Wray Green Traction Engine & Steam Fair

[MCTID]

Just a couple of 'old uns' from today in Wray Green (near Preston/ Blackpool). The 125 is a 'D Reg and the 175 is a 'K Reg'. At least that what I think they are (tiddlers are not my thing). They looked much better kept than some of the rusty old Brit tubs next to them !

The event is also on this Sunday.........hopefully the rain will keep off as a lot of Exhibitors seem to be camping overnight.

[Matt_Harrington]

What was the Boddies pub in Wray Green? Used to go there a lot when I lived in Blackpool...
Matt

[Orcade-Ian]

Those 2 look wonderful!
As I get older, the smaller machines seem increasingly more attractive, which is why I'm enjoying the 350/4 and C125 so much these days and the 1500 'Wing just sulks in the garage.

I used to go regularly to the Villa in Wrea Green with a former rather 'up market' girlfriend - a bit pricey but great food back in the late 70's. (Glad I escaped that one, there would have been no money left for bikes and cars!)

Ian

[Matt_Harrington]

Did a look up and it was 'The Grapes'.
I went to the Villa  few times when I went back to meet up with old friends....
Matt

[MCTID]

Yes it was the 'Grapes' I believe....never supped in there as it's just a bit too far from me. Wray Green is nice nowadays but like most quaint places, money has transformed it - and it's population. I often take a bike ride around the area as it's still reasonably quiet and the roads and scenery are lovely....and it's just a nice trip out for me from Lytham St Annes. The next WWII weekend in Lytham has just been announced for Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August 2023. It's a great weekend and I can highly recommend it if you just fancy something different and going back in time. Seeing a bloke stopping the traffic on an ex US Army Harley WLA Panhead (wearing fa ull USA MP's Uniform and sporting a Service Revolver and a Garand M1 Carbine) while a procession of Jeeps, Half Tracks, and assorted old cars parade through the town and seeing lots of people dressing up in 1940's clothes is quite spectacular. Book somewhere to stay next year while you can, and you'll keep returning year after year.

[Lobo]

Kinda spooky. My missus is on holiday in the UK…. and was at the Grapes / Wrea Green last night. Sheesh.

The bad old days…. worked at BAe Warton ‘79-‘86 (Tornado) - can’t say I loved it. 🙁 I worked in a windowless office, and in winter could go to work in the dark, work under fluorescent, and go home in the dark. Bloody crap…

Enjoyed living in the area though…

[philward]

Kinda spooky. My missus is on holiday in the UK…. and was at the Grapes / Wrea Green last night. Sheesh.

The bad old days…. worked at BAe Warton ‘79-‘86 (Tornado) - can’t say I loved it. 🙁 I worked in a windowless office, and in winter could go to work in the dark, work under fluorescent, and go home in the dark. Bloody crap…

Enjoyed living in the area though…

Small world - I worked on the Tornado (rear fuselage) at BAE Salmsbury from 78 - 85 and used to work at Warton occasionally

[Orcade-Ian]

Seems like we have quite a few ex aircraft folk on here - wonder how the connections came about?  I served my apprenticeship at Hawker Siddelely in Brough, Yorkshire (later to become BAe military) It was a while before I figured out that they made aeroplanes - I thought they made motorbike and car parts!  I worked on Blackburn Buccaneer and Beverley spares plus Harrier Wing.  Moved over to Southport, Lancs and used to go to the Canberra club for Jaguar Drivers Club meetings.

Ian

[Sesman]

Do you know Mr Frame?

[philward]

Seems like we have quite a few ex aircraft folk on here - wonder how the connections came about?  I served my apprenticeship at Hawker Siddelely in Brough, Yorkshire (later to become BAe military) It was a while before I figured out that they made aeroplanes - I thought they made motorbike and car parts!  I worked on Blackburn Buccaneer and Beverley spares plus Harrier Wing.  Moved over to Southport, Lancs and used to go to the Canberra club for Jaguar Drivers Club meetings.

Ian

My dad worked on

[philward]

Seems like we have quite a few ex aircraft folk on here - wonder how the connections came about?  I served my apprenticeship at Hawker Siddelely in Brough, Yorkshire (later to become BAe military) It was a while before I figured out that they made aeroplanes - I thought they made motorbike and car parts!  I worked on Blackburn Buccaneer and Beverley spares plus Harrier Wing.  Moved over to Southport, Lancs and used to go to the Canberra club for Jaguar Drivers Club meetings.

Ian

My Dad worked on Camberra refurbs at Salmsbury!

[Sesman]

Do you know Mr Frame?

Mr Steve Frame?

[philward]

Can't remember that name

[Bryanj]

Only thing i know about salmesbury is the brewery

[MCTID]

If you lot are gonna drag up our 'high flying' aircraft pasts.......I worked on the RHS Wing Assembly on the Twin Otter at De Havilland Canada at Downsview CFB in Toronto around 1976/7 ish. We had an unfortunate incident when two Twin Otters were delivered to Vancouver but managed to collide whilst taxiing on the runway.....damaging the RH wing on one and the RH Wing on the other (AKA Sod's Law) ! The Customer advised that if he didn't get one serviceable aircraft within a couple of weeks,  he'd cancel the order for them both.

Our dopey Foreman (Marion) decided to change the four man team (working in pairs most of the time) to an eight man team so that we could produce a RH Wing in two weeks rather than four weeks, but after the first morning it was clear we were simply getting in each others way and we didn't have enough of the special tools we needed. Being young and daft (and English) I challenged Marion and said his plan was pants and we should work longer or treble shifts, work weekends and work a nightshift as we were just going nowhere. He was insistent and said his plan was sound as it took four men two weeks to build a wing so it would take eight men two weeks to build a wing QED ! I just laughed and said why didn't he assign thirty two men to the wing and we'd finish it the day before we started it ?

Marion - being a dour Polish bloke devoid of any humour and little personality - failed to see the funny side of it and awarded me a Written Warning for insubordination - not that I cared a jot as I was 27 and I was about to ride my Suzuki GT500 6,000 miles across Canada and the USA the very next week and soon after, I was heading home to sunny Mancunia on Sea !