GWR apprentices take over train route to Exeter
'Great example'
The event, organised with Exeter College, aimed to inspire the next generation of rail professionals. Onboard apprentices engaged with passengers, distributing flyers and goodie bags, and providing advice on apprenticeship opportunities.John Laramy, principal of Exeter College, said it was a "great example of what can be achieved when a college and fantastic employer work together to create something truly sector leading".
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Spectator
25-06-2025
- Spectator
The hidden value of notes
'You asshole,' was my friend's cheery greeting when we met in Ludlow. I'd mucked up the time. Reconciled, we walked to his place and on the door was a note he'd left me, scrawled on a card with an image of him mimicking Philip Larkin proudly sitting on a border stone: 'Just a note that you are an asshole. Call.' Stuart, a collector of manuscripts, showed me a recent acquisition, a note by Sir Edward Elgar, graced with a self-portrait featuring, my friend is sure, an immodestly large penis. I think it's his coat tail. We debated the iconography while listening to 'Nimrod'. Notes are often discarded – who hasn't inherited, in the bottom of a trolley, a forlorn shopping list? But they have a long history. Their ephemerality was generally guaranteed on ancient wax tablets, scraped down for reuse. A fair few survive, however, bearing the abandoned sums or grammar of some bored Etruscan child from as long ago as the 7th century bc. An Etch a Sketch is more fun, perhaps, with its erasable text. Ironically, Keats's epitaph, 'Here lies one whose name was writ in water', is inscribed in obdurate stone in the Protestant cemetery in Rome. Notes that endure often do so when they are associated with something else of value. Exeter College, Oxford, has a fine scribal manuscript of The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius. Bonus: its owner, Petrarch, has carefully composed his notes in the margins. There is a strong academic interest in 'scholia' – not just annotations in important early texts but layered commentaries on the annotations themselves. If everything has been plumbed in the canonic texts, look to the edges. The hurried informality and often surreptitious nature of a note written on the hoof can tell us much about a particular historical moment. During the first world war it was forbidden to record cabinet discussions. Lewis Harcourt did it all the same, jotting down, under the table, character sketches of Winston Churchill, among others. Notes are not always penned. Printed notices are a form never meant to endure beyond the immediate purpose of laying down some edict or announcing the start or end of a life, but usually flogging something. The Bodleian has the earliest example of print advertising in English. Dating from 1477, Caxton's jobbing piece was intended to gee up enthusiasm for a less than thrilling priest's manual. It promises that the buyer will have a copy 'good chepe'. It's worth a few bob. The note can have a degree of scholarly credibility. The journal Notes and Queries, established in 1849 and dedicated to 'readers and writers, collectors and librarians', is still going strong. Entirely devoid of theoretical nonsense, it invites short observations on, and responses to, points of influence and other marvellously arcane literary niceties. These days we still occasionally scribble stuff down on trusty paper – tomatoes, loo roll, milk, 1 btl Tia Maria, 8 btls wine – but we commit most of our scraps to the digital realm. I am writing this note for Notes On…on the Notes app on my tablet while glancing at my phone for a note from my daughter. Snapchat is the only way I can reach her and she's made sure her laconic observations vanish soon after I have read them. Etruscan kids, modern kids. Plus ça change.
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Daily Record
Lemur at West Lothian zoo claims Guinness World Record
The ring-tailed lemur called Stumpy celebrated not only his 39th birthday but also recognition as the oldest living lemur in captivity. Staff at a West Lothian zoo have celebrated a world record after an adorable lemur in their care made it into the Guinness book of World records. The ring-tailed lemur called Stumpy celebrated not only his 39th birthday but also recognition as the oldest living lemur in captivity. The mature primate, whose slightly shortened tail is what led to his name, is described as 'a firm favourite with staff and visitors' alike. He was born in June 1986 in Surrey before moving to Scotland and has resided at Five Sisters since 2005. He currently lives there with two of his sons, Red, aged 21, and 20-year-old Julian – themselves both a respectable age for their kind. Five Sisters' Senior Animal Keeper, Gemma Varley said: 'He loves to sunbathe and eat fresh browse (his favourite is willow) and he loves sweet potato. 'Stumpy's birthday is a big event. He celebrates with his sons and enjoys a bit of birthday cake made from special primate pellet. 'While he does have some arthritis, he has been blessed with good health. He does need some extra care, such as daily medications for his arthritis, weekly weigh-ins and his scent glands often overgrow, but he allows us to trim these voluntarily through positive-reinforcement training. Over his lifetime, Stumpy has done his bit for lemur conservation and public engagement by siring a total of 11 offspring. His progeny have gone on to produce 25 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. All six great-grandchildren now live at Attica Zoo in Greece. GWR's Senior Managing Editor, Adam Millward, who worked with the zoo on the verification process, was delighted by the final result. He said: 'Reaching such a grand age –we're talking living well over a decade beyond what is typical for your kind – is impressive for any species. With this record, there's now no question that Stumpy has truly earned his stripes! 'I hope he enjoyed his special day – and paws crossed we hear from Five Sisters Zoo again for the big 4-0 next year.'
BBC News
06-06-2025
- BBC News
Caerphilly World War Two veteran turns 100 on D-Day anniversary
An RAF veteran has said he would not change a thing about his life as he celebrated his 100th birthday on the anniversary of 'Ted' Carter from Caerphilly turned 19 on D-Day, 81 years ago on 6 June was deployed in India at the time, a memory he described as "wonderful".Reflecting on becoming a centenarian, Mr Carter said he had had "a very, very happy life". "I think we should all live a peaceful, happy life, helping people as much as we can, give back as much as we can," he said. After leaving school at 16, Mr Carter joined the railway and said his father told him "you won't make much money"."I didn't want to work anywhere else," he initially worked in the signal boxes, then "on the trains",When he was called up to serve in the war effort, he did not want to join the Army."And I couldn't swim, so I thought the air force was best for me," he four-and-a-half years, he served in the Royal Air Force as an engineer, working on Wellington and Lancaster bombers."You had to learn in six months what in peace time would take you three years."Reflecting on the conflict, Mr Carter said: "I think, I hope, the world has got a better place."All we want is a quiet, peaceful life." When he left the RAF, he joined what is now Great Western to Wales in 1946, home became the cottage he shared with his late wife met as teenagers, and married aged 22 and 23."I'm so glad I met Margaret when she was 15," he said."We had 61 years of a lovely life together."With savings of £380, they spent £320 on their cottage in Bedwas and £11 on solicitors fees and went on to raise three children there – Paul, Sharon and fact, the letter he recently received from the King, marking his big birthday, was actually his second correspondence from a monarch, having also had one for his 60th wedding anniversary from Elizabeth II. "[Our dad] taught us to be hard working, kind," said added: "He's been an exceptional human being. He's terrific."At 98, Mr Carter was still regularly seen tending to his beloved garden at the cottage, particularly its orchard with pear, apple and plum trees."We grew everything," he now lives at Castle View care home in Caerphilly, where staff and residents threw him a birthday party."All my life I've had very good luck and health. What can you ask for more than that?"If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change it."
