Daddy, what did you do in the great war?

My Dad has always been reticent about what he did in the last war. I know that some veterans prefer not to talk about their experiences. Enquiring indirectly via Mum it turns out that he didn't seem to think there was much to tell - only ferrying American tanks to Omaha Beach following the D-Day landings!

Here, with his permission, is a note my Dad wrote to set the record straight:

My career in the Royal Navy.

I was called up in 1943 (18 yrs old) and they gave you the choice of Navy, Army or RAF. I chose the Navy.

You start as an Ordinary Seaman with 3 months preliminary training. A number of us were singled out as possible officer material and put into a special class.

After this you served for 3 months on the lower deck of a ship which was an invaluable experience.

You then went for officer training at Brighton (Lancing College) and were passed, or otherwise.

I was now, because of my age, a Midshipman to start with and later a Second Lieutenant.

I was posted to a Tank Landing Craft with a C.O., myself and a crew of 10 - 12 seamen. This was about 2 weeks after D-Day in June 1944.

Our job was to carry 6 American tanks and crew to Omaha Beach on continuous trips backwards and forwards to reload.* By this time the beaches had been cleared although you could sometimes hear inland gunfire. The war ended in 1945 and I was demobilised in 1946, returning to my architectural studies which had been disrupted.

Michael McLellan
Sept. 2011

P.S. In my first week back I shared a studio with a certain Margery Scales. The rest is history.


Omaha Beach

* which Dad later clarified was for about 6 months making over 30 round trips.

Edit [23-November-2023]:

When my mother died I officially became the next of kin for my late father. This meant I could apply for his military service records on my own account. This provided me with additional information on his wartime service. Included in that was a period he spent from 28-July-1944 to 8-May 1945 as second-in-command on a US-built tank landing craft, LCT1073. Built in Mare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, California, U.S.A.) in April 1944 this craft was used to ferry American tanks from the UK to Omaha beach following the Normandy D-Day landings. He never, as far as we know, bothered to claim his medal.

Merton Abbey Mills

The other weekend it was such a lovely day Mary and I went for a wander along the Wandle. I have a soft spot for this river. We currently live very close to where it debouches into the Thames. Previously I lived in South Wimbledon and walked along Wandle Bank every day to get to Colliers Wood tube.

We walked as far as Merton Abbey Mills and had a mooch around the various market stalls.


Merton Abbey Mills - water wheel interior

There is a certain symmetry with our London Open House 2011 walk when we visited William Morris's Kelmscott House. It was Merton Abbey Mills that in June 1881 became the new home of Morris & Co.'s workshops. Morris refused to destroy existing buildings, and adapted them or built new ones. Learn more at http://www.mertonpriory.org/history/4.html


Merton Abbey Mills - water wheel exterior

After a sandwich and an ice cream we walked on to Wimbledon town centre by which time our feet told us to catch the 156 bus back.

Enoteca Turi Wine Tasting Dinner - Valpolicella: The Road to Perfection

Tuesday 27th September 2011

Yet another fine wine dinner at Enoteca Turi from Giuseppe and his chef, this time with added amplification. Giuseppe is very softly spoken and can be hard to hear over the happy chatter of the diners in the main restaurant. On this occasion he was miked up with a small speaker to help us all heard more clearly - it worked very well.



As always it was a menu of regional dishes from the corresponding wine area. The wines were presented in increasing order of intensity:

• normale - typically made from three grape varietals: Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara
• ripasso - where leftover grape skins and seeds from the fermentation of recioto and Amarone are added to the batch of Valpolicella wines for a period of extended maceration.
• amarone - a strong wine made from dried grapes
• recioto - dessert wine made from grapes that have been dried to concentrate their juice

All the wines were excellent with the low being the Amarone - somewhat murky - and the high being the Recioto - absolutely fabulous, nectar, a joy to drink. Almost port-like and an excellent pairing with the chocolate cake although it would be equally at home with cheese.

