#Lancaster Canal

[robthepensioner]

A curve in the Lancaster Canal, from one of its many bridges.

[vox-anglosphere]

The Lancaster Canal meanders through the lush vales of Lancashire

[alex987854]

Myerscough Hall Bridge

[fisherken]

The Lancaster Canal near Borwick, Lancashire by Baz Richardson Via Flickr: One of our favourite walks when we are up at our holiday home near the Lancashire/Cumbria border is along the towpath of the Lancaster Canal. This was originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria (historically in Westmorland). It dates from the late 1790s though it didn't reach Kendal until 1819. It was originally planned to link with other canals to help bring coal to Lancaster, but there were too many difficulties and the arrival of the railways began to make canals redundant. The canal has now been cut off a few miles to the north of Carnforth by both the M6 motorway and another major road. However, this part of the canal - pictured near Borwick (a couple of miles from Carnforth) - runs down to Lancaster and is still used for leisure purposes.

[aradxan]

LIfe on t'cut by Mister Oy The Lancaster Canal near Hest Bank. https://flic.kr/p/2o4Gt7d

[rainndearr]

[thesilicontribesman]

The Burrow Carvings, Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster

Group of carved stones, probably part of a third century mausoleum, temple or shrine.

This group, which is unique in this country, was found during the building of the canal south of Lancaster, near Burrow Heights, in 1794, The main Roman road into Lancaster passed close by.

The heads may represent the four winds or the four seasons and the standing figure (not shown) the deceased. The lions (one shown) are similar to a group of lions and stags from a shrine at Shorden Brae in Northumberland.

[scotianostra]

John Rennie the Elder was born on 7th June 1761

I think when we talk about our civil engineers Rennie sometimes gets overshadowed by the likes of Telford and the Stevensons, but Rennie’s work on canals, aqueducts, bridges and dockyards mark him as one of the greatest engineers of his age.

Rennie was the fourth son of a prosperous farmer on the Phantassie estate near the village of East Linton. He played truant from school to watch what went on at the local millwright’s workshop - run by the celebrated mechanic, Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the threshing machine - and began to work there when he was 12 years old, while continuing his education. He studied at Edinburgh University and then worked for the firm Boulton and Watt.

In 1791, Rennie moved to London and set up his own engineering business. His first works were canals, notably the Lancaster Canal, the Kennet & Avon Canal, and the Royal Military Canal, and also improving the drainage of the Norfolk fens.

Meanwhile Rennie also acquired experience as a bridge designer, using stone and cast iron to produce bridges with daringly wide arches. These included the Lune Aqueduct , Kelso Bridge , Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Bridge and London Bridge, which was completed to Rennie’s design by his son George after his death.

Rennie also worked on the development of docks and harbours for commercial purposes, including Grimsby, Leith and the London Docks . His largest projects were the civil engineering works required as the Royal Navy began to build the infrastructure, including Sheerness Dockyard and the great breakwater at Plymouth . Rennie was also commissioned to give advice on other novel maritime structures, notably steam-powered dredgers, diving bells and the famous Bell Rock lighthouse.

Rennie died, aged 60, after a short illness, at his house in Stamford Street, London, on 4th October 1821, and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

[usafphantom2]

1st January 1945: Victoria Cross action of Flight Sergeant George Thompson. A wireless operator on Lancaster PD377 of 9 Squadron RAF, his aircraft had taken off from Bardney in Lincolnshire at 7:44am, part of a mission to bomb the Dortmund-Ems canal near Ladbergen. At the point of bomb release, the aircraft was hit by an 88mm anti-aircraft shell forward of the mid-upper turret. This disabled the intercom, damaged control cables and severed hydraulic pipes, starting a severe fire. A large hole was torn in the fuselage floor, the wind fanning the flames. 🔥

Another 88mm shell hit the nose of the aircraft almost simultaneously, shattering the Perspex canopy and setting the port inner engine alight. The pilot, Flying Officer Harry Denton, was briefly rendered unconscious but managed to regain control of his crippled aircraft with the help of his flight engineer. From his position, however, George Thompson could see that the mid-upper gunner, Sergeant Ernie Potts, was unconscious in his turret and surrounded by flames.

Thompson edged past the damaged fuselage floor and pulled Potts, whose clothing was on fire, from his turret; by this point, his own uniform was also alight. Despite this, Thompson carried Potts forward to safety and beat out the flames with his bare hands. Though already badly burned, he now went to the rescue of Haydn Price, the rear gunner, who had opened the doors of his turret only to receive severe burns to his head. He had then passed out due to shock and breathing in fumes from the fire.

