Random Stuff!

[superking]

Perhaps putting beacon as name fpr colston hall,there might be thoughts of a relocation of it to the Clifton downs and that way they have already got the name. I dont like the beacon name either as beacon relates to high ground and where the colston hall is its just about sea level.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Without going too deep into a BLM debate I honestly think the name should've stayed the same. Whether we like it or not, our history cannot be changed and just as Emily Pankhurst took her place in Parliament Square in London, someone from the ethnic minorities will earn their place as they make their mark on British history. Pulling down statues and trying to hide what has already happened is not the answer.

View attachment 17260

I agree. Pulling down statues and 'taking the knee' are really symbolic, and little more. What really counts is the way that people behave in their daily lives when it comes to racism.

In past centuries people had different values to those that most of us take for granted these days. Airbrushing the past is counterproductive and can serve to irritate those who are basically supportive of the aims of BLM and others.

Perhaps putting beacon as name fpr colston hall,there might be thoughts of a relocation of it to the Clifton downs and that way they have already got the name. I dont like the beacon name either as beacon relates to high ground and where the colston hall is its just about sea level.

The way that money is wasted in Bristol, moving to the Downs would not be a complete surprise, even after the circa £50 million spent on bringing the concert hall into the 21st Century, although I doubt that it will ever be seriously considered.

This just about sums up the entire episode. The woman behind the removal of the Colston name from the hall because it is supposedly 'toxic' now says she doesn't mind if people go on calling it the Colston Hall so long as they use it.

People still using the name Colston Hall are 'still welcome'

"We don't care if you still call it the Colston Hall"

www.bristolpost.co.uk

 

[superking]

Well we are not in lockdown in the Bristol area,but we just as well be as cities and town list that have got lockdown are growing rather long ,and the list is growing every time it switches the tv on. The goverment say we wont have a full lockdown like it was not many weeks back.I dont think the goverment will have any say,and it looks like its back with a vengence.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Ashton Gate to host 2019/20 European Heineken Champions Cup final

The home of the Bristol Bears will play host to the biggest game in Northern Hemisphere club rugby

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Ashton Gate will host the 2019/20 European Heineken Champions Cup final. It's been switched from Marseille because of the pandemic. The final will be held on Saturday 17 October between Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 of Paris, so almost a home game for Exeter.

Bristol rarely if ever gets a major sporting event other than international one-day cricket matches and occasional rugby World Cup group matches although it was ignored in 2015, mainly because the Ashton Gate stadium stadium was being rebuilt. It would not have got this one but for the pandemic - Ashton Gate with its 27,000 seats is too small for major finals involving spectators.

BRS might even see a charter flight bringing the Racing team. I doubt that Exeter Chiefs will emulate some Premier League football teams (EMA-MAN once) and hop by air from Exeter to Bristol , although Ashton Gate is very accessible from BRS (10-15 minute journey by road).

 

[superking]

Somerset lost the Bob willis final with Essex. Somerset lost the match because Essex scored more runs in the first session. Oh well always next year.

 

[superking]

30 schools in the Bristol area with coronavirus. To do with Wales ,the news was saying over 50% is in lock down. Its not looking good in general all round.

 

[superking]

I feel like the random man. Been putting more on here as not much aviation news around except speculation. At least it keeps these forums ticking over. Stay safe every one.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Somerset lost the Bob willis final with Essex. Somerset lost the match because Essex scored more runs in the first session. Oh well always next year.

Somerset don't seem to have much luck. They've been runners-up in the County Championship six times this century, including three times in the last four years (up to and including 2019) and have yet to win it. The runner-up years included finishing with the same number of points as the winners (Notts) but Somerset lost out because they had won fewer matches than Notts. Only a few years before if teams at the top finished level on points the champions would be the team that lost fewer matches. The season they came second to Notts Somerset had lost fewer matches so would have been champions under the previous regime.

