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. The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
Q2. Lynmouth Foreland Lighthouse
They might as well pre populate the text box for question one with the correct answer and have done with, as the huge giveaway clue "Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth", immediately places us in North Devon, at the small section of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (opened c 1898, closed c 1935, re-opened c 2004) which is still operational. Five miles or so, south west of the western terminus of the line, lies Arlington Court, which is described on the national trust website as an "Intriguing Regency house and horse drawn vehicles, set in picturesque gardens".
Travelling north east of the railway, would bring us to the towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, which are connected by a cliff railway. The OS map shows that there is also a 'Point Perilous' there. The puzzle author is not wrong when he says it has an ominous ring, for Lynton sits at the confluence of two rivers, which flow through steep sided and relatively narrow gorges and consequently when there is heavy rainfall, the place is at very grave risk of being destroyed by raging torrents and this appears to be what happened on the 15/16th August 1952, with a wall of water hitting the town and the boulders carried therein, which were propelled through by the water, destroyed many homes and the community suffered a shocking and appalling loss of life, with around thirty four people reported killed in the catastrophe. From watching some of the old newsreel footage of the event, it seems that the guy who owned the hotel, saved three people from being swept out to sea, by pulling them in through the window.
A good old rebel loose cannon Norman boy, called 'Percy Bysshe Shelley' stayed at Lynton c 1812 and one of his employees 'Daniel Isaac Eaton', was lifted by the bizzies, for handing out some of Shelley's pamphlets which contained extracts from Thomas Paine's 'Age of Reason'. Eaton's hermeneutics by way of defence at his trial were to no avail, as a biased religio-fascist judge and a dodgy jury, then convicted him on a trumped up charge of 'blasphemous libel' (The Eastender apologizes for inadvertently invoking the bewigged bampot from the Eilean Siar, and hopes he does not appear and start building walls) and the hapless pamphleteer was thrown into the chokey and pilloried once a month. Shelley wrote an essay c 1812 called 'A letter to Lord Ellenborough' (family motto "Law and Equity Combined") about the episode, which must have cheered Daniel Eaton up no end, while he was getting chamber pots, dead animals and rotten vegetables thrown at him by an angry mob.
The national trail is probably the 'South West Coast Path' and following it east and then north would bring us to the 'Lynmouth Foreland Lighthouse', which some of the reference sources I checked, claim is fifteen metres or forty nine feet in height. Also appears to have been constructed c 1900.
N.B. due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive quip or comment relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Saturday, 22 October 2016
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. Cobham
Q2. Ashford
The initial clues appear to place us on the railway half a mile or so north of the village of Cobham, in Kent. The quote "I can discern a cross, and a 13, and then a T. This is important.”, seems to be from a work by Charles Dickens, called 'The Pickwick Papers', first published in serial form c 1836. Mr Pickwick unearths a stone with an inscription on it in a village and some reference sources claim that Dickens used Cobham as his model for the aforementioned dorpie. According to some of his biographies, the architect Sir Herbert Baker was born in a seventeenth century red brick house in Cobham, which was called 'Owletts'. Among his projects, Baker had a hand in the reconstruction of the bank of England c 1921 and Tyne Cot cemetery at Passchendale near Ypres in Belgium, which may be one of the biggest British war cemeteries in the world.
The railway line is carried across the river Medway by a viaduct, as is the M2 on adjacent motorway bridges. The airport is probably Rochester airport (the Eastender used to program flight computers at the works there, back in the day) and I found some references to Short Stirling bombers being built and tested at the site. After Rochester, the railway passes under the North Downs, via the North Downs or Blue Bell Hill tunnel, as it is also known and thence to Leeds Castle, who have a very beautiful web site, which the Eastender spent a fair bit of time perusing. It turns out that a queen born c 1366 called Anne of Bohemia, spent a Christmas there, with John of Gaunt and was later given the castle by Richard II, c 1382. The line then passes through Ashford, which did have a railway works that opened c 1847 and which according to some of his biographies, was where the conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent was born, c 1895. Malcolm Sargent became conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra c 1950.
