Category: Readers Articles of Interest

Come Home to Rest

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

COME HOME TO REST

I was a young boy about ten years old, and I had come from my home in Wenvoe to meet my parents at St Mary’s Church. They had gone to the ten o’ clock service. I wasn’t feeling too good that day, so had stayed home.

I arrived at the small park between the Wenvoe Arms and the church and saw a man sitting by the monument. The man was dressed in a brownish green uniform with a coat to match. It was full of mud; the man’s face and hands were covered in dark smears too. He had a peaked hat and a long rifle lying next to him on the ground. His boots, which were also dirty, seemed to be like hobnail boots that workmen wear. Across the man’s face there was a bandage that went around the top of his head covering his left ear. This was also dirty.

“Hello” I said, “are you waiting for someone?” “Yes”, said the man, “I am waiting for my Mam and Dad to come out of church. They always go to the ten o’clock service.” “Who are you?” asked the man. “My name is Julian” I said, “but my friends call me Jules.” The man turned round to me and said, “My name is Terrence Gormley, but my friends call me Terry.” He looked about twenty years old and when he shook my hand it felt cold and wet.

“Do you live in the village” I asked. Terry looked at me and said, “My Dad works on the estate in the village, and we live in one of their cottages. I have just come back from fighting at the Front in a place called the Somme.” “Where’s that?” I asked. “It’s in France” he said. “What’s your gun called?” I asked. “It’s a Lee Enfield rifle” he said.

“How come you went to war” I asked. Terry said “A few of us from the village joined the Welsh Regiment in 1915. I got hit and was sent home to rest. I got the boat to Dover, caught a train to Cardiff, then a milkman gave me a lift to Wenvoe on his cart.” “Where did you get hit?” I asked. Terry pointed to his ear which was covered by the bandage. “I guess I was just lucky” he said. “Oh, by the way” said Terry, “what’s the date today?” I looked at my watch. “It’s 11th November.”

“Well, I guess I might walk up to the church to meet my parents” I said. “I’ll just wait here to meet mine” said Terry, “and I might catch a glimpse of my girlfriend Nelly, if she has gone to church.” As I walked up to the church, the bells began to chime, and I saw my parents coming out. I ran to meet them, and they asked if I was feeling ok now.

I told my parents what had happened to me in the last half hour. They looked concerned and asked me if I could take them to where I met Terry. When we arrived, my dad said “This is the First World War memorial to the fallen servicemen from Wenvoe.” There was no-one at the memorial, but my dad asked me to repeat the name again of the person I had talked to. “Terrance Gormley,” I said. My Dad looked at the fallen names from the village and found a T. Gormley on one of the stones.

Hiking And Biking With Richard Trevithick

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

HIKING AND BIKING WITH RICHARD TREVITHICK

Of the delights to enjoy locally, the Taff Trail must surely be up there amongst the top and to this must be added the Trevithick Trail. The former covers a distance of some 54 miles from Cardiff Bay to Brecon and the latter some 7 miles from near Edwardsville to Merthyr Tydfil with some of that mileage co-incident. Both are mostly routed along former railbeds, canals and the like. This article is about the historical background of a five-mile section of both. But firstly, an introduction to Richard Trevithick and industry at this time, is called for.

Richard Trevithick (1771 – 1833) was a pioneering British engineer and inventor whose bold use of high-pressure steam transformed the possibilities of mechanical power at the turn of the nineteenth century. Born in 1771 in Cornwall which at the time was Britain’s most important tin and copper mining region. The mines were constantly threatened by flooding, and the demand for powerful pumping engines created an environment ripe for innovation. From an early age he was surrounded by the practical challenges of mining engineering. Although he received only a limited formal education he possessed exceptional mechanical insight and mathematical ability.

During Trevithick’s youth, steam engines were already in use, particularly those developed by Watt and Boulton. These engines operated using low-pressure steam and separate condensers, which made them efficient but large, complex, and protected by strict patents. Trevithick took a radically different approach. He believed that high-pressure steam, considered dangerous by many engineers of the time, could produce more compact, powerful engines,

By the late 1790s, Trevithick began constructing high-pressure steam engines for use in Cornish mines. They were smaller and lighter than Watt’s models and capable of generating greater power relative to their size. In 1801, he demonstrated one of his most famous creations, known as the “Puffing Devil,” a steam-powered road carriage.

