Roseford Bridge, Staffs. & Worcs. canal Friday 28th August
Sir John Betjeman was born 103 years ago today.I wonder what he would have written about ABC Radio4. It used to be known as BBC Radio4, but the alarming increase in broadcasting of split infinitives and qualified superlatives would surely have led him, like me, to believe that the programme is now produced in America.
A great deal of his poetry could be unacceptable in these days of politically correct speech, another good reason to rail against this intrusion from across the pond.
I feel much better now thank you; the pills seem to be working!
Wednesday was spent mooching around Penkridge whilst dodging showers.
A visit to the 14th century church of St. Michael and All Angels produced some pleasant surprises; the tombs to various members of the Littleton family had the names of the children above each effigy.
There was also a two tiered tomb, the lower tier being that of Sir Edward Littleton (d. 1610) and his wife Margaret: the upper being that of their son Sir Edward Littleton (d. 1629) and his wife Mary.
The old Gaol, now restored and housing the Penkridge heritage centre has a set of stocks outside. There is a selection of shops in keeping with a large village, a choice of three hairdressers, two electrical repair shops and two café/tearooms.
Lichfield Cathedral was our destination on Thursday. Changing buses in Stafford, from where the journey took an hour and ten minutes; we went through parts of Rugeley that would be an excellent place in which to locate an enema tube.
The west wall of Lichfield Cathedral is ornate and spectacular. We had remembered to take a pair of binoculars and were able to see the carvings on the many figures in fine detail.
Inside there were many points of interest; the Chad Gospels on display are amongst the oldest books in the world. They were scribed in 670AD, probably by a monk from Lindisfarne which places them some 50 years before the book of Kells.
I find it almost unbelievable that you are able to look at writings of such a great age.
There are of course some beautiful windows; some of the oldest have been shuttered off and restoration has just begun; the process will take some 18 months to complete.
Once a train spotter………. One of the memorial tablets is to Charles Gresley son of Rev. William Gresley of Netherseale Hall, Leicestershire; registrar and chapter clerk to the cathedral for 53 years.
Now Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER, although born in Edinburgh on 19th June 1876 was the son of Rev. Nigel Gresley who was rector of Netherseal; it is possible that Charles was the uncle of Sir Nigel.
2009 Totals: 466 Locks – 863 miles – 35 Bus pass uses.
