History lesson from Foxton on Remembrance Day

After Geoff of NB Seyella read my blog this morning he went to have a look for himself at some of the history of the RAF airfield here in Foxton, and found some very interesting stuff.  It seems appropriate today of all days to tell the story of the Lancaster bomber, crewed by 6 Australians and one Brit, which was on it’s way back from Germany to it’s base at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, when it was diverted because of fog to the Foxton Airfield.

The plane collided with the ridge at the edge of the airfield before crashing, ending up in the grounds of Foxton Vicarage. While walking today with Geoff, we found a Memorial on the Village Hall wall..

It is interesting to read that East Kirkby was 40ft above sea level while the Foxton airfield was 400ft above sea level. Speculation that the instruments were not set correctly probably caused the Lancaster’s fate.

Although it was windy, walking late this afternoon was very enjoyable in the sunshine..

This is the lock cottage and the bottom of the ten locks at Foxton.  At the side there on the right is the little shop which sells all sort of things from chandlery to coal to eggs and milk.. very handy indeed..

Not many boats about, but as I said yesterday the only ones on the move at the moment are out of the Canaltime fleet from Market Harborough..

Here’s one cruising northwards from Foxton in the late sun.

Still thinking about this diesel, which I blogged about the other day.. I read on Narrowboatworld that one person living on a boat in a Marina is having to declare and pay for diesel at the higher rate because the they will only sell her diesel at the 60/40% split instead of letting her declare what her actual requirement is. So she is not only having to make a false declaration, but having to pay full tax on heating fuel.  She says she doesn’t ‘propel’ the boat at all!  Looks like she is on the move now to a Marina that will allow self declaration…

For sure No Problem won’t be patronising any boatyard that is going to sell their fuel at a 60/40% split or not at all.  Not only will we not buy diesel, but we will not be using their services nor buying gas, coal or any other supplies from them.

I hope other livaboards will consider doing the same.  These boatyards forget that there are not that many boats on the move in the winter apart from livaboards!