The September Shuffle

[CitroJim]

There's some most excellent cycling country around these parts Richard A ride up from the pub towards the Winter Hill TV transmitter at Belmont you'll find most rewarding

We have now arrived at the venue and really looking forward to seeing you all

[CitroJim]

And we're back home after a tremendous few days away Massively enjoyed and homesickness apart, did me a world of good

It takes a lot to drag me away from my home for more than a few hours at a time - as many know and a very few know why. That you can do what most find an impossibility is a big credit to you Mick

The last day was mainly spent enjoying a stupendous meal with Matt, his family and Richard in a superb pub in Horwich, The Blundell Arms

It comes very highly recommended and possibly one of the best we have encountered in our travels...

Above the pub was Winter Hill, just below the village of Belmont... This location is significant to me, and Peter N, as the location of a main TV transmitter.

Winter Hill has some stunning scenery around it

The journey home from Horwich was remarkably good, considering it was a Friday afternoon!

Not many photos from the last day but here's a few of them: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBKeUY

Huge thanks Mick for making this trip possible and planning it in all its amazing marvelousness

I've really got to love it up North... It's stunning to me in more than just its scenery; the vibe is refreshingly different from down south and the people are, to a fault, lovely, so friendly and welcoming And the accents are to me, music to my ears...

I could easily live in Northumberland; The choice between Morpeth or Alnwick would be a difficult one.

[NewcastleFalcon]

You may have had a less than comprehensive account from your Northumberland Tour Guide at the White Swan in Alnwick about the RMS Olympic on the September Shuffle. Brace yourself...the Wonderful Trivia Investigation Thread of the French Car Forum has the full account. Remember the revolving doors...forgot they were from the Olympic too.

Linked The RMS Olympic was also broken up on the Tyne at Jarrow, purchased by John Jarvis MP as was subsequently the RMS Berengaria. The disposal auction of items from the RMS Olympic ended up with the First-class dining room being purchased and installed at the White Swan Hotel in Alnwick...still there today.

RMS Olympic was the largest ocean liner in the world for two periods during 1910–13, interrupted only by the brief tenure of the slightly larger Titanic (which had the same dimensions but higher gross register tonnage) before the German SS Imperator (which became RMS Berengaria of Ushaw College Letterbox and the Cunard Line fame) went into service in June 1913. Olympic also held the title of the largest British-built liner until RMS Queen Mary was launched in 1934, interrupted only by the short careers of Titanic and Britannic.

On 11 October 1935, Olympic left Southampton for the last time and arrived in Jarrow two days later. The scrapping began after the ship's fittings were auctioned off. Between 1935 and 1937, Olympic's superstructure was demolished, and then on 19 September 1937, her hull was towed to Thos. W. Ward's yard at Inverkeithing for final demolition which was finished by late 1937.

RMS Olympic arriving Jarrow for scrapping
Enrique L, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The RMS Olympic dining room at The White Swan Hotel Alnwick

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the ... ining-room



When she (RMS Olympic) was auctioned off and made her final voyage up the Tyne River to Jarrow in 1935, she was stripped of her dining room. A local hotelier, Mr. Algenon Smart, successfully bid on the original oak wood paneling, stained glass windows, mirrors, and ceiling from the First Class Lounge, along with its revolving door and the Aft First Class Staircase.

He installed these features, nearly identical to the Titanic’s dining room attributes (they were both designed and fitted by the same team of craftsmen at nearly the same time), in the White Swan Hotel (Alnwick) where they’ve remained since. As you enter the hotel, you pass through the original revolving door used on the Olympic to keep sea breezes out of its restaurant.

Neil

[myglaren]

Just been telling my youngest son about it.
He was in Scotland recently and returned engaged to his former 'lodger'.
They are to be married next September. He may like the White Swan for the reception.

[CitroJim]

Interesting stuff Neil