Weathered Fence

 Peter Hall Lane, Walsgrave on Sowe, Coventry
 (between Ansty and Brinklow) 

Hello all.  

This photograph was taken on a country lane not far from Coventry City Centre. 

Today we are all excited to see if England can beat Spain and win the 
UEFA European Championship 2024!

Take care all and have a good day!

Ansty Business Park - Manufacturing Technology Centre

Above is an iPhone image taken yesterday. 

I went back today to get a better photo with my camera but

the pond was frozen over.  So here is a look

at the main entrance instead.

There is a lot of construction going on around here.

I'll be back :).

For more information about MTC, please follow the link - HERE

RAF Ansty Airmen

Ansty Village, Warwickshire

Commemorated on the memorial in the Village of Ansty

are six Royal Air Force trainee pilots as well as

PTE R Nason, killed in action in Italy.

Taken on Remembrance Sunday, 9th November, 2014

----------------------------------------

If you have a moment, let me show you how I

came to be at this memorial last Sunday.

The story goes a little bit like this:

During the summer, Mr LOL and I went for a walk outside 

Coombe Country Park to find an airfield next to

Rolls Royce engine works.  It was a beautiful day.

Almost directly behind where we are standing now is the 

former site of the Royal Air Force Station, Ansty.

With a little help from my phone, we

were able to navigate our way through the fields

to see what was left of the airfield.

Not a lot.  A shame that some of this has not been preserved.

RAF Ansty opened in 1936 and closed in 1953. It was used mainly for

training new recruits in navigation skills and flying

using a variety of planes like the Tiger Moth.

 The blue dot is where I am standing 

to take some of these shots.

 In the photo below you can see a buildings belonging to Rolls Royce.

When I got home, I looked at my photos (as we all do) and

then started doing a little research.  It was then that I remembered

seeing some graves of airmen at St James Church, Ansty.  

I went back last week to take some more photos.

St James Parish Churchyard, Ansty, England

From left to right:

Flight Lieutenant R G Burke, AFC,  Pilot Instructor, Royal Air Force, 20th April, 1941, Age 33

Pilot Officer D N McCarthy, Pilot Instructor, Royal Air Force, 20th April, 1941, Age 24

Leading Aircraftman J Scholes, U/T Pilot, Royal Air Force, 20th April, 1941, Age 26

Pilot Officer C C Brackenbury, Pilot Instructor, Royal Air Force, 16th May, 1941, Age 24

Leading Aircraftman I S Forbes, U/T Pilot, Royal Air Force, 7th July, 1941, Age 24

Leading Aircraftman R A A Miskimmin, U/T Pilot, Royal Air Force, 27th July, 1941 (No age)

View just over the hedge:

The photo I used for November's City Daily Photo Theme Day,

Three Spires of Coventry.

Today all around the world tributes are being paid to servicemen and women

who died in service to their country since the start of World War I,

100 years ago.

Ansty - Rolls-Royce

Not long ago, Mr LOL and I found a public foot path

that goes from Coombe Country Park, across

a field, to somewhere I have yet to explore.

Walking up the path you will see landscape

like the photos above and below.

What is amazing (to me) is that the 200 acre

Rolls-Royce plant is just beyond the farm 

to my left. They make engines not cars here.

I mention this simply because I want to document

something of Rolls-Royce and Armstrong Siddeley Motors

whilst the Ansty plant is still open.

Rolls-Royce has a number of plants in the UK.

In the 1940's and 50's Armstrong Siddeley Motors 

had its development plant here. 

For one reason or another the workforce

and future of this plant is uncertain. 

On Sunday we drove past the main gate.

Rolls-Royce, Ansty, is still open

but for how long, I don't know.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

USA Retain The Ryder Cup....

...yet again.  The competition ended in a tie.  USA retain the cup.

Today it is all about golf.  Whilst the professionals are hotly contesting The Masters competition in Atlanta, Georgia, our golf society has been playing our own annual Ryder Cup competition in Warwickshire.  The nice people above are members of Ansty Golf Club.  They have formed their own league played during the winter culminating in a two-day event.  This is now our 13th year.

(Thanks, Mr LOL, for taking the photo!  Poorly back kept him out of the team this year.)

Back later in the week.  I have got some serious catching up to do at home.  Cheers for now :).

Ansty Hall

The view of Ansty Hall from the road.  Ansty Hall is now a hotel but its origins date back to 1406.  If you read the link, you will see that there have been changes in ownership which means changes to the structure.  I have been there once for a meal and another time for a wedding reception.  Beautiful!