Soon after, Trevithick was travelling and supplying his high-pressure steam engines far and wide. Witness some of his endeavours: London (for road transport and Thames Tunnel construction); Coalbrookdale (for a locomotive), Peru and Costa Rica (for pumping water from silver mines); a variety of maritime applications; and to South Wales which has been the precursor of this article.

Just a further step back in history. When the iron works in Merthyr Tydfil were first established in the mid-1700s, iron products were carried to the coast by pack animals for onward shipping. In 1790 the ironmasters and the 2nd Marquis of Bute promoted the construction of the Glamorganshire Canal between Merthyr and a sea lock to the south of Cardiff into the Bristol Channel. It was opened in 1795 But subsequent disputes between the iron masters led to a “plateway” also running from Merthyr and Cardiff, being partly constructed. The plateway had L shaped iron rails on which horse drawn wagons carried iron products and later coal. It reached as far south as Abercynon before agreements between the ironmasters were reached. It was however convenient to keep the plateway operating as far as Abercynon, from there cargo was transferred to barges on the canal for onward travel to the Cardiff sea lock for shipment by sea.

Back to Trevithick. In 1802 he built one of his high-pressure steam engines to power a forge hammer at the Penydarren Ironworks for Samuel Homfray, one of the iron masters (the others being Richard Crawshay and the Guests father and son). Homfray encouraged Trevithick to mount that engine on wheels in the hope that it would make a better locomotive than others that had been trialled elsewhere in Britain. Result: success!

Homfray was so impressed with Trevithick’s locomotive that he made a bet of 500 guineas with Crawshay that this locomotive could haul ten tons of iron along the tram way from Penydarren to Abercynon, a distance of some 10 miles. On 21 February 1804 this was achieved, hauling five wagons and 70 men the full distance in 4 hours and 5 minutes, at an average speed of 2.4 mph. Having proved the engine’s capability for locomotion, it returned to its original function for powering the forge hammer.

The routes I am describing for this article start on the Taff Trail in an industrial estate in Abercynon where the plateway and canal formerly met. From here one hikes or bikes north along the west bank of the Taff on the Taff Trail which utilises the bed of the tram way. After passing under the modern viaducts for the A470 and then the A472 the valley becomes well wooded. Near Quaker’s Yard and Edwardsville, the trail is bridged over the Taff twice before resuming its progression on the west bank.

After about 3 miles, where the only sounds to be heard are bird song and rushing water, a junction is reached. Here the Taff Trail (NCR 8) branches left to cross the Taff via the historic Pont y Gwaith to follow the west side of the A470. The Trevithick Trail proper (NCR 477) takes the right fork. Evidence of the plateway now presents itself as stone blocks with drilled holes which once held bolts that secured the “plates”. From here NCR 477 continues for a further 8 miles to Merthyr Tydfil, this is to be the subject of a further article.

Tony Hodge

 

Crufts 2026

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

CRUFTS 2026

Eva and Asher were doggy superstars at Crufts 2026.

Asher made his debut in the Dog Obedience Championship on Saturday 7th March. His owner, Carolyn, was thrilled to be placed 4th with him.

Eva was first to work her obedience test the following day and was also placed 4th.

Both dogs came home with Crufts rosettes and glass trophies.

 

An App a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

AN APP A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY

People these days seem more health conscious than ever and there is now a wealth of technology to help us to eat healthily and get fitter. A lot is readily available on our mobile phones but with a multitude of apps to choose from, the difficulty is to know where to start.

Healthy eating apps offer features like calorie counting, meal planning, barcode scanning for nutrition information, recipe suggestions, and habit tracking. They cater for different goals, from weight loss and macro tracking to mindful eating, with some using psychology-based approaches or focusing on specific diets like veganism.

 

A good look at one of these apps provides an opportunity to see what they are all about and crucially what ordinary people and the experts think about them. Yuka apparently has 77 million users and is popular because it is so easy to use. The app scans food & personal care products to decipher their ingredients and evaluate their impact on your health. In a world of incomprehensible labels, Yuka claims to provide clarity in one quick scan so you can make clear-sighted purchases. The app scans barcodes to rate products (0-100) based on health impact, ingredient quality, and nutritional value. In this system, 75-100 rates is Excellent, 50-75 Good, 25-50 Poor and 0-25 Bad. A lot of further information is provided on each product should you wish to delve down into the detail.

