Wednesday 25th March 2015 and the Sun Shone!

Having been doing this Volunteering lark for a while, I can quickly tell when moods are high and thoughts are positive. Today was such a day and the 22 volunteers gave of  their best to keep the Broadway show on the road.

I have to start with the drain cleaning contingent - as I walked up to the northerly boundary it became more and more  comical to see a grubby  face popping out of at least half a dozen catch pits and all with a smile (or was it a grimace) on each face. We had Andy Protherough and 2 of his hard working chums giving a lead and a steer as to the most effective way of clearing each pit and rodding it through.

Jim Hitchen was keeping an eye on progress and he sent the following report:-

Bill

Just a brief update on progress.  Another magnificent effort on catch pit clearance today.  We were fortunate to have the services and expertise of Andy P and his colleagues Alistair and Keith.

  

From the Broadway Group we welcomed back Ron after his winter recess, and our own regulars Rod, Terry, Steve, Keith, Clive. Hope I haven't missed any one!!

Of the five pits that were not visible at the start of the day three have been found leaving only two which will require mechanical assistance to uncover.  One of those found has been completely cleaned out along with a further three which had been started on Saturday.  Thanks to Andy more new drainage rings have been delivered to site and fitted, or are available for fitting to the completed pits.

So I think the close of play score reads as follows:  Nineteen of the twenty four pits have been cleaned out and additional rings have been fitted to fifteen of the twenty four.  If we can find the missing two pits on Saturday there is a real chance that this exercise could be finished in two more shifts, weather permitting of course.

Regards

Jim H.

To be honest I had no idea how long this job would take, but thought it might take up to 3 months or more. Not so - The progress that has been made over the past weeks has been terrific and Jim's prediction of a couple of more shifts seems spot on. We can now join the centre drain to the side drain (on the Malvern side), which will then allow us to switch to maintenance mode on all of the drains.

Moving back to brick laying, the Platform 2 ramp was getting its next course of corbelling. Here Roger B and Peter H continue the good work, in what looks like some  pleasant afternoon sunshine.

Then down on the Signal Box it was all systems go!  Here the  CSL Scaffolding lorry is waiting for the Fairview lorry to drop off its load of insulation and  roofing felt.

The scaffolders were on site to raise the scaffolding for the chimney to be completed. It was a quick job, well done and in a twinkling of an eye Bob W  and Paul were laying bricks and flu pipe.

All of the reds were laid by the end of the day, with 2/3 courses of blues and a chimney pot  required to finish it off.

I have to say I couldn't resist going up into the crow's nest and believe me, two things strike you - the view over the site, and more importantly the sheer magnificence of the structure below.

The T&G cladding was going on nicely on the southern gable end.  Here with hammer in action is  John S walloping in the nails, Tony was up on the apex of the roof steering each board into position. Jo made up the team by making sure tools were to hand and nobody bounced over the edge.

As I say it was one of those good days -   I think Julie did well at shaking the loose change out of the visitors.

A well done also to the chaps who were keeping the bonfire going by way, your hard work didn't go unnoticed.


And one more for luck - how about that!!