From the hotel, you can see our golf course (Ansty).  Should be playing this Sunday.  Mr. LOL is going to have to pass due to his poorly back.  It is our Ryder Cup competition and I will be playing for USA, of course :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Have a good weekend all.  Oh, here is some of the view from the hotel.....

Thatched Roof Thursday #20 - Ansty

Last week I showed you Main Street, Brandon. This week it is Main Street, Ansty.  It is always neat for me to round a corner and see a thatched roof cottage in the distance.

Ansty village is dissected by a busy road. I can promise you that the speed limit of 30 mph seems a bit quick when you see how close these houses are to the road.

Wingletang (thatch on the left) is connected to The Whitehouse. Both are Grade II listed buildings. I am not at all surprised that the walls are less than bright white. Wingletang might not be the most elegant of cottages, but I still love it. To the rear is a canal and a view beyond.


I better get a move on. I think I found a photo for tomorrow's City Daily Photo Theme Day - Cafe Chairs. See you then!

Skywatch Friday - Been Here Before

I used a similar shot on a frosty morning last month.  This photo was taken about three weeks later (just before Christmas).  It is noticeably darker out yet this was taken at the same time of day on Ansty Golf Course.  I am looking forward to longer days with lots of sunshine (please).

For more photographs showing skies from around the world follow the link to Skywatch Friday.

Happy Weekend folks!  Have a good one and stay well.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Another shot from the golf course, taken possibly 30 minutes after last week's photo facing in a different direction.  Amazing!

For more photos featuring the sky follow the link to SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

Have a wonderful weekend all.  Many of you will be busy Christmas shopping, taking pictures and having fun.  Stay safe and warm.  See you next week.

The Fog Has Lifted

This is my effort to tie up a loose end.  A month ago I took the same photo in the FOG.  A few weeks later, this was the view on a clear morning.  (Visualise me scrambling around to ditch my golf clubs and find my camera.  I did.)  Below is a wider shot.

5th Green Ansty Golf Club
Oxford Canal beyond

Welcome to Skywatch Friday.  For more photos from around the world featuring the sky follow this Skywatch Friday link.

The Plan:  To be back tomorrow because it is City Daily Photo Theme Day.  So much going on :).

PS.  Many, many thanks to you who so kindly leave comments from time to time on this blog.  They are fun to read, helpful and appreciated.  Thank you!!!!

Narrow Boats on the Oxford Canal

Taken from Ansty Golf Course Canal Bridge
(Looking South)

The Oxford Canal is 78 miles long and meanders through the countryside, towns and villages between Oxford and Coventry.  There is a nice public toe path along side the canal.  These photos were taken on a frosty morning last Sunday.

Taken from Ansty Golf Club Canal Bridge
(Looking North)

Autumn Leaves and Gulls

Here are the Autumn Leaves....

Ansty Golf Club
(Taken yesterday - it was cold but sunny.)

And, below we have some gulls, possibly 'urban' gulls, on an outing to the countryside.

I did a little research on seagulls. We are definitely not in an urban area here but we aren't far from villages and cities.  These might be herring gulls which have adapted well to urban environment  but are consider to be a bit of a menace.   It is likely that these gulls have never seen the seaside.  Maybe they should be called 'rural' gulls.  Happily, they are not bothering anyone, but they better move soon because golf balls will be peppering that green soon.  

Brrr...............!!

9.30 am  -  5th Hole (somewhere ahead in the fog)
Ansty Golf  Club

5th Green (with people in group behind us)

Looking up 13th Fairway
Fog lifted

12.30 pm - Standing on the 16th Tee looking towards 10th Green
Blue skies at last, briefly :)

So there you have it.  My game of golf today was enjoyable.  Obviously, if I had concentrated on my game a bit more instead of taking photos (and there are more), I might have done better than coming last in our group of 15. Oh well.

PS.  Happy Birthday, Sis!

Skywatch Friday - View From Nettle Hill

Taken from Ansty (Near Coventry)

It was just a matter of minutes before the sunshine disappeared behind those rather thick clouds.  The view is of Withybrook farmland as seen from Nettle Hill, Ansty.

For more photos looking towards the heavens, click on the SKYWATCH FRIDAY link and enjoy.

Have a super weekend all.  I am off to look for thatched roofs.  See you next week!