Slow Progress

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Sep 292009
 

Good Evening,

You may have noticed I have not posted for a while. This is not because things are not happening but because things are happening far more slowly than they were.

I am still getting the odd email from people offering info for the project and I am in talks with the National Trust about a possible room at Coleshill to have meetings in etc.

I am also busy in my personal life and work life which reduces the amount of hours I can donate to the project.

I proposed to my dear lady this weekend and she said yes which was nice…We are thinking we might book Coleshill Church for the wedding.

I am in talks with a local screen writer about a TV documentary series and also have made contact with a local historian who has a wealth of “new” knowledge who I am hoping to meet next week.

Please keep spreading the word to others and encourage them to contact me with any info.

Terry Broome and Keith Blaxhall both have our Coleshill House flyers now to hand out so that may bring in some more info as well.

All the best and stay in touch

Tom Sykes

Coleshill House Firestarter Still Alive

 Research  No Responses »
Sep 182009
 

Capt. Peter Laidler at the Infantry Weapons Collection at the Land Warfare Centre at Warminster, has told us today that he knows the man who started the Coleshill House Fire.

The man who left the blowlamp burning was Trevor Pugh who was in fact a plumber working inside the roof.  They had their own plumbing company (and still have) but were employed by the firm of Knapps from Shrivenham.

Trevor is still alive and often talks about the accident.

We will see if we can get his story on the tragedy.

Fire Brigade Society Shed New Light On Coleshill House Fire

 Research  No Responses »
Sep 172009
 

I am pleased to bring you more info on the Coleshill House fire.

The article I have published today was the result of a chance meeting between Terry Broome (One of our Members) and Mike Smith from the Editorial Team of “Fire Cover”. The article talks in detail about the fire and how it was controlled.

Read the full story on the lower part of this page

Our thanks to Terry and Mike for providing this info.

Coleshill House Flyers

 Press  No Responses »
Sep 172009
 

We now have some flyers which we will happily send out to anyone who feels they can drum up more exposure for our website. We are already sending a load to Keith at the Trust but if you feel you could help the project by having some to hand out please let me know.

As we have to pay to produce these please only request them if you have a local museum or group relating to the subject matter. You can see the flyer below.

Local Wartime Weekend

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Sep 132009
 
Hi All,
Just thought you might like to know that Peter Antill and I went to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway “Wartime Weekend” today.

You can see the images I have taken here http://www.flickr.com/photos/bondmaster/sets/72157622357328772/show/ The video can now be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyjGbV3M7zY

Not directly related to Coleshill or the Aux Unit I know but thought Richard and Bob could get excited by some of the weapons at least !!!!

The Highworth Boy Scout With a Secret

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Sep 112009
 

Today we are working on a new page for the site about Ted Jefferies.

Ted Jefferies was a Boy Scout during WW2. Too young to enlist, his war was spent in the rural market town of Highworth. Nothing much of interest there then, you might say. No daring or constant exposure to the horrors of war, except that Ted was a Boy Scout with a secretive and vital war time role that, fortunately, was never required. We are hoping to film Ted’s story over the next few weeks and interviewing him in his care home.

More will be revealed soon.

The Master Plan

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Sep 092009
 

Many people has asked me why I am running this site and what is my goal.

Firstly I want to raise awareness of the Aux Units and keep their brave training alive and in the public eye.

Secondly I want to set up a local visitors centre or museum at Coleshill itself. Ideally this would be situated in the stable block, upstairs in the old WW2 admin offices. This will not happen without considerable funding and help from the National Trust….

Thirdly I want to produce a series for television which focusses ONLY on the Aux Units. As far as I know this has never been done. If this is not an option I will produce a DVD series which can be sold online and in specialist shops.

So there you go…Not to much to ask..

I am still looking for local people to help form a “group” to meet regularly and help me with the plan.

Tom Sykes

Lets Honour Mabel Stranks Correctly…..

 General  No Responses »
Sep 032009
 

As you may or may not know Mabel Stranks, Highworth’s Post Mistress during the war, was responsible for vetting all the men that trained at Coleshill.

A few years ago her family were presented with a plaque (Seen Below) by Highworth Town Council.

As you can see the spelling of Auxiliary is incorrect and I have contacted the Mayor of Highworth and the Council about getting this corrected.

In my view it is a dishonour to Mabel and her family as well as the Aux Unit.

The Mayor has assured me it will be raised at the next town meeting.

If you feel you would also like to write to them on this issue please see info at the bottom of this page http://www.highworthlink.co.uk/htc/index.htm

I will keep you posted.

Tom Sykes

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