As this is my post number five thousand to this board, I am feeling quite emotional. Sigh! But as such I thought I'd try and make it a meaningful one.
In the three years I have been on the board I have spouted much wisdom, much drivel (take your pick), dredged up a few memories, (some real, some false), and generally wasted my life when I could have been doing something much more productive.
Unfortunately, I still havent found anything more productive than having this wonderful time machine of the mind at my fingertips and in my eyeline at the mere click of a mouse.
Of course this would not have been possible without the wonderful and sometimes amazing contributions of all those other folk on this board who shine an enlightening torch into the dimmer corners of the memory and flood them with the brilliant light of instant transportation. The journey can often bring laughter, sometimes tears, yearnings for a time gone by and yet the joy of having lived through them. Most of all it brings together a few kindred spirits who are not afraid to look foolish once in a while for the greater good of having contributed something worthwhile to this wonderful board. I have said it many times and meant it, that no detail, no matter how trivial, is not worth posting if it is relevant to a thread, because many times we have seen great oak trees of threads grow from such seemingly minor details.
So at this point I would like to say a word of gratitude to many regular posters and many not quite so regular who keep this site plodding along. If for any reason I dont mention you by name, please dont think you are not valued. It is just that I have to do this off the top of my head and if there are omissions, I apologise in advance.
So here goes:
To Mr. Turnip, for having the patience, fortitude and initial vision to get this whole thing off the ground and also to keep it ticking over so efficiently. Much work goes on behind the scenes and we are all grateful for it.
To the memory of departed members: Michael S, our late moderator, and a sterling contributor, much of whose contributions were before I joined the board. However, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael in person and found him to be gentleman who was sincerely interested in all which transpired on this board. He is still much missed. Also Frank Randle who was an expert on northern comedians and was sadly taken ill during a period of fruitful postings.
To our friends from overseas:
From Australia:
John Maloney: Always a fount of knowledge on the more obscure recording artists and their recordings and possessor (unknown as yet to the rest of the world), of what must be one of the worlds major record collections.
Rog in Oz and Ashley Townsend: Always coming up with interesting musical contributions.
Rennay, ex Londoner and contributor extraordinaire. Wisdom and wit from across the miles.
From New Zealand: The deadly duo.
Wendy Stevenson, a powerhouse poster whose energy and love of life is constantly on display.
Journalism lost a talent when she crossed the water. Her frank and take no prisoners style constantly energises this board. When it is flagging, it is often Wendy who keeps things ticking over.
Robin, Master of the pun and a clever humorist, often misunderstood by those with a lesser wit, but when he posts seriously, it is always meaningful and worthwhile.
From the USA:
John (Joshea), Always coming up with really fascinating facts about the various artists on the music and film threads. An extremely knowledgable enthusiast.
Isabel: Pithy and pertinent posts from across the pond.
From the UK.
Jimbo: Leading light poster, still rockin and keeping an eye on all our postings. The pride of Leeds.
Broomhouse: Quality poster with an off the wall wit. Gone quiet lately (technical problems?), but hes still getting the drinks in when I catch up with him.
Jelly: A man with his own entertaining style and an individual site especially dedicated .
Pat: This lady only seems to post when she has something really worthwhile to say. Always has balanced views on most topics and displays lots of common sense and a rare and refreshing honesty.
Viv, A shrewd and acerbic poster. Her lack of verbosity when posting is to be admired. (unlike some and no names mentioned!). Hides a wealth of knowledge beneath her quiet exterior and is always a pleasure to read. Also knows more about Elvis than Colonel Parker.
Camaygirl: New girl on the block but already instigating fascinating posts and resurrecting names long forgotten. A really dynamic and welcome addition to the board.
Joan Cornelous: Often posts re forgotten fifties detail and memorobilia. Always knowledgable, especially about fifties London.
Jeremy (Jelly) , A man with his own individual special thread, and an individual style of contributions. Always entertaining.
Brian (Musikool), Not only a terrific expert on fifties music but some countries lost diplomat. A real gentleman of the board who is a huge contributor to the music threads. A genuine expert.
Ossie: Another music specialist who is like Brian, a genuine expert. Has a great collection of sheet music and old Fulham football programmes. (guess which is more valuable?).
Vince Eager: Whirligigs celebrity contributor whose career and discography will need no introduction to fifties rock fans. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, not able to post as often as we would like but superb inside knowledge and anecdotes are treats when they come.
Chardonnay Pascoe: Recent hearthrob: Due to the recent release of his youthful face amongst the antiquarians on Rogues Gallery has set many a Turnipesss heart a fluttering. World number one fan of Petula Clark (but undergoing treatment!). But seriously, making waves as a genuine music enthusiast and sleeve note writer.
Vicky Williams: Simply amazing compiler of mind boggling detail about fifties music charts. Doing a wonderful job on Whirligig for the true chart connoisseur.
