Lion Stores; South Bristol living history

To North Cornwall for the bank holiday in the connoisseur's choice of temporary accommodation, my 1970s folding caravan. A midcentury modernist classic in brown and orange velour.

The Avon Valley Railway has just launched our “Fit for the Future” Appeal. With coal, loco hire, and utilities, it costs us over a grand a day to operate. We can manage costs if we overhaul the buffet to generate more spend & restore our own loco. More about the appeal here: www.avrht.org/appeal

First passenger train up the Portishead line! WECA / Metrowest have hired a Pacer for the day to tour their proposed Network. Seen here between Ashton Gate Platform and Clifton Bridge.

Very much enjoyed this gaff rigged cutter heading up the Avon gorge earlier

Been repainting my wheels. The Mini looks smarter with fresh socks.

"The conversation, like many others I had with people on trains, derived an easy candour from the shared journey, the comfort of the dining car, and the certain knowledge that neither of us would see each other again" Paul Theroux

Joined a group deconstructing and rebuilding drystone walls today at the foot of the Mendips today. Lovely stuff.

SCENES on the Avon Valley Railway, as the clock turns back 60 years and Dr Beeching is incarnate. This Sunday from 10!

This Sunday I will mainly be playing Dr Beeching at the Avon Valley Railway’s event marking 60 years since the Doctor swung his ace on many lines, including what’s now the preserved AVR. Come along and laugh at my embarrassment. www.avonvalleyrailway.org/news/the-peo...

Been having a terrific time at work securing planning consents for the conversion of Norman Foster’s seminal Spectrum building in Swindon into a drone factory. It doubled as a Bond villain HQ for A View to a Kill, and the angled beams are modelled on Roger Moore’s eyebrows.

First drive on a public road in 21 years. Two icons of engineering!

More AI model railway nonsense, where recent storms have left the 1:76 scale farmers on my foldup layout in despair

Very much enjoying the application of ChatGPT to my model railway

Lower Park Row, Bristol. Chevy Chase must be playing the Bristol Beacon this evening.

Got my Mini working for the first time since 2005. Passed my driving test in this car back in 1995.

Having a nice rest on Boxing Day

It’s a pleasingly white Christmas here in France, an hour South of Lyon.

I am at my father in law’s in France and am very excited by this notification

This weekend sees the withdrawal of South Western Railway’s venerable class 455 units after 44 years of service. Unremarkable trains which I have a soft spot for, having used one as our wedding transport back in 2013.

Excellent morning at the Bristol industrial Archaeology Society’s Xmas social with unusual party game called “guess the objects from Geoff Wallis's garage”. That’s a line-belt stretcher & a Bulgarian scyther’s corn gathering tool, of course. Meetings in Keynsham every month! www.b-i-a-s.org.uk

Had an excellent day out in Swanage with volunteer colleagues from the Avon Valley Railway today. Held a meeting on board a steam train with the chair of the Swanage Railway Trust, to learn about their recent restructuring. Top stuff.

Went for a night walk with my daughter in Ashton Court earlier this week and stumbled into a testing of the lights for the forthcoming illuminate festival. Utterly magical - all the more so ‘cos we were the only ones there.

Had a wander round Cheltenham today and very much enjoyed this bench plaque in Berkeley Place

You know that times are tough when Pecorama, the best reason to visit Devon, announces its closure. Hopefully temporary?? www.pecorama.co.uk

Four Forest engines

Tomorrow morning, Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society are hosting what promises to be a very interesting talk by Rob Pritchard on the history of Bristol's harbour. Keynsham Masonic Hall at 1030, visitors welcome! b-i-a-s.org.uk/bias-events/

Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to. Mainly because I have a station visitor's pass, and Network Rail wouldn't be pleased if I walked off with it. I had an ace day adjudicating at the National Railway Heritage Awards. Winners to be revealed at the awards ceremony soon!

If someone could buy me this house I’d be quite grateful ~ bydesignhomes.com/properties/4...

My marvellous ex-colleagues at Historic England gave me this lovely linoprint as a leaving gift by the talented victoriawillmott.com showing some the fantastic buildings that I worked on over 20 years, Kings Cross, Wolfeton, the National Theatre….and my folding caravan. Thank you!

To Imberbus 2025, for the finals of the British polite queuing championships

Back in Bristol after a trip to the Outer Hebrides. 2000 miles driven, absolutely worth it. Bloody windy though.

Here is a flight for Glasgow taking off from Barra airport’s runway, which is also a beach

South Uist. Still windy but the ability to open the car door has been regained.

Jesus it’s windy here on South Uist. Difficult to open the front door just now

Today is a good day to be heading for the Western Isles

Paid a visit to Rannoch, one of the UK’s most remote railway stations, and bumped into @timhedleyj.bsky.social! Went for a swim on Rannoch Moor afterwards.

Last day with Historic England after 18 years! Few pints at the @kingsheadbs1.bsky.social

This should be bought by the council, and the route from Temple Meads to the Cumberland Basin safeguarded for future public transport use. www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...

Increasingly convinced the cheapest way to address this is to reverse local government austerity. Returning English local authority budgets to 2010 levels would cost about £7bn. Factor in population and demographic change and you'd want maybe £15bn. Benefits could be seen quickly and felt widely.

On my way to work, and what do you know, the Spanish buccaneers have blockaded Wetherspoons.

You can borrow a sailing boat at the Bristol harbour festival and drift round for an hour for just a fiver, it’s class.

Took my folding caravan out for a weekend in the arid Somerset plains. I hadn’t raised the side panel before but it made an excellent temporary grandstand for watching the rounders

I see they've announced the reopening of the Portishead Line. Comes round every couple of months.

After 18 years with Historic England and its predecessor, I’ve made the very difficult decision to move on. More on that story later. These photos show before and after 18 years of service - I bear the scars, but it’s been a hugely enjoyable privilege and an honour to work for HE.

This is a bit of a disaster n-somerset.gov.uk/news/rnli-pu...

On August 10th 1991, 12 year old me went by train from Southampton to Edinburgh and had a terrific day spotting trains

Banana Bridge back open, lovely stuff. Slight disappointment at no ramped access though.

Today I’m launching my latest Plymouth Buildings at Risk list of ten historic buildings in our city that need more love. My challenge to the owners is simple: invest in them or sell them to someone who will. www.lukepollard.org/news/2025/06...

Some pretty amazing back yards during authorised garden snooping weekend in Bedminster