PWSTS Forum for Old Boys, Family and Friends

altosaxx · PWSTS Forum Moderator

2009 March

terry doughty · PWSTS Forum Member

I SEE YOU ARE TAKING CHURCHILLS LEAD TO WORD //GREAT

terry doughty · PWSTS Forum Member

ANYBODY SEE THE LOVLEY PHOTO OF THE ARBORETUM IN THE DAILY MAIL TODAY? YOU CAN GET A GOOD IDEA OF THE SIZE OF THE AREA. I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT BUT HAVE TO GET OFF MY BACKSIDE. WILL GET THERE.

BILLBIFFEN · PWSTS Forum Member

any news regarding pwsts memorial at the national memorial arboretum bill biffen.

Dave1947 · PWSTS Face Book Editor

It was featured in several short news stories on TV last week..
I was also suprised by the area it covered..

Regards Dave.

Captain Ahab · PWSTS Forum Member

Altosaxx after reading the news about the Dover plaque it made me wonder whats happening about the national one. We havent heard anything for awhile so I hope its still something that we want to do confuse

altosaxx · PWSTS Forum Moderator

My sincere apologies to you all, due to many personal problems (Now sorted) moving house three times and loads of extra work I dropped the ball.

We hope to take a trip this next week or so and will update you all

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

No need to apologise mate we know that youve had a complete upheaval. We have waited all this time so theres no rush. Be nice to have the opportunity to have another PWSTS get together.

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

Welcome back Peter, given our recent experience with the Dover Plaque, I was thinking that we need to rethink the proposals for NMA Alrewas. I hope you don't mind, but I did some research into this and concluded that the main factor is longevity and the most enduring material is "Slate". With this in mind I searched the web and found this website, which I think could be an affordable possibility.

The choice of slate and wording is of course only mine, and i'm no good with words, to enable us to have an idea of where to start the debate from. The final choice, as always, rests with the members. This is a mock up of what a typical slate could look like and a price.

If you visit the website you will see there are many alternatives, and more words are not that expensive either. I have no idea as to the costs of siting and fixing, or the rules of the authorities at Alrewas.

"Thanks for your enquiry, Elwyn - Please find rough mock up attached ( The crest will require a little work) - Price delivered will be £149

With kind regards
Barry Young"

Glancon

-- Edited by glancon on Monday 26th of July 2010 04:43:06 PM

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

Sorry forgot to upload the file.

Glancon

stuhogg · PWSTS Forum Member

Elwyn,
Mate, I must congratulate you on finding this out. Great work. I am most unlikely to ever visit the UK again so will probably never see what is eventually decided upon, but think this is a great find anyway, especially if we decide upon another memorial or plaque somewhere else. Perhaps something we hold in reserve for another occasion. Well done.

Just one thing, I recognise that slate will virtually last for ever, but what about the inscription ? Is that engraved in the slate? Stu

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

Thanks Stu, yes it is. The following website is only one of many I looked at, it was the one site that offered a free mock up. I've included the relevant paragraph.

http://www.houseandgardenplaques.co.uk/

"Memorial Headstones

Available in marble or natural slate and can be used for a Garden Memorial or Family Memorial or Pet Memorial. All lettering is engraved into the face and infilled with choice of colour of paint. Epitaphs or poems can be inscribed see Verse option."

Glancon

Michael · PWSTS Australian Director

If a small reunion is held next year what are we thinking about Month ect as K and i would like to come over for it.
Wiggy

Vintage Port · Ex PWSTS Standard Bearer

Stu has hit the nail on the head with his question about how long the writing and crest will last! The problem with the Dover plaque is exactly that.

The company I have been dealing with have finally told me that their processes can't do justice to the Dover plaque we have, as, if they skim and polish the face of the Stainless steel, it removes all trace of the wording. Just replacing the wording will leave a scruffy looking steel background. They have offered to build me a new sign, but are looking at around £1,000 (I told you they were market leaders in their field)! I am obviously in the wrong business.

I am talking to another firm on Monday in the hope that they can make the plaque presentable for a couple of years, by which time the pier may be demolished, and we can then decide if we go ahead with the suggestion of a "Blue Plaque" type of sign on the old school building.

I personally feel that Glancon's mock-up looks great! it's modern, but with dignity, and won't destroy the planet by it's manufacture.

altosaxx · PWSTS Forum Moderator

Elwyn,

Many thanks, and yes you are quite correct, our home in Tywyn has slate floors and a slate yard, (built in 1850) also the fact that the original name plate to the house is still intact after 60 years, taking all that the sea air can throw.

