View allAll Photos Tagged Qualified
CHOBE RIVER
The hippopotamus, or hippo, further qualified as the common hippopotamus, Nile hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. Its name comes from the ancient Greek for "river horse".
The earliest evidence of human interaction with hippos comes from butchery cut marks on hippo bones found at the Bouri Formation and dated to around 160,000 years ago.
The hippo is considered to be extremely aggressive and has frequently been reported charging and attacking boats. Small boats can easily be capsized by hippos and passengers can be injured or killed by the animals, or drown in the water.
In one 2014 case in Niger, a boat was capsized by a hippo and thirteen people were killed.
Hippos will often raid farm crops if the opportunity arises, and humans may come into conflict with them on these occasions. These encounters can be fatal to either humans or hippos.
Her replacement, Queen Esther: Quiet and Qualified (and brave, courageous, beautiful and loyal).
This week's Macro Mondays: "Queen"
day 211/365
Find my latest blog-post and YouTube video here!
Holy throwback! I posted the milkshake photo a while ago.. but I finally found some time to edit the rest of the photos and videos.
You can find all that on my blog and YouTube. 😉
It's Friday.. the workweek is over and the Dutch team already qualified for the 1/8 finals of the European Championship! 😃
Have a great weekend! ❤️
During one brief excursion outside this week,( which qualified as getting out to exercise), I fixed the flag on this abandoned barn that had blown back into the window. Let's just say it was one of those moments that my sisters and I refer to as "Don't tell Mom" moments.
Climbing up into the upper level of this barn to free the flag (by propping open a trap door that swings up and climbing up a pallet that I balanced on top of an old work bench) was one thing. Getting back down was another. I'm not going to tell you how long I sat up there playing every possible scenario through my mind before deciding that no one was going to save me and I had to try to get down or stay there... forever. The two most probable possibilities seemed to be ... that my foot would miss my pallet ladder and I would fall off the workbench and break my leg...or that I would kick the board that I had propped the trap door open with, causing the door to fall shut, hitting me in the head and knocking me out... as I missed my pallet ladder and rolled off the workbench and would regain consciousness on the barn floor, with a broken leg... either way somehow winding up in the hospital where I don't want to be with all the Corona Virus patients. I guess my guardian angel was on the job because I made it down safely, and just to make sure I don't have to do this again, I turned a plastic garbage can upside down, balanced it on some rocks and climbed up and stapled down the ends of the flag so it won't blow back into the window. (Thank you again Guardian Angel) Don't tell Mom.
I have a feeling that not working is just going to leave me with a whole lot more time to get into trouble! did I mention that I just bought a chain saw!!
The Almo Collegio Borromeo is a private university hall of residence (collegio) in Pavia, region of Lombardy, Italy. It is classified as a "highly qualified Cultural Institute" by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research and is the oldest such institution remaining in operation in Italy. Together with Collegio Ghislieri – with which a sharp goliardic rivalry has developed during the centuries – it is one of two colleges in Pavia with historical heritage. The building that houses the college was designed by Pellegrino Tibaldi, and overlooks the Ticino, surrounded by landscaped gardens and the Borromeo Gardens. Vasari described it as a "palace of knowledge" ("palazzo per la Sapienza").
The college selects students of the University of Pavia through a rigorous public competition based on tests taken annually. The services offered by the college are not limited to food and housing, but rather are focused on providing training in parallel and integrated with the university: for example, CEGA (Center for General and Applied Ethics) is hosted by the college; along with conferences, presentations of books on current affairs, hosting the chair in theology, and offering countless moments of reflection, in addition to the ever-rich artistic and musical seasons in the life of the college. The college also offers various exchange programmes, with institutions such as Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.
Collegio Borromeo was founded in 1561 by the estate of cardinal St. Charles Borromeo which aimed to create an institution to accommodate young promising students experiencing economic hardship. This is still the aim of the Fondazione Collegio Borromeo. On May 10, 2009, the Women's Section was opened in the presence of Minister Mariastella Gelmini and Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi; it is intended to accommodate approximately fifty of the most deserving female students from the University of Pavia.
The student rooms are divided according to the sides of the building: "Piazza" ("Square") on the western side, facing Piazza Borromeo, "Giardino" ("Garden") on the south side, "Vicolo" ("Lane") on the north side, looking onto Via Cardinal Tosi. The east side is called "Richini", as it is situated on a seventeenth-century garden designed by Francesco Maria Richini, and houses two auditorium-style rooms ("White Room" and "Mural Room") with private upstairs rooms for guests. The rooms are also divided into several levels: "Mezzanino" (mezzanine), "Nobile" (piano nobile), "Paradiso" (second mezzanine) and "Iperuranio" (attic). Also on the south side are "Sangiovannino alto" and "basso" ("Upper" and "Lower"), saved from the Church of San Giovanni in Borgo before demolition in the nineteenth century.
ODC (group) Topic "Spiral"
"S is for SNAIL"
I personally am not really crazy about snails, but they are sort of fascinating, and they do have a spiral shell.
;o)
Please let this image load a second or two longer than you normally might, and it will be clearer.
(20190808_070245SnailonPotLidTUflickr080819)
Inauguré le 14 juillet 1958, l’hôtel de ville est reconstruit quasiment à son emplacement d’avant-guerre. Auguste Perret y met en œuvre un nouvel ordre architectural adapté aux potentialités du béton armé qui sera qualifié de Classicisme structurel par l’historien de l’architecture Joseph Abram. L’édifice est l’aboutissement de recherches pointues sur le béton et de procédés alors innovants, comme les fondations en pieux préfabriqués battus en béton pour renforcer le sous-sol marécageux. Le Havre fait alors figure de laboratoire et de chantier d’expérimentation. L’hôtel de ville est le bâtiment le plus monumental réalisé dans le cadre de la Reconstruction française.
L’hôtel de ville se compose de deux parties distinctes :
une tour beffroi de 72 m abritant des bureaux administratifs ;
et un bâtiment horizontal de 92 m, souligné par une colonnade, comprenant les salons de réception et qui se termine, à l’est, par le Théâtre de l’hôtel de ville.
Inaugurated on July 14, 1958, the town hall was rebuilt almost in its pre-war location. Auguste Perret implements a new architectural order adapted to the potential of reinforced concrete which will be qualified as structural Classicism by the historian of architecture Joseph Abram. The building is the culmination of cutting-edge research on concrete and innovative processes at the time, such as the foundations made of prefabricated concrete piles to reinforce the marshy subsoil. Le Havre was then seen as a laboratory and experimental site. The town hall is the most monumental building built as part of the French Reconstruction.
The town hall is made up of two distinct parts:
a 72 m belfry tower housing administrative offices;
and a horizontal building of 92 m, underlined by a colonnade, including the reception rooms and which ends, to the east, with the Théâtre de l'hôtel de ville.
I thought I would just put two different poses of telephone poles (in a slushy rain) together in a artistic manner and have a nice and somewhat different than normal *slide* for Sliders Sunday. I thought it would be a piece of cake. Ha, was I wrong! No need for me to fret about getting fat on this cake! I kept hitting roadblocks, My computer was doing some "sliding" of its own with my brain. Then I couldn't figure out why for the longest time. This took hours to do. Anyway, that's my entry for this last Sunday in November. Smiles from Delina
(DSCN7675TelephonePoles2in1ArtsySlushyRainInitFlickr112920)
Simon Seath qualified his 1959 Jaguar Mk1 14th for the Ecurie Classic Racing race, and came home in 12th place.
For Dave C. and other Flickr Friends too, I think the soul of this picture is that even though the leaf is dying, it has brilliant color that belies that. The little pinpoint like things on the leaf's edge are intriguing, and well-focused for a hand-held shot. Also the cute little guys that look like blueberries but aren't, make me smile.
(DSCN8599RedLeafAutumnRainBordFlickr101220)
Metroline VWH2221 (LK16HZP) outside Harrow-on-the-Hill station on Route 140 to Harrow Weald Bus Garage sporting a new blindest which includes routes 186 & N5.
-I fear I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers.
-Shall we ask him why?
Why a man of sense and education, who has lived in the world,
should be ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers
-I.. I have not that talent which some possess, of conversing easily with strangers.
- I do not play this instrument so well as I should wish to,
but I have supposed that to be my own fault, because I would not take the trouble of practising
- An excerpt from Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice
Today I went back to my old school to chat with my old voice professor and perhaps sing a piece or two. Funnily enough, I ended up teaching a class of a few voice students which was quite unexpected though thoroughly enjoyable. I've never had to do anything like that before but the girls seemed to approve of me as they had asked if I'd come back to teach them again.
Back when I was in their shoes and I was frustrated or upset I would steal away to the small piano room at the side of our music classroom and try to compose pieces or play the sheet music of songs that I loved. I'd even skip classes to stow away with the aged piano. I was never a good pianist though I got by on my limited skills since most of my compositions were emotionally driven and I could notate well enough. 'Pali Dala', 'Spiders' and 'Spirito Libero' are still, in my opinion, my best compositions that I have created and were all the products of the dusty little piano room.
Once I had left school and my keyboard was all that was available to me I lost interest in playing. It just wasn't the same I suppose.
This is the piano that I have photographed.