Cicchetti
Traditional Venetian antipasti
Valpolicella Rio Albo DOC 2009 Ca’ Rugate
*
Insalata tiepida di borlotti e porcini
Warm salad of fresh borlotti beans and porcini mushrooms
Valpolicella Classico Superiore I Progni DOC 2008 Le Salette
*
Risotto con zucca, prosciutto e ricotta affumicata
Risotto with pumpkin, prosciutto and smoked ricotta
Valpolicella Superiore Marion DOC 2004 Fam. Campedelli
*
Petto d’anatra con peverada, verza sofegata e polenta
Breast of duck with peverada, braised savoy cabbage and polenta
Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta DOC 2002 Romano dal Forno
Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2002 Giuseppe Quintarelli
*
Formaggi regionali
Selection of the region’s cheeses: piave, asiago and embriago
Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Allegrini 2000
*
Torta di cioccolato
Venetian chocolate cake
Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOC 2006 Nicolis
*
Coffee

Clootie Dumpling

Whenever there is a birthday in the family Mary's mum, May, makes a clootie dumpling to celebrate. Since it was my birthday in the week preceding our last visit I got the traditional alternative to a birthday cake.


Clootie dumpling in the pan


Clootie dumpling out of the pan


Clootie dumpling unwrapped

There are many variations on the Clootie Dumpling recipe - this is May's version.

Clootie Dumpling recipe

1 1/2 lb Self Raising Flour
6oz Currants
6oz Sultanas
3 teaspoons Cinnamon
3 teaspoons Ground Ginger
3 teaspoons Mixed Spice
3 dessertspoons Treacle
3 dessertspoons Syrup
3oz vegetable suet
3oz caster sugar
1/2 pint milk (approx)

Mix dry ingredients, add treacle and syrup.
Mix until moist with milk.
Add fruit and stir through
Scald cloth with boiling water, sprinkle with SR flour
Place dumpling mixture in centre of cloth
Tie cloth with string leaving room for expansion

Steam for 3 hours.
Remove cloth, place dumpling on plate and dry in oven (100C for 15 minutes)

Fairy rings in Battersea Park

On our way back from Battersea Park during the London Open House 2011 I saw what had to be a fairy ring. Closer inspection revealed the fungi responsible.


Fairy ring in Battersea park 1

According to wikipedia they can grow to be several hundred years old. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring


Fairy ring in Battersea park 2

Easy to spot if you know what they are. We saw several more last weekend on our way through King George's Park when we went for a wander down the Wandle to Merton Abbey Mills. Isn't nature wonderful!

London Open House 2011

London, England. Saturday 18-Sep-2011

Sunday morning looking through Time Out for something to do on my birthday the following Tuesday we discovered that it was London Open House weekend. So whatever plans we had for the day took a sudden swerve.

We got our walking boots on and headed for the closest venue - an architect's house off West Hill. There was too much of a waiting list so we headed on to the next item on our itinerary: Fulham Palace.

I know there is a park and a road of the same name but I had not realised the Palace was still extant which was a pleasant surprise. We got there in time for the one o'clock tour and spent the next 60 minutes being shown round the palace - home to the Bishops of London for over 1300 years, the grounds and the church.


Fulham Palace

Next it was a walk and a bus ride up to Hammmersmith for Kelmscott House home of William Morris and the W.M. Society. The open house-ness was limited to the stables, basement and part of the back garden. The main house was disappointingly off-limits.


Kelmscott House

Next a walk, a tube, a train and a walk back south of the river to Battersea Park and the Pump House. It is a restored grade II listed building, built in 1861 to supply water to the lakes and cascades of the then new Battersea Park.


Battersea Pump House

It didn't take long to climb to the top and back down - not much to see really. However a side effect was that we wandered through parts of the park we had not seen before; we had mainly cycled round the perimeter road.

There was lots more to see including the Festival Gardens built for the 1951 Festival of Britain and a girder from the Twin Towers made into a memorial sculture. That ramble of discovery was the highlight of the day.

Everyday differences in Puglia: Family meal

The large Italian family meal is not just an invention of the Dolmio advertising agency. It is very real as the supermarket shelves attest. Every store has stacks of disposable plates, plastic cups and paper serviettes to save on washing up when you have all your family and friends round.



Fortunately our neighbours Mino and Carole love entertaining and we often get invited round for Sunday lunch.



Their friend Vito prepares a specialty - raw mussels - well you eat raw oysters so why not raw mussels?



