an album online along with the stuff I've not posted.
I know Steve would have loved talking to all of you as well. Tonight I shall be opening a bottle of Pommeau de Normandie Ferme de Billy, 17% Cider! It's from the village of Rots and I'll be drinking it from a mug commemorating the 50th anniversary of VE day I found in his kitchen. Cheers to all of you
Good work avdave2, this has been a pleasure to read/view.
Cheers OP, a great thread very interesting.
As an aside OP. That kitchen unit is it wood or metal? If metal it's made out of old WW2 aircraft skin and worth a fortune (lots of Spitfires were used to make the homes fit for heroes).
@sandwich I’m happy to say it’s wood apart from the enamel work surface on the drop front. I’d hate to think a Spitfire has died to build it no matter what it was worth. We had one fly over earlier, is there anything else that will get everyone out and looking up, such a beautiful and graceful aircraft. It reminds me so much of my own grandma as she had something similar. I shall definitely be keeping it.
I'm late to this, enjoyed very much.
Lovely piece of work, thank you. In a world where everything seems so disposable it's good to be reminded that some stuff should be kept because stories stick to things
I'd like to add my thanks. I feel like I've got to know someone I've never met.
So good news, bad news! Had a quick look on eBay and the first hit is £345 BIN for a metal kitchen cupboard in a poor state.
