sasha and john hartson, plus john and nobby stiles

Two scary looking fellows you don't want to meet in a dark alley late at night.
It's Sasha, one of my mates who l've played football with on numerous times over the years, with John Hartson, after last weeks 'Gentlemans Evening' at Catterick / Colburn's 'Hanson Sport and Social Club' (or, as we still call it, 'The Arc'). A splendid evening for all, which also featured Nobby Stiles' son (John) in his role as compere and stand up comedian, and who was much, much better than l was expecting, although, as he said himself, nobody remembers him playing for Leeds United, it's always as Nobby's son.
Mind you, Nobby did play for Manchester United and England, and is one of the few English players to have won both the European Cup (in 1968) and World Cup (in 1966).
Sadly, Nobby has had dementia and very poor health for a while, as aging and illnesses are bastards, but l hope he and his family are not suffering.
Here's John and Nobby

And here's Nobby at a charity match in 1968, pre owning the 'Spud' look that was later used in Trainspotting. He may not look it from the photograph, but he was one mean, hard player.

toodle pip

jacket at halloween

Halloween may be over, but l can't erase this image of Jacket (a lad from Catterick) out of my tiny little mind.
It's like it's been lasered into my eyeballs for eternity!

toodle pip

burnfest - coming soon

Coming very soon to sunny Colburn in the heart of Catterick - the now annual Burnfest!
Wine bar first, then Colburn, then flaking out at about 10pm. Fun for all the family!

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the colburn fire brigade

The fire crew from our local fire station at Colburn, Catterick.
A fine upstanding crew who inspire much confidence in times of crisis, and are all fully booked for calendars, modelling, strip shows and hen nights.
The stuff that women's dreams are made of.

toodle pip 

johnny's cafe at camp centre and progress

To anyone living in the Catterick Garrison area, Johnny's cafes were one of the main places to hang out, eat cheese and onion rolls, and talk crap. Obviously only the location has changed, as plenty of rolls are still eaten, and trust me, the crap is flowing as steadily as ever, but it's a shame that they have now gone, this one by Camp Centre roundabout being replaced by an Aldi (or Lidl, l forget which one).
Much as l love the addition of new shops to the area, buildings such as this, the Camp Centre post office, The Walkerville hotel / Stax / Scorpion nightclub, and the Colburn Lodge should have been given historical status and preserved. They are what gave the Garrison an identity (apart from the thousands of soldiers passing through).
Bloody progress!!!!!
Saying that,  l'm still looking forward to the new cinema and KFC outlet.  Sitting in the dark watching films, and eating plenty of Southern Fried Chicken.
As before, only the venues will have changed, as l already do that at home (way too often).

The Colburn Lodge earlier in the year, awaiting development. It looks a lot worse now.

toodle pip

harry enfield in the hildyard arms

Something that wasn't expected at the weekend.  Harry Enfield in The Hildyard Arms in Colburn, Catterick Garrison. One of our few remaining local pubs.
Either that or my drug flashbacks have started to kick in (about bleeding time).

toodle pip

the state of the colburn lodge at the moment

Obviously l could not have taken these pictures myself, as it would have been trespassing and illegal, and l would never break the law of the land.  However, as they have somehow arrived in my possession, it would be amiss of me not to post them up for all to see.
The Colburn Lodge, a favourite old drinking establishment of mine in Catterick, as it was a couple of days ago.
The talk is that it is going to be re-furbished, re-opened and selling meat, but also have some kind of eating place within.
No doubt we will find out soon, but it is a shame that it is no longer going to be used as a pub, as many a cracking night has been had within those walls, especially when 60 Squadron used to be based over the road from it.
Trust me, it could be as mad as Mad Jack McMad himself (but in a good way!).

toodle pip

colburn council houses being renovated

My sister lives in a council house in Colburn, Catterick (the lucky woman), and Richmond council have recently been tarting them up a bit.  However, their plan for the outside wiring was to leave it exposed, as in the photographs above (the brown bits).  Of course nobody is happy with this, and the tenants have protested.
Who on earth thought it would be a good idea to leave the houses in that state?  I'm sure they wouldn't want their own houses to look that way, so why should the council tenants have to put up with it?
The last l heard, talks were ongoing.

