The 23rd April is St. Georges Day as well as Drive It Day

FUND RAISING AT LOCKS HEATH SHOPPING VILLAGE, FAREHAM, HANTS.

This year St Georges Day falls on a Sunday when only a few shops are open and the opportunities for Fund Raising would probably be more limited, we thought.

So this year I asked for a Two Day Collecting Licence and both Terry and I agreed to use both days in our quest to raise money in support of Combat Stress, the Veterans Mental Health Charity.

Not many people knew about the charity and its needs are such that most of the other Military Charities also support Combat Stress with donations.

 Terry began early with table stowed on Frog Mog's Luggage Rack

Frog Mog is aboard and Terry was ready to set off.

 Our Location Set and the Cars Decorated. Where would our First Donation come from?

We arrived nice and early this year only to find that our usual pitch had bee taken by the local Flower Nursery, who is normally further back, a Fruit Seller and a Vaping liquid seller.

However, we wanted to be just outside the Waitrose Store to maximise our opportunities and so we squeezed ourselves in, much to the consternation of the others. 

Terry was a master with the Helium blowing up and stringing the Combat Stress Balloons 

We were ready. We just needed some customers. 

 The Green Goddess Draped in her Flags

 A Beautiful Array of Plants. That Butchers Sign just had to go.

 It was a case of Fast Selling Raspberries, Blueberries next and the Strawberries took all day to sell.

 Quite a few donors would like to own a Morgan or have owned one in the past.

 Could this be a Car Sales Negotiation I see before me?

 The Car Park was filling fast. We just needed some Passers By.

 Then One Escapee was spotted, up, up, and away.

We received support from Register members Rosemary & Chris who travelled from Mid Surrey to help with the collections.

Unfortunately our cramped position prevent our plan to have Three Roadster 100 in line for the first time here.

I was allowed to be in this photo as well.

It was the end of Day One when Nola opened the Buckets to cash up our Donations.

We had achieved a magnificent £245.37p.

ST GEORGE'S DAY ARRIVES.

Terry and I were there nice and early, expecting the local Classic Car Club to leaving for their Drive It Day Run. Only 3 turned up so decided to go off to Thruxton Racecourse instead.

 Today we had the whole are to ourselves. An early visitor also would like to own a Morgan.

 The day proved interesting in that more of the fewer shoppers came to chat and make donations, many of which were Folding Money.

And another Escapee.

 Terry busied with the Balloons again with somextra Helium donated by the local Toy Shop.

 One very happy participant sporting Balloon & Wristband

 Posing for the photograph. 

 We then had a visit from young Sam, a keen photographer who works in the Waitrose store.

 Sam sent us some of his very sharp photos. The Balloon Girl

Frog Mog on Duty.

The day was over at around 3pm today as most people had finished their shopping.

It was time to pack up and put the Flags away again until next year.

Nola found these useful additions to the collection as she counted today's donation.

Day 2 collected the princely sum of £240.88 bringing the weekends total to a magnificent £486.25. which will be banked directly into the Combat Stress Account at The Nat west Bank.

These Direct Banking ones are the best donations.

The Justgiving and EBay Sales donations, we also use, all command some hefty charges reducing donations to around only 75% of that achieved.

I will conclude by offering a massive THANK YOU to the Very Kind and Generous Shopper who use the Locks Heath Shopping Village.  

Frank

We Visted the 'Mary Rose' for the Fist Time Yesterday

For us, any trip to Portsmouth where the Mary Rose is located, requires a harbour crossing on the Gosport Ferry, which we always enjoy.

 The weather was excellent so it was up onto the open deck for some extra sight seeing.

 There seemed to be some sort of blockage in the harbour entrance and then I remembered that there is some serious Dredging in progress as the harbour is deepened to allow the UK's New Aircraft Carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth to enter once her build is completed in Scotland.

 Both of the Isle of Wight are having to wait for the blockage to be cleared. 

 Having arrived at the Dockyard it was into the Costa Café for a Coffee and Panini lunch before setting off to visit the Mary Rose in her new visitors centre.

While there I tried to photograph HMS Warrior head on but someone had parked a modern Red Crane to spoil everyone's photos. Grrrr. 

 With a visit to inspect the plumbing required next we headed for the upper floor of Boathouse 4 which has the most modern loos that we have found on previous visits.

Looking down into the workshop, between the boats one of the many woodworking courses available to book was underway. Everyone seemed to be shaping Canoe Paddles there.   

 Being the Schools Easter Holiday all of the activities were open and in use.

Here these youngsters, strapped in harnesses, are climbing the rigging in a race to see who reached the very top and rings the ships bell located there. It looked great fun.

