Hobbies

[Donbogen]

My fireplace in one of my 2 Mancaves oh yea plus my workshop just put a few few things out as we have recently just moved in
iv much more to unpack yet

 

[Richard Dye]

My fireplace in one of my 2 Mancaves oh yea plus my workshop just put a few few things out as we have recently just moved in
iv much more to unpack yet

Very very nice! Is that wood or coal burning?

 

[Donbogen]

Very very nice! Is that wood or coal burning?

It had me fooled when we viewed its electric
i have the rad on when im in there

 

[Richard Dye]

It had me fooled when we viewed its electric
i have the rad on when im in there

I saw a power cord and wasn't sure..........We installed a fireplace insert in one of our houses that burned wood. We had a few acres, mostly wooded & I was much younger!
In TN our electricity is very inexpensive, mostly hydro produced and the provider is a cooperative, not for profit. I will look into those. Enjoy!

 

[Donbogen]

This a small selection of my odds and sods on dusty shelf im knocking a that room about abit
From right to left
Dinky Sea Vixen/Brought by my mum on a vist to Lewis s 2/11
WW1 watch 1914/Found in one of many void nouses i worked on ITS TICKING AWAY
Bubble gum cards/Mine from 60s not a complete set They tried to ban them
BR whistle/Guards van pick up Aston sidings i think
WW2 Jerry sheild/If i recall came of a DAK Trop helmet destroyed by moth Mansfield rd
WW1 Jerry id tag/Another house find??? He was POW Flanders 1917
1st aid tin USA 1930s/Another find Bounville village trust house
X2 my old toy tanks
Yes im a hoarder i collect right across the board its so bad we just moved into a bigger house
all my items were found back in old days alot came from slum clearance in the 60s i was was amazed my Mum kept it all in my old room which i found when i came out of Army
Anyway im still unpacking

 

[Richard Dye]

This a small selection of my odds and sods on dusty shelf im knocking a that room about abit
From right to left
Dinky Sea Vixen/Brought by my mum on a vist to Lewis s 2/11
WW1 watch 1914/Found in one of many void nouses i worked on ITS TICKING AWAY
Bubble gum cards/Mine from 60s not a complete set They tried to ban them
BR whistle/Guards van pick up Aston sidings i think
WW2 Jerry sheild/If i recall came of a DAK Trop helmet destroyed by moth Mansfield rd
WW1 Jerry id tag/Another house find??? He was POW Flanders 1917
1st aid tin USA 1930s/Another find Bounville village trust house
X2 my old toy tanks
Yes im a hoarder i collect right across the board its so bad we just moved into a bigger house
all my items were found back in old days alot came from slum clearance in the 60s i was was amazed my Mum kept it all in my old room which i found when i came out of Army
Anyway im still unpacking

You are lucky it was not thrown out! All of that is solid gold, the memories alone are invaluable! I wish I still had some of my old stuff as I grew up, for me and my grandchildren see even if they don’t understand or care!

 

[Donbogen]

The contents of old small brown metal chest/Origin unknown
Travel shaving set/My Dads
Jerry Feldwebels ww2 paybook Ausweis/My 1st wifes family member
Britains 12 pr/9th birthday from my Nan WISH I HAD BOX
2 Gasmasks CS one still in factory box/Mansfield Rd
Monopoly wooden houses etc 40s/50s/Recall always being in our house as a kid
Like i said im a hoarder so it must be my Hobby
or as Madam says a disease?
Just love old stuff

 

[Richard Dye]

The contents of old small brown metal chest/Origin unknown
Travel shaving set/My Dads
Jerry Feldwebels ww2 paybook Ausweis/My 1st wifes family member
Britains 12 pr/9th birthday from my Nan WISH I HAD BOX
2 Gasmasks CS one still in factory box/Mansfield Rd
Monopoly wooden houses etc 40s/50s/Recall always being in our house as a kid
Like i said im a hoarder so it must be my Hobby
or as Madam says a disease?
Just love old stuff

All important stuff that! I never had a Monopoly set as a child but always loved to play. We had some marathon games that would go on for days!
When our children were growing up I make sure they had one !

 

[Lloyd]

Buses have always been my interest, and like many boys who want to be train drivers, I always wanted to be a bus driver. After an electrical apprenticeship at the Metro Cammell (where I was out on the trains rather than buses division - Hmmph!), I got the bus driving licence and worked for a short while on coaches for 'a friend of a friend', then went on the Midland Red as a part time driver. Having already got the licence I didn't have to be a conductor first! (Big win for me!) After most of the local services were sold / given away to the new 'West Midlands' set up, I went full time and as I was at Digbeth garage started doing coach driving as well. I went from being a 'newbie' to eventually becoming the most senior driver, and a union convenor as well. I am also interested in the older vehicles and with a friend we started a bus preservation society that over the years improved and expanded to become the Transport Museum, Wythall (https://www.wythall.org.uk/). Now too old to drive or repair them, I sit at home in front of my computer researching the history of the vehicles and their makers. It's an industry and hobby that really does get into your blood!

