As they were presumably still capable of breeding, not eligible for a Darwin award.
To be eligible for a Darwin award, a person must be unable to pass on their obviously defective genes. This may be achieved by death, or less commonly by destroying or removing the breeding equipment.

Possibly an honourable mention instead.

One of my favourite Darwin awards was an American whose car radio ceased to function due to a blown fuse, they used a live rifle round as a substitute. In time the passage of current fired the round, which removed or destroyed the breeding parts.

 
I am a bit surprised that troops were allowed to carry rifles at a major station, and on the train.
I appreciate that HM forces presumably have an exemption that permits the carrying of weapons in public, but am surprised that it was done in peacetime.

 
Thanks for those thoughts, Bob.

My now wife was a Merchant Navy officer on the QE2 when it was requisitioned as a troopship for the Falkland Islands dispute.

The vicar who officiated at our subsequent wedding in Salcombe was the Army Chaplain who buried Colonel H Jones VC, OBE.

Chris. 

 
Falklands seems so long ago but provided some of the most vivid memories of my journalistic career.

Seeing the Canberra sailing home up Southampton Water one Sunday morning surrounded by fire tugs.
Interviewing, at her invitation, the widow of Colonel H Jones
Working late into the night the evening the Sheffield went down.

Of course for others the memories are still painful now, both physically and emotionally. 

My thoughts also go to the family of a friend of mine who died hours before the ceasefire.

None of them should be forgotten.

 
From the BBC:

 
Portishead Railway remains in limbo after no mention in spending review
The Chancellor announced funding for rail schemes in the North, the East and West Midlands, and Wales — but the Portishead and Bristol railway was not mentioned

Rachel Reeves’s spending review has passed without a mention of money for the Portishead Railway.

The Chancellor went on a round Britain trip announcing railway schemes in her statement to the House of Commons this afternoon — but one place she did not visit was Portishead. Plans are in the works to reopen the railway between Bristol and the town in 2027 but it needs millions of pounds of funding from the government.

In her statement, Rachel Reeves announced funding for rail schemes in the North, the East and West Midlands, and Wales. She said: “I said we wanted growth in all regions of Britain and I meant it.”

But there was no announcement on whether the funding for the Portishead Railway had made it through the spending review. The West of England Combined Authority is however set to receive £752m of transport funding this parliament under as part of £15.6bn of transport investment across the country announced by the government last week.



£200m of that money will be spent on developing a mass transit to connect Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset. The rest of the funding will cover improving buses, some road improvements, and £150m on rail improvements including increasing the frequency of suburban services.

But that is understood to be a separate funding stream to the funding for the Portishead Railway. Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week if she was still confident that the Portishead Railway plans were looking positive, West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin said: “Absolutely.”

The project will see new stations built in Portishead and Pill and the line, which closed to passengers in 1964, connecting the town and village to Bristol Temple Meads once again. The line as far as Pill has already been restored — although work would need to be carried out on this stretch of the line to make the track suitable for passenger trains and not just freight.

 

Best to get the contracts signed and as much spent by 2029 then.

 

I don't think so.

I am a great fan of the historic Kemble to Cirencester Line, but we have to be practical.  That line was, probably, never really financially viable as a railway, and particularly towards the Cirencester end, the trackbed has been chopped and changed.

However, I can see the possibilities for a 'green way' cycle and footpath.  Several overbridges would have to be replaced, and a load of vegetation would have to be pruned - but that could be done.

CfN. 

 
Relates to BCR figures not solely determining whether any project would get built....

 
Hmm. 

While I do fully support that 'commitment' to invest substantially in the railway infrastructure in South Wales, it's not all guaranteed.

Rachel Reeves has proposed spending that budget until 2030.  However, Parliaments are limited to five years - so, 5 years on from 4 July 2024, her Government could be out of office by 4 July 2029 (or possibly earlier, depending on developments).

Just saying.   

 

Is there room for both if the VLR is a single track shuttle service or with a passing loop?

 
Delays to services between Twyford and Maidenhead

Due to a safety inspection of the track between Twyford and Maidenhead trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.

Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
A small section of the railway line between Reading and London Paddington is closed whilst Network Rail carry out a safety inspection. GWR can still run trains safely, as other tracks are available for use, but this will lead to some congestion and slower running as trains make their way through.

 

Interesting indeed - what does this do for very light rail proposals from Kemble to Cirencester?

 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14kdvzdjlgo

 
I found it rather amuzing that the harbour masters and Sea Cadets have entered.

 
I wonder which has the higher casualty rate: this or the Coppers Hill Cheese-rolling?

 
Wouldn't all of that information have to be made available 'online' as part of their driverless taxicab offering? 

 
..........Please provide you insurer details....... Talking vehicles?

 

As an amateur historian, I'd agree with you on that one. 

CfN. 

 
I'm an amateur historian and architecture fan: I found the many various Georgian buildings in Melksham fascinating, together with their local history. Particularly the story of the chap who threw heated copper coins out of the window, during the infamous Melksham riot of 1865:


Chris from Melksham. 

 

Well, sort of, though they were if anything on the other side at this time. General Monck was commander in chief of Parliament's armies in Scotland during the period after Oliver Cromwell's death. Richard Cromwell was unable to exert any authority over the army commanders in London, who were acting on conflicting groups to determine the future of Parliament and the country. meanwhile, outside London most people were just fed up with all this puritan stuff and the politicking.

Monck had been in command of what became the Coldstreams at the start in Berwick, and now picked them for his march to London to sort out the mess down there. His other armies, including the garrison of Edinburgh, he left with his second in command, Thomas Morgan. Presumably the Coldstreams were keeping the peace in the borders. Monck had been in contact with Charles Stuart in his exile, and was manoeuvring to get a settlement agreed before he had to confront anyone in London. Which is much how it happened, though the politics of this period is insanely complicated.

 

Update / confirmed and includes other announements - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr170qm19o


Is that "Rules to be updated" a bit woolly but potentially a biggie?

 
Not sure which definition of 'host' you're using

Seriously - which ones caught your eye?

 
From the BBC:

 
From the BBC:

 
From the BBC:

 

Indeed...............it took them five weeks to get to London in 1660, by train it took them three and a half hours !

The regiment was originally formed in 1650 as part of Cromwell's New Model Army. They did all that walking, some 10 years later, to support the (peaceful) restoration of the monarchy - after Cromwell abdicated.

 
Not sure I would use one. Who is the responsible driver/person if the car malfunctions/crashes (perhaps owing to the fault of the other side too)? Who handles any claims etc?

 
Two interesting current proposals for cycle routes/greenways on former GWR lines in Gloucestershire.

The first is for a greenway from Kingham to Bourton-on-the-Water along the former Banbury & Cheltenham Direct Railway. Sustrans has done a series of studies and there's a very brief summary here: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/jsqoexxc/sustrans-kingham-to-bourton-on-the-water-greenway-design-summary.pdf

The second is along the former branch line from Kemble to Cirencester. Designs are being taken forward in two stages, one from Kemble to a new estate on the edge of Cirencester, the other from there into the town centre. Both have received funding for design work: https://meetings.cotswold.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=10855

Still some way off construction but interesting projects nonetheless.