Nine miles further down the track brings us to Folkstone racecourse which lies next to Westenhanger Castle and from viewing their web site, this also looks to have a very pleasant aspect.
N.B Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. Cobham
Q2. Ashford
The initial clues appear to place us on the railway half a mile or so north of the village of Cobham, in Kent. The quote "I can discern a cross, and a 13, and then a T. This is important.”, seems to be from a work by Charles Dickens, called 'The Pickwick Papers', first published in serial form c 1836. Mr Pickwick unearths a stone with an inscription on it in a village and some reference sources claim that Dickens used Cobham as his model for the aforementioned dorpie. According to some of his biographies, the architect Sir Herbert Baker was born in a seventeenth century red brick house in Cobham, which was called 'Owletts'. Among his projects, Baker had a hand in the reconstruction of the bank of England c 1921 and Tyne Cot cemetery at Passchendale near Ypres in Belgium, which may be one of the biggest British war cemeteries in the world.
The railway line is carried across the river Medway by a viaduct, as is the M2 on adjacent motorway bridges. The airport is probably Rochester airport (the Eastender used to program flight computers at the works there, back in the day) and I found some references to Short Stirling bombers being built and tested at the site. After Rochester, the railway passes under the North Downs, via the North Downs or Blue Bell Hill tunnel, as it is also known and thence to Leeds Castle, who have a very beautiful web site, which the Eastender spent a fair bit of time perusing. It turns out that a queen born c 1366 called Anne of Bohemia, spent a Christmas there, with John of Gaunt and was later given the castle by Richard II, c 1382. The line then passes through Ashford, which did have a railway works that opened c 1847 and which according to some of his biographies, was where the conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent was born, c 1895. Malcolm Sargent became conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra c 1950.
Nine miles further down the track brings us to Folkstone racecourse which lies next to Westenhanger Castle and from viewing their web site, this also looks to have a very pleasant aspect.
N.B Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 15 October 2016
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. Tenby
Q2. Cymbeline
The initial clues would seem to place us near the village of Coedcanlas, which is where, according to some of his biographies, the author Dick Francis was born c 1920 and one of those biographies was called 'The Sport of Queens'. (They might as well just have published the answers in the paper with this huge giveaway hint). Coedcanlas lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and depending on which reference you check, this is though to be around 240 to 243 square miles in area.
Southeast from Coedcanlas, would bring is to the town of Tenby and it was here, between the years 1920 to 1936, according to some reference sources, that the author Roald Dahl spent his holidays, at a house known as 'The Cabin'. Dorelia McNeil may have been the common law wife of the painter Augustus John, who's bios claim was born at 50 Rope Walk Field, Tenby c 4th Jan 1878.
I found some references to a 'Royal Victoria Pier' in Tenby, which opened c 1899 and was demolished between 1946 and 1953. There does not appear to be much left of the castle in Tenby, which is thought to be of twelfth century origin. There is a watchtower marked on the OS map of the area, which can be found by following the one hundred and eighty six mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path, to the south west of the town. The island which lies one mile off shore, is probably Caldey Island.
The cave in question, could be 'The Cave of Belarius', who was a character in William Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline', which was published c 1609 and is about a Roman caper around the Milford Haven region of Wales. Belarius used the alias of Morgan, while he hid out in the caves. There are some caves marked on the OS map, to the south west of the town (possibly Hoyle's Mouth Cave, according to some sources).
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. Tenby
Q2. Cymbeline
The initial clues would seem to place us near the village of Coedcanlas, which is where, according to some of his biographies, the author Dick Francis was born c 1920 and one of those biographies was called 'The Sport of Queens'. (They might as well just have published the answers in the paper with this huge giveaway hint). Coedcanlas lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and depending on which reference you check, this is though to be around 240 to 243 square miles in area.
Southeast from Coedcanlas, would bring is to the town of Tenby and it was here, between the years 1920 to 1936, according to some reference sources, that the author Roald Dahl spent his holidays, at a house known as 'The Cabin'. Dorelia McNeil may have been the common law wife of the painter Augustus John, who's bios claim was born at 50 Rope Walk Field, Tenby c 4th Jan 1878.
