Posted by Jock on March 24, 2008 at 13:21:01 from 87.105.81.146 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Ransome the Socialist posted by Duncan on March 24, 2008 at 11:06:24:
Hmm... As a child, reading Ransome - his books were available in the school library -
offered a quick escape from the world of Latin verbs, detentions and canings. Not having
the Lakes to hand, my playground was the southern end of the Grand Union Canal. Not
having a boat, my trusty Claude Butler had to be the vessel for my imagination. You can't
tack a bicycle on a narrow canal towpath, so the Claud was often transformed into a Castle
class locomotive, the smooth asphalt of the towpath into the mainline of the Great Western
Railway. When I first had access to boat to play with - a Thames skiff similar to the native
'war canoes' and later on a vanished lugsail centreboard dinghy - my joy was unbounded.
However, AR's inspiration effect was to demonstrate its potency a few years later.
During this time, Britain's branch line railways were closed. Miraculously the branch
railway of my childhood holidays survived until 1972. Investigating its possible reopening
as a hybrid heritage and community railway, I was told that its preservation was
impossible, as a major property redevelopment and road by-pass plans were at an advanced
stage of planning. In fact, when the line closed, the railway preservation society that had
been originally set up to save the line promptly disbanded! I decided that there was no
such word as "no", and after some six years of politicking by me and many members of
the local community, the new railway project received the go-ahead from the authorities.
Of course, this was not party politics - but rather lobbying - as we received support and
opposition in good measure from all shades of political opinion. Initially things went
disastrously, as most of the track was lifted! But I'm sure that I had Nancy Blackett
whispering into my ear as we bounced back from setback after setback. Now the line is
one of the popular heritage railways on the south coast of the UK. Maybe the 'inspiration
effect' is only triggered in certain individuals?