A  story to liven up what is, here in Yorkshire anyway, a miserable afternoon.

In the 60's and 70's I was a keen and moderately successful racing cyclist, riding mostly time trials in and around the south of the country. My favourite events were those based on the old A4 [the Bath Road] which used to finish by turning off the A road up the lane leading to Pangbourne village. The finishing line was about two miles from the main road and parking facilities were provided in an adjacent field where a character called Ron Mellett used to sell tea and food to shattered cyclists. Over the years the place became almost hallowed ground in cycling circles particularly as record times were regularly posted in events based on the course. I'd decided to have my ashes scattered in "Ron Mellets Field" even though, after moving to God's Own County in the 1970's, I'd raced only occasionally and rarely returned to the south.
On a business trip to Berkshire in the 1990's I decide to drive north via "The Lane" to check my proposed final resting place. I turned off the old A4 and the memories flooded back and I was once again riding the final two miles of a 100 mile event, desperately trying to urge tired legs into one last effort. The bubble of nostalgia was rudely burst when I realised that the sacred turf was no longer and my dying wish would only be realised by a highly dangerous, and definitely illegal, foray onto the central reservation of the M4!

They say you should never go back. I went to see the house I was born in, only to end up on a Morrison's car park.

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 05:24:59 PM
A  story to liven up what is, here in Yorkshire anyway, a miserable afternoon.

In the 60's and 70's I was a keen and moderately successful racing cyclist, riding mostly time trials in and around the south of the country. My favourite events were those based on the old A4 [the Bath Road] which used to finish by turning off the A road up the lane leading to Pangbourne village. The finishing line was about two miles from the main road and parking facilities were provided in an adjacent field where a character called Ron Mellett used to sell tea and food to shattered cyclists. Over the years the place became almost hallowed ground in cycling circles particularly as record times were regularly posted in events based on the course.

Ah yes, and in those days you would probably felt me swearing and cursing at your backs as I/we tried to get though that part of the A4 and the lane to Pangbourne to visit relatives

Being an avid attender at local auction houses, there are often either layouts for sale, or boxes of trains, buildings and other oddments like trees, (from dismantled layouts, perhaps). I imagine these have been disposed of by grieving relatives. Strangely, these have always been either OO or O, never seen any N!

Goodness knows what will happen to my layout as no one else in the family is interested in railways. The only stipulation in my will is that all rolling stock be sold off and the proceeds given to Help 4 Heroes

Quote from: jonclox on January 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 05:24:59 PM

Ah yes, and in those days you would probably felt me swearing and cursing at your backs as I/we tried to get though that part of the A4 and the lane to Pangbourne to visit relatives

Almost certainly not, Jonclox. The races I did were time trials where the riders start at one minute intervals and ride unpaced. At worst you might have had to get past two cyclists, one having caught the other.

I've decided I'm going to be buried at sea 

my wife says she can't wait to dance on my grave 

seriously, the railway's sorted, my 5yr old grandson is mad on it 

I'm keeping all the boxes and paperwork (+ an xls) of locos, rolling stock and decent RTP buildings so Other Half know what things are and can sell.

Doubt if anything on a permanent layout would be worth anything so may go on here!

Not that I'm planning on leaving just yet! 

Dave G

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 09:29:35 PM

Quote from: jonclox on January 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 05:24:59 PM

Ah yes, and in those days you would probably felt me swearing and cursing at your backs as I/we tried to get though that part of the A4 and the lane to Pangbourne to visit relatives

Almost certainly not, Jonclox. The races I did were time trials where the riders start at one minute intervals and ride unpaced. At worst you might have had to get past two cyclists, one having caught the other.

My apologies then.
I do remember the road being blocked with what seemed like hundreds of cyclists either waiting to start, just finished or even just milling around many weekends tho

Just think what will happen to your layout when you die. Someone will come along and promise your widow to cherish it like you did - then get it home and pick out the points - and take the rest up the tip. Kind of like Beeching now I come to think of it.

  When I die I would hope that my 3year old grandson will be old enough to appreciate my layout as he is train mad but I` m afraid he might not be old enough by then :'(

Quote from: jonclox on February 01, 2014, 09:54:08 AM
When I die I would hope that my 3year old grandson will be old enough to appreciate my layout as he is train mad but I` m afraid he might not be old enough by then :'(

You hang in there Jon, no sense in leaving early.

My good lady lost her ex 14 years ago in a car crash, the same year she lost her father too. 4 years ago her eldest daughter passed away aged only 24. So she likes to have things organised for unforeseen events.

We are starting to get some things sorted, like getting married this year, and sorting wills out. She asked me last week what I'd want to happen to my models if anything were to happen to me. Kind of took me by surprise really, I'm only 42...

My kids aren't interested in railways, I just hope my 9wk old grandson gets into trains, coz I'd hate to think of all my hard earned models ending up in a charity shop or something. Not that I have anything against charity shops, I support the hospice that looked after Kelly in her last few months, it just seems such a shame when you spend your life building something up for it all to be of no interest to your loved ones.

Still, gives us years of enjoyment, and that's what matters...

Cheers, Timmo

To know what will happen to your locos and rolling stock when you die you only have to look at the faces of people on Antiques Roadshow when they are told how much grannies heirloom handed down through five generations is worth - how quick can I convert it into the price of a boozed out of my mind holiday in Loret de Mar!!

Quote from: jonclox on February 01, 2014, 09:49:29 AM

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 09:29:35 PM

Quote from: jonclox on January 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM

Quote from: cycletrak9 on January 31, 2014, 05:24:59 PM

[

My apologies then.
I do remember the road being blocked with what seemed like hundreds of cyclists either waiting to start, just finished or even just milling around many weekends tho

My turn to apologise Jonclox -I'd thought you were talking about bunches on the open road. Yes, there certainly would have been large crowds around the finish, particularly for such events as the "Bath Road 100". This emphasises the popularity of the course and the reverence in which it was held and underlines my reasons for choosing it as my final resting place.