Print 1 of 6- SOLD
In 1979 I did not drive but I did have the services of a chauffeur in the form of my girlfriend (and latter my wife) Miss Lorna Church. Occasionally she would take pity on me and we would spend time together indulging in my railway photography hobby. One such occasion was the 21st April 1979 when I was being chauffeured in Lorna’s trusty Morris 1000 and we have “stopped off” on the East Coast Main Line at Careby, between Grantham and Peterborough. In between photographing the traffic I managed this shot of Lorna looking lovely in a rather bright red cardigan. Seventeen months later we married and I am afraid the Morris 1000 had to go as we could not afford to run it and pay our new mortgage (the mortgage interest rate in those days a mere 15%). Also the new Mrs Woolley now qualified for my Rail Travel facilities and joined me on the 08:10/17:15 train for our regular commute between Long Eaton to Nottingham. It would be eighteen months before we regained a car and a further ten years before I learnt to drive.
Praktica LTL, Ektachrome 200
I'm just being facetious with my title. I never think a beautiful scene is *Ho Hum"
"My thin white border is not so much a frame as a defense against Flickr's all dark background"
(DSCN2733WillametteRiverLaneCountyflickr111116)
Number 43 for 2018 Weekly Alphabet Challenge : Q is for Qualified
Although Rosie was the first of my present pack to qualify, she is not nearly as good at it as the other two!
Created in 2000, this monument is a tribute the Famous Five: Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy and Henrietta Muir Edwards, all from Alberta.
The Famous Five brought a case before the highest court in the British Empire to appeal a 1928 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada. That court had ruled that women could not be appointed to the Senate, because they were not "qualified persons." On October 18, 1929, the Privy Council reversed this decision. This sculpture was also featured on the back of the $50 bill.
This sculpture has been relocated due to ongoing construction on Parliament Hill. It can now be seen on the Plaza Bridge near the Senate of Canada.
My previous experiences trying to photograph quail have been disastrous. They were way too far away and scampering away too quickly. This quail actually hung around for a little while, and I was able to get closer in than ever before in my life. He or she looked downright fat, and I saw detailed markings I never knew existed on a quail before. I shot this from my driver's seat in my truck.
(DSCN1786Quail&orangehoseflicke041717)
For "The Soul of a Photograph" pool, I think the soul is the American Flag.
"My thin white border is not so much a frame as a defense against Flickr's all dark background"
(DSCN0263PinkChairbordinitbirdhouseswindowinitflickr060116)
As a qualified Computer Technologist from Univ of Wales; I always believes in using the technology to create arts.
This is using the software of www.chaoscope.org.
Chaoscope is a 3D strange attractors rendering software. When you visiting the link above; there are sample of pictures rendered by the program. You can check the Gallery to see more examples of what Chaoscope can do.
It is an ongoing project created and maintained by Nicolas Desprez ; the current version is 0.3.1. It is a freeware running on the Windows™ platform.
I have used the Chaotic - flow Plasma to generate this image.
Then I did some work using Picasa & Corel Paintshop Pro Xi to get to the finish presentation of the above image.
Thank you for your visit & support.
I appreciate it.
Meet J a newly qualified Paramedic..
Seems she likes a Cappuccino or two, so she can stay!!
She is with me this evening as she is waiting to do her 'blue light' driving course..
So I am designated driver for the shift, which finished a while back...
Sigh..!
Sorry bit of fuzzy selfie there!!
We work for Yorkshire Ambulance Service in and around the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire.
It’s a great job and I feel very honoured to be able to help people at their point of need.
Check out the website for all sorts of info re YAS and the work we do.
www.yas.nhs.uk/our-services/emergency-ambulance-service-999/
Beiteddine Palace Complex, Lebanon.
In the Middle Ages Lebanon was divided up into fiefs governed by emirs or hereditary sheikhs. But in the Dar El Harim façadeearly years of the 17th century, Emir Fakhr Ed Dine II Maan (d. 1635) succeeded in extending his power throughout these princedoms and eventually ruled an area corresponding to present-day Lebanon.
His first capital was at Baaqline but because of a chronic water shortage, he was forced to move to Deir El Qamar where there were copious springs.
When the Maan dynasty died out at the end of the 17th century, the land was inherited by the emirs of the Chehab family. It was Emir Bechir Chehab II who decided to leave Deir El Qamar and to construct his own palace at Beiteddine (House of faith), a druze hermitage which today is part of the palace.
In 1812, Emir Bechir obliged each of his able-bodied males subjects to provide two days of unpaid labor in order to ensure a plentiful supply of water at his new seat of government. Within two years the project was completed.
The palace remained the emir's residence until his forced exile in 1840. After the Ottomans suppressed the emirate in 1842 the building was used by the Ottoman authorities as the government residence. Later, under the French Mandate following World War I, it was used for local administrative purposes.
The General Directorate of Antiquities carefully restored Beiteddine to its original grandeur after it was declared a historic monument in 1934. Beginning in 1943, the year of Lebanon's independence, the palace became the summer residence of the president. Bechara El Khoury was the first president to use Beiteddine and he brought back the remains of Emir Bechir from Istanbul, where he had died in 1850.
Today Beiteddine, with its museums and its gardens, is one of Lebanon's major tourist attractions. Qualified guides are available for your tour through this monument, which is open daily. A visit to Beiteddine is ideally combined with nearby Dei Al Qamar.
For video, please visit youtu.be/--XHLL4vVmc
part of a venetian castle in rethymno. at the tourist information i asked for a job as a king...i won´t be qualified...pah!
I started to drive a long time ago. In fact it was in about 1959 in Singapore. Without a qualified instructor to help me I struggled to go very far without resorting to teary tantrums and foot stamping. Observers noticed I spent most of my time in reverse looking over my shoulder to see out of the back of the car. Inevitably I was always reversing into things, such as trees and our pet dog, Prince. But in time I mastered going backwards quite fast, pushing firmly with my little feet on the hot grass. I never used the pedals which might have allowed me to travel forwards, but I was happy with my first car, a pedal car that I drove at the age of 17 months wearing a terry-towel nappy and nothing else.
Aged 5, I climbed with my younger brother, up into my father’s army Austin Champ parked on the driveway. We wiggled the big steering wheel, tugged at the gear levers and flicked the light switches as we dreamed of the day we could join him as he led his unit in a massive military convoy across Germany.
By the age of 12 I was sitting on my father’s lap driving Fordson tractors down the farm road as we hauled large trailers piled high with hay and straw back to the barn for winter storage. I literally had to stand on the pedals to make them work, but I loved the feeling of control especially on those warm sunny harvest days.
So, by the time I reached 15 I was competent with tractors or cars and there was only one more territory left to explore; speed.
I was at school when a tiny 1950’s Austin A35 was given to me. It had been an MOT failure so was already a death trap. I can’t say I really noticed the brown edged ragged holes around the round headlights or the rough and ragged rusty edges to the wheel arches or the chunks missing out of the body work below the door cill. I didn’t care that the engine gases dissipated through the perforated exhaust pipe under the car or that the engine noise was especially loud. Or that the four tyres were almost bald. I didn’t care that the handbrake was no longer connected to the brake drums by a piece of cable, or that the battery was dead and required me to always park on a steep hill, with the gear in reverse to hold it there or indeed that the drivers and passengers seats had been given to a new owner and my brother and I now had to sit on upturned plastic milkcrates. I had my own ‘real’ car and I could do with it as I wished on the 2.5 km private farm road, which conveniently had a steep hill at both ends, great for parking and bump starts and a challenge in the depths of winter in the extreme north of Scotland.
I was entrusted to take both my younger brothers and the cattleman’s daughter to the end of the farm road each morning and bring us back after school. We did this every day except when the little A35 with my two younger brothers and the cattleman’s daughter pushing the car was defeated by the blizzards and snow drifts. Then we would abandon the Austin and load up into the cab of one of the big farm tractors.
I don’t remember why the gutsy little Austin was retired into one of our stone quarries, to house stray hens and rats, but I don’t think it was my foray into a dung heap that finished it off. I had been on my own coming down the farm road when a rabbit sprinted out ahead of me. Forgive me, but rabbits are vermin to farmers and in the far north lands of Caithness farming is tough in the harsh, wind battered landscape. Grass is in short supply for livestock and just four rabbits will eat as much as one sheep. Farmers will kill vermin whenever they get a chance. And so I chased this rabbit down the road. It mainly ran close to the rough verge and I lined the car’s wheels up along the rut it followed. But as I gained on the rabbit it jinked to the right a bit heading off to a large midden (pile of dung). The rabbit sprinted up and over the pile, but I found the car, now going at some speed, was trapped in the rut and pulled off the road straight into the midden. The car ended up some five feet up on top of the pile and I had no choice but to climb out and trudge home in absolute humiliation with dung stained shoes and trousers to ask for a tow.
By the time I was 16 I had a Hillman Minx with a column shift. It was also an MOT failure. But it had seats, a great bench front seat so three of you could sit in the front. Like the Austin it always had a flat battery, but with four doors everyone could get out, push, and then when you were up to speed leap in and I could engage the clutch for the bump start. The brakes needed a good pump. Fortunately the farm road didn’t have too many bends, but a long undulating straight ending with a 90 degree bend required some anticipation especially when we were barrelling down the potholed single track at 80+mph. I became a good pumper. And the last of the brakers.