It was a multi-course extravaganza. First was the focaccia made by Mino's sister, Zia, which Tim declared was the best focaccia he has ever eaten; a verdict we Brits all endorsed. Then raw mussels. Then sea food pasta.



Then a main course washed down by many bottles of Mino's own wine.



The dessert was a mixture of cakes and pastries with a prosecco.



A wonderful way to spend a Sunday lunch.



Several hours later we meandered off home for a quiet evening and a very light supper.

Trullo Azzurro: beautifully restored trullo in delightful, secluded valley near Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy. Available to rent on a per week basis, sleeps 4-6. For more information visit http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/trulloazzurro

Puglia August 2011 - Sloe gin

For the first time in several years we have made Puglian sloe gin. Normally by the time we arrive in September the sloes are shriveled beyond redemption. This year we went earlier, the last week of August, and the sloes were looking good.

With the help of Mary's friend, Andrea A, who was visiting us for a few days we quickly harvested enough for a litre of sloe gin.

The important factor is the ratio of sloes to sugar - I went for Nigel Slater's classic sloe gin recipe which has a higher ratio than the BBC recipe as I have a sweet tooth.

Both recipes counsel patience however that is is easy when you are not there. By the time we go back in November for the olive harvest it should be perfect and ready for decanting.

Trullo Azzurro: beautifully restored trullo in delightful, secluded valley near Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy. Available to rent on a per week basis, sleeps 4-6. For more information visit http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/trulloazzurro

Everyday differences in Puglia: Pasta pot

As every Italian Nonna (Grandmother) will tell you, "You must lift the pasta out of the water". You do not tip the pasta into a colander which drains the water through the pasta, oh no!

We found this pot in Italy and use it all the time. When we tried to find one in the UK we had little success so we bought one and brought it back home with us.

You should not put the pasta in until the water has come to the boil and you should only add the salt at that point not before, so I am informed.

It also works well for vegetables.

Trullo Azzurro: beautifully restored trullo in delightful, secluded valley near Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy. Available to rent on a per week basis, sleeps 4-6. For more information visit http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/trulloazzurro

Cropredy 2011

Cropredy, England - Friday 12-August-2011

It is harder to imagine anything more diametrically opposite to the recent riots than Cropredy. Twenty thousand predominantly white, middle class, middle aged, ex-hippie / folkie people in a field sitting politely in rows chatting amiably to strangers.

If this is Middle England count me in.

I mentioned to Mary that I fancied going to see more live music. A couple of years ago we discovered Seasick Steve when we went to Hyde Park to see Neil Young. Googling resulted in a two day ticket to some folk festival and an overnight stay at the Wroxton House Hotel - Mary's home from home for five months in a previous life - sod camping for a game of soldiers.

For various reasons we ending up not driving but cycling: home to work, work to Marylebone, train, Banbury to hotel, hotel to Cropredy, Cropredy to hotel.

Friday 12 August 2011

BBC YFA Winners - Moore, Moss, Ritter
The Travelling Band
Steve Tilston & The Durbervilles
[Mark and Mary arrive]
Charlie Dore
The Dylan Project
The Urban Folk Quartet
The Coral
Seasick Steve


Seasick Steve

The bands were excellent and all unknown discoveries to me (apart from Seasick Steve, obviously). Each set was as long as you might get if you saw them at an individual concert - so that says excellent value in my book. I particularly liked The Dylan Project.

The cycle home was through unlit country lanes. The bike lights are enough to enable cars to see you but not you to see the edge of the road. So scary we ordered a taxi for the Saturday.


Wroxton Duck Pond

Saturday morning we did a wander round the village before returning to the hotel for the taxi to take us back to the festival.

Saturday 13 August 2011

Richard Digance
The Shee
Blockheads
Lau
Raffle Draws etc
Horslips
Badly Drawn Boy
Fairport Convention & Friends


Twenty thousand people Morris dancing whilst seated

The atmosphere was great and I have to concur with the general opinion that, to a Cropredy virgin, the crowd are most friendly and welcoming.