I still have to get down from our house in Draycott which is only 30 miles away, problem is that my company was taken over two weeks ago and I was made redundant, so been over in Wales since, none the less it is stilll a goal to reach for particularly if it is ereceted ajecent to the MN forest area, (see photos previoulsy posted.)

Anyhoo on the job hunt for the time being.

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply, so sorry to hear of your current status, just glad such things are now well behind me. I can still recall the trauma of the mid eighties when I went through some similar situations.

I do think the slate option is the way forward, and is so in keeping with the whole ethos of the Alrewas site. What an impressive place it has become.

If I can do anything to help you in progressing this project, please let me know.

Hope you get some luck in the job hunt soon.

All the best.

Glancon

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

Roger,

I cannot thank you enough for the amount of work, effort & expense you have gone to on our behalf since this site started. My view on the Dover plaque is that you have done all you possibly can to restore the steel plaque, and you should consider that replacing it with a Bronze one is the only economic option at approx £250+. A previous post of mine refers. It would easily outlive the pier, and could readily be transferred to the alternative site if and when required.

Hope you don't mind my intervention.

Glancon

Vintage Port · Ex PWSTS Standard Bearer

Hi Elwyn,

Your kind words have made me blush!

You are right I'm afraid, the stainless steel sign is proving imposible to bring back to anything like the way we would like it, and I feel it would be an insult the those it is dedicated to, to have anything tatty as a replacement.

Because it is mounted on the wall of the lighthouse, it is curved through two dimentions, and I am not sure that the bronze replacement can be curved, but as an aulternative, it could be mounted on some sort of spacers to hold it away from the wall. I'm sure I can find a firm to do that tastefully.

If anybody else agrees with Elwyn's proposal, can you, Andy, sort out a whip round? You know I'm in!

Roger.

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

We have enough money in the PWSTS bank to cover the expense of a replacement plaque for the pier.

What are your thoughts regarding approaching Dover Harbour Board for some sort of compensation? Someone removed the original plaque and it would appear that a hammer has been used to reposition it back on the pier. The PWSTS Society did not receive any notification or correspondence regarding this issue. If the plaque has been damaged by human hands I am confident that we have a case for complaint. However, if Roger is saying that the plaque has been damaged by fair wear and tear (the sun/sea) then obviously thats a different story.

Alternatively, or in addition, should we seek to locate the plaque on or near as possible to the old school building? The Jolly Sailor posted a newspaper clip within this section of the forum entitled The story of Prince of Wales House. I have subsequently been sent the clip so I have the authors details published 12 August Dover Express Mr Terry Sutton tel: 01303 851684 email: newsdesk.doverexpress@KRNmedia.co.uk

Maybe The Dover Express can put us in touch with the new owner(s). Please let me know your thoughts.

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Peter sorry to hear of your predicament. Good luck for the future my friend.

Colin · PWSTS Forum Member

I think any plaque should be in a place where a member of the pulic can relate to the sentiment the plaque conveys. The PW Pier, I think is a good place, high enough safe from vandalism, public enough, easy to find.
Having said that, if the owners of the PWSTS building were agreeable that would also be a good place, if safe from vandalism, keeping in mind when it does become flats, Joe public would have little reason to go there, therefore only chidren or future generations of ex PWSTS er's would perhaps seek it out.

It may be worthwhile contacting Dover council or a historical society. They may have a place where forever it can be placed and kept in context of Dover's great historic seafaring history.

Personally I like the Pier the best.

-- Edited by Colin on Tuesday 17th of August 2010 05:16:45 PM

altosaxx · PWSTS Forum Moderator

Andy,

Thanks for your thoughts,

In front of the school is a small green adjacent to the main road, would this be suitable if it was carved form slate or stone, unfortunately vandalism is a disease of this generation and whatever one does to alleviate it the problem is here until radical measures are brought (don't hold you breath).

They have even stolen the bronze plaques with the names of the fallen from a park in Manchester, even a young scrote pissed on the cenotaph in Blackpool, and when confronted at court told the vets to "F Off" and then did a runner, she was found giving a sexual act (Clinton comes to mind) to a bloke on a park bench..........what hope do they have.

Anyhoo, I digressed, small green in front of the school, passing foot traffic and cars etc, just an idea.

regards

-- Edited by altosaxx on Saturday 21st of August 2010 11:41:57 AM

PWSTS Forum for Old Boys, Family and Friends

Thanks Stu, yes it is. The following website is only one of many I looked at, it was the one site that offered a free mock up. I've included the relevant paragraph.http://www.houseandgardenplaques.co.uk/"Memorial Headstones

Thanks Stu, yes it is. The following website is only one of many I looked at, it was the one site that offered a free mock up. I've included the relevant paragraph.

http://www.houseandgardenplaques.co.uk/

"Memorial Headstones