A minute-by-minute account of the famous Dambuster Raid by 19 special Avro Lancaster bombers and their ‘Bouncing Bombs’ which took place during the evening of 16 – 17 May 1943. My book, with some unique documents, gives the true storey of the Flight Engineer of Dambuster Z-Zebra. My book which includes some unique documents – … More Operation Chastise – The Dambusters a minute-by-minute account
By popular demand! a series of maps showing some of the historic locations with Mellor parish boundary. I will add more over time, but please feel free to comment or correct. Mills Coal Mines Football pitches Pubs present and past Marple Bridge historical sites Links Ludworth Moor Collieryhttps://pleszak.blog/2021/12/13/ludworth-moor-colliery/ Rod Thackray paintingshttps://pleszak.blog/2021/11/13/rod-thackray-paintings-n-e-w/ Oldknow’s Seathttps://pleszak.blog/2021/08/18/oldknows-seat/ MELLOR – … More Mellor History Maps
A chance discussion with my neighbour Norma when I bumped into her on a dog walk turned into an incredible journey of discovery into what really happened during the most famous of all wartime stories – The Dambusters. Norma’s uncle, Jack Marriott was one of the Dambusters, a Flight Engineer, who was sadly, but mysteriously … More THE HIGH PEAK DAMBUSTER
The late, great, Ian Niven Manchester City Honorary President and die-hard supporter describes the best game he remembered in all the years, and it was more than 90, he spent following the team he idolized. The game was a not only a top of the table late season clash away at arch-rivals and reigning champions … More Ian Niven, Manchester City Honorary President describes his best ever City game
Argentina, and the day – Saturday the 17th of September 1955. It was the second day of the Revolución Libertadora: the Liberation Revolution in which Argentinian rebels, including sections of the military, rose up against the government of General Juan Domingo Perón. After several days of bloody fighting rebel forces overthrew those loyal to the … More The day a Lincoln bombed a Lancaster, and a Meteor shot a Meteor shooting a Lincoln
A version of this article appeared in the May 2021 Marple Local History Society December 2021 News letter https://mailchi.mp/2f6f0f7ab6f5/marple-local-history-december-2021?e=8605a2f387. As a child Rod Thackray from Moor End Mellor was enthralled by stories told by his uncle Ivan Eccles abouts his exploits working at coal mines around Mellor after WW1. By the time Rod was a … More Ludworth Moor Colliery
Paintings and sketches by Mellor artist Rod Thackray Click on the image to see full size and use arrows to scroll through each section All are available to buy. For sizes, media, and price enquire using contact page. Ludworth Moor Colliery Mellor Other paintings and sketches Industrial New Mills Steam engines
This article appeared in the May 2021 Marple Local History Society News letter. https://www.marplelocalhistorysociety.org.uk/our-local-heritage/594-oldknows-seat.html Oldknow’s Seat is locally the stuff of legend, but it’s not a myth – it does still exist. Many of us will have heard of it, it is marked on old maps and over the years lots of locals have had … More Oldknow’s Seat
This blog is to accompany my blog Useful Resources for Polish 2 Corps information. Many thanks to Mark Ostrowski for all the hard work of collating the information and images of the insignia, and for indicating further information on Rank Insignia. MAIN BADGES RANK INSIGNIA The Polish rank of “Brigade General” (a one-star rank) was … More Polish 2 Corps Uniform Identification
In the early 1980’s I was a Masters Student at what was then Cranfield Institute of Technology. The campus was on the site of a former RAF airfield and I was studying Bio-Aeronautics with the International Centre for the Application of Pesticides (ICAP) attached to the College of Aeronautics. As part of the course we … More Hitching a ride on a Jetstream
PLESZAK 