I found some references to a 'Royal Victoria Pier' in Tenby, which opened c 1899 and was demolished between 1946 and 1953. There does not appear to be much left of the castle in Tenby, which is thought to be of twelfth century origin. There is a watchtower marked on the OS map of the area, which can be found by following the one hundred and eighty six mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path, to the south west of the town. The island which lies one mile off shore, is probably Caldey Island.
The cave in question, could be 'The Cave of Belarius', who was a character in William Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline', which was published c 1609 and is about a Roman caper around the Milford Haven region of Wales. Belarius used the alias of Morgan, while he hid out in the caves. There are some caves marked on the OS map, to the south west of the town (possibly Hoyle's Mouth Cave, according to some sources).
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 8 October 2016
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. Hendon Central
Q2. Claude Grahame-White
The initial clues seem to place us in a part of the world the Eastender knows very well, having lived in north London for many years, ie possibly at Hendon Central tube station, which is three stops from the end of the Edgeware branch of the Northern Line. The tube station, according to some of his biographies, was designed by an architect called Stanley A Heaps (born c 1880).
The cricketer Denis Compton was according to some of his bios, born on the 23rd of May, c 1918 at 20 Alexandra Road, Hendon and this does not look to be too far from Hendon Central tube station (around three hundred metres or so, as the crow flies, on some maps). The Eastender does not understand cricket at all but found a reference that claims Compton scored seventeen centuries in test matches.
The entrepreneur who ran the Times, is probably Thomas Tilling and he was not an editor of the Times newspaper but rather someone who ran a horse drawn omnibus company, whose service was so punctual, that it gained the nickname 'The Times'. Some of Tilling's biographies claim that he was born at Gutter's Hedge Farm, in Hendon c 1825. The runner up in the 1963 Grand Prix was Graham Hill and some of his biographies claim that he was educated at Hendon Technical College.
Wandering north west out of Hendon, would bring us into the suburb of Collindale and this was where the British Library kept their newspaper archive until c 2013. It is also where Hendon Police College lies, which fits in with the puzzle author's direction of travel and the 'Lawful in a manner of speaking' clue.
Crossing Aerodrome Road and turning north east, would bring us onto Grahame Park Way and this is named after a famous aviator called 'Claude Grahame-White' (born c 1879). Some of Grahame-White's biographies state that he bought Hendon Aerodrome c 1911 and developed an aircraft there called 'The New Baby'. He also won an aviation trophy called 'The Gordon Bennet Aviation Cup', a joke name which upon hearing it, is guaranteed to provoke mirth and laughter in any indigenous inhabitant of the big British island. I found several references which claim that RAF squadrons 24, 600 and 604 were based at Hendon airfield, a dangerous place to be during world war two, as the locale was hit by several doodlebugs, which resulted in some fatalities. The RAF Museum is located off Grahame Park Way.
N.B. due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive quip or comment relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. Hendon Central
Q2. Claude Grahame-White
The initial clues seem to place us in a part of the world the Eastender knows very well, having lived in north London for many years, ie possibly at Hendon Central tube station, which is three stops from the end of the Edgeware branch of the Northern Line. The tube station, according to some of his biographies, was designed by an architect called Stanley A Heaps (born c 1880).
The cricketer Denis Compton was according to some of his bios, born on the 23rd of May, c 1918 at 20 Alexandra Road, Hendon and this does not look to be too far from Hendon Central tube station (around three hundred metres or so, as the crow flies, on some maps). The Eastender does not understand cricket at all but found a reference that claims Compton scored seventeen centuries in test matches.
The entrepreneur who ran the Times, is probably Thomas Tilling and he was not an editor of the Times newspaper but rather someone who ran a horse drawn omnibus company, whose service was so punctual, that it gained the nickname 'The Times'. Some of Tilling's biographies claim that he was born at Gutter's Hedge Farm, in Hendon c 1825. The runner up in the 1963 Grand Prix was Graham Hill and some of his biographies claim that he was educated at Hendon Technical College.