In another recent year Somerset won their last match of the season in under four days and were sitting on top of the County Championship. The only teams that could catch them were Middlesex or Yorkshire one of whom had to win to overtake Somerset. They happened to be playing each other in the final round of matches. That game entered day four as a 'dead' game with only a draw in prospect until the Middlessex and Yorkshire captains contrived to manufacture a win for one of them. Joke bowling was served up to enable a target to be set with the agreement that the team batting last would go for the target and not shut up shop and play for a draw if they lost early wickets. Middlessex was the team that won the lottery and became champions. Whether that was in the spirit of cricket I leave to others to decide because I know what I think but I'm biased.

Even the Bob Willis Trophy saw Lady Luck go missing for Somerset. They lost their only experienced batsman - Hildreth - to injury prior to the match and then lost the toss and were put in on a damp late September morning when conditions were most favourable for bowling.They did exceptionally well to reach 301. Essex had Sir Alistair Cook batting for them and he made 172, half the Essex total of 337. That was important because if the match finished as a draw or tie the team with first innings lead would be deemed the winners of the trophy. In their second innings the two 20-year old Somerset openers put on over 100 and Somerset declared setting Essex the seemingly easy total of 237 to win with 80 overs available (a lot of time had been lost during the five days to the weather). Essex lost four wickets before reaching 100 then batted out the afternoon and early evening for a draw knowing they would win the trophy on their first innings lead. They finished on 179-6 still needing 58 to win the match. Had there been time to finish it the game was evenly poised and either side might have won.

Those were the rules so it's no good complaining afterwards but if Somerset had won the toss they would have put Essex into bat and the result might well have been reversed.

Somerset is a non-test ground county and therefore at a disadvantage financially but it has an incredible record in recent years of producing local players such as Leach, Banton, Gregory, Bess and the Overton twins who have all played either test or one-day/20:20 cricket for England in recent years. The snag is that bigger and wealthier counties regularly snap up the young stars - Buttler to Lancs and now Bess to Yorks and Jamie Overton to Surrey.

The conveyor belt continues because in the Bob Willis trophy and the county 20:20 Blast this season four or five youngsters aged 20 or under made their mark, with 20 year-old Tom Lammonby in his first ever first-class season scoring three centuries and already looking an England player of the future. Young Banton has been away with England white ball sides all through this truncated summer and is now playing in the Indian Premier League so missed the Bob Willis final. He will be the next to find his way to a bigger county.

Next season Somerset start with 12 points deducted because of a supposedly under-prepared pitch to suit their spinners in the final match of the 2019 season. Given what Yorkshire and Middlesex were allowed to get away with in order for one of them to their their match and thus the County Championship it's a bit of a bad joke.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

30 schools in the Bristol area with coronavirus. To do with Wales ,the news was saying over 50% is in lock down. Its not looking good in general all round.

In the Commons today a Conservative MP had a real go at the government's handling of the pandemic saying that they had over-reacted and that their scientific advisers were unnecessarily instilling fear into the minds of the public with their Armageddon-like prophesies. He said that the virus is at number 24 in terms of killer diseases and fatal conditions in the UK. He is rightly (in my opinion) worried about the coronavirus dominating to the exclusion of people suffering from such conditions as cancer and heart problems many of whom seem to have to wait longer now see a consultant.

I empathise with this because twelve years ago cancer visited me and I was able to get rapid expert diagnosis and care, and subsequent surgery did the trick. Had I had to wait I might not be here now to enjoy reading the posts of so many F4A members.

 

[JENNYJET]

My current treatment programme has been suspended due to consultant having a duel purpose between several hospitals in the Midlands region i.e. Neurological and pulmonary. My diagnosis and prognosis is established and no longer of an urgent nature whereas Covid 19 requires every available and qualified doctor to be allocated for the current emergency. I am happy with a period of time away from appointments for scans, injections and other tests of an invasive nature but sorry for those facing the uncertainty that this virus brings.

