You will know I love it when somebody tells me they enjoy my blogs. It comes in the most unexpected places. It happened in Spain and it happened in Huddersfield as I've previously mentioned.
On Saturday I had a very enjoyable morning at Hethersett Methodist Church where they had a coffee morning for MacMillan Cancer Research. It involved cake, but hey ho I didn't have any. I just have to lose half a stone.
I was thanked for my daily blog and also my village e magazine and that made my morning and the coffee was ok as well.
We got talking to a lady who originally came from the Isle of Man. When I hear the words Isle of Man I think only of one thing, the TT motorcycle races which annually wind their way round the roads of the island
I always remember a man buried in Hethersett Churchyard. I have recounted this story before so perhaps long term readers will forgive me but I know I have new readers.
Simon Sandys-Winsch was a middling motor cycle racer of no particular note. But he became a victim of the infamous TT Races. Incidentally TT stands for Time Trial. It was back in 1954 and Simon became the 48th rider to be killed in the races. Since it started in 1911, there have been 267 fatalities in what is one of the most dangerous sports. There have been 102 race meetings up to this year. It doesn't take a genius to work out that runs out at almost three deaths a year. There was one this year. This race must be for adrenalin junkies only. Has anyone ever done a risk assessment or looked at the health and safety issues of this race?
In 1954 the conditions for the race were horrendous with heavy driving rain making the winding course even more dangerous than usual. The conditions were so bad that the start of the senior race was delayed by rain and then racing was suspended for a time because of virtually no visibility in the mountains.
Despite Simon's death the races continued with seven other serious injuries. Simon came off on a bend and hit a wall. He was taken to hospital but the race continued.
Simon was born in Brundall, Norfolk, and his father left an even greater legacy. One of those men who are famous for not being famous. By that I mean what he achieved can be seen everywhere in Norwich but few people will have heard of him.
Arnold Sandys-Winsch was born in Cheshire and served with distinction in the First World War. He became a landscape gardener and in 1919 became parks superintendent in Norwich, moving to live in Brundall.
He held the Norwich post for 34 years. He employed men unemployed after demobilisation to help construct Norwich parks. At that time Norwich had very few open spaces. By the time he retired Norwich had 600 acres of parks and open spaces. He also provided hundreds of allotments and brought military precision to his tasks. He designed the original Norwich Ringroad.
It is thanks to him that we have wonderful open spaces such as Waterloo and Eaton Park, although I'm sure he would turn in his grave if he knew that the Labour controlled Norwich City Council has introduced parking charges at Eaton Park - a tax on leisure.
Arnold Sandys-Winsch moved to live in Station Lane in Hethersett and was known by local people as the Captain. A friend of mine knew him and talked about how he was always friendly and generous with his time and money, supporting local groups and enjoying a pint in the village social club.
He was also an expert in growing and judging daffodils and an active member of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society and Hethersett Horticultural Society.
*. *. *
I watched Laura Kuennsberg's dreadful interview on television yesterday morning with the Prime Minister. It wasn't her questions that were dreadful or his answers, it was the fact that for much time they were both talking at the same time and you couldn't work out who was saying what. This confrontational style of interviewing just for the sake of being confrontational is just annoying and makes me want to turn the television off.
They talked about getting rid of 20 mph speed limits in towns and cities because the Prime Minister is "on the side of motorists". Who is therefore on the side of safety? Surely 20 mph limits were introduced to make pedestrians and children safer. Is this now just being thrown out?
We have 20 mph limits on our main village road. Figures show most motorists keep to the speed limit and I have no problem with it if it helps with protecting local people. After all it only takes a few seconds more to pass through at 20 mph than it does to pass through at 30 mph. And what's a few seconds in the great scheme of things?
*. *. *
Norwich was a blaze of colour on Saturday when we went in. The city was alive with noise and celebration of Black History Month. Car parks were full and everyone seemed to be partying.
Only problem was trying to get something to eat in the street as there were queues everywhere. We just managed to get some chips on the market before going down to football. That's all we had time to do. Chips and a battered sausage for £2.50. How's that for value?
Mind you I feel angry about the continual assault on sausages. "Do you want your sausage battered?" I was asked and of course I replied "yes batter it to within an inch of its life."
When we leave the football and return to the car we always go the same way home. It consists of battling round two very congested roundabouts and getting caught up in lots of traffic.
So on Saturday I decided to try a different way, cutting across the majority of the traffic and driving out into the country and it really worked. It took less time to get home and the drive was much more pleasant and less stressful. I suspect next time I try it there will be roadworks or closures.
*. *. *
Forgot to mention that Captain Arnold Sandys-Winsch and his son Simon are buried together in Hethersett Churchyard.