Me dancing in Leighton Buzzard
Man Spent 40 Years To Collect 9000 Beer Cans Is UK's Largest Collection
A man who tasted a beer worth £ 25,000 has been named as the 'Dullest In Britain', after spending 40 years curating the UK's largest collection.
Avid collector Nick West has over 9,000 unusual and rare tinnies and started collecting his prized possessions when he was just 16-years-old.
Now 59-years-old, Nick has had to move home twice to fit them all in, after having to build an extension on his previous home to make space for the cans.
The father-of-two started his collection in 1975 after watching a report on TV about a man who sold beer to collectors in the US.
At the age of 16 Deborah, who would later become his wife.
Nick remembers how the other people at the party thought he was after he swept over the left over cans.
Nick and his wife drunk all the beer at one point in a large five-bedroomed Victorian house so Nick could display his treasures.
But the beer can now be donated to a local museum - so he can buy a smaller house.
He amassed 9,300 cans before making the 'heartfelt' decision to trim down his £ 25,000 collection - to just 1,500.
In 2015, Dull Men of Great Britain appeared in a book called 39 other considered boring. Paul Rabbitts, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, has visited a remarkable 300 bandstands across the UK and kept detailed records.
It also features another 'boring' Jeremy Burton, who lives near Windsor in East Berkshire, and has visited the huge number of countries he has visited.
While David Morgan, 72, from the Cotswolds, Tim Barker, who lives in Silloth, Cumbria, has been collecting more than 12,000.
A poll last time online asked People to vote for Britain's Dullest Man - and Nick took first prize.
Nick, who worked in marketing until retiring in 2017, said: 'My wife and I drank almost all the cans.
'I drank the beers and stouts and Deborah would drink the camps.
I was 16 years old, I enjoyed collecting things like stamps.
'I remember at the beginning Deborah hosted a party when we were at school and everyone thought I was weird because I was going to collect the empty cans for my collection.'
He said that Deborah grew to resent the hobby when he first met.
'It's been a massive impact on our lives', he said.
His first can was a half pint of Heineken - and the oldest in the collection dates back to 1936.
Deborah, 59, who met when he was 16 at school.
Deborah bought him a book about which can help collecting his passion for collecting.
He sold 6,000 of the cans for a sum of £ 13,500 which is helping to fund his retirement.
The other 1,800 have been given to Oakham Treasures museum in Portbury, Bristol.
He said the beer cans were 'beautifully kept and curated' around his homes with curtains to stop them being damaged by light '.
Another reason that prompted him to quit was the boom in popularity with craft berries. For the first 40 years, he was collecting between 150 and 250 cans per year.
But after the rise in craft he was collecting up to 650 a year which was too much to handle.
Nick, who lives in North Somerset, what's so obsessed with his hobby he would pick up empty cans from the street. But he was pleased with the result.
Nick added: 'I really chuffed, I'm never going to be tall or tall so I'm quite happy with my mantle of dullest man.'
Music: Werq Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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(HD) Leighton Buzzard Railway, Indian Extravaganza, 06/05/13 Part 2.
The Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge railway in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom held an Indian railway themed event over the first Bank Holiday weekend in May 2013.
They had two steam locomotives which orginally worked on the 2ft Narrow Gauge Railway line in India.
Their main railway station at Page's Park was decorated with Indian Railways Signage most notably the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway of West Bengal, along with stalls from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society, Narrow Gauge Railway, Indian Spiced Teas (Chai) and representatives from Indian Railways and the Gurkhas.
The two locomotives that where running where Baldwin Side Tank 4-6-0 No.778 which was built in Philadephia, USA for the British War Department to work on the narrow gauge line in France/Belgium during the First World War. After the War 778 was exported to India and began a life working with The North Western Railway of India and worked in areas which now form Pakistan. Just before Partition of India, 778 was moved to the Central Indian State of Uttar Pradesh where she worked on Sugar Mills until mid 1984. In the Mid 1990's 778 was bought to the UK and restored to full working order working on preserved railways across the UK and France and now has permanent residence at the Leighton Buzzard Railway.