By this point, much of Thompson’s clothing had been burned away and his face, hands and legs were badly blistered. Yet he somehow managed to get Price to safety, again using his hands to put out the flames on his comrade’s clothes. Due to the fierce wind rushing through the fuselage, he also sustained frostbite, which only added to the agony of his injuries. When he went forward to report the situation to his pilot, Denton was unable to recognise his own wireless operator.

Despite receiving further flak damage which damaged the starboard inner engine, the Lancaster crossed Allied lines into the Netherlands. Denton managed to crash land safely, with all the crew escaping from the wreckage. Ernie Potts died of his injuries just 18 hours later, while Haydn Price would eventually recover following multiple operations. It seemed at first that George Thompson might survive his terrible burns, but he contracted pneumonia and died on 23rd January.

On 20th February 1945, it was announced that Thompson had been awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. His citation reads in part: “He hazarded his own life in order to save the lives of others. Young in years and experience, his actions were those of a veteran. One of the gunners… owes his life to the superb gallantry of Flight Sergeant Thompson, whose signal courage and self-sacrifice will ever be an inspiration to the Service.”

Pictured:

(R) Flight Sergeant George Thompson, VC.

📷©️IWM CH 14685

(L) Lancaster PD377, 9 Squadron RAF.

@JamieMctrusty via X

[wikimediauncommons]

file: Lancaster Canal - geograph.org.uk - 4271321.jpg

[robthepensioner]

One of the many bridges over the Lancaster Canal, with two of my chums walking towards it.

[bikepackinguk]

Day Seventy

I realised I'd accidentally missed a count whilst dealing with the injury, which means today is in fact the ten week mark!

Up early from the woods by Silverdale, the sun is shining and the wind is low, should be a good day for the mileage!

Today's ride starts out with a nice glide downhill from Arnside & Silverdale AONB and across the wetlands of RSPB Leighton Moss, before rolling into Carnforth for a quick stop for supplies.

From here, it's time to jump on to the canal towpath heading alongside the A6 for some nice level riding. The towpath surface isn't great, alternating between stoney gravel or pockmarked with holes, but it's still enjoyable going through the tunnels of trees along the canalside.

The canal is followed down to Hest Bank, where I swing west to jump onto the coastline for a lovely ride along the seaside across to Morecambe.

The tide is out, and a ceiling of cloud has appeared, but it's high up and still a warm day, with the air clear enough to gaze right across the bay to see Helvellyn and its surrounding peaks in the Lake District standing proudly on the horizon.

After taking in the views awhile, it's time to head back inland along The Greenway cycle path, a great long stretch of smooth paving through some lovely forested sections down to the River Lune and historic Lancaster.

Crossing ove the river via the Millennium Bridge, the cycle route turns and tracks along the River Lune for another few miles all the way down to Condor Green. The path turns to a rocky bridleway halfway along which does slow progress and requires a deal of concentration to find viable routes to prevent the bike shaking me to bits, but what scenery I'm able to take in is still enjoyable.

I opt to take the bike route inland to cut out a section of A road, which ends up leading me into a few stiff climbs as it loops out and back again around the M6, before heading back out westward through Cockerham.

The route here is branded as the "Lancaster Cycleway", but in reality there is no provision whatsoever for cycling infrastructure, and it's a long slog along some busy roads with the wind starting to come in from the west, making for a bit of a tough section across the flats.

With there being no route across the River Wyre along the coast, the route swings south across the fields to reach the toll bridge at Great Ecclestone. Heading a little further south through Elswick, it's a further jaunt through windy country lanes westward along the B5269 as the hills begin to roll in a little.

The day is brightening though, and before long tue busy lanes turn into bugger, busier roads as we ride into the outskirts of Blackpool.

Doing what I can to avoid the seriously heavy traffic through much of town, I carry on westward a little further and hit the seaside again, with a nice sight if the famous Blackpool Tower.

The air is clear enough still to even catch a glimpse of the beautiful peaks of Snowdonia far across the water.

From the pleasure beach, it's time for a jaunt along the promenade. I've really enjoyed riding along a good few seaside promenades through this journey, and the stretch along from Blackpool is some of the best yet.

Some great smooth level riding right along the waterside, with a short jump onto the road before continuing again around the sandy expanses of St Anne's and the nature reserves by Lytham.

The view across the Ribble Estuary is gorgeous, with so much of the upcoming coast on display.