I only had one incident in that car. It was when two of my friends and I went out to shoot some crows, as a flock of hundreds was savaging our most valuable malting barley crops where the wind and rain had knocked it flat. The Caithness landscape is flattish and open with little cover. In thousands of acres mature trees could be counted on one hand. And so it was difficult to approach crows without being seen. We loaded up with shotguns and rifles and stuck them out the windows like some wildwest stagecoach ready to fight of Indians. There were crows circling and we searched up into the sky looking for one to come in range. I was able to drive and steer with my left hand using the column shift with my head and right arm out of the window, holding the double barrelled 12 bore shotgun single handed. Or so I thought. I drove straight off the road into a ditch. And you know the sound that circling crows make? It sounds just like they are laughing!
So I had been driving many years before I got my first proper driving lesson at the age of 17. The driving instructor was an elderly gent, whose name escapes me now but it might have been Mr MacKay. I didn’t like him from the start. My first driving lesson consisted of him doing the driving. I was told to watch his feet on the pedals, and how he looked in the mirror, and held the steering wheel. He caught me looking out of the window. I was bored. I didn’t need to be taught clutch control or how to select gears or steer properly. And I was paying good money for him to waste my time. But my respect for Mr MacKay grew over the 9 or 10 lessons I had. We were driving a basic red Ford Escort Mark 1, but from the off Mr Mackay was no slouch making a point of how you must pick up speed and not just crawl along. And something he told me that has stuck with me all my life, to the point where I ignored almost everything else he tried to tell me: “You can do anything you like as long as it is safe to do so”. I have never forgotten my driving instructor told me that!
I did pass my driving test, at the second attempt. On my first test it seems the examiner was not used to racing starts and apparently he didn’t notice that I constantly glanced in the rear view mirror. You think they would insist driving examiners would have good eyesight. I learnt that doing something, and showing that you have done something are two different things to a driving examiner. I made no mistake second time, boring holes into the rearview mirror with my eyes so the blind instructor realised I was actually looking in the mirror. Having driven around for half an hour (why do they always start roadworks on the day of your test?) he instructed me to return to the street by the test centre, pull up on the left hand side, and switch off the engine. And then he turned to me and started asking me questions on the Highway Code, as they did on those days. With a grilling on road signs, speed limits, stopping distances, and on all sorts of things I had never encountered (there was only one set of traffic lights in the whole county, no roundabouts, no dual carriageways, no one way streets, no pedestrian crossings, no speed humps, etc), he closed his book and turned to me before announcing formally, “I’m pleased to tell you Mr Newton you have passed”. He then asked me to sign the form and pulled the door handle to open the door. But he could only open the door a few inches as the door was up against a sign. It was only a No Parking sign, and I had to move the car forward to allow him to get out which he did, grumbling something I couldn’t quite make out.
I was lucky he didn’t change his mind, but in fact what happened then was symbolic of my driving history thereafter. Time and again I got away with things I never should have. Perhaps one day I’ll admit how lucky, and how stupid, I was.
CAITHNESS CONSTABULARY – SGT DAVID MILLER (1861-1885)
Sgt Miller and his Thurso area Constables.
David Miller was born on 14th September 1839 (or was he? See much later!!) at Black Park, Halkirk and grew up in the Halkirk area. After working as a Labourer locally he applied aged 22 to join the County Police of Caithness.
On 4th December 1861 Chief Constable Alexander Mitchell appointed young David as a Constable in the Caithness-shire Constabulary and the following day he was medically examined by Dr Eric S Sinclair, JP, LFPSG, Medical Officer, Wick who certified he found him well qualified for the police service in terms of his health and bodily strength. He was sworn in as a Constable on the 8th December by Alexander Bruce, JP.
Of his FOUR referees, two were ministers of religion, being the Halkirk incumbents of the Church of Scotland and Free Church respectively. Another was his current employer, Donald Tait, Contractor, Halkirk who had known young David for 11 years.
Constable David Miller was initially stationed at Wick, where he would have received an element of on-the-job training, and then on 26th May 1864 he was transferred across the Wick River to Pulteney Harbour. This would have been an interesting transfer as technically Pulteneytown and its harbour (today that part of Wick south of the river) lay outwith Caithness and it had its own police force independent of the County.
This was because the municipality of Pulteneytown had been set up by the British Fisheries Society, a quasi-governmental organisation and by virtue of an 1844 Act of Parliament in respect of it, the “town” operated literally as a law unto itself. That Act gave the Commissioners powers to establish its own police (and special constables for the harbour area), which it did but there was no chief officer, other than the Resident Naval Officer. Experience of the potential for serious fall-out between locals and incoming fisherfolk (Battle of the Orange, 1859) meant the County Police maintained a presence in the “town” - despite the two or three local bobbies over whom the County Chief Constable had no control.
After 3 years in Pulteney (during which time he married Jessie, a farmer’s daughter), and only 6 years police service, PC Miller was in November 1867 promoted to the rank of Sergeant – no mean feat as the County only had two of that rank, one of whom would act as Deputy to the Chief Constable – and Sergeant Miller was transferred through to Thurso to take charge of the Western Area of the force. His duties also involved attending to the Procurator Fiscal, then also based in Thurso.
Sergeant Miller would remain in Thurso – effectively the Chief officer of that half of the County force – for the next 18 years.
Meantime, another young man had joined the County force in May 1865 - Constable Thomas Sinclair (a 20 year old native of Wick) was initially posted to Mey which would have been within the Thurso Division of the County. Being a single man, he was moved about a bit and he transferred to Thurso in February 1866 - where he would be under the charge of Sgt Miller. Then PC Sinclair moved yet again – this time to Lybster on the southern part of the east coast of the County – in February 1868. Three months later PC Sinclair was relocated back into the Thurso Division, at Reay - Caithness’s furthest west posting, right on the boundary with the County of Sutherland (whose force had a police station 5 miles along the road at Melvich across the River Halladale). Exactly one year later Thomas Sinclair was posted yet again, this time to “Harbour” (Pulteneytown). After four years there Sinclair was promoted to Sergeant (at Wick) – thus putting him on a par with David Miller (and actually ahead because, by being based in Wick, Sergeant Sinclair would deputise for the Chief Constable). So when the rank of Inspector (and Deputy Chief Constable) was created in the force on 27th august 1878 it came as no great surprise that the man to fill that post was none other than Thomas Sinclair. One wonders how Sergeant Miller, who had seniority of service, would have felt – slighted perhaps, or alternatively maybe he was glad to be overlooked and left in relative peace on the west side of the County.
Chief Constable Mitchell who had served in that role for 25 years died on 15th June 1884 aged only 56 years. It is likely that the Chief was unwell for some time and Inspector Sinclair was running the force, as in May 1884 (no date given!) Constable James Swanson was pulled into Wick from Lybster and promoted to Sergeant. Some twelve days after Mr Mitchell’s death, Inspector Thomas Sinclair was appointed Chief Constable, and immediately thereafter Sgt Swanson became Inspector Swanson.
Now new brooms invariably sweep clean, and on 28th May 1885 Sergeant David Miller was transferred to Lybster. After so long in Thurso, this would have come as quite a shock to the system ,whether or not Chief Constable had sold him on the idea of moving. The area was one quite unknown to him. Lybster is 40-odd miles across the county from Thurso, and some 13 miles south of Wick. Although the fishing station would have meant plenty of police work, it would have been alien territory to Sgt Miller. Transfers in Highland forces almost always tended to be carried out in the spring so the officer had an opportunity to well acquaint himself with his new area before the nights started drawing in.
The Personnel Records of this era look as though they were completed (retrospectively) by the Chief Constable himself – but PC John Macaulay, who seems to have been at Lybster in 1885 was promoted Sergeant on the same day as Sgt Miller was transferred to Lybster, and Sgt Macaulay ended up in Thurso (but seemingly not till 1886, although it may just be that Mr Sinclair’s memory was a bit hazy as to transfer dates). Sgt Macaulay remained in Thurso for 3 years before being moved again – back to Lybster. Having joined the force in 1870, he had previously served in Thurso under Sgt Miller from 1871 to 1872, before serving for a whole ten years at “Harbour” (Pulteneytown)
So after 24 years, Sergeant Miller was at the crossroads of his career. With 24 years service, and rapidly approaching the age of 50, he had to take stock. Back then there were no pensions for police officers, and no hope of financial assistance for him to move back to his "home” area of Halkirk/Thurso when he was no longer fit enough to do the job. He clearly therefore concluded that his police career was at an end and that it would be prudent for him and his family to return to Thurso. Indeed it is possible - and he would definitely NOT be the last to do so! - to have gone on ahead without the family and lived in lodgings for the time being.
His obituary reported of his time as Sergeant at Thurso: “he carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Police Commissioners and was on many occasions congratulated on the absence of crime due to his tact and geniality.”
After resigning (his obituary says “retired” but his police record says “resigned” with no mention of any gratuity, which would have to have been done out of the goodness of the police committee's heart anyway) on 21st October 1885 – the nights would have been drawing in by then – David Miller and family moved to Scrabster, harbour of Thurso, where he took over the hotel there ”where he carried on a successful business for a long number of years.”
