A visit to The Bluebell Railway

Mick Funnell kindly arranged another visit to the Bluebell Railway Atlantic Group where they have a major project in progress to reconstruct a Brighton H2 Atlantic steam engine based on the 32424 "Beachy Head" at Sheffield Park last Tuesday.

Mick says everyone was quite taken with the progress since our last visit in

 April 2013. 

We thank project Design Engineer Fred Bailey for his time and 

willingness to escort us round. 

 Below are some of the pictures that he took at the event.

Bob Milton RIP

                                                  ROBERT FREDERICK MILTON
                                                    7th May 1930 - 17th June 2014

 

For those of you that may not know Bob Milton long time walker and supporter of the PRATS died following a short illness at Eastbourne Hospital on the 17th June and a farewell service was held at the Eastbourne Crematorium on Thursday 3rd July.

 

I Have gathered a few pictures of Bob which you can see if you click on the link below

 

Bob Milton Pictures

   For those of you that

BT PRATS and LAWS Dinner 2014 

On the 31^st January, 30 members from the PRATS and LAWS had a combined belated Christams/New Year evening party dinner at Ridgways in Meads.   

Several members who regularly attend, were unable to do so at the outset of the arranged date for various reasons but much nearer the time Glen Robinson broke a tooth;  he changed his meal orders to suit. Then due to another problem he was unable to attend. The evening of the day, Ian Oddy had to take his wife Lesley to A&E at the local DGH for a disturbing problem. They returned home after Lesley was discharged as all being well, at about 0100 Saturday. Babs and David Page were also unable to attend as Babs has recently been unwell and is feeling a little under the weather.

Bob Milton who was unable to attend, had arranged for our BT PRATS 2014 Commendation for Ridgways which Damon and Bernhard received gratefully with much aplomb. They appreciate that while we have had a group dinner twice a year with them many of us dine there in between times with family members or friends. 

Bob also prepared a lucky number prize again. The winner this time was Ronni Sutton, a LAWS member. Jill Peacock presented her with the prize as seen in the picture below.

The first "Good Pub" commendation of 2009

Tucked away in a little village not far from the Lewes Road, The Star Inn is a pub we have visited before. The beer on the hand pumps is Harvey's, although there are guest beers and there's the usual lagers, wines spirits if real ale's not your thing. The food is a welcome mix of modern and traditional. With its oak beams and old floorboards, wood panelling and two log fires, the Star Inn is a warm, welcoming place, the atmosphere is pretty relaxed, it is the sort of pub that you'd like every village to have at its heart.
Bob Milton ,who initiated the Prats “Good Pub Guide” writes :- Recently I prepared another 'commendation disc', this time for the Star at Waldron. They are the first to receive one for 2009. I'm sure that you will agree that their food and service meets our requirements. Roy says that they, given notice, can prepare rabbit pie! Let's hope there will be others who meet our standards.
Roy duly delivered the disc when he visited with the ladywalkers (LAWS),(trust Roy), the other day. The folk at the Star were suitably pleased with our recognition of their efforts and it will be displayed with pride.

The Star at Waldron

BT PRATS COMMENDATIONS

By Roy Peacock and Bob Milton

After more than 160 walks since 1995 the BT PRATS walkers have visited many of the pubs in East Sussex. In that time favourites have occurred mainly due to the combination of good beer, and quality of food and customer service.
Earlier this year, 2008 the decision was taken to give recognition to the few hostelries that in the view of the PRATS stood out from the crowd in providing excellence of drink, food and service. It is only a few because from our experience all too often when proprietors and or staff change the overall quality falters.
It is with unanimous accord of the walkers and a great pleasure that the BT PRATS have awarded in 2008 the following establishments for distinction and a commendation for quality of food and service.

The Hare and Hounds, Rye Foreign

The Black Lion Inn, Halland

Ridgways Restaurant, Meads Street, Eastbourne

CONKERS TIME IS HERE AGAIN.

We love conkers and as you can see the conker loves us. The October walk has quickly come round again (how time flies as you get older) and as you can see I have been out on the traditional gathering in of the conker harvest. For the last couple of days I have been wishing for windy weather and hey presto my wishes have come true and the conkers have been falling like raindrops on my head. With Lady luck being so good to me I think I may have to buy a couple of lottery tickets this week, you never know I could win a tenner.

The conker competition was first held in 1995 the year the group first started and I thought to myself that it might be a good idea to see if we still enjoyed playing conkers. We had just climbed the hill up to the Jack and Jill windmills and everyone needed a break when I produced the conkers from my bag. That first competition was a very disorganised affair with the first one to win playing the next available player but after a while Mick Funnel emerged as the victor.

The picture shows Howard Whitling and Malcom Harriott against the wonderful background.

We didn't play in 1996 but have played every year since come rain or come shine and now the competition is much more organised. The following pictures show the winners from 2001 to 2006.

Mick Funnell at Chiddingly in 2001

John Weise in 2002 somewhere in the country.

Barry Chuter in 2003 held once again in Chiddingly during our 100th walk

Alan Wood in 2004

Mick looks very pleased with his third win in the competition in 2005

John Weise after his second win last year 2006

As you can see on the right this is the scroll of honour for all of the winners in the conker competition since 1995. Could you be in the space for 2007, don't forget you have to be in it to win it. See you on the conker walk on the 2nd October.

Who was "Dave Punchard by Ade Punchard

I joined the GPO in February 1963 in the London N.W. Area as a 16 year old Y2YC and started my career at Hendon. My first appointment was on UG Construction with some rather hairy, very masculine men. When asked my name I of cause proudly replied Adrian to which their response was “OOH where’s your hand bag sweetie”.

I soldiered on through U.G. Maintenance, O.H. Construction, etc ignoring remarks like “with a name like Adrian you should have been a hairdresser, is your hobby ballet dancing? and backs to the wall lads here’s Adrian” until I went on to Sub’s Apps. Fitting. Here I was put with a fitter who kept addressing me a “Dave” despite me correcting him for weeks. He had just lost a friend called Dave and I think he did it just out of habit. I was now introduced as Dave and all around took the lead and the name just stuck. I went on to become a TOIT on Internal Construction and was lucky enough to get a transfer down to the Brighton Area in 1967.

On my first day I reported to Jim Leake at Eastbourne, he asked my name to which I replied “Adrian”. “What?” said Jim, “Adrian” I replied again “Who? said Jim” “Adrian” I replied again” “No I didn’t catch that” said Jim. “It’s Dave” I said resignedly. “Welcome to Eastbourne Construction Dave” said Jim and that was that till I retired in December 1994.

Now I am a civilian again I am pleased to have lost my alter ego and I am now known once again by the name I was christened, Adrian shortened to Ade.