New Zealand and Australia 2012

I rarely use this blog but thought I would do so to record a few impressions of our 2012 trip to New Zealand and Australia on what has already proved to be our most memorable trip yet! 

We left Heathrow on Wednesday 28 November, a day late due to the earlier cancellation of our China Southern flight to Auckland.  We did not expect to enjoy the 6 hour stopover in Baijun, but were met at Immigration and taken to a VIP lounge - with one other passenger from our flight.  We had a splendid buffet, wounderful armchairs, all we could eat or drink including wine and beers, internet, showers etc.  To this day we have no idea why we were singled out for VIP treatment!

Abigail, Inky and Deborah at the Pony Club a few days before the tornado struck

We were met in Auckland by my daughter Louise at about 6pm on Friday 30th November.  The weather was cool and overcast - a bit like a normal English summer day!  We spent the weekend relaxing, planning our trip to Wellington and visiting my granddaughters Abigail and Frances pony club where they kept their ponies Inky and Rosie.  On Monday 3 December we travelled into Auckland to start our train journey to Wellington - 12 hours on the Northern Express - a revamped scenic railway journey that replaced the Overlander.  We arrived early and were allocated seats 1A and 1B in coach A.  It might be 12 hours but there is something to see every bit of the journey and it was an effort to stay awake and not miss anything!  Deborah decided that a half hour nap before we left the slightly less interesting Auckland suburbs might be a good idea. 

The view of the National Park volcanoes from the Overlander

The weather brightened long before we reached the magnificant views of the volcanoes Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu in the National Park, all still snow covered at the peaks. Tongariro erupted in August spewing ash more than four miles high and is still active but showed no signs of activity when we saw it.  Tongariro was thought long dormant but Ruapehu has been very active in recent times (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-volcanic-activity/6) resulting in Frances's previous teacher losing a leg in one eruption.  But all was now quiet.

Soon after leaving the national park our engine came to a halt.  The train manager explained the engine had failed.  But no problem - a goods train was behind us and we would snaffle its engine.  The locomotive was duly unshackled in a rail loop, fastened to ours and within an hour we were on our way again.  Soon we were able to witness the fantastic Raurimu Spiral, a railway spiral starting with a horseshoe curve and climbing 139 metres (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raurimu_Spiral).  Needless to say we arrived an hour late in Wellington but no problem - time was not an issue and it was a wonderful journey well worth the $398 (4 times as much as the flights back!) for the two of us.

Wellington was windy and wet.  We had planned to visit the War Memorial from which there was a daily peal of bells at 1pm.  On the way there we were caught in absolutely torrential rain that just dropped from the skies.  On Thursday, the day we were due to return home, we heard there had been a tornado in Auckland killing 3 people and making 250 homeless.  Then we heard it had hit West Auckland, broadly the area where Louise and family lived in Whenuapai. On closer reading we realised it was actually Hobsonville, the village next to Whenuapai (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8047445/Auckland-tornado-Neighbourhood-torn-apart).  We were later to discover it was actually Whenuapai as well.  Louise's home was missed but it tore through Abigail and Frances''s pony club where we had been a few days earlier, flattening it,  A couple of huge two ton water tanks had been flung into the paddocks from at least 500 metres away.  Two horses died.  Inky and Rosie seemed OK but were skittish for days.  The paddocks were strewn with wreckage and Inky and Rosie were found temprary grazing elsewehere.  The immediate effect for us was that our flight was cancelled and we had to spend an extra night in Wellington.  We arrived early at the airport and managed to get the last room at the nearby hotel.  We arrived back in Auckland on the first flight back the next day. 

Aftermath of the tornado - two of these 2 ton water tanks were flung into the paddocks from at least 500m away

The devastated pony club after the tornado - Abigail and Frances survey the damage

On Sunday 9th December the girls were competing in a 'show hunter' event at Coatesville.  By then the weather had significantly improved and it was a sunny warm day with a light breeze.  Abigail was the first to register and was given No 1.  Frances was No 2.  In the first event Abigain was first and received her red ribbon.  Frances received a blue ribbon for second place.  Then in the very next event Frances won the red ribbon and Abigail the blue.

Abigail and Inky with their ribbons - one 1st place, two second, a third and a fourth

Frances after winning her event at the Coatsvill 'Show Hunter' event

The effects of the sun were greater than we realised and both of were burnt.