“In 1896 he retired from the business and came to reside in Thurso when he was appointed sole traffic agent for the North of Scotland for the Caledonian London and North Western Railway till the year l9O7. After the amalgamation of the traffic departments he was appointed to other agencies for Orkney and Shetland and the Northern Counties and always gave entire satisfaction to the companies.”
David Miller passed away on Sunday 22nd December 1929, which would have made him aged 90 years, although his biographer – having begun his eulogy by saying that he was born in 1841 – made him out to be 88. His police records definitely state he was born on 18th September 1839 but it may be he (like many others back in the day) “erred” about his age on his application to join the police. There were no Birth Certificates back then! Perhaps he thought by saying he was “only” 20, Chief Constable Mitchell might have considered him a bit young for the job? Although there was no minimum age stipulated for a recruit, the age of 21 was generally regarded as adulthood. His initial postings being to the Wick area meant little or no chance of his age being challenged by his peers in his “probation” on the job! In any case, with the kind of robust policing which would have been required around the Harbour of Wick at that time, if you were big enough, you were old enough!
His biography provided a great deal of other background information not generally recorded in respect of police officers back then.
“Mr Miller was a great draughts player and was a founder member of the Caithness Draughts Club. When the Worlds Draught Champion ‘Herd Laddie’ visited Thurso Mr Miller drew him in a game and was congratulated by the champion. Up to the time of his death he enjoyed a game with his numerous friends.
“Mr Miller all his life took a deep interest in the town and though not a member of any public body was often approached by the principal citizens of the town and county to do so.
“Mr Miller who celebrated his golden wedding 14 years ago is survived by Mrs Miller and two daughters to whom and other relatives , the deepest sympathies is extended.
“Mr Miller who enjoyed the best of health all his life until a short time ago, was a regular attender of the Parish Church and took a deep interest in church matters.
“His remains were interred in Thurso Cemetery on Wednesday and the funeral was very largely attended. Revs G.H. MacLennan, W.D. Mackenzie and G.L. Maclachlan officiated at the house and Rev Mr MacLennan at the grave.”
Chief Constable Sinclair retired on pension in 1912 (police pensions having been introduced in 1890) after 47 years service and aged almost 67. He passed away in February 1930, only seven weeks after David Miller did.
David Miller served at an important period in the history of policing. The Caithness force, along with all the other Scottish forces, were re-formed as proper professional preventative law enforcement organisations in 1858, and the forces would just be “settling” in when he joined 3 years later. The embryonic police service had quite a throughput of staff in those days, as the requirements imposed – discipline, commitment, sobriety and fitness of mind and body, patience, tact and endurance (huge beats patrolled on foot in all weathers) – were not achieved by many. To reach the rank of Sergeant at such an early stage implied that his ability was considerable and that his predecessor fell by the wayside or succumbed to health issues.
Judging by the photographs, which together with the obituary and career details were kindly supplied by David Miller’s great great granddaughter, Sergeant Miller was regarded as a father figure by the officers under him, and obviously was held in high regard and respect by his Thurso public. Chief Constable Mitchell clearly regarded him highly, having promoted him early and entrusting him with the Thurso division – and presumably saw no reason to change things during his time at the helm of the force. In some of the photographs, officers have put a hand on his shoulder – this is a pose encouraged by professional photographers in bygone times as a way of signifying family relationship between the parties. Well, none of David Miller’s offspring were police officers so there is NO actual family connection, but the photographer clearly intended for there to be a “police family” symbolism in the photos.
I am deeply indebted to Annette Matthew (David Miller's g-g-grandaughter) for providing me with so much material – which I have been able to weave into the various information sources of my own.
It is also a delight to have a name – and such a wealth of background information – to put to a face. So often, old photos of police officers which emerge have no names or dates recorded against them, and for that omission we are all the poorer.
POSTSCRIPT: SMALL WORLD DEPT – The whole-force group shot, which I date to 1877, is the first photo I ever received for my police history researches – way back in 1979 a lady in California, USA (sadly now passed on, as is her husband) contacted me seeking information about her great grandfather, PC George Reid who is the bald-headed officer sitting (staring into space) in front of the other Sgt! (That lady and her husband became good friends with the Conner family, coming to visit us while I was stationed at Kirkwall and again when I was based in Helmsdale, all during the 1980s. God Bless you, Tarri and Bob Whitby)
Another (ex) student, (Newly Qualified Paramedic) and another cappuccino!!
C is a recently qualified paramedic from Australia.. Part of a group of about a dozen that have come over to work with Yorkshire Ambulance Service!! 🚑
They are out with us (as a three person crew) for a few weeks and then they are let loose!!
We work for Yorkshire Ambulance Service in and around the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire.
It’s a great job and I feel very honoured to be able to help people at their point of need.
Check out the website for all sorts of info re YAS and the work we do.
www.yas.nhs.uk/our-services/emergency-ambulance-service-999/
Sweden qualified last night aparently and all five Nordic countries are in the final which should help split the neighhbourly voting. We'll see. The Norwegain singer (and song) have a lot more charm than the brash Swedish one...
Born in 1901, Percy Mitchell, of Portmellon, near Mevagissey in Cornwall, was variously described by some of his more technically qualified contemporaries as “one of the finest traditional boat builders in the world” and as “an artist in wood”. He left elementary school at the age of 14 just after the outbreak of World War I, and a year later commenced his apprenticeship at the local boatbuilding firm of Roberts and Co. at a wage of 3 shillings a week, working from 6.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays, and until 1pm on Saturdays. Fishing boats were just beginning to have auxiliary engines fitted and he took an active part in subsequent alterations to luggers to accommodate these engines.
The Mevagissey tosher was a one-man boat, designed for plummeting for mackerel in the spring and summer. The bigger luggers were often laid up during the plummeting season, and were fitted out again in the autumn for lining for dogfish, or for herring drifting from Plymouth. During the 1920s and 30s the Mevagissey and Looe luggers came to Newlyn for the summer pilchard driving in Mount's Bay and around the Wolf Rock.
A plummet was a cone-shaped lead with a homemade bright metal spinner. A spinner could only catch one fish at a time, but a tosher would tow three lines - two from poles on each side and one over the stern. There was a short line fastened to each of the lines that were towed from the poles, which enabled them to be hauled in. The tiller was let go when a line caught fish so that the port side propeller would drive the boat round in a circle, hopefully keeping her on the shoal of mackerel.
Many toshers were built in the 1920s by local boat builders Roberts, Frazier & Percy Mitchell. In his A Boatbuilder's Story, Percy Mitchell recalls Roberts building the Mavis, Swan, Ena, Chu Chin Chow, Verona, Nancy, Rosana and Morvina while he was an apprentice there. Percy Mitchell's own yard at Portmellon built seven toshers for the 1927 season alone, and Fraziers built an equal number. Among those built by Percy Mitchell were the Sea Belle, Melody, Pauline, Cresta and Charmaine. In the1920s these boats cost £53 10s. In 1936, Fraziers were building toshers at £65.
The tosher's length was 20 feet, with a beam of 7 feet and a draught aft of 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches. Their beam was carried well aft and their length was limited to 20 feet as longer boats paid higher harbour dues. They were carvel built with pine planks on closely spaced Canadian rock elm timbers, which were steamed into place. The keel, garboards and bilge planks were of English elm. The transom, stem and stern posts and floors were of oak.
Toshers were usually powered by 3 ½ hp Kelvin petrol/paraffin engines, or sometimes 6 hp engines. The fuel tank was in the foredeck and there was an aft locker. The tiller worked through a hole in the transom. There were three thwarts, and the mast was stepped behind the forward thwart. Its sail was stowed with the gaff against the mast, with the gaff jaws facing upwards. They carried about 15 to 18 cwt of iron ballast.
In recent times some toshers have been rebuilt as leisure sailing boats, with lead keels and large gaff rigs. They are reported to be exhilarating to sail.