Please stay safe and well everyone.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

My current treatment programme has been suspended due to consultant having a duel purpose between several hospitals in the Midlands region i.e. Neurological and pulmonary. My diagnosis and prognosis is established and no longer of an urgent nature whereas Covid 19 requires every available and qualified doctor to be allocated for the current emergency. I am happy with a period of time away from appointments for scans, injections and other tests of an invasive nature but sorry for those facing the uncertainty that this virus brings.

Please stay safe and well everyone.

The snag seems to be and it was in the news again this morning that the government is in denial about the length of the waiting lists to see specialist doctors for those people who present with such things as suspected cancer or heart symptoms.

If someone is seriously ill with a life-threatening condition I have no doubt that they will be speedily given the required medical attention. It's some of those who have not reached that stage but who might do so if not quickly seen by a specialist who seem to be suffering delays in gaining specialist attention. There are so many news media reports about people in that situation not seeing specialist doctors or even getting tests as quickly as they would have done pre-Covid that they can't all be wrong.

I emphasise that I'm not blaming doctors and other medical professionals for this state of affairs. They can only work within the framework with which they are given.

 

[JENNYJET]

The media have a knack for clouding the waters but what you say is valid. My situation is in effect resolved and non urgent hence the suspension and to be clear, I have not been offered a test for the virus but I am in isolation for my own safety. All the consultant can do for me is to manage my condition since treatment is not an option, and being in general good health the focus should correctly be upon those that need help.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The media have a knack for clouding the waters but what you say is valid. My situation is in effect resolved and non urgent hence the suspension and to be clear, I have not been offered a test for the virus but I am in isolation for my own safety. All the consultant can do for me is to manage my condition since treatment is not an option, and being in general good health the focus should correctly be upon those that need help.

Every good wish for your future health. I was lucky 12 years ago and have made a full recovery and am forever grateful for that.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Heathrow rail link to be delayed by up to two years

Network Rail says the coronavirus pandemic has delayed talks about the line from Reading to the airport.

www.bbc.co.uk

Plans for a rail link from the Great Western main line into Heathrow have been delayed for two years but a perusal of the linked BBC report suggests it could be for much longer than that. The idea is for passengers arriving from the South West and South Wales to change trains at Reading onto a rail shuttle to take them to Heathrow that is planned to operate at 15-minute intervals.

Currently passengers have to travel to Paddington by rail from the airport before catching a train to the west and in so doing double-back on themselves.

It was expected that Heathrow and airlines would contribute to the cost of the project but the pandemic means the airport and airlines are now short of the readies.

The delay might have a marginal positive effect on BRS but for the region I believe it is a blow. Part of the Bristol region's economic success is owed to its relative proximity to Heathrow. If access is improved further the economy can only benefit further. It could be a double whammy if BRS is capped at 10 mppa indefinitely and at the same time Heathrow can neither expand nor improve rail links to the West Country.

 

[superking]

Was looking at a notice stuck on a door for the TUI travel shop in Weston. It said we are sorry we have shut our travel shops,but its due to covid 19. The staff are working from home and if you need to contact us ring the call centre. They said shops will reopen as soon as this virus is over,i just got a feeling that a lot of the shops across the country will not reopen.Another thing is there is no end to this virus ending any time soon or in the furure,will keep an eye on this one.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Was looking at a notice stuck on a door for the TUI travel shop in Weston. It said we are sorry we have shut our travel shops,but its due to covid 19. The staff are working from home and if you need to contact us ring the call centre. They said shops will reopen as soon as this virus is over,i just got a feeling that a lot of the shops across the country will not reopen.Another thing is there is no end to this virus ending any time soon or in the furure,will keep an eye on this one.

In July TUI announced plans to close 166 of its travel shops leaving about 350 open. I would have thought that Weston is big enough to keep its shop.

Its population is rapidly approaching that of Bath and it will soon become ceremonial Somerset's largest town/city. In fact, ceremonial Somerset which includes the unitary authorities of North Somerset and B&NES is set to reach a population of one million by 2028. There are a lot of potential TUI punters there and many live in the North Somerset unitary authority area which is the part of the ceremonial county forecast to grow the most in this decade.

