Scammell Mechanical Horse at the Avon Valley Railway

The three wheeled Scammell Mechanical Horse

I've always wanted to do a little blog on the three wheeled Scammell Mechanical horse trucks because they are very much part of my little Retro Brit world of memories. When I was very small - going back to about 1964 or 1965; I lived very close to Mile End station, in the old Southern Grove buildings. I remember going down the shops with my mother right by Mile End tube station, and one of the vivid memories I have, is that of these yellow Scammell Mechanical horse trucks, coming along the main road. I can remember old black taxis and these peculiar little trucks. I can see one now, in my minds eye, coming under the railway bridge that goes across the main road before getting to Bow station.

These old Scammells were about in early sixties

I also had loads of toy cars in an old brown suit case and among them was a toy Scammell truck. In my little kid's world, I thought this toy three wheeled truck was marvelous. They are rather ugly looking things and I'm sure they are not as practical as some of the trucks we have today. They are all gone now, except for those owned by collectors.



Toy three wheeled Scammell

The video at the beggining of the blog is from YouTube and it is owned by an enthusiast who has kept it looking well. I think it is even older then some of the Scammells I remember seeing as a kid.

Seve Ballesteros "The Matador"

Today is Saturday morning on the 7th May 2011. I switched the news on and learned of the sad passing away of Seve Ballesteros at the young age of just 54. This man was very unique - a Spanish legend that all enjoyed watching play the great game of golf. People outside of the game were drawn by his great talent too.

Condolences to his family, friends and admirers.

Life On Other Worlds (Article on the search by Scientists.

Click on the link below and read about a scientist's search for life on other plants. There is hope in an area of the cosmos called the Goldilocks region. Find out why.

Are we alone in the Universe?

Death of a Soviet Flying Ace (Casey Jones of Korean War)

The Korean War air campaign became very hectic in 1951 over a section of airspace that was notoriously known as Mig Ally. At first, the American F-86 Sabre jets were achieving good success, but the Soviets sent some of their own aircrews to help the North Korean and the Chinese in their air battles against the Americans and other allies of South Korea.



Mig 15

These new Soviet pilots were more experienced and better trained than their North Korean and Chinese allies. Before their arrival, many of the Mig 15 jets were used on an individual basis by communist pilots with no effective strategy. The Soviets were to be more coordinated in attack and a legend of a flying ace called Casey Jones was born in the Summer of 1951.

In truth, the myth of Casey Jones was not the nickname of a particular individual, but the name was given by American crew to the flight leader and coordinator of the Soviet Mig 15 squadrons. So, whoever commanded the Soviet squadron on a particular day, was called Casey Jones for that individual mission by his respectable enemies.

However, in September of 1951, an American F-86 Sabre pilot got into a duel with a Mig - 15 who was Casey Jones during the mission for that day. The American pilot was called Winton 'Bones' Marshall while the Soviet was called German T.Shatalov.



Starshii Leitenant German T. Shatalov was a pilot of some skill and had claimed 5 kills to his record since the month of June. He was the coordinator of the squadron on this day making him the 'Casey Jones' of the day. He fell behind Winton 'Bones' Marshall's F-86 Sabre jet and let off a burst, but the Sabre managed to turn into a dive. The skilled Soviet followed suit and stayed on the Sabre's tail and let off another burst, but again Winton 'Bones' Marshall twisted and dived for the ground. The Soviet had great skill keeping on the tail of the American as they twisted and turned - the American trying to shake the Soviet off of his tail. For a long time, Winton 'Bones' Marshall had to keep his calm and endure some nerve-racking moments. Then as both jets levelled out at low level a quirk of fate placed the Soviet Mig 15 right ahead of Winton 'Bones' Marshall. He instantly let off a burst of his guns and caught the Soviet Jet. There followed an explosion and the young Soviet Ace was dead.



F-86 Sabre and Mig 15



The death of German T. Shatalov was confirmed by the Soviets afterwards. The American pilot Winton 'Bones' Marshall said that the Soviet jet pilot was a very gifted fighter ace who might have had the better of the duel, but for the quirk of fate as both jets were forced to level out before hitting the ground. The Soviet was unlucky to straighten right in front of the F-86 Sabre's gun sights.

Red Cliff (Chinese Film by John Woo)

This is a panoramic movie that I did not want to end. It is set in the year 208 AD in Ancient China during the Han dynasty. The Emperor Xian is too meek and the formidable Prime Minister named Cao Cao bullies the young ruler into agreeing to an invasion of Southern China.

Cao Cao prepares a colossal imperial navy to sail along the Yangtze River to a place called Red Cliff. Here the retreating forces of  Warlords Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei escape with hordes of refugees into a kingdom in Southern China ruled by another Warlord called Sun Quan. There is an alliance with Sun Quan and a strategist from each allied force jointly decide upon a plan to thwart the ruthless Prime Minister Cao Cao.

Cao Cao's vast navy is anchored on the opposite side of the huge river waiting to attack the fortress at Red Cliff with hundreds of ships and a million soldiers. Only the strategy of Zhuge Lang and Zhou Yu can save the Southern China kingdom and its allies.

The film was directed by John Woo of Mission Impossible 2 and Face Off. There are wonderful characters in this movie and grand battle scenes. The story flows well and is thoroughly enjoyable. It is subtitled, which I prefer to dubbed English.

I thought the film, cast and story was dynamic and is well worth a good night in. The heroine is gorgeous too - I defy any red bloodied bloke not to accidentally fall in love with Zhuge Liang's very pretty wife.

 

 

RIP Henry Cooper (former Brit Boxing Champion passed away age 76.)

As a kid, I remember Henry Cooper. He was our boxing heavy weight in the retro 60s. He was famous for his fight against Cassius Clay (Mohamed Ali) in 1963. Henry lost the fight, but it was memorable because he knocked Clay down during the match when he caught the American world champion a good shot, or punch, or hook - I don't know the right boxing terminology for it. At this time Cassius Clay (Mohamed Ali) was and would remain one of the best boxers the world had seen. 

I was never a big boxing fan, but do remember the larger then life character of Henry Cooper and he was a school boy hero for many Brits in the 1960s. He remained a well known celebrity after his boxing career and was often on talk shows. I also remember 'The Great Smell of Brut' advert and his catch phrase was often comically repeated by us as kids in school. It was, "Yeah, yeah, yeah - splash it all over."

RIP Henry Cooper.

  

India and Pakistan National Border Closing Ceremony.

This ceremony is regarded as one of the most intimidating and aggressive peace time border displays in the world. It has become a tourist attraction as people gather on both sides of the India/Pakistan border to watch the border closing drill. Each nation has its soldiers looking pristine as they lower their national flags and close the border gates.

It is a disciplined drill as Indian and Pakistani soldiers go through their respective drills of lowering the flag and closing the gates. It is almost a competition display as each border guard tries to out do the other with pristine drill movement. 

If watching peacocks buff out their plumage and displaying their wears is your thing, then maybe you'll like this.