Monday 17th 2009 it was time to pack the digital project and computer into the VW campervan to give the second slide show of 2009.  I have been going out on the road, first with "100 years of Public Transport in Doncaster", "The Sandtoft Miniature Railway Story", "The Doncaster Grand Theatre Past, Present and Future" plus one "Trains, Boats and Planes" this one being designed for special needs groups. Of more recent years a new slide was compiled has been "From my Fathers Diary". This because of its length it has been split into four parts. Part 1 has been revised since finding another diary from 1923 - 1934 this contains many photographs of trains, family, fashions. Between 1939 -  1945 there is a look at what it was like work on the railways during the war.  What was the rationing like, there is description of lighting the stove in the air-raid shelter and my mother shopping along side the ladies of Barnsley and Mexborough. Some cheating was going on there!

Having set up the projector, computer, a display of a 1930's radio, handmade model trains made by my late father, we are ready to set the slide show in motion for the Oddfellows Group.

Thursday 20th February 2009 It was back out on the road again this time to Thurnscoe to give the slide show "100 years of Public Transport in Doncaster 1902 - 2002. This time it was a journey in the faithful VW campervan to Thurnscoe. Setting off earlier so as to arrive in good time I arrived with about 30 minutes before the venue opened its doors for The Thurnscoe History Group it gave me a chance to have a look at the Thurnscoe. The town once was thriving place with the main employment being the nearby colliery. Since this closed in the mid 1980's the inevitable decay of the towns prosperity took place. However a new Thunscoe is being built. New houses and a Business Park are helping to bring back employment and new vitality as I was to discover from the people I met. To the left we see something of the old and new. In 1989 a new railway station was built.

After the slide show  I was informed that there was still a steel pole that once belonged to the Dearne District Light Railway at the side of the road between Goldthorpe and Wath-upon-Dearne. After parking near to an electric sub-station and some kennels I was soon to discover that this pole I fear is not from the tramway, but a sewer vent, but perhaps I am wrong. Single deck trams did once operate in the Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe areas to Mexborough.

Perhaps a photograph I should add to my slide show that was donated to me by one of the members of the group I gave the slide show and talk to. This would be a useful addition to the slide show "A Journey between Conisborough, Mexborough and Rotherham". The photograph is of Tram No 10 was taken on the 7th May 1931 at the junction in Thurnscoe for Goldthorpe, not too far away from where I gave today's slide show. I shall be returning to the Thurnscoe History Group again in April with Margaret Herbert of the Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre for her illustrated slide show and talk "The Doncaster Grand Theatre Past, Present and Future". See also "A return to Thurnscoe then onto Wakefield"