Lugger. Built by Percy Mitchell of Mevagissey, Cornwall in 1927 as a Tosher, a small half decked fishing boat found in every Cornish port. The lug rig was the favoured rig for smaller inshore vessels with it’s effeciency and simplicity, earlier examples of this type were rigged with a single standing lug while later boats adopted the more modern gaff rig. Length on deck 20? Lwl 19?9? Beam 7? Draft 3?6? The boat was found in Plymouth by the present owner in 1992 in poor condition but he traced the history of the little boat and determined to rebuild her. Work did not start until 1999, all carried out by Plymouth boat builder and surveyor, Bruce Isaacs and the boat was launched in 2002. The larch planking of the original hull was found to be in remarkably good condition but the steamed timbers were badly deteriorated. The keel, stem, transom and fashion pieces and many steamed timbers were replaced. A pair of stainless-steel angle ring frames were set forward and aft of the mast with gusset knees to the corresponding deck beams The garboards and several planks in the topside were replaced. A high level stringer was fitted about 3rd plank down A new beam shelf was fitted backed up by a heavy rubbing strake on the outside to give a strong edge to the deck. The planking was then overlaid on the outside with a layer of ¼? cedar planking set diagonally using epoxy glue to give a totally fair, continous surface and adding enormous strength to the hull. Long external 600kg lead ballast keel cast by Iron Bros of Wadebridge, Cornwall. Small quantity of internal trimming ballast. Stainless steel keel bolts new in 2002 supplied by Iron Bros.. Floors formed as originally built by running the steamed timbers right round across the centre-line in one piece. Transom-hung rudder with cord-bound iron tiller fitted with varnished hand grip. The deck is straight-laid in iroko over a ply sub-deck over t&g pine on new, laminated oak deck beams. Varnished king plank and cover-boards. 9? iroko bulwark varnished inside and painted outside with a scribed caveat line, carried on oak through-deck stanchions with wide, varnished iroko capping rail. The heavy structural iroko rubbing strake on the outside is also varnished. The very tight deck seams are payed with black epoxy/graphite and the deck is sealed with Coelan with non-skid patches masked off showing a mat finish. Pair of heavy oak Sampson posts at the after corners of the cock-pit and another Sampson post on the fore deck take the mooring lines. Massive galvanised iron stem-head fitting with chain roller to stbd Bronze fair leads forward and aft. Bronze mushroom vents on the fore deck and the aft deck to vent the fore peak and the lazarette. The coach-roof is built with varnished mahogany coamings morticed to separate corner posts with epoxy-glass sheathed ply roof, edge trimmed in varnished mahogany. Grab rails on the top. Sliding hatch in a varnished garage and wash-boards to the cabin entrance from the cock-pit. Separate varnished mahogany fore hatch on the fore deck with fixed light in a bronze bezel. The cock-pit is formed by heavy varnished mahogany edging with a seat/locker below each side fitted with varnished slats allowing the crew to sit well down in the boat, sheltered by the coach-roof or sit up on the side deck. Manual bilge pump under the side deck to port. Engine controls to stbd. Locker door to lazarette. Iroko laid, lifting sole board, finished in Coelan with matt non-slip. T&G varnished pine after bulkhead. Low level step/bridge deck against the cabin entrance with entrance sill at seat level. Standing lug rig on keel-stepped varnished built pole mast by Noble Masts, Bristol who build masts and spars using the bird-beak method of seam jointing. Stain
I was qualified on class 66’s when they were brand new to EWS in 1998. The cabs of GBRF 66763 are much modified to what I had worked on 1998-2001. Anyone with specific knowledge please correct me if I’m wrong but I suspect GBRF modified a batch of their 66’s to work in multiple with class 73’s on the sleeper services and this is one of the modified versions?
For my video; youtu.be/iy-9Q6IASXw,
Bob & Dan's, 14th, Annual, Marine Pub Show"N"Shine,
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada,
July 17, 2010
1970 -1974
The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'." Three versions were offered: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and the sport model 'Cuda (BS). The high-performance models were marketed as 'Cuda deriving from the 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's 426 cu in (7 L) Hemi for the regular retail market.
Two six-cylinder engines were available — a new 198 cu in (3.2 L) version of the slant-6, and the 225 — as well as six different V8s: the 318, 340, 383 (290 hp (220 kW), 2-barrel and 330 hp (250 kW) Super Commando in Barracuda & Gran Coupe, 330 hp (250 kW) — some say 335 hp (250 kW) — as the 'Cuda model's base motor) 440 4-barrel, 440 6-barrel, and the 426 Hemi. The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.
Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual "high impact" colors such as "Vitamin C", "In-Violet", and "Moulin Rouge".
Swede Savage and Dan Gurney raced identical factory-sponsored AAR (All American Racers) 'Cudas in the 1970 Trans-Am Series. The cars qualified for three pole positions but did not win any Trans-Am races; the highest finish was 2nd at Road America.
A street version of the AAR 'Cuda was produced, powered by the 340 cu in (5.6 L) "Six Pack" (three two-barrel carburetors) engine.
The Barracuda was changed slightly for 1971, with a new grille and taillights, seat, and trim differences. This would be the only year that the Barracuda would have four headlights, and also the only year of the fender "gills" on the 'Cuda model.
The 1971 Barracuda engine options would remain the same as that of the 1970 model, except the 4-barrel carbureted 440 engine was not available; all 440-powered Barracudas had a six-barrel carburetor setup instead. The 426 Hemi remained available, and the 1971 HemiCuda convertible is now considered one of the most valuable collectible muscle cars. Only eleven were built, seven of which were sold domestically, and examples of these cars have sold for US$2 million.
"A heavily modified federal cruiser, once one of the "Majestic Twelve", the jewel of the federation's fleet, with the latter becoming more and more corrupted and oppressive, the captain and crew of the BRIGHT STAR 11 decided to secede and rebel, now protecting the people from those who were once their brothers and sisters in arms."
I haven't been able to do SHIPtember since 2018 (the failed attempt in 2019 doesn't count), so this year I wanted to come back with the best SHIP I've ever made. The last ones were long, flat and thin builds that barely qualified as SHIPs thanks to their cannons and antennas, this one had to be different, to be better in every way.
With its length of 118 studs, its wingspan of 80, and its height of 40, the BRIGHT STAR 11 is ready to join the armada!
I based my design on the Arcadia from the 1978 version of Captain Harlock (Albator) and the retro-futuristic arts of Boris Vallejo, the main shot is based on 80s toy packaging.
Yuri Nikulin, Cementerio Novodévichi, Moscú – Yuri Nikulin , Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow - Юрий Никулин , Новоде́вичье кла́дбище, Москва
Yuri Vladímirovich Nikulin (Demídov, Smolensk, 18 de diciembre de 1921 - Moscú, 21 de agosto de 1997) fue un actor de cine y cómico soviético, uno de los iconos del cine de la URSS en los años 60 y 70, intérprete en numerosas y conocidas películas soviéticas y, desde 1982, director general del Circo de Moscú.
Nació el 18 de diciembre de 1921 en Demídov, una pequeña población del área de Smolensk. Sus padres eran asimismo intérpretes y trabajaban en un centro de arte dramático en Demídov, pero en 1925 la familia se trasladó a Moscú. Desde pequeño, Nikulin siempre sintió interés y fascinación por el mundo del circo y especialmente por el humor de los payasos, habiendo decidido en plena adolescencia que de mayor quería dedicarse al mundo del espectáculo en el circo. Sin embargo, sus pretensiones se vieron temporalmente frustradas al ser llamado a filas en el Ejército Rojo en 1939, cuando contaba con 18 años, participando en la Guerra de Invierno contra Finlandia (1939- 1940). Estaba a punto de ser desmovilizado en 1941 cuando en julio el ejército alemán invadió la Unión Soviética, por lo que también combatió en la Gran Guerra Patriótica (1941-1945), sirviendo en una unidad de tanques, sobre todo en el frente de Leningrado. Manteniendo siempre su gran capacidad para los chistes, su primera experiencia como cómico tuvo lugar en 1944, cuando un comisario político de su batallón, impresionado por su talento, le encargó entretener y animar a la tropa.
Tras ser desmovilizado definitivamente en 1946, Nikulin intentó, sin éxito, entrar en varias compañías e institutos teatrales, recibiendo un rechazo tras otro, pues los Comités de dichos centros no veían en él dotes interpretativas. Pese a ello logró encontrar trabajo como ayudante secundario en el Circo de Moscú en 1950, tras haber pasado un curso de aprendizaje de dos años, durante el cual conoció a Tatiana Pokrovskaya, que sería su futura mujer, con la que tuvo un hijo, Maxim, en 1956. Nikulin comenzó a actuar como payaso profesional en varias ciudades de la Unión Soviética junto con su amigo Mijaíl Shuydin, con el que formó un dúo cómico que le permitió ganar fama y mejorar sus técnicas y experiencias en lo que él había considerado siempre como un oficio complicado. Durante toda su carrera, Nikulin nunca perdió sus lazos con el mundo del circo, dedicándole 50 años de trabajo.
Nikulin fue uno de los pocos artistas que se atrevían a parodiar la aparente perfección del sistema soviético que se intentaba reflejar en todos los ámbitos de la cultura, buscando siempre chistes innovadores que consiguieran burlar a la censura y llegar al público de forma inocente pero sugerente. Su capacidad de crear tanto personajes cómicos como fuertemente dramáticos y profundos, dotándolos de fuerte lirismo, le aportó una gran popularidad y carisma en el entorno del cine, que dejó en 1981, a los 60 años, para dedicarse exclusivamente al mundo al circo.
En ese mismo año se convirtió en el principal gerente del Circo de Moscú, y desde 1982 pasó a ser Director general del mismo, cargo que mantuvo hasta su muerte. Pese a dejar el cine, Nikulin hizo diversas apariciones en televisión y durante los años 90 dirigió el programa humorístico Loro Blanco (en ruso Beluyi popugay), en el que varios artistas se reunían y relataban chistes y anécdotas, algunos de los cuales eran del propio Nikulin. Falleció el 21 de Agosto en Moscú a los 75 años tras una operación del corazón, y fue enterrado en el cementerio Novodevichy.