Yuka claims that its ratings are based on evidence provided by a range of official bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority and the National Agency for Food and Occupational Health Safety. However, it has been criticised by experts for oversimplifying nutritional science, fostering food fear, and lacking context on ingredient concentration. Some nutrition experts caution that its additive focus might oversimplify nutrition and that whole foods are key. It seems that the verdict is it is a useful tool alongside general nutritional knowledge rather than a complete guide.

The NHS Food Scanner app is a free, user-friendly tool aimed at helping families make healthier food choices by scanning product barcodes to reveal salt, sugar, and saturated fat levels. It uses augmented reality to display nutritional data, suggesting healthier alternatives (“swaps”) to encourage better dietary habits. While praised for improving nutritional awareness and being child-friendly, users note limited product databases (missing some discount store items) and occasional inaccuracies in data.

The apps are fun to use and the results are quite often very surprising, with products you were sure are healthy rating as bad for you, and others you were wary of, achieving a high nutritional rating. Some of the others include:

MyFitnessPal: Huge food database, barcode scanner, tracks calories and macros, integrates with other apps.

Lose It!: Calorie tracking, exercise logging, and goal setting.

Noom: Uses psychology to build sustainable habits.

Ate Food Journal: Focuses on mindful eating.

VNutrition: For plant-based diets, tracks nutritional targets.

Lifesum: Tools for weight, habits, and general healthy eating.

Weight Watchers (WW): Tracks food, exercise, and points

 

Film Reviews “Palestine 36” And “No Other Land”

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

FILM REVIEWS “PALESTINE 36”
AND
“NO OTHER LAND”
(TOGETHER WITH SOME FAMILY INVOLVEMENT)

Further to my recent WO article on how conkers played their part in the creation of the state of Israel,

I now bring my further insights on the conflicts that ensued through the medium of family photographs and cinema films.

Palestine 36 is in essence a fictionalised account of the events during the Arab revolt against British colonial rule in Palestine in the 1930s. It was put out on limited cinema release at the end of 2025 but is currently available to stream on a number of platforms.

The film embodies a reflection of real-world issues faced by the people within Palestine – both then and now. The film unfolds within a divided society that balances between strife and hope, illustrating the day-to-day realities encountered by its characters.

Centred around a small community in Palestine, and the hard-line Christian Zionists in the British administration and army, the film provides a view of political struggles.

It challenges viewers to consider the impact of political decisions on individual lives, urging contemplation of empathy, coexistence, and the potential for reconciliation. By shedding light on personal stories amidst political narratives, the film humanizes a conflict often reduced to headlines and statistics.

In conclusion, and through the lens of the 90 years since, the British Mandate does not present a good optic. On the whole they failed to preserve one of the central tenants of the Balfour Declaration, namely, that “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities.”

No Other Land is a Best Documentary Feature Film Oscar winner in 2024 co-produced by the Palestinian National Authority with assistance from sympathetic Israelis and the Norwegian Film Institute. The film was recorded between 2019 and 2023 and shows the destruction of a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank, which had been resisting displacement after an Israeli “firing zone” was declared on their land. The sub-text appears to be an excuse to remove these Palestinians in order for a Jewish settlement to be established. Again, this film is available for streaming on a number of platforms.

My interest and trying to avoid “taking sides” in these ever present intractable events, is as a consequence my late father-in-law “GWC” being a Regular soldier stationed in Palestine in 1936. He left many photographs. Some show the aftermath of terrorist bombings (he was in the Royal Engineers and tasked with clearing the debris). Others were of the main religious sites – Jewish, Muslim and Christian. The ascribed texts are the words he wrote on the backs of the photo prints.

 

Tony Hodge

 

The Birch Bark Cross

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

THE BIRCH BARK CROSS

I am not sure if this story really happened to me.

