Sitting on the step ...

From Jill Hummerstone and Les Capon's collection: Dr Phillpotts and Adrian Corrigan sit upon the step of the mess hall at Ullenwood watching the world go by: the diggers are probably trotting to and fro to the dormitories and the ablutions block.

O di Immortales ...

Les Capon implores the Gods to grant him a wish during the 1988 season ...

Apologies for sporadic posting the last few days - C-H-M has been cooking fairly enthusiastically at the same time as trying finally to shake off a winter bug that has lingered for about 6 weeks. Culinary term resumes on Monday ...

Advice on snails

From Jill Hummerstone & Les Capon's collection: Terry Courtney introduces two young volunteers to Bob Alvey during the 1987 season. "This is the chap to ask if you have a problem with snails ..."

Alone they did it ...

On the left, David Whittaker and, on the right, Keith Wilkinson pausing to display the fruits of their labours in this Jill Hummerstone photo from 1987 of which she writes " ... last days on site in 1987: on our own we re-built the Long Mound". That must have been a fair job, at that. Beautifully raked, too by the look of things.

Doppelganger of the Month - December

--- Les Capon --- --- Jimmy Page ---

C-H-M wonders whether his readers have clocked the remarkable resemblance between Les Capon and Jimmy Page of 'Led Zeppelin' fame? Are they in fact related? I think we should be told.

Sitting on the step

Nattering away together on the doorstep of the mess hall, Dr John Howell and John Parry. Looking directly at Anna Collinge taking the picture in 1977 is Ken Fussell, who, with Dave cooked for us all that year.

Thinking of cooking, I promised a vegetarian recipe to Les Capon a week or two ago and have been remiss in not getting round to it. So here's a simple delicious Moroccan tomato salad from Madhur Jaffrey's 'World Vegetarian'.

2 tbs or 30 ml lemon juice

1/2 to 1 tsp harissa (Moroccan chili/garlic paste) (The tinned Le Phare du Cap Bon brand is excellent if you don't want to make your own)

225 g 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved across the middle

2 tbs finely chopped onion

1 tbs finely chopped fresh coriander or parsley if you do not see the point of coriander

1/2 tsp ground roasted cumin

1/2 tsp salt

In a small bowl stir together the harissa and the lemon juice

In another bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Add the lemon juice mixture and mix well. Let sit for 30 mins to let the flavours marry. Will keep in fridge for 24 hours but cover with cling film.

The addition of bean and pea sprouts works well with this, but it is delicious as it stands.

Ancient wrecks, Noaksie & and a miscarriage of justice

The old hangar at Ullenwood always held the promise of fascinating contents: as can be seen in this Mike Sims 2004 shot there were all sorts of oddities inside including ancient rotting motor vehicles.

Updates from readers: Corky Gregory says: "I will make a stab at a guess as to what Noaksie is doing in the photo Nov 4 that also appeared July 2. I would guess Maori warrior stance but Noaksie leaned more toward Australia rather than New Zealand so aboriginal stance?? Still looks like Maori warrior to me but no idea what he is holding other than it looks like white PVC piping with decorative ends." Ah, good idea but not quite on the mark I'm afraid, Corky. All will be revealed in due course.

C-H-M has inadvertently perpetrated a miscarriage of justice and owes Les Capon an apology and a beer or two for the damage to his reputation caused by the publication last Sunday of one of Jill Hummerstone's photos.

Les writes: "That picture of a sleeping in person is not me. Jill took the picture, but I have to say I never slept in, lazed or was late ever at Crickley, and such a suggestion is absurd. Please change the caption. [Done! Ed.] Jill thought it may be someone called Mark...

I do recall Jo Sturgess (Notts Uni 1990s) trying to encourage a Spaniard to get up, only to discover him being inappropriate with himself. And there was another time when a banana skin appeared in our tent on the same day another Spaniard skived. Then there was the Frenchman Serge who was pulled up by the police for breaking the speed limit on Leckhampton Hill on roller skates. (note from Jill: this all sounds a bit anti-European) (response from Les - if Jill hadn't jumped on me, I'd have chatted up a Spaniard) (Jill: Whatever, in your dreams.)

Hope your foodie course is going well. Any vegetarian tips?"

My apologies to Les for traducing him and I'll find a yummy vegetarian recipe for next week's catering tip of the week!

An unknown digger slept on ...

C-H-M is grateful to Jill Hummerstone for this picture of Les Capon (STOP PRESS: it's not Les - it might be someone called Mark!) about which she wrote: "Bad boy - wouldn't get up for site, so we did something horrid to him - don't know what ..." The sight of a recumbent form under the grey blankets that were a little bit scratchy brings back memories of odd days when it was hard to extract oneself from one's pit. It was, of course, never alcohol-related ...

C-H-M apologises for missing a post or two in the last day or so - I have been slaving over a hot stove which has rather kept me out of trouble.

Soil sampling at Ullenwood

Les Capon took this picture of the team working on the soil samples amidst the tents in 1984. Until I saw this I'd forgotten that there were occasions where the soil sampling, under Frank Green supervision, transferred its sphere of operation to Ullenwood, presumably on the basis that it was somewhat simpler to bring the dirt to the water than the other way round on the top of the hill. Might that be Sue Lee Jeffs in the orange? Not sure. Messrs Dixon and Courtney's holiday homes in the background.

