Leckhampton, Crickley & Emma's Grove

Dr Ferris & Robert Roberts hold a secessionist picnic. "The only true picnic," said Robert, before throwing a shape.

Alan Ford writes:

"Having lately returned to the dwell in the Five Valleys of my youth I am now within a jar of limestone polishes throw from the hill.  As such it has come to my notice through a work colleague and fervent member of the Ermin St Guard that he and his father will be responsible for the setting of a beacon on that hallowed ground in celebration of the Jubilee. I'm not sure exactly where on the hill the beacon will be lit, but my money is on the end of the Long Mound. 

Weather and young lordling permitting I shall attend to watch the good loyal burghers of the district throw a few of the more radicalised local whigs on the fire in honour of our good Queen Bess 

In so doing I will also indulge myself in a bit of experimental archaeology as pretty much every beacon and hillfort on the scarp will have its own conflagration; and i'll warrant a goodly many more locations within that broad vista too. I shall see if I can make out how many and where.  

About the hour of ten and fifteen in the evening on Monday is, I am told, likely to be the time of the  incendiary event for those of you who may also want to enjoy the view."

Splendid.

Good afternoon ...

Well, good afternoon all. My apologies for the long interval on the blog. I rather ran out of steam after 18 months of continuous posting. The resumption of the blog features this rather strange picture from Alan Ford from the 1991 season: as he says "Kate Wescomb appears to be blowing up an inflatable Richard Ozanne." Alan must have waited hours in his hide on top of the photographic tower to capture the moment to perfection.

I have emailed everyone on the mailing list today with the revised date for the reunion this year: the picnic will be Saturday 24th July. My apologies for having to change the date at relatively short notice: the clash with the Fairford Airshow meant that those of us coming from afar were unable to find accommodation in the Crickley vicinity on the previous weekend.

Ahem ...

Alan Ford gave this 1991 picture from the Knell/Ford Ermine Street Guard debut in Martigny in Switzerland the caption "What was I thinking?" about which, I suspect, we may not wish to have too much clarity ...

Getting it straight

Feeling a little jaded? Alan Ford, in 1991, shows how he straightened himself out: a couple of scaffold poles down the trouser legs does the trick. The spoil heap was to hand for a soft landing and Julie looks on in the background.