It was soon time to start the journey to Australia to visit Deborah's daughter Hannah, husband Chris and Deborah's two grandchildren Oscar (2) and Oakley (7).  Deborah's other daughter Gemma was also in the area.  Deborah thought the entire family would be there to greet us and maybe a brass band on the tarmac.  We stopped for breakfast in Auckland next to Flight Centre.  We thought we ought to correct Deborah's name spelt Slater instead of Slator - their mistake but we had to pay $50 to change it....  In the event the service desk at the airport did it in seconds and it did not cost us anything.  Another  slight drama at the airport where the automatic book in showed we had seperate seats!  Eventually we managed to change them and had two seats together one of which (mine - Deborah had the one nearer the window) had no seat in front of it so plenty of room.  But no meal on the 7 hour flight - apparently our tickets were "seat and bag only".

A long queue at immigration in Perth.  Eventually we cleared, collected cases and went to face the family onslaught.  Nobody there!  Chris arrived with Gemma about 25 minutes later and then Hannah arrived with the boys.  We then heard that the delays were due to an accident in which Chris's boss was seriously injured and another truck driver killed.  About the time that Chris and Gemma left to collect us Chris's boss Vince  left the farm they both worked at in a truck.  Another truck ran into the back pushing Vince into a tree.  The first truck carrying fertiliser exploded killing the driver.  Vince was trapped and eventually airlifted to hospital in Perth http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/southwest/a/-/news/15613253/one-man-dead-in-fiery-crash/ 


The weather was overcast but comfortable.  We eventually arrived at Hannah and Chris's home in the bushland between Lake Preson and the beach at Myalup.  Hiigh in the wooded hills it resembled a tree house.  By now there was heavy rain and soon we were treated to the most remarkable tropical electrical storm with sheets of horizontal lighnting that lit up the whole sky.  It lasted well into the next day.  We were beginning to think we were being followed by extreme and bizarre weather!  We often saw kangaroos in the bush around Hannah's home and on the way back one day were treated to a boxing match between 2 of them.  We had a full week with trips to Fremantle, Mandurah, Colly, Wellington Dam, Bunbury and Bissleton.  In Mandurah we found a wonderful restaurant that was offering a Monday night special all you can eat curry for $16!  I was out-voted.  On the way back from Mandurah we noticed in the direction of Pinjarra (smaller than Whittlesey) a glow in the sky like the light from a city but it was nowhere near Perth and there is no where else in Western Australia even a quarter the size of Peterborough.  As we got nearer we could see massive flames and realised it was a bushfire (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/15678110/alcoa-mine-on-bushfire-alert-near-pinjarra/ ).

We were treated by Hannah to a day out on a wine tasting and bush tucker trip around Margaret Valley.  The bush tucker included crocodile and kangaroo (very tasty) but we both drew the line at the wichety grub!

My own Australian expedition came all too soon to an end on Wednesday 19th December.  I was due to fly back to New Zealand to spend Christmas with my family but Deborah was staying to spend Christmas with hers - not ideal but the best compromise to suit everyone.  Again we left for the airport in good time.  Just as well, as the dramas that had followed us from the outset continued when I was told I could not board the plan without my ticket back from NZ to UK!  Eventually Mark found, scanned and emailed the ticket to Air New Zealand and I made the flight with 5 minutes to spare.  At the departure gate I met again the lady I had spent several hours with sorting out the ticket.  She greeted me warmly and said to the lady next to her "we have history - long story", to a few odd looks from other passengers!  I had no time to stock up for the 7 hour "seat and bag" no meal journey but we had hardly been in the air when the steward said "beef or chicken?".  He did not give me a 'I only have seat and bag' option - it was just "beef or chicken?" I did as I was told and answered 'beef' and my meal duly appeared.  Perhaps a small gesture from the check in lady!  My daughter Louise was there to meet me at Auckland Airport (at 0530 in the morning) and Phase 3 of my adventure was about to begin.

Meanwhile, on Christmas Eve Hannah wrote off her car.  Fortunately she was not hurt and was on her own.  The road from Myalup to Harvey has several cow crossing points but on this occasion a cow wondered into the road as Hannah was blinded by the sun.  Then on Boxing Day Chris's truck blew up and caught fire - again no one hurt.  Our eventful times were not ended yet!

Just before Christmas my daughter announced we were to go trekking at Tasman Rides.  I wondered at the wisdom of this - at my age the ground feels very hard even when it is hit from a position with feet firmly on the ground but after debate amongst my grandchildren as to what Quest may or may not do with me we came to the consensus that we might be suited.  And we were.  For the first time I found that the horse would do as it was told. was not inclined to chase anyone and it proved to be the most enjoyable of thye three treks I have done (I have only ever ridden a horse in New Zealand!).

Surreal!

To my friends who may wonder where I have been for the past 12 or so days!