A few years back I lived in a small village called Wenvoe between Cardiff and Barry. Wenvoe itself used to be a big farming estate back at the turn of the 19th to early 20th century. I used to take my dogs for a walk through Wenvoe Woods on a regular basis up to the Horse and Jockey Pub and have a cheeky pint without the Mrs knowing about it (am sure she knew).

I was walking in the woods one sunny day with my two dogs (a Pomeranian and a King Charles). My route took me through the “Orchid field” (It is managed as a traditional meadow with an annual mowing to encourage the sort of wildflowers that are fast disappearing from our landscape).

At the top of the field, there is an old bench which I headed to for to sit down with the dogs. I was half dozing off with the sun shining on my face, when I felt a shadow standing before me. I looked up from the bench to see the shadow of a man wearing a brimmed hat. The light was shining behind him, giving him a glow like form. “Hello” the figure said. I put my hand to cover my eyes, “Hello” I said back.

There was no sound of traffic and all I could hear was Crow cawing about five times. The man said, “Nice dogs you have got there”. The dogs where around the man’s feet rolling around. The man said, “My name is Thomas Jones”. I said, “Like the singer”. “Who?” said the man.

The man had what looked like a felt suit and hat and looked quite old fashioned in appearance. He turned to me and said, “I am the local Woodsman for Wenvoe Woods. I live at the back of Ravenswood Farm”.

“Oh” I said, “I moved to the village about three months ago”. The man put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a long strip of bark of a tree. As I watched his hands move with subtle dexterity, The man produced something out of the bark. “This is for you” said the man and handed me the bark he had being working on.

The man said goodbye to me and gave the dogs a rub on their heads. He headed towards the shrubs to the right of me, but the sun shone straight into my eyes. When I adjusted to the light, the man had disappeared as quickly as he appeared. I looked down at my hands and saw that the man had left me a freshly made cross out of the bark. I stuck the cross into my pocket and carried on to the pub.

I was talking to some of the old locals about what had just happened to me and they all started laughing. One local said, “You’re very blessed, you have just met old Tom.” The local man went on to tell me that Tom was the woodsman for the Wenvoe estate over a hundred years ago.

The old local said “Did he give you a Birch Bark Cross.” He then took me over to plaque on the wall with a dark cross inside of it. The local said ” There’s only two in the village; one in here and one in St Marys Church in the village.” He said, ” They are both around one hundred years old.”

When I got home, I put my hand in my pocket and took out the cross, it had turned a dark colour and looked very old and brittle. I still have it in a box on the wall in the house.

This is a fictitious story, so don’t go looking for any crosses.

 

 

Competing In the Crufts Obedience Championships

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

COMPETING IN THE CRUFTS OBEDIENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two local canine residents Eva and Asher Heath have made their dog mum very proud as they both won championship dog obedience classes last year which meant they were invited to compete in the annual Crufts Obedience Championships in 2026. They can often be seen training for competition at Station Road playing fields. Eva is Asher’s mother and qualified for last year’s Crufts, but she now returns there after becoming an Obedience Champion. Eva and dog mum, Carolyn (of Greave Close), are the only team from Wales competing. Asher is competing for the first time and is the youngest dog to do so.

 

The Vernal Equinox And The Porthkerry Witch

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

THE VERNAL EQUINOX AND THE

PORTHKERRY WITCH

Along with St David’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and Mothering Sunday, March brings the vernal equinox, celebrated in both Christian and pagan traditions. In 2026 it occurs on March 20 at 10:46 a.m. marking the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and bringing nearly equal lengths of day and night worldwide. In Christianity, Easter is linked to the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. In pagan traditions Ostara (named after a German goddess) is celebrated honouring fertility, rebirth, and new beginnings.

Through the ages, Ostara has been celebrated by witches holding rituals and performing spells that focus on growth, abundance, and new beginnings. For most of the Middle Ages the term ‘witch’ meant the local healer, someone who made poultices and medicines and perhaps had charms or spells for healing farm animals. From the middle of the 15th century, things changed with supposed ‘witches’ being used as scapegoats and blamed for everything from bad harvests to untimely deaths. Surprisingly this darker period began with the publication of Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches). Written by a Catholic clergyman, it set out legal and theological theories to endorse the extermination of witches. Based on it, in 1484 Pope Innocent III gave the existence of witchcraft ‘official’ status by issuing a papal bull sanctioning inquisitors and starting a witch hunting hysteria, not fully lessened in Britain until laws against witchcraft were abolished in 1736.

