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Thomas the Tank Legend by Crispin Thomas

I was inspired by reading about Rev Awdry and the first two books in the Railway Series.  How he eventually wrote the stories after telling them to Christopher, especially when he had measles etc; Thomas really first appears in the second book.  Thomas to me, was/still is a great metaphor for how we have to bide our time for our chance to get in the team, get on the road/train/plane etc. To break free  and be what we long and want to be in  an Incredible String Band Gandhi  type way   It’s written to the rhythm of the train in ‘From A Railway Carriage’ by R.L Stevenson (1885) which my grandmother used to read to me and which follows the poem; I’m sure you know it well). Crispin   Thomas The Tank Legend   Thomas the legend where do we start ? drove...

Overton’s Window Again

Overton’s Window Trade Unions and Chartism and Trade Unions and a People’s Assembly   The concept of Overton’s Window Connotes some sort of casement on fashion: A window of acceptability And unquestioned validity: A sort of Zeitgeist vista on the Zeitgeist. And...

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A People’s History Chapter 7

A MISCELLANY OF HISTORY A TEXTUAL WEAVING OF A CABINET OF CURIOSITIES A TEXTUAL SAMPLER Chapter Seven The 1825 Riots   These are my memories of what I saw and did, together with others in the Stroudwater Valleys in 1825. I know I am supposed to show remorse but I...

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Rev Awdry 80th Anniversary

Rev W. Awdry 1911-97 (Jottings made from a reading of The Thomas the Tank Engine Man Brian Sibley The Story of the Reverend W. Awdry and his Really Useful Engines 1995) In the Beginning was the Word, But there was also a tunnel at Box, Where a young child christened...

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Ringo and the Rev in Rodborough

Ringo and the Rev   Song to be sung roughly to the tune of Octopus’ Garden   It’s strange but true In Rodborough Avenue A big car arrived with Ringo Starr (Big car arrived with Ringo Starr), Church tower and steeple Gazed upon the Beatle As he had a drag...

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The Style of the Rev Awdry Books

What is about the Style of the Awdry Books?   Here is Brian Sibley in his biography The Thomas the Tank Engine Man: ‘So what is the reason for the success of these books? Is it their text: sharp and tightly written with sly little jokes and rhythmic sounds but,...

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Sir Topham Hatt (aka The Fat Controller)

Sir Topham Hatt (aka The Fat Controller) Apparently, Master T. Hatt started his railway career in 1894 at the GWR Works in Swindon as an apprentice. I imagine he was quite slim then. I also imagine that his father probably worked ‘inside’ in the factory and that...

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