The last couple of weeks seem almost surreal! It was on Wednesday 17th September when I thought I would head down to Frimley but with so much to do I ended up driving down very early on Thursday morning. After touching base with Ian he drove me to Farnborough, then train to London and ACFA where I met Melanie (Head of Marketing and Communications) and we set off to meet our members who were to be invested. Oliver Shepard told us to go to the Hat and Feathers in Clerkenwell for lunch so we met Les Edwards and wife, and Fred Owen and Hayley - I always wondered what kind of a woman it must be to keep him in check! The Hat and Feathers was no ordinary pub! The amazing service and leather seats gave the game away but I was not ready for the prices on the wine list - £250 for a bottle of champagne! However, Keith Davies the owner turned up, asked for me, said his old pal Oliver had told him to look me up and then asked if we would accept a bottle of champagne to toast our guests - too right we did! We were joined for the Investiture by Wendy, our other Investee, with daughter Kirsty and as ever it was an inspiring occasion. The last time for a long time we would have as many as three to be invested, as well as Dave and Wendy Human being upgraded to Officer of the Order. Les and wife then departed, but we joined forces with Dave and party for the evening, 14 of us for Dinner at the Park Hotel.

Friday morning saw an early start back to Frimley with much to do to prepare for a weeks courses. Then to the Chinese buffett in Camberley with those staff who had arrived, accompanied by the sound of fireworks and music from the event at the Royal Military Academy across the road. Then the usual 18 hour Frimley days, but a break on Tuesday to attend the ISG meeting in London. That kept me away from our guest from Focus on First Aid - the incredible Deborah who works harder than I do and doesn't miss a trick. Our training had to be good to withstand her perception but the fact that she took 458 photos and said her feature would have to run to 2 pages instead of 1 seemed a good verdict! We'll see on 1 November. Deborah also offered everyone at Frimley £75 tickets to her Festival of First Aid Conference - entirely free! On Wednesday we entertained Paul Budden for the day - my Sea Cadet counterpart who is working with us to introduce comparable training. On Thursday Len and I went first to Sandhurst to recce the National Comps on 11 Oct, then on to Guildford University where Kim, Corporate Events, showed us around to help plan the competition day for Gather 09 when 600 cadet from all over the world will come together for the week. Steve Hall from Birtish Forces Overseas SJA arrived to help the tail end of Advanced FA and then to chair the trainer assessment panel on Friday. He crossed over with Dave Human, with us since Monday also to help with the Advanced Course. Then I had to prepare for the National Panel Meeting on Saturday as students departed and Panel Members arrived.

On Saturday afternoon I had the usual sweepup to do, 7 portfolios to verify - and a Masters level thesis to write (but in effect gathering together of the owrk of the past 4 years!!)! L said at the start of the week that if I got it finished I'd be at the Graduation - also at Sandhurst - the day before my own event! Not really believing even L could achieve that miracle, I set to work in the Portacabin I had used as our course office. Could I really write a 5,000 word Thesis before I left Frimley? I worked through the night - and through Sunday. I saw the night come and go, watched a beautiful red sunrise with a huge white cross across the pink sky where two very wide vapour trails crossed. I heard, but did not see, the students arrive for KGVI, worked on as they would have had afternoon tean and then their evening meal, then heard the obligatory new course fire drill. I felt like H G Wells time traveller as events passed me by, hidden away from everything in my time travelling Portacabin! Finally the thesis was finished. If it is not rubbish and if L does achieve the miracle then 10 days from scratch to graduation will have to be an all time record!

Arrived home 10pm Sun night. A mammoth trip, even for Frimley, of some 12 days. Wrote the Panel minutes, rewrote our new level 3 award in Direct Training & Support for our trainer course students and for relaxation turned to this blog! Now I just have the National Competitions to prepare... Fortunately, I think I have got out of the habit of sleeping!!

Bernard Silver

The Recollections of Bernard Silver

My last post referred to the possible link between Cardinal David Beaton and the Beeton family. The link with my family is from the marriage of Annie Beeton to Bernard Silver, my daughters grandparents. Whilst in New Zealand with my daughter and her family I managed to publish a small book recording the recollections of Bernard Silver of his experiences in India throughout two World Wars. I or Louise will send the book to any family member who might like a copy, perhaps in return for a contribution to the printing and postage costs. Here is the preface from the book:

Preface
I did not know my father in law as he had died long before I met and married his daughter Janet. But I often heard of him and was fascinated by the notebook in which he recorded his thoughts and observations about his service in India in two world wars. Janet transcribed the entire notebook and this book is the result of scanning her transcribed version. The following title page and introduction are as written by Janet. This version does not include the detailed page numbering and referencing but we have carefully preserved Janet’s original work.