Hoy en día, Yuri Nikulin sigue siendo recordado en Rusia como uno de los mayores cómicos que ha conocido el país. Sus películas han envejecido muy bien con el tiempo y siguen siendo grandes estrenos en las cadenas de televisión rusas. Pese a no haberse labrado una carrera fílmica como la de otros conocidos intérpretes soviéticos, el humor de Nikulin ha sido su influencia más importante en los cómicos actuales. El Circo de Moscú lleva el nombre de Yuri Nikulin desde su muerte en su honor.
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Nikulin
Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (Russian: Юрий Владимирович Никулин; 18 December 1921 – 21 August 1997) was a well-known Russian actor and comedian who starred in many popular films.
He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990. He also received a number of state awards, including the prestigious Order of Lenin, which he received twice in his lifetime.
Nikulin was born just after the end of the Russian civil war, in Smolensk in Western Russia. His mother was a garage supervisor and his father a writer of satirical plays – "a profession which may have influenced [Nikulin's] future career".
Nikulin fought in the Red Army in the Winter War with Finland and the World War II with Germany. He reportedly had a comparably "long period of military service, from 1939-46, preparing to be demobilised just when the German invasion of the Soviet Union began in 1941."
Nikulin's style and precise delivery, as well as his mastery of timing and his hilarious masks made him an outstanding comedian.
In the ring, Nikulin presented a phlegmatic temperament, slow and unsmiling, and to many in the West his personality was reminiscent of the great silent film comedian Buster Keaton. Rich in mimicry, doleful of expression, Nikulin was hailed as “a brainy clown” outside Russia.
Nikulin, affectionately called "Uncle Yura" by Russian children, relied mainly upon his wits to earn his place in history as one of the best clowns of the 20th century.
Nikulin first took up clowning in 1944 when a political officer in his battalion, impressed by his repertoire of jokes, ordered him to organize entertainment for the division, which he did with resounding success. Encouraged, once the war ended, Nikulin reportedly "tried unsuccessfully to enter drama college before answering a newspaper advertisement recruiting trainees for the Clown Studio at Moscow's Tsvetnoy Boulevard Circus."
The several acting schools and theatres rejected Nikulin allegedly due to "lacking artistic talent". However, he did find initial success at the Circus and qualified as a fully trained clown in 1950, and never abandoned his links with the circus. He met his wife, Tatyana, there, and in 1982 became the director of the Moscow Circus, a post he held until his death. His son, Maxim, is now a circus administrator.
His screen debut came in 1958 with the film The Girl with the Guitar. He appeared in almost a dozen major features, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, "but his ascent to star status was assured by a handful of short films directed by Leonid Gaidai."
The first two of these, Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross and later Bootleggers (Russian: Samogonchiki or The Moonshine Makers, 1961) were also where Nikulin was featured as a character named Fool in The Three Stooges-like trio, along with Georgy Vitsyn as Coward and Yevgeny Morgunov as Experienced. In former Soviet republics he is particularly well known for his role in popular film series about the criminal trio. The series included such films as Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures and Kidnapping Caucassian Style.
His most popular films include comedies Brilliantovaia Ruka (Diamond Arm), 12 Stulyev (12 Chairs), Stariki-Razboiniki (Old Hooligans). He was also acclaimed for his roles in Andrey Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev and several films on World War II themes (Sergei Bondarchuk's They Fought for Their Country, Aleksei German’s Twenty Days Without War).[citation needed]
Nikulin's "comic timing never faltered" even in old age and "he had no enemies and mixed with politicians from both the Soviet and post -Soviet eras". He reportedly was close to Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and supported Boris Yeltsin's re-election campaign."
As mentioned, Nikulin was succeeded in his office at the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard by his son. There is a bronze monument to him in front of the circus, which now bears his name. He is buried in Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.[
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Nikulin
El Cementerio Novodévichi (en ruso Новодевичье кла́дбище, Novodévichiye kládbishche) es el cementerio más famoso de Moscú, Rusia. Forma parte del conjunto conventual del Monasterio Novodévichi, que data del siglo XVI, declarado en 2004 Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco.1
Fue inaugurado en 1898, cuando ya existían muchos enterramientos en los muros del monasterio. Uno de los primeros personajes notables en ser enterrado en el cementerio fue Antón Chéjov, cuya tumba es obra de Fiódor Shéjtel.
El cementerio alberga más de 27 000 tumbas, entre las que se encuentran las de distinguidos escritores, actores, poetas, científicos, líderes políticos y militares. Se asemeja a un parque, con pequeñas capillas y grandes conjuntos escultóricos. Es un lugar más para visitar en Moscú. Existe la posibilidad de solicitar un plano en la oficina del cementerio.
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cementerio_Novodévichi
Novodevichy Cemetery (Russian: Новоде́вичье кла́дбище, Novodevichye kladbishche) is the most famous cemetery in Moscow. It lies next to the southern wall of the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site.[1]
The cemetery was designed by Ivan Mashkov and inaugurated in 1898.[2] Its importance dates from the 1930s, when the necropoleis of the medieval Muscovite monasteries (Simonov, Danilov, Donskoy) were scheduled for demolition. Only the Donskoy survived the Joseph Stalin era relatively intact. The remains of many famous Russians buried in other abbeys, such as Nikolai Gogol and Sergey Aksakov, were disinterred and reburied at the Novodevichy.
A 19th-century necropolis within the walls of the Novodevichy convent, which contained the graves of about 2000 Russian noblemen and university professors, also underwent reconstruction. The vast majority of graves were destroyed. It was at that time that the remains of Anton Chekhov were moved outside the monastery walls. His grave served as the kernel of the so-called "cherry orchard" – a section of the cemetery which contains the graves of Constantin Stanislavski and the leading actors of his company.
Under Soviet rule, burial in the Novodevichy Cemetery was second in prestige only to burial in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis. Among the Soviet leaders, only Nikita Khrushchev was buried at the Novodevichy rather than at the Red Square. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin Wall is no longer used for burials and the Novodevichy Cemetery is used for only the most symbolically significant burials. For example, in April 2007, within one week both the first President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and world-renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich were buried there.
Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, musicians, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists.[3][4] More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy. There is scant space for more burials. A new national cemetery is under construction in Mytishchi north of Moscow.
The cemetery has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. It is divided into the old (Divisions 1–4), new (Divisions 5–8) and newest (Divisions 9–11) sections; maps are available at the cemetery office.[5]
CAITHNESS CONSTABULARY – SGT DAVID MILLER (1861-1885)
Sgt Miller - probably late 1870s
David Miller was born on 14th September 1839 (or was he? See much later!!) at Black Park, Halkirk and grew up in the Halkirk area. After working as a Labourer locally he applied aged 22 to join the County Police of Caithness.
On 4th December 1861 Chief Constable Alexander Mitchell appointed young David as a Constable in the Caithness-shire Constabulary and the following day he was medically examined by Dr Eric S Sinclair, JP, LFPSG, Medical Officer, Wick who certified he found him well qualified for the police service in terms of his health and bodily strength. He was sworn in as a Constable on the 8th December by Alexander Bruce, JP.
Of his FOUR referees, two were ministers of religion, being the Halkirk incumbents of the Church of Scotland and Free Church respectively. Another was his current employer, Donald Tait, Contractor, Halkirk who had known young David for 11 years.
Constable David Miller was initially stationed at Wick, where he would have received an element of on-the-job training, and then on 26th May 1864 he was transferred across the Wick River to Pulteney Harbour. This would have been an interesting transfer as technically Pulteneytown and its harbour (today that part of Wick south of the river) lay outwith Caithness and it had its own police force independent of the County.
This was because the municipality of Pulteneytown had been set up by the British Fisheries Society, a quasi-governmental organisation and by virtue of an 1844 Act of Parliament in respect of it, the “town” operated literally as a law unto itself. That Act gave the Commissioners powers to establish its own police (and special constables for the harbour area), which it did but there was no chief officer, other than the Resident Naval Officer. Experience of the potential for serious fall-out between locals and incoming fisherfolk (Battle of the Orange, 1859) meant the County Police maintained a presence in the “town” - despite the two or three local bobbies over whom the County Chief Constable had no control.
After 3 years in Pulteney (during which time he married Jessie, a farmer’s daughter), and only 6 years police service, PC Miller was in November 1867 promoted to the rank of Sergeant – no mean feat as the County only had two of that rank, one of whom would act as Deputy to the Chief Constable – and Sergeant Miller was transferred through to Thurso to take charge of the Western Area of the force. His duties also involved attending to the Procurator Fiscal, then also based in Thurso.
Sergeant Miller would remain in Thurso – effectively the Chief officer of that half of the County force – for the next 18 years.
Meantime, another young man had joined the County force in May 1865 - Constable Thomas Sinclair (a 20 year old native of Wick) was initially posted to Mey which would have been within the Thurso Division of the County. Being a single man, he was moved about a bit and he transferred to Thurso in February 1866 - where he would be under the charge of Sgt Miller. Then PC Sinclair moved yet again – this time to Lybster on the southern part of the east coast of the County – in February 1868. Three months later PC Sinclair was relocated back into the Thurso Division, at Reay - Caithness’s furthest west posting, right on the boundary with the County of Sutherland (whose force had a police station 5 miles along the road at Melvich across the River Halladale). Exactly one year later Thomas Sinclair was posted yet again, this time to “Harbour” (Pulteneytown). After four years there Sinclair was promoted to Sergeant (at Wick) – thus putting him on a par with David Miller (and actually ahead because, by being based in Wick, Sergeant Sinclair would deputise for the Chief Constable). So when the rank of Inspector (and Deputy Chief Constable) was created in the force on 27th august 1878 it came as no great surprise that the man to fill that post was none other than Thomas Sinclair. One wonders how Sergeant Miller, who had seniority of service, would have felt – slighted perhaps, or alternatively maybe he was glad to be overlooked and left in relative peace on the west side of the County.
