Tuesday 23rd June, 2015 at Market Drayton.
Today, we decided to go and re-visit the RAF Museum at Cosford. We went there two years ago and were very impressed. A little research at Market Drayton Bus Station yeilded absolutely nothing; there are no timetables or any other information in evidence anywhere!
The internet, however, indicated that there was an hourly bus which went to Shrewsbury and a train from Shrewsbury to Cosford Station. So, at the appointed hour, we presented ourselves at the bus station and arrived in Shrewsbury an hour later. Because it was before 9.30, we had to buy tickets! Rats!!!The first time we've had to pay a bus fare since obtaining our Old Codgers' passes a certain number of years ago!!!
Shrewsbury Railway Station is a magnificent building and serves a wide range of destinations including Birmingham and North and South Wales.
After a relatively short train journey, we arrived at Cosford and walked the 20 minutes or so to the museum. As we walked through the gate, we saw a group of young children picnicing under a Bristol Britannia - what a wonderful place to have lunch!
In the entrance hall to the museum (entrance is free!) was a magnificent one-fifth scale model of a P51 Mustang. Apparently it took 10 years to build and was accurate in every little detail. Magic!
The museum is divided into four hangers. The first is the "Test" hanger and contains the most incredible collection of test aircraft from a time when Britain led the world in jet research. Best of all is one of two surviving TSR2s that is undergoing restoration.
In the "War in the Air" hanger there is the oldest Mk1 Spitfire in existence. It has been restored as it was in 1939, which required the removal of 39 "upgrades" to get it back to its original condition.
It also contained a small exhibit of photos of bits from the Dornier recovered from Goodwin Sands and which we were fortunate enough to see two years ago when it had only just arrived at the museum, still dripping water! Unfortunately it is still being restored and is not currently on display.
The "Cold War" hanger is quite exceptional with aircraft and vehicles from the Cold War period including examples of all three V-Bombers as well as brilliant panels explaining the differences between East and West cultures at that time on everything from sport to politics.
Finally there is "No 1" hanger that contains training and transport aircraft as well as examples of engines from First World War rotary engines to an RB211 jet engine. But, perhaps best of all, the little Folland Gnat T1 trainer - R's very favourite aircraft (next to a Mosquito).
As we walked between the hangers, we heard jet engines out on the airfield and watched as two Jaguar GR3's taxied around the apron.
We later found out that these two aircraft were retired in 2007 and are now used for technical training and in this case were being used to train ground crew in marshalling jets. So about ten students were being taught by two instructors how to marshall the two aircraft around the apron in a very classic "dance".
Back in Shrewsbury, we had an hour between our train and the bus back to Market Drayton and so wandered around the town. The River Severn winds its way round three sides of the town and a trip boat does hourly excursions up and down the river. Many years ago, the river was connected to the canal network by a canal that ran up 16 locks to Norbury Junction. What a lovely journey that must have been.
In the centre of the town was a beautiful timber frame building with an impressive brick built section.
It appears that it belonged to a very successful draper and brewer, who built the brick extension as the first brick built house in the town.
So we caught the bus home - both a little foot sore as we did a lot of walking today.
The evening sun was lovely and M remarked that the beautiful tree on the opposite bank reminded her of the fact that John Constable was reputed to have used brocolli as models for his trees - but this was a case of nature following the artist! M also observed that in fact, he must have used the English Purple Sprouting variety, as the calabrese that we call "brocolli" is a relatively recent import.
Guy was so pleased to see us back on board that he immediately put on M's red hat!
Today: MM rested quietly in the sunshine and didn't move.
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