Janet passed away in September 2007 and her daughter Louise was assisted greatly in all that needed to be done by her cousin Graham Caulfield, also a grandchild of Bernard Silver. The photographs and other information used to produce this book were amongst Janet’s possessions that Louise took back to New Zealand where she lives with husband Mark and her two daughters Abigail and Frances, Bernard’s great grandchildren. Bernard Silver’s legacy is in the many lives he has touched and particularly his 3 children, 6 grandchildren and at last count10 great grandchildren. This book is written for them and their families.

Bernard Silver completed his service with the Reading University College Contingent of the Officer Training Corps in May 1912 when he was awarded the Senior Division ‘Certificate B’ (shown aside) entitling him to “the privileges conferred on the holders of this certificate as set forth in the regulations concerned”. The photograph reproduced later shows that on the onset of the Great War those privileges may have included the granting of Senior NCO status whilst awaiting commissioning into the regular army. Bernard Silver was commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a Lieutenant and embarked for France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. He commanded an infantry platoon of the 2nd Battalion in the most horrific campaign of the start of the war at Mons. He was very soon promoted to Captain and transferred to the 4th Battalion. The Reading Chronicle recorded his promotion. Bernard’s Journal begins with the massively understated comment “After a spot of bother in France in 1914 I spent a considerable amount of time in hospital and eventually found myself shunted out to India…”

Bernard Silver served in India throughout the remainder of the Great War and, by then commissioned into the India Army, throughout World War 2. In July 1945 he was granted home leave. He began his journey by air to the UK on Saturday 14th July 1945 and arrived in the UK at Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, 6 days later on Friday 20th July after a journey of seven legs! It seems to be on this journey that Bernard used a Field Service Notebook to record his thoughts, as well as to make lists of people to see, things to do and shopping he needed. Most of his recollections relate to the World War One years, but some observations are of a more general nature and others relate to the period immediately before his journey home. The notebook includes Bernard’s itinerary for his return to India by sea which began on Tuesday 2nd October 1945. arriving in Bombay on Tuesday 6th November. The notebook also includes a letter he drafted throughout the journey to the UK to his wife Anne, written en-route variously to Cairo, Malta and Marseilles. If he intended to take the pages from the notebook then the letter was never posted. By 1948 Bernard was once more back in the UK and with his second wife Phyllis. Their son Andrew was born in April 1949 and Janet in February 1952.

This book was put together with Louise whilst visiting my family in New Zealand in August 2008. It is a first stab, to fulfil my promise to present the journal in some form. Bernard’s own family history is fascinating, not only through his father’s background but also through his mother and the Beeton family who can trace their roots back to the 11th century and in more modern times to Isabella Mary Mayson (‘Mrs Beeton’) who married Samuel Orchart Beeton. I hope to rewrite this book and correct the mistakes I am sure I have made, add more information about the family background and to access service records and other available information. I am sure that there is far more to say and that more material will come to light, so this first offering is just a beginning, and I’d be delighted to receive comments, corrections, and above all new material from all those who come to read it. In Bernard Silver’s own words, we have a long way to go yet.

Alan J Sharkey

THE RECOLLECTIONS OF BERNARD SILVER
ISBN 978-1-905729-10-4 £6.99

Cardinal David Beaton

For my first attempt at starting a 'blog' I am going to add a picture of Cardinal David Beaton, Chancellor of Scotland (1494-1546), possibly an ancestor of Samuel Orchart Beeton, who married a lady called Isabella Mayson who then edited a cookery book for Sam's publishing business. Sam and Isabella are related to Annie Beeton - 1861-1927 (left), my daughter's great grandmother and therefore cousin of Louise and my granddaughters Abigail and Frances! I hope to be able to write the Silver & Beeton story for them, and perhaps post it on the blog. But for now let's see how we get on with David Beaton (the various spellings by the way seem to originate from the pronunciation of the original name 'Bethune' ie "Beetun" - not at all unusual for a period when my own Calladines evolved from Kanderdine!).

The link with David Beaton comes from Sarah Freeman's book "Isabella and Sam" where she shows that Sam's earliest direct ancestor is Roger Beaton born in 1535. She then outlines the reasons for the family believing they were linked to the Highland Bethune/Beaton family of David Beaton. As late as 1880 members of Sam's Beeton family used the same coat of arms.

In her book "Cardinal of Scotland" Margaret Sanderson shows the link with King James II. His daughter Princess Mary Stewart married James 1st Lord Hamilton, whose son James, 1st Earl of Arran, married Janet Beaton, David Beaton's first cousin both being gandchildren of Marjory Boswell and John Beaton of Balfour. This gives rise to the problem of how to show a King in my family tree on Genes Reunited!