Sharing History - The Royal Tournament 1980

Just after Christmas I posted a video clip onto Youtube of the Royal Tournament and a staged race between some motorcycles over a set course. The clip came off the television, back in the late 1970's. I never thought anymore about it until I was contacted by Adi Thompson. His father was one of the riders in the clip and they had no video record of him. He passed away 12 months ago. This week I recieved another e-mail off Roger Sheperd, who had the programm for the event. It was the 1980 Royal Tournament at Earls Court, London.

The point of this posting....... No matter how insignificant a piece of history may be, it may mean something to someone else.

Here is an extract from the e-mail off Roger:

"The Services Motor Cycle Competition" was part of the 1980 Royal Tournament at Earls Court (9th -26th July). This was the Centenary Royal Tournament and broke with the tradition of a 'Lead Service' so that the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force could all play a part.

The officers in charge of the display were Flight-Lieutenant J. Tye, RAF and Lieutenant G.R. Haller, Royal Corps of Transport.

The riders for the army were:
* Sgt Keith Hall, Royal Engineers
* Cpl Porter, REME
* Cpl Werner, REME
* Cpl Randle, Royal Signals
* Marine Knight, Royal Marines

The riders for the RAF included:
* Chief Technician Ted Thompson, RAF Waddington
* Junior Technician Gerry Melville, RAF Wyton
* Officer Cadet David Hooke

American Army at Cowlishaw and Walker, Biddulph

I have had an interesting 2 hours with a lady I met recently, who was born in 1929. At the age of 14 she left school and went to work for Cowlishaw and Walker, Biddulph. She started in the offices at the age of 14 years in 1944 and saw the built up to 'D' day with the arrival of the American soldiers in Biddulph. She remembers the army taking the big guns to the works to have the gun barrels degreased, because thy had been greased up for the trip across the atlantic. She also remembers having her typewriter taken away from her and soldiers spending days at Cowlishaws typing..

DO YOU HAVE ANY MEMORIES.....PLEASE LET ME KNOW

Amercian Soldiers in Biddulph World War 2

There are various accounts about the school before it became Bateman Girls School , here is a short recollection from Betty Ball, born 1929: "Although the building of the school was commenced, it was not entirely finished, but was used for a time as a barracks for the American soldiers, stationed in Biddulph prior to 'D' day. I did not acutally see for myself, but understood that during this time the inside of the building was not plastered, and was in fact merely a shell and very basic. I do not know when work recommenced but probly the building of the school was planed to meet the need of additional accommodation in connection wth hope of increasing the school age, but unfortunately, war intervened. The Education Act passed in 1944 stipulated full time attendance at school was , at some unspecified date to be made compulsory to age sixteen.'

Many thanks to Betty who attended Biddulph Council School (Kingsfield County First School, Gunn Street), from 1935 to Christmas 1943, leaving at the age of 14 to go and work at Cowlishaw and Walker

Listening to History - The people of Biddulph

I have been fortunate to have been given access to some interviews that were done in 2003 and they were captured on audi tape. They have been put onto cd and I have managed to put a couple of extracts onto my Knypersley History website. I have used clips from people talking about the war. Well worth a listen. ( Seeing a red glow towards the direction of the Cloud from Biddulph. As it was the blackout this glow was Manchester in flames following a German raid ).