Chief Constable Mitchell who had served in that role for 25 years died on 15th June 1884 aged only 56 years. It is likely that the Chief was unwell for some time and Inspector Sinclair was running the force, as in May 1884 (no date given!) Constable James Swanson was pulled into Wick from Lybster and promoted to Sergeant. Some twelve days after Mr Mitchell’s death, Inspector Thomas Sinclair was appointed Chief Constable, and immediately thereafter Sgt Swanson became Inspector Swanson.
Now new brooms invariably sweep clean, and on 28th May 1885 Sergeant David Miller was transferred to Lybster. After so long in Thurso, this would have come as quite a shock to the system ,whether or not Chief Constable had sold him on the idea of moving. The area was one quite unknown to him. Lybster is 40-odd miles across the county from Thurso, and some 13 miles south of Wick. Although the fishing station would have meant plenty of police work, it would have been alien territory to Sgt Miller. Transfers in Highland forces almost always tended to be carried out in the spring so the officer had an opportunity to well acquaint himself with his new area before the nights started drawing in.
The Personnel Records of this era look as though they were completed (retrospectively) by the Chief Constable himself – but PC John Macaulay, who seems to have been at Lybster in 1885 was promoted Sergeant on the same day as Sgt Miller was transferred to Lybster, and Sgt Macaulay ended up in Thurso (but seemingly not till 1886, although it may just be that Mr Sinclair’s memory was a bit hazy as to transfer dates). Sgt Macaulay remained in Thurso for 3 years before being moved again – back to Lybster. Having joined the force in 1870, he had previously served in Thurso under Sgt Miller from 1871 to 1872, before serving for a whole ten years at “Harbour” (Pulteneytown)
So after 24 years, Sergeant Miller was at the crossroads of his career. With 24 years service, and rapidly approaching the age of 50, he had to take stock. Back then there were no pensions for police officers, and no hope of financial assistance for him to move back to his "home” area of Halkirk/Thurso when he was no longer fit enough to do the job. He clearly therefore concluded that his police career was at an end and that it would be prudent for him and his family to return to Thurso. Indeed it is possible - and he would definitely NOT be the last to do so! - to have gone on ahead without the family and lived in lodgings for the time being.
His obituary reported of his time as Sergeant at Thurso: “he carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Police Commissioners and was on many occasions congratulated on the absence of crime due to his tact and geniality.”
After resigning (his obituary says “retired” but his police record says “resigned” with no mention of any gratuity, which would have to have been done out of the goodness of the police committee's heart anyway) on 21st October 1885 – the nights would have been drawing in by then – David Miller and family moved to Scrabster, harbour of Thurso, where he took over the hotel there ”where he carried on a successful business for a long number of years.”
“In 1896 he retired from the business and came to reside in Thurso when he was appointed sole traffic agent for the North of Scotland for the Caledonian London and North Western Railway till the year l9O7. After the amalgamation of the traffic departments he was appointed to other agencies for Orkney and Shetland and the Northern Counties and always gave entire satisfaction to the companies.”
David Miller passed away on Sunday 22nd December 1929, which would have made him aged 90 years, although his biographer – having begun his eulogy by saying that he was born in 1841 – made him out to be 88. His police records definitely state he was born on 18th September 1839 but it may be he (like many others back in the day) “erred” about his age on his application to join the police. There were no Birth Certificates back then! Perhaps he thought by saying he was “only” 20, Chief Constable Mitchell might have considered him a bit young for the job? Although there was no minimum age stipulated for a recruit, the age of 21 was generally regarded as adulthood. His initial postings being to the Wick area meant little or no chance of his age being challenged by his peers in his “probation” on the job! In any case, with the kind of robust policing which would have been required around the Harbour of Wick at that time, if you were big enough, you were old enough!
His biography provided a great deal of other background information not generally recorded in respect of police officers back then.
“Mr Miller was a great draughts player and was a founder member of the Caithness Draughts Club. When the Worlds Draught Champion ‘Herd Laddie’ visited Thurso Mr Miller drew him in a game and was congratulated by the champion. Up to the time of his death he enjoyed a game with his numerous friends.
“Mr Miller all his life took a deep interest in the town and though not a member of any public body was often approached by the principal citizens of the town and county to do so.
“Mr Miller who celebrated his golden wedding 14 years ago is survived by Mrs Miller and two daughters to whom and other relatives , the deepest sympathies is extended.
“Mr Miller who enjoyed the best of health all his life until a short time ago, was a regular attender of the Parish Church and took a deep interest in church matters.
“His remains were interred in Thurso Cemetery on Wednesday and the funeral was very largely attended. Revs G.H. MacLennan, W.D. Mackenzie and G.L. Maclachlan officiated at the house and Rev Mr MacLennan at the grave.”
Chief Constable Sinclair retired on pension in 1912 (police pensions having been introduced in 1890) after 47 years service and aged almost 67. He passed away in February 1930, only seven weeks after David Miller did.
David Miller served at an important period in the history of policing. The Caithness force, along with all the other Scottish forces, were re-formed as proper professional preventative law enforcement organisations in 1858, and the forces would just be “settling” in when he joined 3 years later. The embryonic police service had quite a throughput of staff in those days, as the requirements imposed – discipline, commitment, sobriety and fitness of mind and body, patience, tact and endurance (huge beats patrolled on foot in all weathers) – were not achieved by many. To reach the rank of Sergeant at such an early stage implied that his ability was considerable and that his predecessor fell by the wayside or succumbed to health issues.
Judging by the photographs, which together with the obituary and career details were kindly supplied by David Miller’s great great granddaughter, Sergeant Miller was regarded as a father figure by the officers under him, and obviously was held in high regard and respect by his Thurso public. Chief Constable Mitchell clearly regarded him highly, having promoted him early and entrusting him with the Thurso division – and presumably saw no reason to change things during his time at the helm of the force. In some of the photographs, officers have put a hand on his shoulder – this is a pose encouraged by professional photographers in bygone times as a way of signifying family relationship between the parties. Well, none of David Miller’s offspring were police officers so there is NO actual family connection, but the photographer clearly intended for there to be a “police family” symbolism in the photos.
I am deeply indebted to Annette Matthew (David Miller's g-g-grandaughter) for providing me with so much material – which I have been able to weave into the various information sources of my own.
It is also a delight to have a name – and such a wealth of background information – to put to a face. So often, old photos of police officers which emerge have no names or dates recorded against them, and for that omission we are all the poorer.
POSTSCRIPT: SMALL WORLD DEPT – The whole-force group shot, which I date to 1877, is the first photo I ever received for my police history researches – way back in 1979 a lady in California, USA (sadly now passed on, as is her husband) contacted me seeking information about her great grandfather, PC George Reid who is the bald-headed officer sitting (staring into space) in front of the other Sgt! (That lady and her husband became good friends with the Conner family, coming to visit us while I was stationed at Kirkwall and again when I was based in Helmsdale, all during the 1980s. God Bless you, Tarri and Bob Whitby)
CAITHNESS CONSTABULARY – SGT DAVID MILLER (1861-1885)
Sgt Miller and family
David Miller was born on 14th September 1839 (or was he? See much later!!) at Black Park, Halkirk and grew up in the Halkirk area. After working as a Labourer locally he applied aged 22 to join the County Police of Caithness.
On 4th December 1861 Chief Constable Alexander Mitchell appointed young David as a Constable in the Caithness-shire Constabulary and the following day he was medically examined by Dr Eric S Sinclair, JP, LFPSG, Medical Officer, Wick who certified he found him well qualified for the police service in terms of his health and bodily strength. He was sworn in as a Constable on the 8th December by Alexander Bruce, JP.
Of his FOUR referees, two were ministers of religion, being the Halkirk incumbents of the Church of Scotland and Free Church respectively. Another was his current employer, Donald Tait, Contractor, Halkirk who had known young David for 11 years.
Constable David Miller was initially stationed at Wick, where he would have received an element of on-the-job training, and then on 26th May 1864 he was transferred across the Wick River to Pulteney Harbour. This would have been an interesting transfer as technically Pulteneytown and its harbour (today that part of Wick south of the river) lay outwith Caithness and it had its own police force independent of the County.
This was because the municipality of Pulteneytown had been set up by the British Fisheries Society, a quasi-governmental organisation and by virtue of an 1844 Act of Parliament in respect of it, the “town” operated literally as a law unto itself. That Act gave the Commissioners powers to establish its own police (and special constables for the harbour area), which it did but there was no chief officer, other than the Resident Naval Officer. Experience of the potential for serious fall-out between locals and incoming fisherfolk (Battle of the Orange, 1859) meant the County Police maintained a presence in the “town” - despite the two or three local bobbies over whom the County Chief Constable had no control.