toodle pip

the colburn lodge is being renovated

At long last!  It doesn't look it in these photographs, but at long last, The Colburn Lodge  pub in Catterick is being renovated.  Apparently it is going to be some kind of restaurant which will also sell meat.  That is the gossip the the pub, but who knows, it might be completely wrong.
No doubt we will be finding out soon, but l can't see it being open again until well into next year, no matter what is being done.
At least it is not being knocked down, as it is a local landmark, and the scene of many a happy night out over the years, especially when 60 squadron used to be based over the road from it.

toodle pip

geoff and michelle win the lottery

This is Geoff and Michelle Hughes, who used to run the Colburn Lodge a few years ago, which was one of my local pubs.  They then moved to Middlesbrough and ran The Coronation pub in Acklam, which, as luck would have it, was also one of my haunts, as Robbo and Kerry lived around the corner from it, so l would go there and then stay over.
I found out last week that they had won nearly $78,000 on the lottery by getting 5 numbers (plus the bonus ball).  Now they are pretty nice people, but l am still bitter, twisted, and jealous as anything.
I would be off to America and Japan in no time if l won (and probably dead pretty soon afterwards).

toosdle pip.

the lads from catterick

Various lads from the Colburn and Catterick Garrison area back in the day.  Not all of them are alive now, and there are some seriously bad fashions on display, but Coley looks cool rocking his long haired Shaun Ryder look.
They were the days.....van trips to festivals and gigs, drugs, drink and girls a plenty, Manchester United were just about to dominate English football, and The Scorpion (The Walkie) was still open.
These were a generation below me, but we certainly had some good times together.

toodle pip

the men in black - tony o'neill

It's taken me a few years to get around to reading 'The Men In Black', the second of Tony O'Neills books about being one of the top boys (if not the top) in Manchester United's firm for 30 years.  Unfortunately, much as l love Manchester United, this turned out to be as l had expected.  I can't really complain too much, as the book delivers as far as tales of fighting goes, but that is also the problem.  I have been to many a United game over the years, starting from when l was a kid in the 1960's.  I have been involved in lots of trouble and been thrown out of grounds, done drugs, been to prison etc, so l am not exactly an angel, but this is the same experience as listening to people telling you their tales of drug trips.  It's fun and exciting to have the experience yourself, but not half as much fun being a passive listener (or in this case, reader).  As l said, my problem really, and l would probably have been better off reading O'Neill's 'Red Army General', as that is more about the 1970's, when l went a lot, so l would identify more with the tales.  There's still interesting insights into the police operations and O'Neills arrests and shootings, and if you are looking for a firm (not in that sense) to take you to a United away game, O'Neill provides that very service (but he is a business man now and has calmed down).  It certainly bought back memories of all standing, city centre riots and no go zones, but nothing like being there.  Football and the stadiums today?  Not half as much fun.
As a side note, we used to hire a coach from Colburn in about 1976 to go to the United games.  This stopped when the coach was smashed up and they refused to hire us any more.  Who was it smashed up by? Only the same United fans from Colburn that used it (and who would also think nothing of fighting and stealing from other United fans).  That's how mad it used to be.

toodle pip

the scorpion nightclub

Ah.... This certainly takes me back.  It doesn't matter if you remember the place as The Scorpion, The Walerville, The Walkie, The Rats Palace, The Pink Palace or Staxx, you will definitely remember the wild nights, the mine sweeping, the fights, the romance, the food  (either inside or at Brian Taylor's van), and the search for a party afterwards.  Catterick and Colburn is not the same without it, and the bloody Colburn Lodge is still closed and up for sale.  Progress - Pah!

toodle pip

walking to joes

One of the joys of living next to lots of countryside!  I foolishly decided to get some fresh air and walk to Joes yesterday, forgetting how wet it would be.  The journey itself doesn't take long (through the woods to Colburn), but it's a pain in the arse trying to miss all of the puddles and horse crap.
Still, it was probably the most exercise l've had for a while, so l'm obviously full of piss and vinegar now, and with my 'new heart' l felt like l could have hopped all of the way (if it wasn't for that pesky mud).

toodle pip

the building work behind the arc

It's all going to be a lot different around the Colburn and Catterick area by The Arc, as building work has now started on a load of new houses.  Where all the people are going to work is a puzzle to me, but maybe this might encourage someone to re-open The Colburn Lodge, as that is not far from the (soon to be built) houses.  I'll put up more photographs as it develops.

toodle pip