Paul 72: Always on hand for considered contributions to various threads and although not posting as much as he used to, still gives us insightful views on various artists and films.
Harry (Aitch), Ex actor who has worked with the best. A fascinating and varied memoir posted about various showbiz experiences over the years. Harry has come through serious illness but still entertains us with his excellent postings. A trouper!
Colonel Bloodnock: Another poster par excellence. Has contributed many marvellous starters to various threads and seriously re energised the board almost single handed during a low point last year. His posts are always full of interesting detail.
Mirkwood, Another poster who has much to say of value. (must be because of his celtic origins, Yay!)
Kratylus: Quiet lately but extremely knowledgable postings when active.
Focalist: Another with seemingly limitless detailed knowledge on his chosen subjects.
Eastville For Entertainment : Also quiet lately but deeply knowledgable on chosen threads.
Banner: A gentleman of the old school and with a keen and comprehensive knowledge of military matters. His contributions always bear the human touch and are much enjoyed.
Lancastrian and Librarian: Similar names but not to be confused : Both have made excellent contributions to various debates and their views are always welcome.
Jim Wall: Record collector extraordinaire and with a wealth of knowledge on matters showbiz.
Hawkeye: Excellent comedy script writer who shows his talent on here occasionally with brilliant little vignettes based around various fifties subjects. Under appreciated on this site in my opinion.
Andrew Doherty: Genuine expert knowledge from an insider at the BFI, (I think). Very valuable and detailed knowledge.
Stephendoran: Sometimes writes in a code Bletchley Park would have trouble with but dont be fooled. Look beyond the strange grammar and recognise our very own Rainman. The nearest thing to a savant that we have on this board. I am constantly impressed. Leslie Welch eat your heart out.
All these marvellous regular contributors continue to make this board what it is; quite simply the best fifties site on the web.
I do apologise to anyone whose name I have omitted and I will probably kick myself later for having done so, but please bear with me as I am doing this off the top of my head and as the list lengthens I am realising what a mammoth task I have taken on in trying to show my appreciation of everyone individually. It is now, I realise, almost an impossible task as there are constantly new postings and members arriving and old posters returning to the fold.
However, I hope in this posting, I have gone some way to letting people know that their efforts are really appreciated and enjoyed by me personally. Please remember also this is purely my personal opinion and may well not chime with your own, but hey! its diversity which makes the world go round.
Heres hoping I meet many more of you in person sometime in the future.
Thank you one and all.
William Brown.
In the three years I have been on the board I have spouted much wisdom, much drivel (take your pick), dredged up a few memories, (some real, some false), and generally wasted my life when I could have been doing something much more productive.
Unfortunately, I still havent found anything more productive than having this wonderful time machine of the mind at my fingertips and in my eyeline at the mere click of a mouse.
Of course this would not have been possible without the wonderful and sometimes amazing contributions of all those other folk on this board who shine an enlightening torch into the dimmer corners of the memory and flood them with the brilliant light of instant transportation. The journey can often bring laughter, sometimes tears, yearnings for a time gone by and yet the joy of having lived through them. Most of all it brings together a few kindred spirits who are not afraid to look foolish once in a while for the greater good of having contributed something worthwhile to this wonderful board. I have said it many times and meant it, that no detail, no matter how trivial, is not worth posting if it is relevant to a thread, because many times we have seen great oak trees of threads grow from such seemingly minor details.
So at this point I would like to say a word of gratitude to many regular posters and many not quite so regular who keep this site plodding along. If for any reason I dont mention you by name, please dont think you are not valued. It is just that I have to do this off the top of my head and if there are omissions, I apologise in advance.
So here goes:
To Mr. Turnip, for having the patience, fortitude and initial vision to get this whole thing off the ground and also to keep it ticking over so efficiently. Much work goes on behind the scenes and we are all grateful for it.
To the memory of departed members: Michael S, our late moderator, and a sterling contributor, much of whose contributions were before I joined the board. However, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael in person and found him to be gentleman who was sincerely interested in all which transpired on this board. He is still much missed. Also Frank Randle who was an expert on northern comedians and was sadly taken ill during a period of fruitful postings.
To our friends from overseas:
From Australia:
John Maloney: Always a fount of knowledge on the more obscure recording artists and their recordings and possessor (unknown as yet to the rest of the world), of what must be one of the worlds major record collections.
Rog in Oz and Ashley Townsend: Always coming up with interesting musical contributions.
Rennay, ex Londoner and contributor extraordinaire. Wisdom and wit from across the miles.
From New Zealand: The deadly duo.
Wendy Stevenson, a powerhouse poster whose energy and love of life is constantly on display.
Journalism lost a talent when she crossed the water. Her frank and take no prisoners style constantly energises this board. When it is flagging, it is often Wendy who keeps things ticking over.
Robin, Master of the pun and a clever humorist, often misunderstood by those with a lesser wit, but when he posts seriously, it is always meaningful and worthwhile.