 I spotted this emblem used by Price Charles on the bow of this Steam Launch only to find that it was actually Queen Victoria's launch used to take her across the Solent to Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight.

The Steam Launch Engine and Funnell

 The 'comfortable' seat.

 Below in the wet dock is this Steam Driven Gun Boat.

 Taking a last look across Boathouse No. 4 one can see the array of boats under repair there.

We finally arrive at the New Modern building containing the Mary Rose exhibition. There is no extra charge for the experience as it is included in the Visitor Ticket cost.

 The Mary Rose, being the pride of Henry VIII's Fleet, we have the obligatory photo with Jacob asking 'Who is this Chap ?'

 Before actually visiting the ship there are some very useful diagrams and this panorama showing how close into the Solent the French Fleet came, apparently burning homes on the Isle of Wight (in the background).

The British Fleet are just leaving Portsmouth Harbour led by the Flagship Mary Rose.

Without trying to become an authority on what actually happened next, on 15th July 1545 apparently the Mary Rose fired off a broadside from the Port (Left) Side. The ship then made a violent turn to pint the Starboard Guns before the Gun Hatches on the Port Side had been closed. Heeling well over a strong wind took her past the point of no return and over she went and immediately sank with all hands bar 34 being lost. 

There’s a common misconception that the Mary Rose sank on her maiden voyage. In fact, she was a successful warship, in the service of Henry VIII  for 34 years, almost the entire duration of his reign, and fought in three wars.

 A Photo Diagram showing how much of the Original Hull remains.

The Ship lay on the Seabed on her Starboard Side just outside of Portsmouth Harbour for hundreds of years gradually rotting away until in 1836 two Wreck Seeking Divers discovered the location of what was left intact and still buried in the mud which had persevered what is left here to view.

The story of how this find was achieved and the painstaking route taken to lift the wreck and to preserve her before putting her on display is another story worth investing in the book.

Story of the Ship / History of the Mary Rose

The Crew of the Mary Rose

What we were about to experience next as we toured through the exhibition was a marvel of presentation features using light and sound to depict the atmosphere aboard the ship during the catastrophe.

The various lighting changes made 'Non Flash photography difficult but I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

Our first view of the ship seen from the Stern

At this time the ship is in semi darkness and these small action videos are played in specific areas of the ship indication what would have been taking place there and then.

Two reconstructions of how the Gun Decks would have looked with salvaged Cannon in place through the Gun Ports.

When the lighting level is raised the shape and depth of the remaining decks is clear to see. Lots of Scaffolding still has to be used to support the weak structure.

Another of the recovered cannons

Looking towards the Bow Section

Looking along the reconstruction of two decks, the upper one showing the Rope Store

The whole section of Hull seen from the Bow End

The Seabed Mud contained many articles which have been recovered. This Sea Chest survived.

Tools used by the Ships Carpenter to make running repairs.

Many of the surviving metalwork items recovered.

A very well preserved Cannon Barrel clearly inscribed with Henry VIII just above the Small Rose.

Some of the items used by the Gunners during battle.

A Diagram showing the two types of Gun on board which needed to be reloaded differently

A Grim Diagram which seems to indicate the best places to cause injury during battle.

The Gun that Identifies The Mary Rose.

The Views from the Bow End of the Ship as we move towards another viewing level.

The only view of the outside of the Hull available, taken though a side window

A Reconstruction of one of the on board Cooking Stoves

More Cooking Items

Various Bowls and Jars used for serving food.

Pursers handle all the financial matters on a cruise ship as well as many administrative tasks.

A Variety of other equipment used.

Our last look at the Hull from the Keel Level at the Stern just before leaving

This last showcase says it all.

On exiting the exhibition we pass that Shore Base Figurehead from HMS Nelson.

Next is Admiral Benbow from HMS Benbow who has become a popular climbing form

The Startled Eyes say it all

A quick visit to the café in the Apprentices museum reveal some items not seen during previous Dockyard Visits. There is far too much to see and experience there on one day.

These old working Amusement Arcade items were a joy to see again.

HMS Andromeda

Aircraft Carrier HMS Hermes

The Royal Yacht Britannia

HMS Victory

Then it was time for a trip on the boats

Heading for the Ferry HMS Warrior provides a lasting memory.

Lots to think about on the way home.

The Dockyard from the Ferry

This last series of photographs were scanned from a copy of the Mary Trust Annual Report given to me by my wife's cousin who receives it as he was the Skipper of the Blue Funnel Steamer that the Divers used during the recovery searched. Blue Funnel Steamers being owned by his father during that time.

I hope that you enjoyed our visit.

Frank