The Star of the Event was Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Locomotive No.19, the only locomotive outside of India. No.19 is a 'B' Class locomotive built by Sharp Steward & Co of Glasgow, Scotland UK (Later the North British Railway Works) in 1889 for work on the railway line between New Jalapaiguri (Siliguri) and the moutain town of Darjeeling both of which are in India's North East State of West Bengal.
No.19 had its first major overhaul in Tindhara works, India in 1908, the locomotive was withdrawn from the DHR in 1960 as was purchased by Elliott Donelley to run on his private railway in Illinois, USA. Upon Mr Donelley's death in 1975 the locomotive was acquired by the Hesston Museum in Northern Indiana.
In 2002 No.19 was acquired by Adrian Shooter, a DHRS member and Managing Director of Chiltern Railways. It returned to the UK across the Atlantic in a shipping container in early 2003 and was fully restored at Tyseley Locomotive Works, Birmingham, by a team led by the experienced locomotive engineer, Bob Meanley. At the same time, two replica DHR carriages were constructed at the Boston Lodge Works of the Ffestiniog Railway, Wales UK.
DHR No.19 features in many railway events across preserved railway scene in the UK.
Source of Information,
Leighton Buzzard Railway
Greensand Railway Trust,
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society,
Wikipedia,
Enjoy,
M Griffiths Videos 2013 ©
Wait in Vain Brew wheatsheaf MSWMM 0001
Special Brew 93 ish
Wait in vain
The Wheatsheaf, Leighton Buzzard, UK
Peatlands Park
Peatlands Railway
London Districts: Stratford (Documentary)
Episode 25 explores the East London district of 'Stratford'. Watch #LondonDistricts episodes on TV with bonus content @ Sky 117, Freeview 8, Virgin Media 159 and YouView 8 via London Live. Subtitles available under video via CC button.
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Stratford is now the 7th busiest train station in the UK. It's busier than London King's Cross and Paddington. However, its the station that has the most numerous forms of transport serving it. The rush-hour in Stratford is no joke!
The district of Stratford falls under the London Borough of Newham, 6 miles from Charing Cross. In 1067, the name was recorded as 'Straetforda' meaning Streetford today in reference to a ford across a Roman road.
Most of the historical reference to this area has been wiped away and forgotten and replaced with a new Stratford.
The affectionately titled King Eddie, is traditional British pub serving craft beer and hearty homemade pie.
The Theatre Royal Stratford East has a tradition of developing new plays and musicals relevant to and informed by modern Britain.
Stratford is now by far East London’s centre for shopping since the arrival of the Westfield shopping centre. It's huge and has big-brand outlets, cinemas, bowling alleys and the country’s largest casino. Nearby you'll find the Roof East cinema topping off the car park of the original shopping mall.
The regeneration associated with the London 2012 Summer Olympics did a great deal for the area after an extended slump period. The London Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was the venue for these Olympics and Paralympics.
8 million volunteer hours made London 2012 possible which sold 7 milllion tickets. The 560 acre park has received 16 million visitors to date. The stadium has now been repurposed as the home of West Ham United Football Club and the British Athletics.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Sir Anish Kapoor, is tall enough to allow a view of 20 miles in every direction on a clear day. It's 2000 tonnes of steel painted in 19,000 litres of red paint and weighs more than a thousand Black Cabs.
The 350 metre long staircase winding down round this twisted helter-skelter landmark takes 12 minutes to walk down accompanied by a soundtrack of London but if that's too long, maybe just slide your way down it instead. Although its the world's tallest and longest tunnel slide, you'll descend at 15mph for 40 seconds.
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Filmed and edited by #DewyneLindsay
Music by Yeth Thar.
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RIGHT HAND DRIVE - School Horses - The Wheatsheaf, Leighton Buzzard (210417)
lemonrock.com/righthanddrive
Alan Keef's Open Day 20th September 2014
The usual shunting at the ever popular and enjoyable annual works open day. Filmed and produced by Tom Waldren on a Panasonic SD900 video camera with external Panasonic mic.
Tring Carnival
We're all ready for Tring Carnival on12th July
~ come along and join in the fun!