Juggling Balls

I had to buy some new balls because my old ones swelled up and went hard when the cellar flooded. <voice="Frankie Howerd">Ooh, no, missus!</voice>



Again a welcome introduction to a variety of new - to me - bands, with music, eating, drinking and having a good time. Though I have to agree with the man behind me who, during Badly Drawn Boy's set called out "Cheer up, you miserable c***!"


Fairport Convention and Friends

A rendition of the complete Babbacombe Lee was the highlight of the FC set.


Meet on the Ledge

A pledge for the regulars. We could be tempted :-)

• My photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmclellan/sets/72157627464524896/detail/
• A proper review: http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/cropredy/2011/review-overview.shtml
• More photos by people with serious cameras: http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/cropredy/2011/galleries.shtml

Coventry Baths Grade II Listed

Coventry Baths were opened on 23 April 1966 and granted Grade II listed status by English Heritage in December 1997 meaning they are "of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them".

I am proud to say that my dad, Michael McLellan, was the principal architect and was awarded an MBE in 1984 for services to architecture.

I recently came across the Coventry Memories website which has more info on the baths. Included in that are scans of a substantial article published at the time of their construction in the trade magazine the Architects Journal.

Discussing this with dad he produced some previously unpublished photos taken by a colleague:



At the time of the listing he rang up English Heritage to find out more. Chatting to the young lady there (at his age they are all young) he was amused when she said, "It's so nice to talk to the actual architect - they're usually dead!"



Below is the description of the listing from Heritage Gateway.

Swimming Baths with attached sunbathing terraces. Designed 1956, built 1962-6 by Coventry City Architect's Department, under Arthur Ling and Terence Gregory; Michael McLellan principal architect, Paul Beney assistant in charge. Steel frame, suported on four main stanchions set outside the building envelope with much use of cantilevers, clad in brick with large areas of glazing. At upper levels mosaic finish of expressed trusses replaced in powder coated metal that is sympathetic to original intentions. Set on a tight site, an enfilade of three pools set in a single hall, the largest pool 'T'-shaped to include a diving area. This projects on the south elevation, which is particularly impressive, with full glazing round five sides. This has strong internal mullions, while externally the mullions and transoms form an even grid. The interior is particularly impressive. Main pool hall with seating for 1,174 spectators has 165' pool with diving area in projecting 'T'. Small teaching ppol set in low ceilinged space under projecting cafe and viewing area, with small pool beyond. These retain original brick and tile finishes. The elaborate facilities of the main pool were designed to meet international competition standards, and the pool became the regional competitive centre for the Midlands - a recognition of the impressive facilities provided rather than an original aim. Later sports hall to east with bridge link not of special interest. Wartime bombing destroyed four of Coventry's five swimming baths.

By 1956 the city decided that its needs would best be met by a very large central complex. Coventry and Hampstead were the only complexes of the period to be constructed with three pools, and at Coventry all three remain in use. The use of a steel frame and the longitudinal plan are also unusual features. Coventry is important as amongst the most ambitious baths built anywhere in Britain in the short period 1960-66 when large swimming complexes were encouraged. It is also one of the few buildings in the rebuilt Coventry centre to be a pure modern design: 'Coventry has been provided with one of the finest swimming pools in the world. It has probably no equal in Europe, and local pride has reason to be satisfied. ... The site for the Swimming Baths was constricted and the requirements complicated. Yet the result is undoubtedly an architectural success. The enormous bird-like form has an imaginative and dramatic elegance which outclasses any of the other recently erected buildings in central Coventry.' (Coventry New Architecture).

The full listing and additional references can be found at http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1021930&resourceID=5


http://www.coventrymemories.co.uk/memory/searchresult.aspx?tag=CoventryBaths

Clapham Clamber - a pub crawl

London, England - Thursday 28-July-2011

Many thanks to my ex-colleague Tony Fox-Griffith for organising a fine pub crawl. This post is lifted wholesale from his notes. Thanks Tony :-)

A group of around ten of us wandered from pub to pub tasting some very fine beers in some wonderful establishments.