 

[Donbogen]

Buses have always been my interest, and like many boys who want to be train drivers, I always wanted to be a bus driver. After an electrical apprenticeship at the Metro Cammell (where I was out on the trains rather than buses division - Hmmph!), I got the bus driving licence and worked for a short while on coaches for 'a friend of a friend', then went on the Midland Red as a part time driver. Having already got the licence I didn't have to be a conductor first! (Big win for me!) After most of the local services were sold / given away to the new 'West Midlands' set up, I went full time and as I was at Digbeth garage started doing coach driving as well. I went from being a 'newbie' to eventually becoming the most senior driver, and a union convenor as well. I am also interested in the older vehicles and with a friend we started a bus preservation society that over the years improved and expanded to become the Transport Museum, Wythall (https://www.wythall.org.uk/). Now too old to drive or repair them, I sit at home in front of my computer researching the history of the vehicles and their makers. It's an industry and hobby that really does get into your blood!

Vintage buses/Trains /Ships/Aircraft/Cars/ Boats/Clocks/Toys/Weapons and so on they all peak my interest

 

[Eric Gibson]

For an enthusiast like yourself Lloyd we have just down the road this: https://londonbuspromotions.com/contact-us/ it sits right next to the local railway station, Lydney, and you can see their stock over the fence but there's a damned get dog roaming the grounds so not advisable to get too close.

 

[Richard Dye]

Buses have always been my interest, and like many boys who want to be train drivers, I always wanted to be a bus driver. After an electrical apprenticeship at the Metro Cammell (where I was out on the trains rather than buses division - Hmmph!), I got the bus driving licence and worked for a short while on coaches for 'a friend of a friend', then went on the Midland Red as a part time driver. Having already got the licence I didn't have to be a conductor first! (Big win for me!) After most of the local services were sold / given away to the new 'West Midlands' set up, I went full time and as I was at Digbeth garage started doing coach driving as well. I went from being a 'newbie' to eventually becoming the most senior driver, and a union convenor as well. I am also interested in the older vehicles and with a friend we started a bus preservation society that over the years improved and expanded to become the Transport Museum, Wythall (https://www.wythall.org.uk/). Now too old to drive or repair them, I sit at home in front of my computer researching the history of the vehicles and their makers. It's an industry and hobby that really does get into your blood!

Google and Wikipedia are two of my more used sites on a daily basis! I think there maybe quite a few on hear who are much the same with memories to keep us in touch!

 

[johnny082]

Looking at Donbogens photo #127 I used to have a cannon like that and I spent hours shooting matchsticks at targets. The memories such things stir up.

 

[Richard Dye]

Looking at Donbogens photo #127 I used to have a cannon like that and I spent hours shooting matchsticks at targets. The memories such things stir up.

Ah yes! I had forgotten about those cannons that shot matchsticks! I played with mine for hours and hours shooting at my fort with tin (lead) soldiers!
Thanks for that!

 

[Donbogen]

Ah yes! I had forgotten about those cannons that shot matchsticks! I played with mine for hours and hours shooting at my fort with tin (lead) soldiers!
Thanks for that!

Come on lads i used to increase the tension on the spring under that gun and load with lead fishing weights used to knock the opponents flying

 

[Mike Bain]

Buses have always been my interest, and like many boys who want to be train drivers, I always wanted to be a bus driver. After an electrical apprenticeship at the Metro Cammell (where I was out on the trains rather than buses division - Hmmph!), I got the bus driving licence and worked for a short while on coaches for 'a friend of a friend', then went on the Midland Red as a part time driver. Having already got the licence I didn't have to be a conductor first! (Big win for me!) After most of the local services were sold / given away to the new 'West Midlands' set up, I went full time and as I was at Digbeth garage started doing coach driving as well. I went from being a 'newbie' to eventually becoming the most senior driver, and a union convenor as well. I am also interested in the older vehicles and with a friend we started a bus preservation society that over the years improved and expanded to become the Transport Museum, Wythall (https://www.wythall.org.uk/). Now too old to drive or repair them, I sit at home in front of my computer researching the history of the vehicles and their makers. It's an industry and hobby that really does get into your blood!

That's an incredible journey! It’s amazing how your passion for buses turned into a lifelong career and even led to helping establish the Transport Museum, Wythall — what a legacy! The preservation of older vehicles is so important for keeping history alive, and it’s great to hear you’re still involved through research. Out of curiosity, do you have a favorite vehicle in the museum or a specific maker whose history fascinates you the most? Your story really shows how deeply this industry can become a part of someone’s life!

 

[Lloyd]

That's an incredible journey! It’s amazing how your passion for buses turned into a lifelong career and even led to helping establish the Transport Museum, Wythall — what a legacy! The preservation of older vehicles is so important for keeping history alive, and it’s great to hear you’re still involved through research. Out of curiosity, do you have a favorite vehicle in the museum or a specific maker whose history fascinates you the most? Your story really shows how deeply this industry can become a part of someone’s life!

The industry does "get in your blood"! When I was on the 'Red', I met many drivers who went on the buses "until a better job came along" and stayed for over 20 years!

My interest is unusual in that it is in vehicles that I don't remember running because they had (almost) all gone by the time I was around, and unusual makes too. Pre war Midland Red 'home made' buses, Morris-Commercials of the 1930s, Tilling Stevens 'petrol electrics' of the 1910s and 20s.