Wandering north west out of Hendon, would bring us into the suburb of Collindale and this was where the British Library kept their newspaper archive until c 2013. It is also where Hendon Police College lies, which fits in with the puzzle author's direction of travel and the 'Lawful in a manner of speaking' clue.
Crossing Aerodrome Road and turning north east, would bring us onto Grahame Park Way and this is named after a famous aviator called 'Claude Grahame-White' (born c 1879). Some of Grahame-White's biographies state that he bought Hendon Aerodrome c 1911 and developed an aircraft there called 'The New Baby'. He also won an aviation trophy called 'The Gordon Bennet Aviation Cup', a joke name which upon hearing it, is guaranteed to provoke mirth and laughter in any indigenous inhabitant of the big British island. I found several references which claim that RAF squadrons 24, 600 and 604 were based at Hendon airfield, a dangerous place to be during world war two, as the locale was hit by several doodlebugs, which resulted in some fatalities. The RAF Museum is located off Grahame Park Way.
N.B. due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive quip or comment relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 1 October 2016
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. Sezincote
Q2. Hidcote Manor Garden
The initial clues seem to place us in a relatively unexplored part of the big British island called 'The Cotswolds ', specifically at a four thousand five hundred acre estate called 'Sezincote', around a mile and a bit south west of the town of Moreton-in-Marsh. The puzzle author is not joking about it having a palace, from the photographs on the Sezincote website, it looks absolutely beautiful, and is built in the style of the homes of the Mogul emperors in India, complete with onion domes and orangery. They appear to have a herd of muley cows there also. The gardener who liked to keep his designs in red books, is probably Humphrey Repton and he does get a mention on the website, as having helped design the landscape around the house. The poet laureate John Betjeman stayed at Sezincote in the 1920s with his friend John Dugdale, who's father owned the house at that time. A lord chancellor appointed c 1929, whose biographies claim was born in Moreton-in-Marsh c 1866, was John Sankey.
The second estate, which lies a mile or so north west of Moreton-in-Marsh, is most likely 'Batsford', their website claims that it is fifty six acres in area and has a large arboretum, with many exotic trees and shrubs. Batsford was at one time owned by David Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale. The Baron had six wild daughters and some of them liked to hang out with the potty Austrian gefreiter and the completely hatstand Oswald Mosley. The author, who has was as good at quips, banter and repartee as Oscar Wilde, is most likely Nancy Mitford (born c 1904), who published a work called 'The Pursuit of Love', which has a character called 'Uncle Matthew', c 1945.
The garden referred to in the hints is probably 'Hidcote Manor Garden', according to some of his biographies, this was designed as a series of outdoor 'rooms', by Lawrence Waterbury Johnston, who was born in Paris c 17th October, 1871. Hidcote Manor lies about three miles north north west of the town of Chipping Camden but I did not find much in the way of evidence that Nancy Mitford lived there. The quote "stranger than dreams and far, far more disordered" appears to be from one of Nancy Mitford's novels, 'Christmas Pudding', published c 1932.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. Sezincote
Q2. Hidcote Manor Garden
The initial clues seem to place us in a relatively unexplored part of the big British island called 'The Cotswolds ', specifically at a four thousand five hundred acre estate called 'Sezincote', around a mile and a bit south west of the town of Moreton-in-Marsh. The puzzle author is not joking about it having a palace, from the photographs on the Sezincote website, it looks absolutely beautiful, and is built in the style of the homes of the Mogul emperors in India, complete with onion domes and orangery. They appear to have a herd of muley cows there also. The gardener who liked to keep his designs in red books, is probably Humphrey Repton and he does get a mention on the website, as having helped design the landscape around the house. The poet laureate John Betjeman stayed at Sezincote in the 1920s with his friend John Dugdale, who's father owned the house at that time. A lord chancellor appointed c 1929, whose biographies claim was born in Moreton-in-Marsh c 1866, was John Sankey.