The High St Parade leaves Bishop Wood at 11.3am and will arrive in Pound Meadow ready for the stalls, food and bar to open at noon.
Entrance is just £2 with accompanied children free. The day finishes at 5pm.
Stalls and games
We will have around 100 stalls and games on Pound Meadow. NEW for this year is the Phasel's Wood climbing wall, bungee trampoline and human gyroscope. There's also plate smashing, the colour maze, FREE garden games for young children and NEW the Pauline Quirke Academy are running free workshops during the afternoon.
You will also find the FREE rest-tent provided and manned by Churches Together in Tring, where families can take a rest from the sun.
We still have room for stalls. Please email info@tringtogether.org.uk for more information. £25 for charities, £45 for commercial.
Food and Drink
The Tring Brewery Bar will be open in the marquee all afternoon. And there's a huge range of food available; quality burgers from the Akeman, Indian specials from Spice Shack, the Farmers Market will be cooking up their produce for you to enjoy, Howe & Co will be serving fish & chips and Relish the Thought are bringing a hog roast. Something for everyone!
Dog Show
This year sees the return of the very popular fun dog show.
CAMRA Bedford Beer Festival 2016
A short promo film to advertise the 39th Bedford Beer and Cider Festival. Running at the Bedford Corn Exchange 5 - 8 October 2016.
futurelegendmedia.co.uk
Mid Suffolk Light Railway
June 24th saw me finally get to the Middy after a couple of failed attempts over the last few years. With the scorching June weather bathing this corner of East Anglia. The Mid Suffolk was holding a Visiting loco month with the guest being fresh from overhaul Hudswell Clarke ILLINGWORTH from the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway. Being a type of loco that would of origially worked the line it blended into the surroundings perfectly, it also allowed visitors a chance to see what MSLR own Hudswell Clarke 1604 will look once it restoration is complete. Alongside ILLINGWORTH the middy rostered resident Y7 985 the pair worked beautifully all day. I urge anyone who is a rail fan if your in East Anglia to visit this charming line with it friendly atmosphere and helpful chatty volunteers.
for more info visit mslr.org.uk
BABA award ceremony raises the roof of Bedford's Corn Exchange
The third BABA (Bedfordshire Asian Business Association) Business Excellence Awards 2018 took place in front of a packed Bedford Corn Exchange on Saturday 13 October. The event recognises the brightest and best businesses across Bedfordshire and aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Gala event was supported by a host of dignitaries and celebrities including Noreen Khan (BBC Asian Network presenter), Tarun Ghulati - (Keynote Speaker and Chairman/CEO of Squared Watermelon Ltd), Dave Hodgson (Mayor of Bedford Borough), Mohammed Yasin (MP Bedford & Kempston), The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and senior representatives from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, the Emergency Services and there was a special message of support and inspiration from Lord Bilimoria CBE DL the founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer.
Jagtar Singh OBE (Ex Deputy CFO & Chairman of NHS Trust) and Seema Grantham (UK Sales Director - The Cookware Company) hosted the event with gusto, showering the winners with praise as they welcomed them to the stage.
We spoke to New Business (Start Up) Award winner, Meharwan Bozorgi of Global Travel Experts, We're a family-run business based on Ram Yard and we were thrilled to win against some great nominees. It's important to be out there and be recognised. We're one of the only travel agents to offer work experience to Bedford College students; we're dedciated to giving something back to the community.
The Award Categories & Successful Finalists were as follows:
• Business of the Year: Premier Solicitors
• New Business (Start-Up): Global Travel Experts
• Businesswoman of the Year: Shalini Camiah (Excel Accountants)
• Restaurant Business Award: Diya Royal Restaurant
• Entrepreneur Business Award: Harminder Mann (Luton Interpreting & Translation Service Ltd)
• Hospitality & Entertainment Sector Business Award: Auction House, Luton
• Businessman of the Year Award: Balvir Lall (Lall Precision Engineering)
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Harnesh Fhlora, HSF Consulting
• Franchise Business Award: Country Properties Bedford
• Charity Award:Mandip Mudhar Memorial Foundation (MMMF)
• Healthcare Business Award: Elm Lodge Nursing & Residential Home, Leighton Buzzard.