From 1450 to 1700 in Europe alone, about 35,000 people, mainly women, were hanged or burned at the stake as suspected witches. While over a thousand people were sent to their deaths in England, curiously only 5 in Wales appear to have suffered the same fate. In 1579, Gwen ferch Ellis from Bettws in North Wales, was executed for witchcraft. She was a healer but for some reason she was persuaded by another woman, called Jane Conway, to leave an evil charm at Gloddaeth, the home of aristocrat Sir Thomas Mostyn, who died soon afterwards. Gwen was brought before a packed court in Denbigh. Seven witnesses stood against her, claiming her charms had broken bones, bewitched ale, and even stilled a young man’s heart. Gwen was convicted of murder by witchcraft and hanged.

Apart from punishing them, people looked for ways to defend themselves from witches. The National Museum at St Fagans houses a collection of 17th-century witch-related artefacts, featuring “witch bottles” designed to counteract suspected bewitchment. These bottles, often containing pins, nails, and human urine, acted as counter-magic, with the sharp objects meant to break the witch’s spell and cause them pain.

One local story concerns a lady who used to live in a cottage at Porthkerry Park. A rich young man was persuaded to pay her for a love potion, to win over the girl of his dreams. Seeing how old and frail the witch was, his servant pocketed the money and refused to pay her. Angered by the deception she cast a spell over the two of them uttering ‘May these men never leave these woods.’ The two men only got as far as the edge of the woods before turning into two trees. Research has revealed there was a woman called Ann Jenkins known as a provider of potions and remedies, inspected for witch marks by the Cowbridge magistrates. There is no record of the outcome. Official records register Ann Jenkins as being buried in the yard at the church of St Nicholas in Barry, unlikely if she had been proven to be in league with the devil.

 

 

The Cardiff Chain Ferry & Ely River Subway

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

SOME NOTES ON CROSSING THE LOWER REACHES OF RIVER ELY

The Cardiff chain ferry and the Ely River pedestrian subway were two remarkable transport innovations that shaped Cardiff’s docklands, reflecting both the industrial growth of the city and the ingenuity of engineers.

The Cardiff Chain Ferry which gave its name to the nearby Ferry Road, operated across the mouth of the River Ely, linking Penarth Dock with Grangetown. Its origins lay in the rapid expansion of Cardiff’s docks during the 19th century. Penarth Dock opened in 1865, As coal exports surged, thousands of dockworkers needed reliable access between the residential areas of Grangetown and the industrial facilities on the southern bank of the Ely.

The ferry was powered by a small steam engine that wound itself along a submerged chain stretched across the river. The ferry occasionally sank during storms, highlighting the limitations of such technology.

For dockworkers, the ferry was a lifeline. Without it, the nearest crossing was a road bridge at Llandough, nearly a mile upstream. However, despite its usefulness, the ferry was vulnerable to bad weather and mechanical issues. These shortcomings prompted the Taff Vale Railway Company to consider a more permanent solution by the 1890s.

The shortcomings of the chain ferry led directly to the construction of the Ely River Subway, a pedestrian tunnel beneath the river. This ambitious project was approved in 1896, with construction beginning in 1897 under the direction of George Sibbering, chief engineer of the Taff Vale Railway.

The tunnel is about 400 yards long with the 325 yards under the river excavated using a Greathead shield – the same technology employed in London’s underground railways. At its deepest point, the tunnel lay only 11 feet below the riverbed, making construction extremely challenging. Floods during 1897 and 1898 tested the resilience of workers.

The subway was officially opened in May 1900. It had a diameter of 10 feet 6 inches, with a 6-foot-wide footpath and 7 feet 6 inches of headroom. Painted with enamel and cork to reduce condensation, and lit by electric bulbs, it was a modern marvel for its time.

Pedestrians paid a penny toll, cyclists two pence, and prams four pence. Horses were even reported to use the tunnel. Beyond serving commuters, the subway also carried gas, water, and hydraulic lines essential for dock operations.

