I meant to write this post two or three weeks ago but I forgot all about it. You have two days only (tonight and tomorrow) to catch up on Channel 4 [the UK only] with a programme that ‘stars’ my family’s railway carriage and the writer of this blog!
Episode 2 shows the incredible work done by talented volunteers on restoring our Oldbury carriage which dates from 1864. It is part of a series called Great Rail Restorations with Peter Snow. Channel 4 bankrolled the series enabling four carriages around the country to be restored to their former glory. I am interviewed first by Henry Cole and then by Peter Snow.
I don’t think it will spoil the watching of it if I give you a little of the backstory, most of which is not included in the programme.
After the Second World War and with my maternal grandfather having been killed in 1940, my grandmother bought a house in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight which had a large garden and an overgrown orchard. At the bottom of this orchard was a dilapidated railway carriage. She later sold the house and garden leaving the path that led to the orchard and carriage. In the 1960s and early ’70s, this shabby beauty became the setting for all our childhood holidays. It was glorious. It felt and still does when I look back on those years like we were part of an exciting Enid Blyton adventure, not that I was ever very fond of Blyton. I was more of a ‘Chalet’ girl myself!
My brother and I were both grown and my grandmother in her grave when my parents decided in the mid-1980s to donate the carriage to the organisation that is now The Isle of Wight Steam Railway and replace it with a Scandinavian log house. The land and log house were sold by my brother in 2001; it saddens me greatly that this part of my history is no longer in the family.
It is my love of the Isle of Wight and the memories of those times that have brought me down here to live.
Take care and keep laughing!
What an fascinating way to be part of such amazing history – lucky you – I so wish I was in the UK so I could see it!
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I was amazed when the Society contacted me late Spring last year! Lovely to hear from you. I must visit you. I accidentally deleted a whole load of blogs so that while I have reduced my visits and comments as I’d wanted to, I have to visit every now and then or I get withdrawal symptoms. The problem was that I couldn’t remember the name of your blog so thank you for commenting.
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It’s all good Sarah, thought it was only me who did things like that.😁 Things are a little quiet over at CFMP though. For once I’ve given myself “permission” to take the summer off from blogging. Hope you’re doing well! xx
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Good thinking – enjoy!
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I’ve downloaded it Sarah and will watch it tomorrow. So exciting 🙂
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I hope you enjoy it, Mary!
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What a fascinating programme Sarah an what an absolute delight to meet you.I’m so glad the carriage could be saved and restored as it was.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Bless you, David. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it! Huge hugs
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I so wish I could see this video in the US! What a story…
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I wish you could too!
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Me, too!
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I have seen a couple of these in passing, but not the one with you. I will check it out on i-player later.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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The one with me is the best. But then I’m biased!
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Can’t find it on i-player since 10 am today. But I will make sure to catch any repeat. 🙂 x
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It might be something your end as it’s still there when I visit the link.
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It’s Channel 4, not iPlayer – my fault for mentioning the latter. Click the links in this post.
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Silly me! I was on the BBC site.
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My problem is that I tend to use iPlayer as a catch-all term but it doesn’t help when I include it on a post in which I’m writing about Channel 4. 😀
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Watching now! x
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Had to put post on in full as WP decided to screw up the iPad app after update and delete the reblog button link here: https://acefriendsnews.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/first-night-design-great-rail-restorations-with-peter-snow-2-days-left-first-night-design/
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Watched the whole thing, and really liked it. You were the best bit of course, and you looked so well, and happy too. 🙂 Your house is lovely, and it was a treat to see you riding along in your former holiday home!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Thank you, Pete!
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How thrilling, Sarah! Maybe the show will turn up in Canada on Netflix or something; in the meantime I’ll be on the lookout.
P.S. It would be thrilling to be interviewed, but I can see how a person would be sad due to the lost piece of family history…
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It might do – you never know!
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Thanks for sharing this. Childhood memories — such a treasure-trove, and it’s so hard when the places we loved have changed so much. Good thing your parents donated the carriage.
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Thank you, Cynthia! Hope you’re well.
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Awesome
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I found it so!
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