The second estate, which lies a mile or so north west of Moreton-in-Marsh, is most likely 'Batsford', their website claims that it is fifty six acres in area and has a large arboretum, with many exotic trees and shrubs. Batsford was at one time owned by David Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale. The Baron had six wild daughters and some of them liked to hang out with the potty Austrian gefreiter and the completely hatstand Oswald Mosley. The author, who has was as good at quips, banter and repartee as Oscar Wilde, is most likely Nancy Mitford (born c 1904), who published a work called 'The Pursuit of Love', which has a character called 'Uncle Matthew', c 1945.
The garden referred to in the hints is probably 'Hidcote Manor Garden', according to some of his biographies, this was designed as a series of outdoor 'rooms', by Lawrence Waterbury Johnston, who was born in Paris c 17th October, 1871. Hidcote Manor lies about three miles north north west of the town of Chipping Camden but I did not find much in the way of evidence that Nancy Mitford lived there. The quote "stranger than dreams and far, far more disordered" appears to be from one of Nancy Mitford's novels, 'Christmas Pudding', published c 1932.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 24 September 2016
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. The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
Q2. Lake Windermere
Not too difficult this week, the Eastender has seen the 2006 biopic of the writer 'Beatrix Potter' (played by Renee Zellweger). The one thousand four hundred and eighty foot high hill (four hundred and fifty one metres) next to the hamlet of 'Little Town', is most likely 'Cat Bells'. Cat Bells was the home of the hedgehog 'Mrs Tiggy-Winkle', who had a dwelling with a door set into the hill. Beatrix Potter published the book 'The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle' c 1905.
Six miles North East of Cat Bells, lies the three thousand and fifty four foot (nine hundred and thirty metre) eminence of 'Skiddaw'. East of the author's position would take bring us to Derwent water and it is here that a hippie space cadet who liked to do a bit of DMT and commune with bejewelled self dribbling basketball machine elf creatures (and possibly talking hedgehogs), had a kick back place. The island (St Herbert's Island), is named after him. Some of his biographies claim that his feast day is 20th March and that he died c 687.
Travelling thirteen miles or so south east from Derwent water would bring us to Lake Windermere and Wray Castle, where some of her biographies claim that the sixteen year old Beatrix Potter stayed while on holiday in the area. I couldn't find any information on the parish priest at Claife who founded a charity but the poet born 1770, is probably William Wordsworth and some of his bios claim that he was schooled at Hawkshead, which lies around two miles south west of Wray Castle.
Beatrix Potter's husband, a solicitor called 'William Heelis' had his offices in Hawkshead and the writer herself owned a property called 'Hill Top', around two miles to the south east.
The quote “Lily-white and clean, oh! With little frills between, oh!”, is from 'The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle'.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
Q2. Lake Windermere
Not too difficult this week, the Eastender has seen the 2006 biopic of the writer 'Beatrix Potter' (played by Renee Zellweger). The one thousand four hundred and eighty foot high hill (four hundred and fifty one metres) next to the hamlet of 'Little Town', is most likely 'Cat Bells'. Cat Bells was the home of the hedgehog 'Mrs Tiggy-Winkle', who had a dwelling with a door set into the hill. Beatrix Potter published the book 'The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle' c 1905.
Six miles North East of Cat Bells, lies the three thousand and fifty four foot (nine hundred and thirty metre) eminence of 'Skiddaw'. East of the author's position would take bring us to Derwent water and it is here that a hippie space cadet who liked to do a bit of DMT and commune with bejewelled self dribbling basketball machine elf creatures (and possibly talking hedgehogs), had a kick back place. The island (St Herbert's Island), is named after him. Some of his biographies claim that his feast day is 20th March and that he died c 687.
Travelling thirteen miles or so south east from Derwent water would bring us to Lake Windermere and Wray Castle, where some of her biographies claim that the sixteen year old Beatrix Potter stayed while on holiday in the area. I couldn't find any information on the parish priest at Claife who founded a charity but the poet born 1770, is probably William Wordsworth and some of his bios claim that he was schooled at Hawkshead, which lies around two miles south west of Wray Castle.
Beatrix Potter's husband, a solicitor called 'William Heelis' had his offices in Hawkshead and the writer herself owned a property called 'Hill Top', around two miles to the south east.
