The Council row over how best to renovate the Waterside Station inspires columnist Ken Thatcher's latest train of thought…
Recently the controversy surrounding the redevelopment of the old Waterside Station has created a few waves in the headlines… A bit like Marcel Proust and his Madeleine cake it set me off in a wave of involuntary memories.
My father spent more that thirty years in the navy and he was still serving when we lived in Bond’s Hill. I can still clearly recall being taken down to the station to see him off. It was obviously not one of the greatest moments in life waving goodbye to your father at the age of three or four not knowing how long it might be until you saw him again but, there was something worse that happened on these occasions which left an everlasting impression on me.
Don’t forget this was the era of the steam locomotive and the station was alive with the sound of engines either getting up steam or shunting trucks around the goods yard, such as it was. At some point in the cycle of working up steam the engineer had to release some of that energy, which meant that there was what seemed to me an almighty blast of billowing steam which roared out of the engine towards the general public as they waited on the platform to wave their farewells...
There was such a cacophony of sound and hissing of pent up energy that I was instantly reduced to tears of terror. Invariably I always seemed to be right in the line of fire when the steam came roaring out across the platform.
I remember cowering behind my mother’s skirts in an effort to put some distance between me and the terrifying tornado of steam. No doubt today there would be a host of regulations to prevent anyone being within twenty metres of the event. This irrational fear of steam engines remained with me until the introduction of the diesel train and even today I find myself wary if we are ever at a heritage steam railway event.
Under yonder window
My next recollection dates from the 1960s. One of my friends at school was the son of the stationmaster and an outstanding rugby player who was eventually to play for Ulster. Part of his training regime was to go out early in the morning and physically push the rolling stock up and down the empty track. Now that was impressive! There were no personal trainers or fancy gyms to join in those days. He also encouraged me to invite his sister to the School Formal, which I willingly did; to this day I still cast a longing glance towards what was then her bedroom window below which I occasionally stood to engage in whispered conversations from above. I must have seemed an unlikely Romeo.
Just perfect for a picnic
This week the thought struck me that one of the most unlikely places to conduct an agreeable social life must be the waiting room at your local GP surgery. Only the other day I was sitting quietly idly speculating on what ailments my fellow patients were presenting with when I was greeted by some one whom I hadn’t seen for ages and just as he disappeared into the consulting room I encountered a former student who regaled me with tales of his present employment and how much he was enjoying it. Shortly it was my turn to be seen and that put an end to a rather pleasant few minutes of idle gossip.Maybe next time I’ll bring a flask and some sandwiches and make a day of it.
Dates with destiny, or not?
If you spend a deal of time sitting waiting for appointments you are likely to have read an interminable number of notices pinned to notice boards or walls and frequently in a terminal state of decay. Only yesterday I read one which encouraged me to ‘Be a Quitter’. It was exhorting me to give up cigarettes; I gave them up thirty years ago. I list that as one of the greatest achievements of my life. I was totally in agreement with the sentiments expressed by the poster but what really irked me was that it was encouraging me to quit on No Smoking Day on the 15th of March 2017. I suspect that means that its sticky tape had kept it in place for well over a year.
What is more, only yesterday I walked past an electronic hoarding which assured me that I would have a fun-packed day if I came to the Craft Village during the Easter festivities where face painting and all kinds of activities would send me home smiling. That was more than two weeks ago. Really, would it be so difficult to keep your information up to date?
Now having said all that I’d better get to the shop and check out all the various promotions which are posted on our walls otherwise I’ll be eating humble pie or worse, I’ll have egg on my face.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.