With some big urban stretches ahead, I don't want to progress too much further today and get caught up in them when trying to find a place to sleep, so I resolve to find a spot prior to Preston. But the legs are still feeling energetic currently, so I push on from Lytham and into rish hour.

The traffic on the road by Saltcotes is as heavy as it gets, but with an adjacent cycle path I have a good deal of pleasure pushing on and zooming past the queueing cars as the sun shines out once more, and carey on past Freckleton.

It's a stretch if dual carriageway here, but I'm feeling bullish and start charging down it. I realise I may have miscalculated as the miles grind down as before I know it I'm hitting the outskirts of Preston.

There are aome good cycle paths around here though, and I start following the Guild Wheel route along Savick Brook to scout out some possible stopping points to setup in.

Then I receive a lovely and unexpected present from the wonderful Ellie! Given that my back is still playing up somewhat after my fall, I decide to use it to book into a nice cheap B&B just a little further down the road to give me a nice soft bed to help aid the recovery a little more.

That's been a decent day's progress! Honestly wasn't expecting to get this far on today, but starting out tomorrow this deep into Preston puts me in a great position to get through the main urban challenges tomorrow, and possibly get over the border to Wales. We shall see what the morning holds.

TTFN!

[kroozerseyes]

'Grey Heron' by Kroozer's Eyes Via Flickr: 'Grey Heron' Lancaster Canal. UK

[carmenvicinanza]

Gina Lollobrigida

https://www.unadonnalgiorno.it/gina-lollobrigida/

Gina Lollobrigida, La Lollo è stata una delle nostre attrici più conosciute a livello internazionale e una delle più belle dive di ogni tempo.

La sua passione per l’arte, l’indipendenza che l’ha sempre contraddistinta, la voglia di vivere e sperimentarsi, l’hanno accompagnata per tutta la sua lunga vita.

Diretta dai più grandi registi, ha recitato in oltre sessanta film accanto ai colossi del cinema come Vittorio De Sica, Vittorio Gassman, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Anthony Quinn, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Marcello Mastroianni, Yves Montand, Sandra Dee, Alec Guinness e molte e molti ancora.

Accantonate le scene per un lungo periodo, è stata anche un’affermata fotografa, fotoreporter e scultrice.

Numerosi sono stati i riconoscimenti artistici che le sono stati conferiti negli anni: oltre ad aver ottenuto la famosa stella sulla Hollywood Walk of Fame, anche se troppo in ritardo rispetto alla sua carriera, è stata premiata con un Golden Globe, sette David di Donatello, due Nastri d’argento e ha ricevuto una candidatura ai Premi BAFTA per il famoso film Pane, amore e fantasia.

Nacque a Subiaco, in provincia di Roma, il 4 luglio 1927, era figlia di un facoltoso produttore di mobili caduto in rovina durante la seconda guerra mondiale.

A diciassette anni ha debuttato a teatro in una commedia di Eduardo Scarpetta.

Ha frequentato l’Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma mentre, per mantenersi agli studi vendeva caricature disegnate col carboncino e posava per i primi fotoromanzi, con lo pseudonimo di Diana Loris.

Aveva 18 anni quando è stata violentata da un calciatore della Lazio di cui non ha mai voluto rivelare il nome. Poco tempo dopo ha sposato Milko Skofic, medico sloveno che prestava servizio fra i profughi temporaneamente alloggiati a Cinecittà, sono stati insieme per vent’anni tra alti e bassi e hanno avuto un figlio Andrea Milko, nel 1957.

Dotata di una straordinaria bellezza, nel 1947 si è classificata terza al concorso di Miss Italia, dietro le future stelle del cinema Lucia Bosè e Gianna Maria Canale.

Al cinema ha iniziato dalla gavetta, è stata comparsa e controfigura, prima di ottenere piccoli ruoli di contorno e finalmente arrivare a recitare in film di successo che l’hanno consacrata una star internazionale, prima in Francia e poi negli Stati Uniti.

Tra gli altri, nel 1953 ha interpretato, al fianco di Vittorio De Sica, il personaggio della Bersagliera, premiato con il Nastro d’argento e candidato al BAFTA, in Pane, amore e fantasia di Luigi Comencini (Orso d’argento al Festival di Berlino).

Ha spesso raccontato aneddoti riguardanti i suoi rapporti buoni e conflittuali con alcune delle più grandi star della cinematografia internazionale.

Nella prima produzione televisiva a cui ha preso parte, nel 1972, è stata la Fata Turchina nel fortunato Le avventure di Pinocchio di Luigi Comencini, rimasta ancora nell’immaginario collettivo di intere generazioni.