• BABA Chairman’s Special Award: Posthumously Awarded to Dr P N Lathia for service to the community and collected by the Lathia Family
• The Mayor’s Inward Investment Award: Simon Arora (B&M)
The evening was concluded with an auction and raffle with over £4850 raised for charity including DKMS (Bedford Hub). The Garcha Group represented in force at the gala evening were recognised for their significant and generous contribution to all causes throughout the night.
(Video credit: Abraxas Photography, Video & Drone Filming)
Barrow Hill Diesel day. Diesels enjoying the sunshine 08 08 09
A walkers eveview of the Barrow Hill Diesel day. Class 20, 45, Deltics, Diesels enjoying the sunshine 08 08 09
Spuggy on Tour - A Circuit of Ashmanhaugh Light Railway
This was a fabulous visit to Ashmanhaugh Light Railway. We received a very warm welcome and can highly recommend a vist.
See for details
Shunting on the Tanat valley light railway
Littledale Light Railway - May 2011
Tarn Beck on the Littledale Light Railway.
May 2011
Gertrude & train arrive at Launceston
Visiting locomotive 'Gertrude' arrives at Launceston station on the Launceston Steam Railway, with a well filled half term passenger train.
More information about the Launceston Steam Railway can be found at launcestonsr.co.uk , whilst more information on Gertrude can be found on her dedicated website at gertrude1578.co.uk
Epping Ongar Railway Summer Steam Gala Friday 10th June 2016
The Epping Ongar Railway held their Summer steam gala over 10th-12th June 2016.
This year's highlight is four on-loan visiting locomotives from both the Great Central and Llangollen Railways in action with a intensive two train service as well shunt/release operations at Ongar station.
The visiting on-loan locos were...
Hudwell Clarke & Co. No.20 Jennifer(visiting on-loan from the Llangollen Railway)
Great Northern Railway class N2 tank No.1744(visiting on-loan from the Great Central Railway)
British Railways Standard class 4MT tank No.80072(visiting from the Llangollen Railway)
British Railways Standard class 9F No.92214(visiting from the Great Central Railway)
Two operational issues during this weekend. Firstly due to the 9F was out-of-gauge for the Epping-end of platform 1 at North Weald station meant that services depart for Epping Forest head towards Ongar and then run non-stop through platform 2 and secondly Ongar station building-end points are currently out-of-use so Jennifer had to shunt the coaches out of the platform so that the locomotives run out and back into the loop via the other points so that the train could then be shunted back into the platform.
Filmed on Friday 10th June 2016.
The House of Coffee - independent coffee roasters - Taster Video. inc. AeroPress and Coffeeduck
Independent specialist coffee roasters and blenders The House of Coffee, based in Leighton Buzzard, shipping world wide. Single origin beans, gourmet coffee, unique house blends and home to James Haskell's Angry Squirrel coffee range. Supplying coffee equipment ranging from trade standard to home espresso machines, cafetieres, the aeropress, coffeeduck pods and more. thehouseofcoffee.co.uk
Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways! With Kate Saffin. Part 2
Again I am speaking with Kate Saffin a wonderful boat woman who knows lots about the women of the war time waterways.today we are talking about her wonderful show based on the subject, Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways is a fantastic show, I will let kate tell you all about it in the video
part 1 :
kate is touring the show by boat on the rout taken by the IW women have a look at her web sight for more details:
(dates bellow)
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New intro music by Sebastian Goodwin-Day
Join us on This Narrowboat Adventure!
Jasmin
Date Time Venue
Sat Apr 15th 2.30pm Ellesmere Port Museum
Mon Apr 24th 7.30pm The Cruising Association, Limehouse **
Apr 25th 4pm The Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Rd
Please note: this is an old building – there are three flights of stairs to the performance space and no lift
Wed April 26th 7.30pm London Canal Museum, King’s Cross **
Sat 29th 6pm The Beer Tent, Stone wharf, Cavalcade at Little Venice. Idle Women and Judies (Heather Wastie)
Sun 30th 6pm The Beer Tent, Stone wharf, Cavalcade at Little Venice. Isobel’s War (Kate Saffin)
Sat 29th/Sun 30th 11am-12noon A rolling programme of short pieces in the marquee on Rembrandt Gardens. Drop in, take the weight off your feet for ten minutes and enjoy 1943!
