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Messages - Dragoman

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 ... 13
1
London and Middlesex / Follow the Old Paloney Man
« on: Thursday 21 March 24 16:40 GMT (UK)  »
Hello, I am trying to remember some of the Christmas party games we used to play as children back in Wandsworth in the 1950's. My Dad used to come up with one he called "Follow the Old Paloney Man", although I'm not sure how to spell "Paloney". It consisted of the family sitting in a circle having each chosen an imaginary instrument to play. My Dad would sit in the middle of us and as we all sang "Follow the Old Paloney Man", he would pretend to play one of the instruments we'd chosen. You had to watch him closely and if the instrument was the one you had chosen, you had to immediately play it too. Otherwise you would have to carry out a forfeit. I know that there are variations of this kind of game, but nobody seems to recognise this one. Also, who or what was a Paloney Man?

2
Armed Forces / Re: The Burning Horse Ceremony
« on: Wednesday 20 March 24 22:30 GMT (UK)  »

3
Armed Forces / The Burning Horse Ceremony
« on: Wednesday 20 March 24 15:05 GMT (UK)  »
The topic I'm posting relates to a 19th century clipper ship named The Westland which used to sail from England to New Zealand and back. Because the sailors were on board a week before the passengers or cargo, it was the practice for them to receive a month's salary in advance. So, the end of the first month of the journey was a time of great rejoicing for them because, up to that point, they had been "working for a dead horse" but now their wages would begin to accumulate. The ceremony they undertook involved making a sham horse, stuffing it with straw, tar, pitch and other inflammable materials. The sailors then painted their faces black, wore ridiculous masks and hats and paraded the horse around the deck while singing and playing flutes, tin whistles etc, A mock auction followed and the horse was sold to the highest bidder. It was then hoisted up to the yardarm with its rider who set fire to it, letting it drop into the sea. The rider was then lowered safely. The ceremony ends with the crew assembling at the captain's cabin and being served with alcohol. I have never heard of this ceremony before and I would to know more about it and whether it occurred on other vessels besides a clipper ship.

4
London and Middlesex / Re: The Reverend Frank Gould
« on: Tuesday 30 January 24 16:06 GMT (UK)  »
Additional - the references to "Warm" = Warminster which was St Boniface, which acted as a postgraduate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Boniface_College,_Warminster

https://www.stbonifacetrust.org.uk/warminster/college-photos.htm
 - there is a picture of him here from 1951.
Many thanks for all your help. Much appreciated!  Mike

5
London and Middlesex / Re: The Reverend Frank Gould
« on: Tuesday 23 January 24 17:16 GMT (UK)  »
Per newspaper mentions, he moved to Earlsfield as vicar of St John's in June 1957. Previously curate at Holy Trinity, Roehampton.

By 1968 he was vicar of St Andrew's, Catford.
Many thanks, Shaun. Could you let me have the name of the newspaper you consulted, please?

6
London and Middlesex / The Reverend Frank Gould
« on: Tuesday 23 January 24 16:37 GMT (UK)  »
I am trying to learn more about the Reverend Frank Gould who was a vicar at the church of St. John the Divine, Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, Wandsworth in the early to mid 1950's. By 1957 I believe he may have moved to a diocese in Lewisham, south west London and he was instrumental in giving comfort to some of the victims of the Lewisham train disaster which occurred in December of that year. I'd be very grateful if anybody can provide any information about him. Many thanks.

7
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Richard Cadman Etches
« on: Tuesday 10 October 23 19:15 BST (UK)  »
There's a lengthy item in Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal, 13 Jun 1930 about Richard Cadman Etches which refers to "a project for destroying the harbour of Boulogne" - an interesting character!.
He certainly was! In fact, I've written a book about him called Hero in the Footnotes.

8
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Richard Cadman Etches
« on: Tuesday 10 October 23 19:10 BST (UK)  »
There's a lengthy item in Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal, 13 Jun 1930 about Richard Cadman Etches which refers to "a project for destroying the harbour of Boulogne" - an interesting character!.
He certainly was! In fact I've written a book about him called Hero in the Footnotes.

9
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Richard Cadman Etches
« on: Tuesday 10 October 23 10:25 BST (UK)  »
I agree with arthurk

attempted to close
Bologne Harbour
by sinking 2 ___
to ___ Napoleon

The first missing word could be ships, although I'm not entirely convinced it says so.
What's written before Napoleon eludes me.
Yes, I think that this is the most likely version. Perhaps it reads "he attempted to close Boulogne Harbour by sinking two ships to thwart Napoleon", the two ships being the fireships referred to in an earlier post. I'm happy with this interpretation. Thanks everyone for all your help.

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