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Last weekend (22-23rd May 2010) there was an event to celebrate forty years of the Severn Valley Railway existence as a heritage line. It was held at the same time as the Members & Shareholder’s event, The weather was great & there was a lovely atmosphere which created a great weekend,

There were many areas normally off-limits which were open to the public . Such as Bewdley Carriage & Works Shed along with Kidderminster shed (with connecting shuttle), loco works and Kidderminster, Bewdley North, Highley and Bridgnorth signal boxes were also open which gave people a unique opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes, and how much work it takes to keep these machines going

In addition, at Bridgnorth Catch-Me-Who-Can was operational too, and there were also two Traction engines pottering away at Bewdley too. The Engine House at Highley was also open, giving people another chance to look at Gordon, Hagley Hall, Midland Compound 1000 plus many other impressive engines. The 82045 Society also had a stall selling merchandise, which was a great opportunity to see how work is progressing on this engine aswell

Recently the Severn Valley Railway held it’s annual Land Rover Day to mark more than six decades of the famous four wheel drive marque, which started production in Solihull in April 1948. The event was held in association with The Land Rover Discovery Owners Club & The Range Rover Register Club.

Approximately seventy examples of the All-Terrain vehicle were parked at stations along the route in chronological order. starting with the some of the earliest Mk1 examples parked at Kidderminster Town Station. Moving on to Bewdley where some fine examples of the MK2 Land Rover (1958-70) were parked. Arley station was host to some Mark3 Vehicles (1971-85). Whilst The Engine House at Highley was host to pre 1984 Leaf-sprung examples of the Marque, with the line’s northern terminus of Bridgnorth hosting examples of the most recent Land Rovers, Discovery’s, Freelander’s & Range Rovers

It has been 20 years since the Hubble Telescope was launched, and after some initial glitches with one of the mirrors, It has captured some absolutely stunning images of the Cosmos, here are some of the awesome images it has captured, which I thought I’d share with you on this special occasion.

April 23rd 2010 is Saint George’s Day. St George lived around the time (ca. 275/281 – 23 April 303) and was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier and priest in the Guard of Diocletion, who is venerated as a Christian Martyr.

He is also immortalized in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon a legend probably brought back with the Crusaders. Which features a dragon which makes its nest at the spring that provides water for the city of “Silene” (perhaps modern Cyrene) in Libya or the city of Lydda.

Consequently, the citizens of Silene have to dislodge the dragon from its nest for a time, in order to collect water. To do so, each day they offer the dragon at first a sheep, and if no sheep can be found, then a maiden must go instead of the sheep. The victim is chosen by drawing lots. One day, this happens to be the princess. The monarch begs for her life to be spared, but to no avail. She is offered to the dragon, but St George appears on his travels. He faces the dragon, slays the dragon, and rescues the princess.

St George is also one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. and is regarded as one of the most prominent Military Saints

April 22nd 2010 is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day

I watched a cavalcade of classic old tractors setting off for Severn Park around lunch Time on Sunday

Around 75 classic vintage tractors are expected for the Bridgnorth Vintage Machinery Club’s twelfth Annual Tractor Run on Sunday 21st March. And I’d like to go and see it if possible.

The Tractors are planning to line up in Severn Park in the morning, set off on a tour around the surrounding countryside before arriving in Bridgnorth High Street around lunchtime, where they will remain stationary for a short while before returning to Severn Park in the Afternoon – Sounds like fun

More details here http://www.bvmc.org.uk/

Saint Patrick (c. 387 – 17 March, 493 was a Romanized-Celt and Christian missionary, who is the patron saint of Ireland

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Heavens Fall DVD Mail on Sunday

A DVD of the film Heaven’s Fall is with the Mail on Sunday this weekend. Starring Anthony Mckie, it is a powerful story set in 1933 which follows the difficulties of a New York Attorney named Sam Leibowitz (Timothy Hutton) who finds himself in the Deep South defending nine young black men charged with rape.

What first starts out as a Taut courtroom drama eventually sets in motion a legal battle which ultimately changes the course of American Justice forever