Mon May 1st 6pm Dorchester Festival, Oxfordshire
Wed May 3rd 7.30pm Horsendon Hill Farm, Perivale
Bring a chair or rug to sit on (or even both)
Fri May 5th
________________________________________Sun May 7th 7.30pm
________________________________________7.15pm Hillingdon Canal Club, Uxbridge
________________________________________
King’s Head, Hunton Bridge
Sat May 6th 5pm Batchworth Canal Centre, Rickmansworth
Thurs May 11th 7.30pm Globe Leighton Buzzard
Fri May 11th 7.30pm Simpson village hall, Simpson, MK **
Sat May 13th 7pm Lionheart’s Cruising Club, MK
Tues May 16th 3pm Woolstone Community Centre, MK
Sat May 20th 2.30pm The Museum Quarry Field, Stoke Bruerne, in assoc with Northants IWA rally
Idle Women and Judies (45 min)
Sun May21st 2.30pm The Museum Quarry Field, Stoke Bruerne, in assoc with Northants IWA rally
Isobel’s War (50 min)
Wed May 24th 7.30pm Rugby Boats/Narrow Boat Inn nr Weedon
Thurs May 25th 7.30pm Heart of England, High Street, Weedon
May 28th 6.30pm Fishery Wharf café, Boxmoor
Part of a weekend of entertainment with a floating market – check out what else is on offer
fisherywharfcafe.co.uk
the show dates:
May 30th 7.30pm The Boat Inn, Birdingbury
Fri June 2nd 7.30pm Foundry Wood, Leamington
Bring a chair or rug to sit on (or even both)
Sun June 4th 2pm Saltisford Arm, Warwick **
Mon June 5th Tue June 6th 2pm 7.15pm Hatton locks café, Canal Rd, Hatton, Warwick
The Navigation Lapworth
Thurs June 8th 7.30pm Centrala, Minerva, 158 Fazeley Street, Birmingham
Sat June 10th 7.30pm Titford Pumphouse, Engine St, Oldbury **
Tues June 13th 7.30pm Tipton Civic Society: St Martin’s & St Paul’s Church, Owen Street, Tipton. **
Thurs June 22nd 7.30pm Dog and Doublet, Dog Ln, Sutton Coldfield
Sat June 24th 5pm Braunston Marina: as part of the historic boat festival.Reserve or get there early to bag a seat for this one!
Sun June 25th 2pm Tamworth Cruising Club.
Wed June 28th 7.30pm The Samuel Barlow, Tamworth
Thurs June 29th 7.30pm The King’s Head, Old Watling St, Atherstone
Sat July 1st 7.30pm Bermuda Centre, Nuneaton
Mon July 3rd 7.30pm The Anchor, Hartshill, Nuneaton
Wed July 5th & Thurs July 6th 7.30pm Greyhound, Hawkesbury junction
Mon July 10th 7.30pm The Barley Mow, Newbold
Tues July 11th 7.30pm Bridge 66 café, Clifton Cruisers
Wed July 12th 7.30pm Canalchef café, Hillmorton middle lock
Thurs July 13th 7.30pm The Admiral Nelson, Braunston
Wed July 19th 7.30pm Stoke Bruerne museum
Fri July 22nd 7.30pm The Barley Mow, Cosgrove
And she will be moored at the pub over the weekend for the Buckingham Canal festival so pop in and see what life was like for a trainee.
Sun July 23rd 6pm George St Community Centre, Fenny Stratford
Thurs July 27th 7pm Frogmore Paper Museum **
she is planning a fish and chip supper to go with this one (a favourite of the trainees)
Mon 31st July 7.30pm Cowroast Inn, London Rd, Tring
Tues 1st Aug 7.30pm The Rising Sun, Berkhamsted
Aug 5th 7.30pm The Pirate Castle, Oval Rd, Camden **
– with boat trips on offer as well as the show that day!