I love these old pictures on the walls in Cafes. This was hung on the wall of Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford. It shows an early photo of the nearby town of Nelson.

This afternoon visited my local blood donor session. After getting through the bureaucratic form filling and having to sign the same document on both sides I eventually got through to give blood. Apparently the normal amount is 740cc which isn’t a pint. I don’t think the Tony Hancock sketch ‘The Blood Donor’ would have worked the same.

RAF Handley Page HP52 Met I Hampden/ P2118, Z9-D Bomber.
Aircraft Type Nickname: "The Flying Suitcase"
Wreckage from the tail assembly of Hampden P2118.
Of the four crew on board, only one survived. Those who died were:
Flt Lt Henry Robert (Mick) Puplett (22) (RAFVR), 519 Squadron Commander
P/O George William Ritchie (age unknown) (RCAF), Navigator
Flt Sgt Thomas Reginald Trevor Hudson-Bell (20) (RCAF), Observer
The one surviving, but very seriously injured, crew member was:
F/O C. A. Faulks, Observer.

What the bomber would have looked like

This is the view at 700m on the west approach of Ben More Assynt in the Scottish Highlands. It is just below the point where I tuned back, deciding that I wanted to be an old climber not a bold climber. Directly to the north and at the same altitude lies a new grave marker to the crew of a crashed Avro Anson Mk I twin-engine multi-role aircraft that crashed in April 1941. Three of the crew of six survived the crash but died of exposure. Their bodies were found 6 weeks later wrapped in their parachutes. Due to the remoteness and difficulties in retrieval all 6 were buried at the crash site, the only time that occurred in Scotland.

Memorial to the crew by Inchnadamph Church

Kylesku Bridge is 275 metres (902 feet) long with a 79 metre long main span.
It was opened by the Queen on 8 August 1984

This morning I attended the funeral of Mary Davenport (nee Beesley) (1935-2014) at Withnell Fold Methodist Chapel. Mary had been an integral part of the local Withnell Fold community and played the organ at the chapel for as long as I can remember. She was one of those people who ‘always turned up’ whenever things needed to be done. Though in her 70s she never seemed to get old; she was always Mary. Many friends and family were at the service to show their respects and she even created a record attendance. Not only was every seat taken but the aisles at the back were full of people who had to stand. The previous record was for a Christmas Carol service. Although she has now left the chapel for the last time she will always be remembered.

Mary leaves the chapel for the last time.

How most people remember Mary,
at the keyboard.

A dark early morning photo of Yarrow Reservoir overflow from Knowsley Lane.
Under the arch is the Winter Hill transmitter mast. The orange glow in the sky is light pollution and the foreground was illuminated by torchlight.

The Parish Church of St Peter’s in Belmont always makes a good photo subject, either day or night. The church has outside floodlights but they are only switched on at night. For this dark morning shot I had to use a lamp to illuminate the church by painting with light. In the background is the 309.48 m (1,015.4 ft) Winter Hill transmitter mast which began transmitting in 1966. It replaces an earlier mast built in 1956.

View of Colne from Castercliff Hill Fort site

Ancient typewriter on reception

While out on my bike this morning I took this view of Lower Rivington Reservoir from the Rivington Embankment. I managed to get it between rain showers. It was taken in colour even though it looks just black and white.

First picture of 2014

The firework displays bringing in the New Year (2013-2014) from Hurst Hill above White Coppice. At 310m (over 1,000ft) Hurst Hill is the nearest high point. It gives an almost uninterrupted view of the Chorley area. The displays began well before midnight and although they were over 2 miles away the barrage of explosions were deafening. The only downside was the strong wind which prevented me getting sharp pictures, even with a tripod.

Winter Hill and masts

After watching the firework celebrations for the 2014 New Year from Hurst Hill near White Coppice I retreated to my tent. After a good night’s sleep I emerged to a dark and mostly overcast sky. To the south east I could see the transmitter masts on Winter Hill partly obscured by layers of cloud. They looked quite eerie so I took a photo which seemed to capture the mood fairly well.
I remember the main mast being built around 1965. It replaced an earlier lattice constructed mast that was 137m (450ft) tall and looked like a huge electricity pylon. The current mast began transmitting in 1966 and even though it is not the tallest mast in the UK its top is at the highest elevation at 778m (2,559ft) above sea level. The mast itself is 310m (1,017ft) tall. It was also the first UK mast to broadcast digital television in high definition.
Rain arrived around 10:30am so I set off to walk home.

Small cairn to the north on Hurst Hill

Once off the hills and down near White Coppice I saw that someone else was camping out.