Lots of visitors

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Just to say hello and thanks to all the visitors over the last week or so – I put Google Analytics on the site and I’ve noticed that visitors have gone from single-digits per day to 30 or 40, sometimes 50, then 70, and 150 on Sunday!

There are several reasons – images appeared in the latest copy of Practical Classics magazine and TR Register (Triumph owners), The Brother posted a link on a site he frequents and there have been a decent number from the Miss Peelpants blog (a lady who runs a vintage clothing store).
But a huge number of hits have come from Facebook. Unfortunately I can’t tell who has posted on there, but whoever it is has been responsible for nearly 25% of all visits. If it’s you, I’d love to know what you’ve posted and what comments you’ve got.

New scanning is on hold for a bit while I’m busy with work, but I have got some 1974 pics to post when I get round to it.

Cheers

Simon

Bentley website

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A new website has just gone live, featuring the John Lennon Bentley that my dad photographed on King’s Road in the late 1960s (see previous post). Rather than just focus on the car, the site also looks into the Swinging 60′s scene, and rather wonderfully it features a few of my dad’s photos. Take a look at http://beatlesbentley.com/, and my dad’s pics are in “The Place” and “The Time” sections, including the B&W shots of the car.

Thanks to Tanner and Marshall at the Slaughter Group in Birmingham, Alabama for finding the photos on Google and getting in touch.

Northampton

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A selection of pics from Northampton in 1973

One of the stalls on the Market Square

Traffic chaos at the old Banbury Lane level crossing – now replaced by a bridge. We used to go out there and watch the trains fairly often. For many years I thought there were no trains on Sundays because that’s what my parents told me – presumably so I wouldn’t bug them to go out there on Sundays as well…

Not the sort of thing you stumble across in a field too often…

Some from the Borough Show in Abington Park.

The building work in the Town Centre continues, with the public still not suspecting how awful it’s going to be.

A summer evening at the pub – the Britannia on the Bedford Road.

One from the front garden at home, showing the cherry(?) tree in blossom – it just *look* 1970s doesn’t it?

And one final one – dear god what the hell are those trousers??? Putting a 5-year old boy in those nowadays would probably constitute child abuse. Especially with red sandals. Home-knit jumper by the looks of it.

Boulogne

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It seems like we didn’t spend much time at home that summer – trips up north, London and also a few days in Boulogne. The first trip abroad for me and The Brother.

I just love the one of the grandmother paddling – probably a Sunday? I also like the shot of the beach with what looks like a steelworks in the background!

London, August 1973

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We obviously spent a few days with my dad’s sister in London.
These three are from the Imperial War Museum

This one is a Barbara Hepworth piece called Two Forms (Divided Circle) – it was stolen from Dulwich Park in December last year, presumed to have been sold for scrap value.

Summer 1973

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Pics from our summer holiday in 1973 – a trip up north, which will have been to stay with my father’s parents near Hull. We went a bit further north, as well.

The Transporter Bridge in Middlesborough – to be honest, until I saw this I never knew I’d been there.

A couple for any Dr Who fans out there – an exhibition in Stockton-on-Tees. Not sure whether they supplied a sofa to hide behind.

One of me and the Brother with our father – no idea where we are!

A great piece of 1970s fashion sir!

Skidby Mill near hull – I remember going there several times – pretty sure it was a functioning mill. Ah yes, a quick google and here it is.

These last two show a fairly uninspiring set of workings and a bloody great hole in the ground. This building site became the Humber Bridge – there are some more pics to come from 1974, but I’ve never seen the bridge complete.

“The Bittern” at Cottingham Station.

Silverstone

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It would seem that by 1973 we were deemed old enough to go to Silverstone for the first time – this is a VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) event.

King’s Road 1973

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Here are the now-traditional shots from King’s Road, from visits in June and July. Some fantastic 1970s fashions, and not just from the ladies!

Beckets Park

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Starting off 1973, pretty much all of which is from the summer.
These two sets are both from Beckets Park in Northampton.

First up, the raft race in May ’73 – was it organised by the Rotary Club? Seems to ring a bell. Anyway, first up are the Friends of the Earth – presumably thought of as a bunch of hippies back then, before they became so much more mainstream. The second pic appears to include the Mayor, in a suit, complete with chain, sat on a raft. The third one is the Nene Valley Mountain Rescue crew – presumably not a particularly busy organisation, given the lack of hillage in the area. I’m impressed by the last one – they seem to have built quite a good double scull!

The second batch are from a boat rally in August. I do like the barge that’s been converted into a replica battleship, and look at the size of the crowd!