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Roburite Works, Gathurst

21 Comments

Roburite Gathurst. Fire and rescue excercise. WW2 ?
Roburite Gathurst. Fire and rescue excercise. WW2 ?
Photo: Dave Allen
Views: 2,322
Item #: 30088
Norman Tickle bottom left.
Photo courtesy of Doreen Tickle

Comment by: Poet on 16th January 2018 at 09:30

This could be a scene from Dad's Army.

Comment by: Veronica on 16th January 2018 at 22:44

When you think about it - It does remind of the episode where the 'band of brothers' worked hard to push Corporal Jones through the physical fitness regime to keep him him in the Home Guard! No disrespect intended- I'm just a fan of Dad's Army.....!

Comment by: Poet on 16th January 2018 at 23:33

When derring do amateurism perishes then England totters.

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 17th January 2018 at 00:25

A great programme Veronica, and the episode you refer to is The Showing Up of Corporal Jones. Similarly, The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones shows Mr Blewitt being placed onto a stretcher during a failed attempt at getting him into the back of Jones' butcher's van. Poet must like Dad's Army, as well.

Comment by: Poet on 17th January 2018 at 07:32

Philip
I have the complete box set. There will be a viewing this evening.

Comment by: Poet on 17th January 2018 at 08:53

I have just read a very enjoyable book concerning real life Dad's Army type characters who went on a cricket tour to Nazi Germany.
'Field of Dreams' by Dan Waddell.

Comment by: P on 17th January 2018 at 08:59

Sorry that's Field of Shadows. Highly recommended.

Comment by: John G on 18th January 2018 at 09:58

Vot is your name. P . Poet says don't tell him " Pike" Pike you to shall also go in my little black book.

Comment by: Poet on 18th January 2018 at 10:28

Due to Pikesque buffoonery on the keyboard Poet came out in abbreviated form for which l am sorry. I think John G you quote what is probably the most famous line in comedy. My best to you.

Comment by: Albert. on 20th January 2018 at 15:29

It is certainly improvisation. Reminds me of a mobile column that I was on in the sixties. I,together with two others, were detailed as latrine builders. The one that professed to be a joiner, got a nine foot plank, just over one foot wide, and made circular holes in the plank. his mistake was putting the circular holes about six inches apart. Talk about being cheek to cheek. Plan "B", seek out another plank, and start again.

Comment by: John G on 20th January 2018 at 19:03

Albert: It's at times like those you really know who your true buddy is, I suppose that's what team works all about.I always thought I had missed out not being called up for the army, now I'am not so sure.

Comment by: Albert. on 21st January 2018 at 08:22

John. G. This was when I was in the police service. It was a government think tank that came up with the idea, to keep the highways clear, if there was going to be an atomic attack. We patrolled Kent, and Sussex. I think John, if that had ever arose, we would have had a very, very busy job, building more, and more latrines.

Comment by: DTease on 22nd January 2018 at 10:49

I reckon that 'patient' would have been safer if they had just chucked him off the roof.

Comment by: Veronica on 22nd January 2018 at 17:15

It makes me smile this photo as most of the men are wearing suits, ties and trilbies. It just couldn't happen today - they would all be in safety gear from footwear to headwear!

Comment by: DTease on 22nd January 2018 at 18:34

This here is a good example of the great British Committee system. Fifteen men, four ropes and five ladders just to get one casualty off a low roof! Good grief! If there had been two casualties I have no doubt whatsoever that they would have had to put a call out for more ladders. Still it would have given them an excuse to put the kettle on and have a brew while they waited. But what about the casualties you ask? Well, they would keep a stiff upper lip in the good old British tradition wouldn't they?

Comment by: Veronica on 22nd January 2018 at 19:00

Don't forget the old pipe and a fag whilst they 'think on' what to do next!

Comment by: Veronica on 22nd January 2018 at 19:21

The casualty wouldn't have had a stiff upper lip if it was Norman Wisdom in that film 'A Stitch In Time' Dtease! I remember seeing that one at the Scholes Pictures. All you could see was his eyes - the rest was bandages!

Comment by: DTease on 22nd January 2018 at 20:45

Veronica, I have a jacket like Norman Widom's in my wardrobe. It didn't start out like that, I think it 's shrunk in there over the years ( well that's my story anyway)

Comment by: Poet on 23rd January 2018 at 00:02

It would be of no great surprise to learn that the stretcher was actually going up rather than down!

Comment by: DTease on 23rd January 2018 at 10:18

Poet, if they are taking him up maybe when they get there they will chuck him off for another go?

Many years ago I worked in a factory that had overhead cranes, you know the type that run on rails about 20/30 feet above ground.
One day the management, no doubt overcome with concern for the safety of the crane driver decided to fit some new equipment so that the driver could escape from the cab in case of an emergency.
This equipment consisted of a harness attached to a rope. The driver fastened himself in the harness and the rope, by means of a braking system lowered him gently to the ground, simple.
Of course all this had to be tested and the driver, after a little gentle persuasion agreed to give it a go. Our intrepid hero strapped on his harness and sat on the edge of his cab. After a good deal of abuse and catcalls from ground level he was finally persuaded to loosen his white knuckle grip on the cab and it immediately became obvious our heroic operative needed a little more practice with the harness because on leaving the cab he turned 180 degrees and headed for the concrete floor head first. Fortunately the braking system worked and he arrived safely on the ground.
At this point proceedings came to a halt as our now not so intrepid hero stubbornly refused to climb up to his cab for another go.
Calls for a volunteer to take his place having met with much laughter and jeering the whole affair was abandoned along with managements concern for the welfare of the poor old crane driver.

Comment by: Veronica on 23rd January 2018 at 14:42

Sounds like 'trapese artist' experience needed on C.V. to be a Crane Driver!!! The poor fellow!

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