Comments for Old Gaffer http://www.oldgaffer.com Thoughts, experiences and comments... Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:19:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by Brian Potter http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-261 Brian Potter Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:19:38 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-261 My mother and father,Grace and Jack Potter, and my 18 month old brother Lionel were sheltering on the station platform that evening and were among the ones fortunate to survive.I was born 2 weeks later on 1st November my mother having suffered no serius or lasting injuries during her lucky escape. My mother and father,Grace and Jack Potter, and my 18 month old brother Lionel were sheltering on the station platform that evening and were among the ones fortunate to survive.I was born 2 weeks later on 1st November my mother having suffered no serius or lasting injuries during her lucky escape.

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by Roz http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-168 Roz Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:29:49 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-168 I live in Toronto Canada now but I lived at the top of Balham Hill near Tooting Bec Common and I just watched Atonemnet on TV! I ran to the internet to see if the story was true as well. It is amazing that we have such access to information, and, I loved the movie! It made me cry to watch the Dunkirk scenes thinking of my dad and what he must have witnessed during the war. He has been dead quite a few years now but the memory of his face came to me so clearly watching the film. I live in Toronto Canada now but I lived at the top of Balham Hill near Tooting Bec Common and I just watched Atonemnet on TV! I ran to the internet to see if the story was true as well. It is amazing that we have such access to information, and, I loved the movie! It made me cry to watch the Dunkirk scenes thinking of my dad and what he must have witnessed during the war. He has been dead quite a few years now but the memory of his face came to me so clearly watching the film.

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by kb http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-167 kb Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:21:21 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-167 Another latecomer arriving via Atonement (book and film - outstanding both). I couldn't find the film mentioned by Lynda Hennell but I did find some amazing photographs on the London Transport Museum website, e.g. http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/photo/link.html?IXinv=1998/29592 (Search for "Balham" in the photo section.) Seeing these, it's easy to understand why so many died. In fact, they mention 111 dead, though this may included people killed above ground. Another latecomer arriving via Atonement (book and film – outstanding both). I couldn’t find the film mentioned by Lynda Hennell but I did find some amazing photographs on the London Transport Museum website, e.g.

http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/photo/link.html?IXinv=1998/29592

(Search for “Balham” in the photo section.) Seeing these, it’s easy to understand why so many died. In fact, they mention 111 dead, though this may included people killed above ground.

]]> Comment on Real friendship is precious by Alastair McKelvey http://www.oldgaffer.com/2011/03/real-friendship-is-precious/#comment-235 Alastair McKelvey Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:05:50 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/general/real-friendship-is-precious/#comment-235 Great to see you are back blogging again "Old Gaffer"! Regards to you & S. Alastair Great to see you are back blogging again “Old Gaffer”! Regards to you & S. Alastair

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by Janet Morgan http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-166 Janet Morgan Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:00:42 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-166 The power of film! Yes, Atonement was on last night and at the end I was surpised by the Balham reference as it is a station I use quite frequently. Today I rushed home with the intention of finding out if it was true and low and behold the world and his wife have all done the same :0). I will be going to the station tomorrow to look for the plaque and do some more research into the history of Balham. The power of film! Yes, Atonement was on last night and at the end I was surpised by the Balham reference as it is a station I use quite frequently. Today I rushed home with the intention of finding out if it was true and low and behold the world and his wife have all done the same :0). I will be going to the station tomorrow to look for the plaque and do some more research into the history of Balham.

]]> Comment on Pre WW2, 1930s, Enforced Holidays, 1 by Jean Peters http://www.oldgaffer.com/2010/10/pre-ww2-1930s-enforced-holidays-1/#comment-233 Jean Peters Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:41:33 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/general/pre-ww2-1930s-enforced-holidays-1/#comment-233 A very good read. Thank you. john@johnpeters.freeserve.co.uk I do reminiscence with older people and I find your article very interesting. I was born in the 1930's so you have filled in a few gaps for me. A very good read. Thank you. john@johnpeters.freeserve.co.uk I do reminiscence with older people and I find your article very interesting. I was born in the 1930′s so you have filled in a few gaps for me.