Throwing a few shapes ...

From the Hummerstone collection: Les Capon, sporting an utterly splendid pair of yellow trousers, throws some shapes at a 1990 Ullenwood Wednesday night party. Love the scarf.

Aerial surveillance of the workers ...

Les Capon scrutinises from on high during the 1991 season: from examination at higher magnification, detecting hair and glasses, I think Alan Ford may be next to him on the platform. This photographic tower had the additional sophistication of additional poles to buttress the four corners: the former model was a 'straight-up-and-down' tower that would shift about entertainingly in a decent breeze.

Were you a model for this scene?

Jill Hummerstone and Les Capon included this postcard amongst their photo collection: the caption on the back reads: "Neolithic Village c. 2500 BC after Crickley Hill". Cattle, sheep, corn grinding, spears and axes feature. The smoke filtering through the thatch is a nice touch. No sign of JP anywhere ...

Give us a sign ...

A close-up from a photo by Penny Hart of Jill Hummerstone and Les Capon's splendid sign.

It was over there ... or was it over there? No, I'm sure it was over there ... I think ...

Crickley Hill Man had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time to capture this rather lovely sequence as Ros Cleal and Marion Barter piece together what happened where during the picnic on 4 July 2009. Were they started on their train of thought by Iain Ferris in the top picture? Iain points Julie-Ann Morrison south east. Marion goes for north east: Ros nearly joins her at north north east and then they both agree and head south east.

Also in shot, Jill Hummerstone, John Parry, Les Capon, Chris Phillpotts, John Boden, Kate and Tony Dumycz and Joanne Milroy.

A very happy pitch invasion ...

28 former Crickley diggers, partners and family sat down for dinner at the Royal George on Friday 3 July 2009, the night before the reunion picnic. Quite a few people were staying elsewhere, mostly at the Golden Heart, and came a bit later for drinks and Philip Dixon's talk. One of the great moments was the eruption, amid much cheering, into the dining room, part way through dinner, of a phalanx led by Les Capon and Jill Hummerstone, bearing this splendid RAC road sign, lovingly preserved from years gone by. L to R, C-H-M's jacket, Jill Hummerstone, Arwel Barrett, Les Capon, Terry Courtney, Richard Ozanne and Alan Ford. The scene was captured by Lydia Savage.

As will be seen on the blog in due course, Jill and Les also brought the sign to the picnic itself. Many covetous glances were cast in its direction and compliments were paid to the evident high quality of its manufacture. One attendee, who shall remain nameless, even mused to Crickley Hill Man about the dastardly possibility of finishing off Jill and Les and absconding with the sign as a trophy. The drink was beginning to talk, I fear, but I am delighted to report that the picnic did not turn into a crime scene and Jill and Les survived unharmed.

During the 2009 site tour after the picnic

During the picnic PWD took us on a site tour. This Dumycz shot captures just over 40 of the 60-plus who attended, grouped on the National Trust side of the hill. Apologies if I miss anyone in the following list: Jane Dineen, Ros Cleal, Marion Barter, Paul Noakes, Philip Dixon, Terry Courtney, Andrew Powell, Anna Behan, Chris Phillpotts, Nick Snashall, Bernie Dawson, Corky Gregory, Les Capon, Malcolm White, Alan Ford, Richard Ozanne, Rebecca Chambers, Jill Hummerstone, Emma Turner, Dave Foster, Penny Hart, Steve and Joanne Vaughan, John Parry, Julie-Ann Morrison, Penny Hart, Kate Dumycz, Lydia Savage, John Boden, Iain Ferris, Richard and Becky Sanderson, Lucy Loveridge, Dave Butler, Miriam Vallely and Mike Sims. Phew - who did I miss? PWD finished the site tour with a call "Back to drinking!"

Lunch in 1993

Manda Jones sends this to "prove we had lunch in 1993: L to R: Paul Noakes, Terry Courtney, ?Rowena Dutton? , Jill Hummerstone, Sheep, Manda Jones, Les Capon, ?" 

How many diggers can you squeeze into one cutting?

Both Jim Irvine and Dr Phillpotts are agreed that this shot Jim sent is of a packed cutting in1990. Dr P thinks the trousers on the left belong to Sally. Then Jim himself, Les Capon on the cutting edge and Paul Noakes hurdling some almost invisible obstacle. Others unknown. Update from Malc White: "Paul appears to be stepping daintily over a high trip wire. The fetching lass in shorts and wearing a yellow T shirt is Denise and the handsome chap on the bank with his back towards the camera and fondling a bucket is me."

Why haven't you got your arms crossed, Noakesy?

Manda Jones & Nick Snashall have been having a hunt in the cupboard and come up with this gem, probably from 1993: L to R: ?, Phil, Les, Sheep and Noakesy. Obviously Paul didn't hear the photographer's instruction which was plainly "Arms crossed, please, gentlemen!"

Er ... yes ...

I did not know until Jim Irvine sent me this that The Skeleton, a well-known Ullenwood figure, had competition in the form of The Dummy: it is unclear to me whether during the 1990 season, to which Dr Phillpotts assures me that this photograph belongs, there was a shortage either of food or sexual partners.  Perhaps Les Capon can recall into which category his interest in TheDummy, which he appears to be either embracing or eating, fell?