In quegli anni ha gradualmente abbandonato lo schermo per dedicarsi alla fotografia. Ha ritratto personaggi come Paul Newman, Salvador Dalí, Henry Kissinger, Audrey Hepburn, Ella Fitzgerald, è rimasta alla storia l’intervista fatta a Fidel Castro del 1973. Ha pubblicato libri, reportage e esposto le sue sculture in tutto il mondo.

Negli anni ottanta è apparsa in varie importanti serie tv statunitensi, ma i suoi impegni come attrice si sono sempre più diradati, fatta eccezione per alcuni celebri cameo.

Nel 1996 è stata premiata con il David di Donatello alla carriera e nel 2006 ha ricevuto un riconoscimento speciale in occasione del cinquantenario del trofeo di cui era stata la prima vincitrice, nel 1956.

Il 16 ottobre 1999 è stata nominata Ambasciatrice di buona volontà della FAO, l’Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l’Alimentazione e l’Agricoltura.

Il 2011 l’ha vista, per la prima volta insieme sul grande schermo con Sophia Loren, considerata la sua storica rivale, nel documentario Schuberth – L’atelier della dolce vita.

Attiva anche politicamente, è stata candidata alle elezioni europee del 1999 in una lista di centro-sinistra, senza risultare eletta.

Anche molto in avanti con gli anni non ha mai smesso di far parlare di sé e della sua affermazione di libertà. Nel 2006 ha dichiarato a una rivista spagnola di volersi sposare con Javier Rigau dopo una relazione tenuta segreta per più di vent’anni: lei aveva 79 anni, lui 45. L’uomo che, successivamente ha sostenuto di essere il suo amante da quando aveva 15 anni, l’ha poi lasciata attraverso un comunicato del suo avvocato. In seguito, l’attrice ha dichiarato di essere stata sposata con l’inganno attraverso una falsa procura da lei firmata, una vicenda arrivata fino in tribunale.

Nel 2007 è stata nominata cittadina onoraria di Pietrasanta, dove aveva organizzato la sua prima mostra di scultura.

La sua vita intensa e incredibile si è interrotta il 16 gennaio 2023 a Roma, aveva 95 anni.

Piena di vita, si è sperimentata con successo in varie arti, sempre attenta al suo contemporaneo, è stata coinvolta in varie cause sociali.

Gina Lollobrigida è stata una delle ultime grandi dive, la sua incredibile bellezza si mescolava col suo talento e con un carisma che la rendeva quasi irreale, nonostante non nascondesse mai la sua grande umanità. Aveva un’aura che la rendeva magica e anche in vita sembrava eterna, il suo nome resterà scritto a caratteri cubitali nella storia del cinema mondiale.

[scotianostra]

October 4th saw the death of John Rennie, the famous engineer who constructed the Crinan Canal.

I think when we talk about our civil engineers Rennie sometimes gets overshadowed by the likes of Telford and the Stevensons, but Rennie’s work on canals, aqueducts, bridges and dockyards mark him as one of the greatest engineers of his age.

Rennie was born on 7th June 1761, the fourth son of a prosperous farmer on the Phantassie estate near the village of East Linton, 20 miles east of Edinburgh. He played truant from school to watch what went on at the local millwright’s workshop - run by the celebrated mechanic, Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the threshing machine - and began to work there when he was 12 years old, while continuing his education. He studied at Edinburgh University and then worked for Boulton and Watt, a firm based near Birmingham which manufactured steam engines.

In 1791, Rennie moved to London and set up his own engineering business. His first works were canals, notably the Lancaster Canal, the Kennet & Avon Canal, and the Royal Military Canal, and also improving the drainage of the Norfolk fens.

Meanwhile Rennie also acquired experience as a bridge designer, using stone and cast iron to produce bridges with daringly wide arches. These included the Lune Aqueduct , Kelso Bridge , Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Bridge and London Bridge, which was completed to Rennie’s design by his son George after his death.

Rennie also worked on the development of docks and harbours for commercial purposes, including Grimsby, Leith and the London Docks . His largest projects were the civil engineering works required as the Royal Navy began to build the infrastructure, including Sheerness Dockyard and the great breakwater at Plymouth . Rennie was also commissioned to give advice on other novel maritime structures, notably steam-powered dredgers, diving bells and the famous Bell Rock lighthouse.

Rennie died, aged 60, after a short illness, at his house in Stamford Street, London, on this day in 1821, and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Pics are of Rennie, The Crinan Canal at Crinan Village and Ken Bridge near New Galloway.