Weston has nearly doubled its population size since I was at school there in the 1950s. If it goes on spreading it will be joining up with Bristol. That will please Elfan Ap Rees the former North Somerset Council deputy leader and boss man at the Weston Helicopter Museum (is he still?) who can't abide Bristol. I was at school with him at WGS, though we were not close friends, and age hasn't changed his personality. There is already not much greenery between Bristol and Bath. By the end of this century Bristol, North Somerset and B&NES might be one large urban area with hundreds of thousands of 'nimbys' moaning about the silent and emission-free 22nd Century-style aircraft propulsion systems at the airport.

 

[superking]

There was plans to join Weston to Clevedon,but them plans been dropped. They built up Worle in a big way They built houses in kIngston Seymour a d they built up the south side of Clevedon,.The plan was to fill in the gaps from the m5 to the coast and make it 1 big house estate. The plans got dropped as all along there is a flood plain and Kingston Seymour
more or less floods on spring tides.So the 3 places that had building going on has finished. I would not want to pay bill for draining and keeping it dry,Its got into the global warming sernario.
Ap rees does have a big say in the helicopter museum so i would say yes hes top dog.
I must say this random forum is a good idea as it can say about lots of things that are nothing to do with the local airport.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I must say this random forum is a good idea as it can say about lots of things that are nothing to do with the local airport.

We can chat about anything in this thread as long as it doesn't contravene the law or forum rules. A number of airport forums on F4A have Random threads. The main reason is that not everyone reads all airport forums - some members just read about those airports in which they are interested - so the opportunity is more easily accessible for non-aviation discussion matters.

There are stand-alone General Discussion and Current Affairs forums but they are more for things that have national or international effects or interest. Discussing the burgeoning Weston-super-Mare might not be of general interest on F4A even though it is to us.

I read once that for a short time in the 1930s the busiest air route in the world was from Weston to Cardiff. I guess that meant by flights and not passenger numbers. Flights apparently hopped back and forth all day. When I was at school you could go up in a pleasure flight from Weston Airport. The cost was 7s 6d (37.5 pence in today's money but not if taking inflation into account) and I always intended to up but never did.

I always like to go back to Weston and I do so whenever I can but my wife isn't so keen - not in summer anyway. "It's too busy." She prefers the more genteel atmosphere of Clevedon where all the visitors, including us, appear to have been born in or before WW2. Probably a slight exaggeration but Clevedon is popular with the elderly set.

 

[Cambrian]

I have a book "The history of Cambrian Airways by T G Staddon. Cambrian started in 1935 but before that Western Airways had started a Bristol to Cardiff service in September 1932. It was flown twice daily with a de Haviland Fox Moth seating 3 passengers. Western had great success with this route and started a Weston to Cardiff service. At this time Weston Super Mare was a very popular destination for people from south Wales. Flying time was10 minutes and the fare was 8 shillings (40 pence) single and 12 shillings (60 pence) return. By the mid 1930.s they were carrying over 20,000 passengers per annum on the route using de Haviland Dragon Rapides. Cambrian had tried to join Western Airways on the route but were unsuccessful.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Toulon given Challenge Cup final boost as fans to be allowed in

Bristol Bears take on Toulon on Friday night in the final of the European Challenge Cup

www.bristolpost.co.uk

The French authorities have given permission for the European Rugby Challenge Cup final between Toulon and Bristol at Aix-en-Provence on Friday to be attended by 1,000 spectators but they should not travel 'long distances' to attend. This would stop any Bristol fan from attending but not Toulon supporters as Aix-en-Provence is less than an hour's drive from Toulon.

The European Rugby Champions Cup final between Exeter and Racing 92, another French team, takes place on Saturday at Ashton Gate but Exeter won't have the advantage of 1,000 supporters at the match even though they are 'just down the road' from Bristol.

This shows the difference in approach to dealing with the virus between the French and British authorities. It's not as if France is being successful in suppressing it.