I am visiting Dad in Bristol this weekend.This is the view from what used to be my bedroom window, often leant out of smoking crafty fags while I should have been revising for 'A' levels, but I digress. In the distance, on the skyline, is Keynsham, spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M.
Some readers will doubtless by now be scratching their heads in puzzlement and confusion, wondering if the old girl has finally flipped. Baby-boomers amongst you will understand immediately, and if I also mention the name, Horace Batchelor, then all will become crystal clear and you will be lost in a cloud of fond memories of your (misspent?) youth.
PS, no that's not a wreath of smoke in the foreground of the photo.
8 comments:
Wooooooossssh !
The reference was about as crystal clear as the reception I was getting in the mid 60's from Radio Luxembourg.
We weren't allowed a radio at school you see so, as was the custom then, I'd try to listen under the bedclothes at night. That's what I told Sister Mary Francis I was doing anyway !!
Served her right for hogging the quilt.
Anyway it played havoc with the reception so if Mr. Batchelor's name was ever mentioned, I never heard it. Thanks to Google, I'm now an expert on the man. Bring on the black leather chair.
Ian
Who needs L.A. when you could have KEYNSHAM? Extracts from the Keynsham timeline are in reverse...
1997 Keynsham becomes part of the newly formed county of Bath & North East Somerset
1974 Keynsham becomes part of the newly formed Wansdyke District in the new county of Avon.
1972 The Victorian Police Station and Magistrates court are demolished to provide parking spaces for the new Police Station and Courts.
1970 The 'Lamb and Lark' pub is demolished and the Keymarkets supermarket is constucted in its place (now Somerfield).
1968 The great Flood
1964-1966 The Keynsham Bypass is constructed.
"KEYNSHAM - CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE!"
I take it you are not old enough to have listened to Radio Luxembourg then YP?
Ian, sounds like your youth was definitely misspent!
I had no idea who Horace Batchelor is. I asked my other half first who he thought he was. He said wasn't he something to do with a Bonzo Dog Do Dah song. But after Googling we now know so much more.
Jenny I, too, (despite being almost the same age as you) had never heard of Horace and so I also Googled him. So did you make a flutter or two based on his system to win the pools ? That would explain a lot - nobody is as good looking as you without some sort of enhancements !
Hereby begins my period of compliments to you, Godess Jenny !
CB
Ah, but you are not a baby-boomer, Rosie!
No, Craig, I didn't do the pools, just listened to the music. Bet your mum and dad would have understood the reference or perhaps you couldn't get Radio Luxembourg in Wales. ;)
The Bonzo Dog Band did release an album called Keynsham and it did reference Horace Batchelor.
As it says on one of the tracks ("Sport. The Odd Boy) "Let's go back to your childhood..........."
Have to confess ignorance re Bonzo Dog Band, Steve. Wrong decade perhaps?
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