From the USA:
John (Joshea), Always coming up with really fascinating facts about the various artists on the music and film threads. An extremely knowledgable enthusiast.
Isabel: Pithy and pertinent posts from across the pond.
From the UK.
Jimbo: Leading light poster, still rockin and keeping an eye on all our postings. The pride of Leeds.
Broomhouse: Quality poster with an off the wall wit. Gone quiet lately (technical problems?), but hes still getting the drinks in when I catch up with him.
Jelly: A man with his own entertaining style and an individual site especially dedicated .
Pat: This lady only seems to post when she has something really worthwhile to say. Always has balanced views on most topics and displays lots of common sense and a rare and refreshing honesty.
Viv, A shrewd and acerbic poster. Her lack of verbosity when posting is to be admired. (unlike some and no names mentioned!). Hides a wealth of knowledge beneath her quiet exterior and is always a pleasure to read. Also knows more about Elvis than Colonel Parker.
Camaygirl: New girl on the block but already instigating fascinating posts and resurrecting names long forgotten. A really dynamic and welcome addition to the board.
Joan Cornelous: Often posts re forgotten fifties detail and memorobilia. Always knowledgable, especially about fifties London.
Jeremy (Jelly) , A man with his own individual special thread, and an individual style of contributions. Always entertaining.
Brian (Musikool), Not only a terrific expert on fifties music but some countries lost diplomat. A real gentleman of the board who is a huge contributor to the music threads. A genuine expert.
Ossie: Another music specialist who is like Brian, a genuine expert. Has a great collection of sheet music and old Fulham football programmes. (guess which is more valuable?).
Vince Eager: Whirligigs celebrity contributor whose career and discography will need no introduction to fifties rock fans. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, not able to post as often as we would like but superb inside knowledge and anecdotes are treats when they come.
Chardonnay Pascoe: Recent hearthrob: Due to the recent release of his youthful face amongst the antiquarians on Rogues Gallery has set many a Turnipesss heart a fluttering. World number one fan of Petula Clark (but undergoing treatment!). But seriously, making waves as a genuine music enthusiast and sleeve note writer.
Vicky Williams: Simply amazing compiler of mind boggling detail about fifties music charts. Doing a wonderful job on Whirligig for the true chart connoisseur.
Paul 72: Always on hand for considered contributions to various threads and although not posting as much as he used to, still gives us insightful views on various artists and films.
Harry (Aitch), Ex actor who has worked with the best. A fascinating and varied memoir posted about various showbiz experiences over the years. Harry has come through serious illness but still entertains us with his excellent postings. A trouper!
Colonel Bloodnock: Another poster par excellence. Has contributed many marvellous starters to various threads and seriously re energised the board almost single handed during a low point last year. His posts are always full of interesting detail.
Mirkwood, Another poster who has much to say of value. (must be because of his celtic origins, Yay!)
Kratylus: Quiet lately but extremely knowledgable postings when active.
Focalist: Another with seemingly limitless detailed knowledge on his chosen subjects.
Eastville For Entertainment : Also quiet lately but deeply knowledgable on chosen threads.
Banner: A gentleman of the old school and with a keen and comprehensive knowledge of military matters. His contributions always bear the human touch and are much enjoyed.
Lancastrian and Librarian: Similar names but not to be confused : Both have made excellent contributions to various debates and their views are always welcome.
Jim Wall: Record collector extraordinaire and with a wealth of knowledge on matters showbiz.
Hawkeye: Excellent comedy script writer who shows his talent on here occasionally with brilliant little vignettes based around various fifties subjects. Under appreciated on this site in my opinion.
Andrew Doherty: Genuine expert knowledge from an insider at the BFI, (I think). Very valuable and detailed knowledge.
Stephendoran: Sometimes writes in a code Bletchley Park would have trouble with but dont be fooled. Look beyond the strange grammar and recognise our very own Rainman. The nearest thing to a savant that we have on this board. I am constantly impressed. Leslie Welch eat your heart out.
All these marvellous regular contributors continue to make this board what it is; quite simply the best fifties site on the web.
I do apologise to anyone whose name I have omitted and I will probably kick myself later for having done so, but please bear with me as I am doing this off the top of my head and as the list lengthens I am realising what a mammoth task I have taken on in trying to show my appreciation of everyone individually. It is now, I realise, almost an impossible task as there are constantly new postings and members arriving and old posters returning to the fold.
However, I hope in this posting, I have gone some way to letting people know that their efforts are really appreciated and enjoyed by me personally. Please remember also this is purely my personal opinion and may well not chime with your own, but hey! its diversity which makes the world go round.
Heres hoping I meet many more of you in person sometime in the future.
Thank you one and all.
William Brown.
, and many congratulations on your 5000th posting, I think Mr T should put a copy of this in the Research section to show newcomers to the site just 'who is who'.
