A Monday Special at Cheltenham Racecourse

The Broadway Area Group are committing some of their time to keeping the momentum going on the build of CRC Platform 2. Bob White has been masterminding the work and I am pleased to report that 9 volunteers, joined by Alan Bielby, turned out today.
I have had two reports with updates of the the day.

Bob White reported:-

Hi Bill

Despite the really bad weather forecast, the rain stayed away from Cheltenham until around 4.00pm.

There were 9 BAG volunteers on site, together with Alan Bielby. We also had a visit from Pete Dickinson.

John C and myself concentrated on the first section of platform wall and the fourth course of "blues" was completed together with the red backing bricks and concrete blocks. In total about 350 bricks and some 60 concrete blocks were laid. Terry was mixing and delivering the mortar in the morning and must have completed his 2000 metres with the wheelbarrow. Paul took over around lunch time, perhaps this could be a future Olympic Relay event, when Terry joined the other volunteers who were moving and stacking bricks with the use of the pw trolley. Several packs of bricks were shifted.

Much was achieved today in preparation for Wednesday's "once a month BAG moonlighting"

As the fridge arrived today, everyone was glad to have tea on tap and a good day was had by all.

Jo was on site and will no doubt be sending some pictures.

Regards

Bob

Jo Roesen reported:-

Hi Bill,

10 people on and off at CRC today, and a very succesful day’s effort. Two people brick laying, one making and delivering the mortar, and 4 on brick shifting. The rest came and went, some bearing gifts ( a small fridge J )

Thanks to a good team of 4 on the slide, we shifted a record 7 pallets – 65 pallets to start with, now 51 left. There is a visible hole in the pile now, and a growing series of stacks at the north end of platform 2. We will get there !

The brick layers raised the platform to 5 courses of blues over the first length of about 10m, and laid blocks along the rear for about 2 / 3 of that. We are still getting used to the system – where to stack the bricks, how many, and also, quite tricky, how to intergrate the different levels generated by building on the old foundations, as well as on the new ones. A lot of trial and effort has to go into that. Poor old Terry travelled up and down with barrows of muck, and to our astonishment, also went back the other way with a barrowful – the slump was rejected ! The bricklayers are hard task masters….

While the forecast was poor and rain was expected to fall in the morning in fact none did, and we remained dry until 16.00, when it began to pour down just as we were clearing up. The best cup of tea was in the cabin when, tired, we watched the rain fall down over where we had just been working. Phew !

We still need more hands on deck, esp on the brick laying front. Maybe Wednesday?

See you then (in Broadway)

Best regards,

Jo

And Jo's pictures

Alan & Pete Dickinson admire the technique.......

A small "dent" in the pile of reds

Where did you get that hat where did you get that hat..

Laying the contra rotation blocks

Team effort..

Tucked up at the end of day...