"Clapham Clamber" Pub #1 — at The Windsor Castle

The Windsor Castle 36 St John’s Hill, a fine but slightly down-at-heel pub that’s good enough to be on CAMRA’s Regional Inventory of Historic Pubs. Sadly, it’s due to be redeveloped and, as it’s not a listed building, it undoubtedly will be demolished soon. It is a classic example of a “Brewers’ Tudor” pub which still conveys much of its original layout and feel. Originally built in 1890, it got its current look during the 1930s. It’s got a smallish public bar with typical inter-war fittings but what makes this worth visiting is the back room which is a great attempt at creating a medieval-style hall.



Wandsworth Common, an important historic common, the remains of more extensive Commonland that earlier went by a number of names including Battersea West Heath and Wandsworth East Heath. Part of the land had been enclosed and used to build the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, amongst others. Efforts were made to preserve what was left and eventually Earl Spencer, Lord of the Manor, agreed to transfer most of the common to the Wandsworth Common Preservation Society in 1870.

The Royal Victoria Patriotic Building was built entirely by funds raised by the public administered by Prince Albert’s Royal Patriotic Fund, its foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria in 1857. It was intended for the ‘Education and Training of three hundred Orphan Daughters of Soldiers, Seamen and Marines who perished in the Russian War, and for those who hereafter may require like succour’.


"Clapham Clamber" Pub #2 — at La Gothique Restuarant & Bar, Wandsworth Common, London

Le Gothique is a really surprising place to find a CAMRA Good Beer Guide registered pub but it is! They also run a Beer Festival twice a year – what a great place to sample beers! At the moment, they stock Sambrook’s Wandle and two from Shepherd Neame – Jack and Spitfire. They also do food – the restaurant is really expensive but their bar menu looks good. The down side is that they only serve the bar menu until 7:30.


"Clapham Clamber" Pub #3 — at The Roundhouse

The Roundhouse 2 Wandsworth Common Northside. It has had a somewhat chequered history and undergone a number of name-changes (it was called the Freemasons until fairly recently) but has reverted to its original name following its most recent facelift. It’s a modernised place which does good food.



"Clapham Clamber" Pub #4 — at The Falcon

Our final call was the marvellous Falcon at 2 St. John’s Hill. It’s a mightily impressive pub-cum-former-hotel built in 1887 with many original features – in sufficiently unspoilt condition that it is on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Interiors. They also have a tremendous range of beers – too wide to list here!

It’s a showy piece of architecture, typical of its time. What really counts is the interior. There are a number of very fine examples of Victorian stained glass (apparently, although Tony's not located it, the rear bar shows funeral carriages stopping off at ‘Death’s Door’, the nickname for the pub when its landlord happened to be a Mr Death!).

We must do this sort of thing more often!

Michael and Geri's Wedding Photos

The negatives of my parents' wedding photos crumbled a number of years ago. They only had tiny prints so I scanned them in, had them printed at a larger size and took them down when we went down to visit them with May (the MIL).


Michael and Geri

My parent's wedding on Saturday 02-June-1951.


Michael and Geri, Michael Casson, two unknowns, Keith Pullar and his brother

Michael 'Mick' Casson went to school with Michael and went on to become a famous potter. Keith Pullar was one of my two godfathers.


Geri and Michael, Michael Casson, Bertha and John Roake and Keith Pullar

Bertha and John Roake were college friends of Michael and Geri. Doesn't that car look the business?


Michael at the top of the Eiffel Tower

For their honeymoon Mum and Dad went to Paris. This is my Dad looking cool at the top of the Eiffel Tower.


Geri at the top of the Eiffel Tower

For a full set of photo's see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmclellan/sets/72157626961168661/

Previously:
Michael & Geri 60th Wedding Anniversary
The Perfect 60th Wedding Anniversary Present

Capitial to Coast 2011 - Pictures

Many charity events publish photographs - some free, some commercial. Capital to Coast 2011 had official paparazzi SussexSportPhotography.com stationed at various points along the route. They put the gallery up on their website and you can then search by rider number and purchase prints or digital images with a percentage going to the charity. Vanity meant I could not resist the special offer of the complete set in high resolution on CD. These are a selection:


Me and Ian. Photograph © SussexSportPhotography.com


The South Downs. Photograph © SussexSportPhotography.com


Lance Armstrong look-alike. Photograph © SussexSportPhotography.com


Over the finish line. Photograph © SussexSportPhotography.com