Stan Hirst

Suzanne took us on a journey depicting the history of leisure throughout the ages. In 1760  there were very few methods of transport for the public apart from stage coaches.  The coach from Sheffield to London would take three days ! People worked 6 days a week only having Sunday off which meant church for … Read more

My wife and I once had a trip in a hot air balloon.  It was an enjoyable experience floating around in the “ether” but our direction was entirely at the mercy of the prevailing wind. Airships were a step forward from this mode of travel and were the number one height of luxury travel in … Read more

I had a good idea once.  I thought of a “spring-like trellis device” that would keep a refuse sack open wide enough to put garden rubbish in it. I found out later on looking on the web that other similar things had been invented After listening to today’s talk – glad that I didn’t start … Read more

Noel gave us a definition of pilgrimages which comprised a journey to a shrine for penance and by doing so penitents had an assured fast track to heaven. The Crusaders, who were at that time in the South of France, saw the sign of a scallop shell pointing to North West.  The scallop shell is … Read more

Many of us would walk three to ten miles and think that we had done well, but how about 215,000 miles in forty years of walking! John started life having a disruptive childhood.  Born in London, he came to Sheffield and attended Westbourne School when he was six and a half.  He was not the … Read more

Hugh said that the digital age started at Bletchley Park. Many of the machines were operated by WRENS where the work force was three women to one man.  Sixty per cent were uniformed personnel and forty per cent were civilians.  Rank/status within the uniformed ranks didn’t matter, so if any army private was intelligent and … Read more