The subway was decommissioned in 1936 when Penarth Dock closed, but it remained open to pedestrians. During World War II, it was repurposed as an air raid shelter when the docks were requisitioned by the U.S. Navy. After the war, however, neglect and crime tarnished its reputation, leading to closure in 1963 and bricking up of entrances in 1965.

Although both the chain ferry and subway are long gone, their legacy remains embedded in Cardiff’s industrial heritage.

The Ely Subway stands out as a pioneering piece of engineering in Wales. Though closed, it was inspected in 1991 during the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage and found to be in surprisingly good condition. Instead of reopening it, planners opted to build Pont Y Werin which now serves as the pedestrian and cycle link across the Ely. This bascule bridge which contributes significantly to sustainable travel was opened in 2010 at a cost of some £4.5 million.

Tony Hodge

The Cat And The Kipper

ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST

THE CAT AND THE KIPPER

This story takes place in Barry’s West End during the early 1940s, when my family lived in a modest terraced house not far from the docks. My grandfather, Jim, was a Merchant Seaman who travelled the world from Barry Dock. My grandmother, Agnes, kept house and cared for my four-year-old Auntie Ruth and my father, Alf, who was only six months old in 1941.

Most of family life happened in the back room of that little house. The fireplace held a small range for cooking, and a large window looked out onto the yard, where a tin bath hung from a nail on the wall. More often than not, the local black cat, known to everyone as Mr. Tickles, could be found perched on top of it, surveying his kingdom. Inside, a wooden table stood ready for meals, and the steep staircase climbed to the only bedroom. Beneath those stairs was a cupboard that served as both pantry and, when needed, air-raid shelter.

On the day of this story, Grandma had taken the children down the High Street to the fishmonger. Grandad Jim had been away at sea for three long months, and she wanted to surprise him with his favourite tea: kippers with brown bread and proper butter.

Just after three o’clock, the front door opened and in walked Grandad, smelling faintly of salt and diesel and home.

The children rushed to him, and Grandma kissed his cheek before saying, “Jim, sit yourself down. I’ve got your favourite – kipper supper, with brown bread and real butter.” “Oh, that’s grand!” he said. “I’ve been thinking about that for months.”

As the fish sizzled on the range, the room filled with the rich, smoky smell of kippers. Grandma set the bread, butter, and a bottle of Welsh bitter on the table. Mr. Tickles wandered in just then, tail held high and was rewarded with a saucer of milk. Auntie Ruth giggled at the sight of him lapping noisily at the dish.

Grandad had just washed in the sink and was settling himself at the table, leaning over to kiss Grandma as he said, “That looks lovely, love.” But before he could take more than a few bites, the wail of an air-raid siren cut through the afternoon.

“Oh no,” he groaned. “Not now – not when I’m having my tea!” “Leave it, Jim,” said Grandma firmly. “It’ll still be there when the raid is over.” She was already gathering the children toward the cupboard under the stairs. Few houses in the West End had proper Anderson shelters; the cupboard was considered the strongest place in the house.

With a reluctant sigh, Grandad grabbed another mouthful of kipper, snatched a piece of buttered bread, and followed them inside. Grandma lit a small candle, its warm glow flickering over the cramped space. A minute later, the ominous drone of an aircraft passed overhead. Then came a terrifying silence – the kind soldiers called the quiet before the hit. Without warning, a tremendous explosion shook the house. Glass shattered throughout the back room. The candle trembled in Grandma’s hand. The children cried, but she held them tight, whispering assurances she wasn’t sure she believed.

When the all-clear finally sounded, Grandad told them to stay put while he went to inspect the damage. A German bomber returning from a raid in the Midlands had jettisoned a leftover bomb on its way home, likely aiming for Barry Docks. Instead, it fell into a nearby street in the West End. Miraculously, no one in Barry was killed.

Grandad stepped cautiously into the back room. The window facing the yard had been completely blown out. Shards of glass were embedded in the very chair where he’d been sitting minutes earlier. Had he stayed to finish his kippers, he would almost certainly have been killed.

But there was one casualty that day. Mr. Tickles, having seized his chance the moment the cupboard door closed, had jumped onto the table to finish Grandad’s abandoned supper. When the blast shattered the window, flying glass ended the poor cat’s war for him.

Grandad Jim never ate kippers again

 

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