After 3 years in Pulteney (during which time he married Jessie, a farmer’s daughter), and only 6 years police service, PC Miller was in November 1867 promoted to the rank of Sergeant – no mean feat as the County only had two of that rank, one of whom would act as Deputy to the Chief Constable – and Sergeant Miller was transferred through to Thurso to take charge of the Western Area of the force. His duties also involved attending to the Procurator Fiscal, then also based in Thurso.
Sergeant Miller would remain in Thurso – effectively the Chief officer of that half of the County force – for the next 18 years.
Meantime, another young man had joined the County force in May 1865 - Constable Thomas Sinclair (a 20 year old native of Wick) was initially posted to Mey which would have been within the Thurso Division of the County. Being a single man, he was moved about a bit and he transferred to Thurso in February 1866 - where he would be under the charge of Sgt Miller. Then PC Sinclair moved yet again – this time to Lybster on the southern part of the east coast of the County – in February 1868. Three months later PC Sinclair was relocated back into the Thurso Division, at Reay - Caithness’s furthest west posting, right on the boundary with the County of Sutherland (whose force had a police station 5 miles along the road at Melvich across the River Halladale). Exactly one year later Thomas Sinclair was posted yet again, this time to “Harbour” (Pulteneytown). After four years there Sinclair was promoted to Sergeant (at Wick) – thus putting him on a par with David Miller (and actually ahead because, by being based in Wick, Sergeant Sinclair would deputise for the Chief Constable). So when the rank of Inspector (and Deputy Chief Constable) was created in the force on 27th august 1878 it came as no great surprise that the man to fill that post was none other than Thomas Sinclair. One wonders how Sergeant Miller, who had seniority of service, would have felt – slighted perhaps, or alternatively maybe he was glad to be overlooked and left in relative peace on the west side of the County.
Chief Constable Mitchell who had served in that role for 25 years died on 15th June 1884 aged only 56 years. It is likely that the Chief was unwell for some time and Inspector Sinclair was running the force, as in May 1884 (no date given!) Constable James Swanson was pulled into Wick from Lybster and promoted to Sergeant. Some twelve days after Mr Mitchell’s death, Inspector Thomas Sinclair was appointed Chief Constable, and immediately thereafter Sgt Swanson became Inspector Swanson.
Now new brooms invariably sweep clean, and on 28th May 1885 Sergeant David Miller was transferred to Lybster. After so long in Thurso, this would have come as quite a shock to the system ,whether or not Chief Constable had sold him on the idea of moving. The area was one quite unknown to him. Lybster is 40-odd miles across the county from Thurso, and some 13 miles south of Wick. Although the fishing station would have meant plenty of police work, it would have been alien territory to Sgt Miller. Transfers in Highland forces almost always tended to be carried out in the spring so the officer had an opportunity to well acquaint himself with his new area before the nights started drawing in.
The Personnel Records of this era look as though they were completed (retrospectively) by the Chief Constable himself – but PC John Macaulay, who seems to have been at Lybster in 1885 was promoted Sergeant on the same day as Sgt Miller was transferred to Lybster, and Sgt Macaulay ended up in Thurso (but seemingly not till 1886, although it may just be that Mr Sinclair’s memory was a bit hazy as to transfer dates). Sgt Macaulay remained in Thurso for 3 years before being moved again – back to Lybster. Having joined the force in 1870, he had previously served in Thurso under Sgt Miller from 1871 to 1872, before serving for a whole ten years at “Harbour” (Pulteneytown)
So after 24 years, Sergeant Miller was at the crossroads of his career. With 24 years service, and rapidly approaching the age of 50, he had to take stock. Back then there were no pensions for police officers, and no hope of financial assistance for him to move back to his "home” area of Halkirk/Thurso when he was no longer fit enough to do the job. He clearly therefore concluded that his police career was at an end and that it would be prudent for him and his family to return to Thurso. Indeed it is possible - and he would definitely NOT be the last to do so! - to have gone on ahead without the family and lived in lodgings for the time being.
His obituary reported of his time as Sergeant at Thurso: “he carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Police Commissioners and was on many occasions congratulated on the absence of crime due to his tact and geniality.”
After resigning (his obituary says “retired” but his police record says “resigned” with no mention of any gratuity, which would have to have been done out of the goodness of the police committee's heart anyway) on 21st October 1885 – the nights would have been drawing in by then – David Miller and family moved to Scrabster, harbour of Thurso, where he took over the hotel there ”where he carried on a successful business for a long number of years.”
“In 1896 he retired from the business and came to reside in Thurso when he was appointed sole traffic agent for the North of Scotland for the Caledonian London and North Western Railway till the year l9O7. After the amalgamation of the traffic departments he was appointed to other agencies for Orkney and Shetland and the Northern Counties and always gave entire satisfaction to the companies.”
David Miller passed away on Sunday 22nd December 1929, which would have made him aged 90 years, although his biographer – having begun his eulogy by saying that he was born in 1841 – made him out to be 88. His police records definitely state he was born on 18th September 1839 but it may be he (like many others back in the day) “erred” about his age on his application to join the police. There were no Birth Certificates back then! Perhaps he thought by saying he was “only” 20, Chief Constable Mitchell might have considered him a bit young for the job? Although there was no minimum age stipulated for a recruit, the age of 21 was generally regarded as adulthood. His initial postings being to the Wick area meant little or no chance of his age being challenged by his peers in his “probation” on the job! In any case, with the kind of robust policing which would have been required around the Harbour of Wick at that time, if you were big enough, you were old enough!
His biography provided a great deal of other background information not generally recorded in respect of police officers back then.
“Mr Miller was a great draughts player and was a founder member of the Caithness Draughts Club. When the Worlds Draught Champion ‘Herd Laddie’ visited Thurso Mr Miller drew him in a game and was congratulated by the champion. Up to the time of his death he enjoyed a game with his numerous friends.
“Mr Miller all his life took a deep interest in the town and though not a member of any public body was often approached by the principal citizens of the town and county to do so.
“Mr Miller who celebrated his golden wedding 14 years ago is survived by Mrs Miller and two daughters to whom and other relatives , the deepest sympathies is extended.
“Mr Miller who enjoyed the best of health all his life until a short time ago, was a regular attender of the Parish Church and took a deep interest in church matters.
“His remains were interred in Thurso Cemetery on Wednesday and the funeral was very largely attended. Revs G.H. MacLennan, W.D. Mackenzie and G.L. Maclachlan officiated at the house and Rev Mr MacLennan at the grave.”
Chief Constable Sinclair retired on pension in 1912 (police pensions having been introduced in 1890) after 47 years service and aged almost 67. He passed away in February 1930, only seven weeks after David Miller did.
David Miller served at an important period in the history of policing. The Caithness force, along with all the other Scottish forces, were re-formed as proper professional preventative law enforcement organisations in 1858, and the forces would just be “settling” in when he joined 3 years later. The embryonic police service had quite a throughput of staff in those days, as the requirements imposed – discipline, commitment, sobriety and fitness of mind and body, patience, tact and endurance (huge beats patrolled on foot in all weathers) – were not achieved by many. To reach the rank of Sergeant at such an early stage implied that his ability was considerable and that his predecessor fell by the wayside or succumbed to health issues.
Judging by the photographs, which together with the obituary and career details were kindly supplied by David Miller’s great great granddaughter, Sergeant Miller was regarded as a father figure by the officers under him, and obviously was held in high regard and respect by his Thurso public. Chief Constable Mitchell clearly regarded him highly, having promoted him early and entrusting him with the Thurso division – and presumably saw no reason to change things during his time at the helm of the force. In some of the photographs, officers have put a hand on his shoulder – this is a pose encouraged by professional photographers in bygone times as a way of signifying family relationship between the parties. Well, none of David Miller’s offspring were police officers so there is NO actual family connection, but the photographer clearly intended for there to be a “police family” symbolism in the photos.
I am deeply indebted to Annette Matthew (David Miller's g-g-grandaughter) for providing me with so much material – which I have been able to weave into the various information sources of my own.
It is also a delight to have a name – and such a wealth of background information – to put to a face. So often, old photos of police officers which emerge have no names or dates recorded against them, and for that omission we are all the poorer.
POSTSCRIPT: SMALL WORLD DEPT – The whole-force group shot, which I date to 1877, is the first photo I ever received for my police history researches – way back in 1979 a lady in California, USA (sadly now passed on, as is her husband) contacted me seeking information about her great grandfather, PC George Reid who is the bald-headed officer sitting (staring into space) in front of the other Sgt! (That lady and her husband became good friends with the Conner family, coming to visit us while I was stationed at Kirkwall and again when I was based in Helmsdale, all during the 1980s. God Bless you, Tarri and Bob Whitby)
Qualified: 2nd. Race: DNF-tyre lap 2.
Image from the 1980 British Grand Prix weekend at Brands Hatch. Transparancy taken with Fujica ST605N and Soligor 75-260mm zoom and now scanned with an Epson V200.
1980GP-011a
All Rights Reserved © 1980 Frederick Roll ~ fjroll.com
Please do not use this image without prior permission