The quote “Lily-white and clean, oh! With little frills between, oh!”, is from 'The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle'.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Saturday, 17 September 2016
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. Senghenydd
Q2. Tommy Farr (aka Thomas George Farr)
The initial clues appear to place us in the town of Senghenydd, in Wales and this was the site of a mine explosion caused by firedamp gas and coal dust c 14/15 October 1913, which resulted in the deaths of some four hundred and thirty nine miners. The unfortunate bergarbeiters who did not perish in the explosion, likely succumbed to a toxic gas mixture called afterdamp. There seems to be a Welsh National Mining Memorial and Universal Colliery Memorial Garden in Senghenydd, (opened c 2013).
The NA & HR railway is probably the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway and some of the references I checked claim that there is a sixteen span viaduct associated with it, near the town of Hengoed.
Travelling seven crow miles from Hengoed, would bring us to the settlement of Mountain Ash and this was where, according to some of his biographies, the darts player Leighton Rees was born (c 1940) at Lady Aberdare Maternity Home.
North west of Mountain Ash lies the town of Aberdare and this is where an author called Nina May Bawden (born c 1925) was evacuated during World War Two. Nina Bawden lived in seven different houses in the area and incorporated those experiences into the novel 'Carrie's War', published c 1975 (or 1973, depending on which source you check).
Four miles south of Mountain Ash would put as in the town of Ferndale and this is where an actor called Stanley Baker was born, at 32 Albany Street (c 1928). Baker starred as 'Bennet', a first lieutenant in a film called 'The Cruel Sea' (c 1953). Jimmy Wilde, who gave up working in Ferndale pit no 8, later become a boxer known as 'The Mighty Atom'. Three miles south of Fernadale lies Tonypandy and this is where a boxer known as 'The Tonypandy Terror' had a house. His real name was Tommy Farr (aka Thomas George Farr). The Tonypandy Terror, according to some of his biographies, took part in a fight with the American boxer Joe Louis c 1937 and this was apparently the first sporting event to be broadcast after being relayed by transatlantic cable.
N.B. due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, The Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
Q1. Senghenydd
Q2. Tommy Farr (aka Thomas George Farr)
The initial clues appear to place us in the town of Senghenydd, in Wales and this was the site of a mine explosion caused by firedamp gas and coal dust c 14/15 October 1913, which resulted in the deaths of some four hundred and thirty nine miners. The unfortunate bergarbeiters who did not perish in the explosion, likely succumbed to a toxic gas mixture called afterdamp. There seems to be a Welsh National Mining Memorial and Universal Colliery Memorial Garden in Senghenydd, (opened c 2013).
The NA & HR railway is probably the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway and some of the references I checked claim that there is a sixteen span viaduct associated with it, near the town of Hengoed.
Travelling seven crow miles from Hengoed, would bring us to the settlement of Mountain Ash and this was where, according to some of his biographies, the darts player Leighton Rees was born (c 1940) at Lady Aberdare Maternity Home.
North west of Mountain Ash lies the town of Aberdare and this is where an author called Nina May Bawden (born c 1925) was evacuated during World War Two. Nina Bawden lived in seven different houses in the area and incorporated those experiences into the novel 'Carrie's War', published c 1975 (or 1973, depending on which source you check).
Four miles south of Mountain Ash would put as in the town of Ferndale and this is where an actor called Stanley Baker was born, at 32 Albany Street (c 1928). Baker starred as 'Bennet', a first lieutenant in a film called 'The Cruel Sea' (c 1953). Jimmy Wilde, who gave up working in Ferndale pit no 8, later become a boxer known as 'The Mighty Atom'. Three miles south of Fernadale lies Tonypandy and this is where a boxer known as 'The Tonypandy Terror' had a house. His real name was Tommy Farr (aka Thomas George Farr). The Tonypandy Terror, according to some of his biographies, took part in a fight with the American boxer Joe Louis c 1937 and this was apparently the first sporting event to be broadcast after being relayed by transatlantic cable.
N.B. due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, The Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip relating to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it.
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