Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition

Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be :

Q1. Eric Coates (aka Frank Harrison Coates)

Q2. The Major Oak

внимание друзья! Eric Coates also used the name Frank Harrison Coates, according to some of his biographies.

The initial clues seem to place us in a suburb of the city of Nottingham, called Sneinton and it was here that a horticulturalist called Harry Whe[a]tcroft was born c 24th of August 1898, at 23 Handel street. Some of the biographies claim that he was responsible for contacting Francois Meilland of Lyons, for permission to introduce his rose 'Peace', to the UK c 1948. He is also credited with introducing a variety called 'Fragrant Cloud', at the autumn show of the National Rose Society, c 1963 to the public. Wheatcroft was a bit eccentric and was court martialled and subsequently thrown out of the army, for telling them that he didn't want to fight.

The second clue takes us to Huc[k]nall airfield, where the first free (untethered) flight of the flying bedstead or TMA (Thrust Measuring Rig) as it was known in the trade, took place c 3rd August 1954. A composer called Eric Co[a]tes (aka Frank Harrison Coates) was born in the nearby town of Hucknall, c 1886 at Watnall Road. Among his many works, was a march called 'Knightsbridge' from his London suite, which was apparently used as the theme for a radio show called, 'In Town Tonight' c 1933. 

Travelling east south east from Hucknall would bring us to the village of Asl[o]ckton, where c 1489, a child who was later to become the archbishop of Canterbury, one Thomas Cran[m]er, was born. Some of Cranmer's biographies state that he was famous for writing between thirty nine and forty two religious articles of belief, depending on which one you read.

Six miles or so north of Aslockton, lies the village of East Stoke and it was here, c 16th June 1487 that the battle of St[o]ke Field, was fought. This seems to have been one of the final battles in the wars of the Roses, between the Lancastrians and Yorkists. Henry VII's army seem to have won this encounter for the house of Lancaster.

A one thousand and forty seven acre or four hundred and twenty three hectare national nature reserve, in the vicinity of Nottingham, is She[r]wood Forest . Listing out the letters acquired so far and adding the letter J, gives:

[A]  (fourth letter of 'Wheatcroft)

[K]  (fourth letter of 'Hucknall)

[A]  (third letter of Coates)

[O] (fourth letter of Aslockton)

[M] (fifth letter of Cranmer)

[O] (third letter of Stoke Field)

[R] (fourth letter of Sherwood Forest)

MAJOR OAK, which appears to be an eight hundred to one thousand year old oak tree in Sherwood forest, where Robin Hood himself used to hide out. There is a railway line marked on the OS map, just to the south of the ancient arboreal landmark.