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by Lynda Hennell http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-165 Lynda Hennell Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:36:04 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-165 We have a family story related by my maternal grandmother. Her brother (my great uncle) was a station porter at Balham Tube station and was on duty the night of 14th October 1940. The family were told that he was found drowned in silt still hanging on to the telephone trying to get help. A terrible family tragedy as he was only 35 years old. His name was Mornington Trudgill and he appears on the official casualty and death list, so this story is indeed true. Today reading this blog I have just discovered that the film Atonement is about this horror in part. I hadn't read the book and the film sits on my bookhelf unwatched. I now must watch it. I have already seen a small part of a film made by The British Transport Museum about the event in a series about transport in wartime. So shocked to see it I couldn't get to the TV remote to record it. I haven't been able to find any reference anywhere to this film so far. It was in the nineties. Anyone seen this or know how I can see it again? I emailed BTM but had no response. Funny what find on the web. I was actually looking for something about Wandsworth for my husband!!! We have a family story related by my maternal grandmother. Her brother (my great uncle) was a station porter at Balham Tube station and was on duty the night of 14th October 1940. The family were told that he was found drowned in silt still hanging on to the telephone trying to get help. A terrible family tragedy as he was only 35 years old. His name was Mornington Trudgill and he appears on the official casualty and death list, so this story is indeed true. Today reading this blog I have just discovered that the film Atonement is about this horror in part. I hadn’t read the book and the film sits on my bookhelf unwatched. I now must watch it. I have already seen a small part of a film made by The British Transport Museum about the event in a series about transport in wartime. So shocked to see it I couldn’t get to the TV remote to record it. I haven’t been able to find any reference anywhere to this film so far. It was in the nineties. Anyone seen this or know how I can see it again? I emailed BTM but had no response. Funny what find on the web. I was actually looking for something about Wandsworth for my husband!!!

]]> Comment on Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, In Praise of a lost Art by Michael http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/07/royal-navy-1941-to-46-in-order-in-praise-of-a-lost-art/#comment-192 Michael Mon, 20 Sep 2010 05:51:58 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/general/royal-navy-1941-to-46-in-order-in-praise-of-a-lost-art/#comment-192 Fantastic recipe for homemade pipe tobacco. Thank you Gaffer for this great tidbit. I've got some homegrown tobacco that has been waiting for such a treatment! Fantastic recipe for homemade pipe tobacco. Thank you Gaffer for this great tidbit. I’ve got some homegrown tobacco that has been waiting for such a treatment!

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by George http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-164 George Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:27:52 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-164 This is a message for Chris Warburton. I'm interested in your mother's story about the Balham Disaster. Would you be able to contact me at newsdesk@itvlondon.com marking your email for the attention of George? I would be most grateful. Many Thanks. George. This is a message for Chris Warburton. I’m interested in your mother’s story about the Balham Disaster.

Would you be able to contact me at newsdesk@itvlondon.com marking your email for the attention of George?

I would be most grateful.

Many Thanks.

George.

]]> Comment on The London Blitz, Balham Tube Station by Tina http://www.oldgaffer.com/2007/03/the-london-blitz-balham-tube-station/#comment-163 Tina Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:31:23 +0000 http://www.oldgaffer.com/site/?p=148#comment-163 Yet another late-to-the-game Atonement viewer. What a marvelous, heart-breaking movie. I also rushed to the Web to find out more about the Balham Tube disaster. Thank you so much for your blog. It's wonderful to have access to so much eye-witness history without having to dig through library stacks. Yet another late-to-the-game Atonement viewer. What a marvelous, heart-breaking movie. I also rushed to the Web to find out more about the Balham Tube disaster.

Thank you so much for your blog. It’s wonderful to have access to so much eye-witness history without having to dig through library stacks.

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