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1961 was my fourth
"Lads Holiday". And all so far had been to Butlins Holiday
Camps. Firstly Pwllheli (1957), then Filey (1959), Clacton (1960),
and in July 1961, Bognor. The Lads concerned had shown a number of
changes over the years. This would be the third with Alan Warmington,
but the first with my workmate Richard Woodhall. And although we didn't
know it at the time, it would be the last Butlins visit. |
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We had travelled from
Birmingham down to Bognor by rail from Snow Hill
(6845 Paviland Grange) via Kensington Olympia
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to Brighton (2-6-0 no 31411), then via electric along the south coast. On the return, we
headed westwards to Portsmouth, where there was a convenient lunchtime
service at 1.11pm from Portsmouth Harbour to Birmingham, via Basingstoke.
We joined the train at Portsmouth & Southsea, and enjoyed an
excellent run with 30770 Sir Prianius to Basingstoke. Here there was a
loco change, and on came 6930 Aldersey Hall, in pristine external
condition, probably not long out of works. |
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What followed was dreadful. We ambled along at about 45 mph losing time. By
Oxford I had put the stop watch away, and was enjoying a pipefull of Gold Block.
I reckon there was more smoke coming from my pipe than from 6930's chimney.
Shortly after Banbury, I took a trip down the corridor to the WC. And when I
returned, I found that my two friends had kindly filled my pipe for me. How nice
of them, I thought. So I lit up. By this time my mates could barely keep a
straight face. Something was amusing them. Soon I detected a strange flavour
from my pipe. Taste's odd, I said to them. They fell about with laughter,
admitting that they filled the pipe with a layer of Talcum powder, covering it
with the genuine tobacco, my beloved Gold Block. I cursed them, but since no
harm was done, had a good laugh. |
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But
it transpired that some harm had been done, since I had to write off my
favourite Cherry Wood pipe, and the following morning awoke with an
extremely sore throat. So the moral of this story is "Never smoke
Talcum Powder". |
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The
two culprits. Richard Woodhall on the left, and Alan Warmington
on the right.
The
picture was taken during our 1963 "Lads Holiday" at
Combe Martin in North Devon. |
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