Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 3rd May, 2025)

What a contrast to my old double school desk, complete with inkwells and scratch pens, that is in my little living room at the moment, awaiting collection by Hindley St. Peter's Church, who are borrowing it for their VE Day exhibition next Saturday. Still, then, ( as now ), the ones who want to learn will work hard and the ones who don't will show no interest, despite their modern lecture theatres. Students don't change much. A good idea , though, the fold-away seating.

This is such an interesting photo, I hope tomorrow's photo will be one of it folded up against the wall.
Wonder if it's made in China?

I don’t want to hurt your feelings Colin but it’s not a photo to jump with glee about for us girls. I know you won’t take it the wrong way.
In the Disappointing Annals of PaD
Number 1
‘ Dandelion peeping through a crack’.
Number 2
‘ The Gas Pipe over the Canal’.
Number 3
‘ Chap Relieving Himself under the Bridge’.
( Supposedly)… plus others of the same ilk.
I await the ‘ slings and arrows’…..

Mick, it was manufactured and installed by my pre-retirement company Audience Systems Limited in Westbury, Wiltshire, Google them.
They design, manufacture and ship all over the world. From small projects such as this to major arenas the most recent being Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena.

That’s clever Colin did you design the seats,a young lady from Wigan has won the in the time it takes to complete assembly of a flat pack cabinet I heard today on news.

Changing the subject completely, I don’t know when Wigan’s next local elections will be but I bet there are a lot of Wigans Councillors quaking in their shoes after yesterday’s results.
That’s what comes of the two dominant parties taking the electorate for granted and totally ignoring what they were voted in to do.

So very pleased it’s British made! This is what this country needs -there’s so many young folk whose skills could be used with the right training.

Ingenious!

Colin, I believe that it is going to be next year, in May 2026. This year, regarding Wigan and local government elections, is, what I believe to be referred to as, a "fallow or lull" year. Which is one year out of four years which there is no local government election.

By the way, a very different photograph to many of the ones uploaded to "Photo-a-Day", but an interesting photograph giving us an insight to the interior design of the "new wing of the Rushton Building on New Market Street" and modern seating. I had seen "Retractable Lecture Theatre Seating" and I have seen it both open and closed; an ingenious design for creating more space when needed.

Thank you for the photograph and for your valuable contributions to "Photo-a-Day", Colin.

Never a truer word spoken Colin.
Labour stabbed their core voters in the guts. Pensioners, the disabled and vulnerable, waspy women, low paid worker all to give highly paid Union workers huge pay rises and more illegal immigrants than ever before.

It doesn’t matter which Party is running the show Colin. The fact is this country of ours is in a downwards spiral to third world poverty. Our credit card has been maxed out and we are borrowing now to pay the interest on past borrowing and all the fake optimism in the world won’t wash with those who supply the money we have become addicted to to borrowing.
Whether we want to hear it or not Brexit was a massive self inflicted wound on our country.
We don’t make anything to sell anymore and we don’t have a skilled workforce to start re-making things to sell.
The death of HS2 showed the World that we are incapable of finishing a big project. Does anyone believe that third runway will ever be built?
You can be as optimistic as you like, but to be optimistic you need something to be optimistic about.
Nigel Farage is a one trick pony, he will tell you all day what is wrong with the World, but he never tells you how to put it right does he?
Don’t rely on the public to pick a sensible leader. The people have picked six Barmpot Prime Ministers on the trot since mad Maggie.

I agree with Veronica on its being British Made, and I can understand Colin's pride in it. Long may his old firm in Wiltshire continue.

Ian, many thanks for your kind comment, it is really appreciated.
It’s 50 years since I was first involved in Retractable Seating with the Rank Organisation, spending time then in Illinois and Michigan learning the basics.
I’ve had a most amazing career consulting, advising, designing and selling systems of such size and magnitude they would astound you, privileged to have travelled and all over the world.
The engineering and seating designs since those days have evolved beyond all recognition.
And for Veronica and John’s benefit, I have a very nice installation at Westhoughton High School!!!!!!

It is ingenious, and I'm sure the cleaners will be happy that it folds away, so as for them to easily clean the floor, and the porters too, as they won't need to put away and bring out chairs and desks.

Irene, regarding the council town development, they are to hold a public consultation to hear what the people of Wigan say: https://wigan-consult.objective.co.uk/kpse/event/3B9E785A-D131-4EE2-876F-E5A57CCA95BF

Though we are all sure, that no matter what we the public says, they shall still go ahead with 'THEIR' plans.

They will not be worrying Colin, as they know enough Wiganers will keep them in the town hall, it's because folks' minds are conditioned so as to put a cross against the Labour candidate on the ballot form, as have generations of family before them have done.

Well said Teasy, my thoughts are the same as yours.

DTease, Farage and his team are sweeping the board in local elections, if this continues to the next general election their candidates do not have the experience to govern. What I would say is the next few years are going to be interesting if not entertaining. In my opinion there will be a major shift in both leadership and policies of both Labour and Conservative parties sooner than we may think. Otherwise we will have Trump 2 in charge.

Cyril ever the practical one.
I can just imagine the Mrs Mop ladies with their buckets when everybody’s gone.
“Gladys you do one side and I’ll do t’other..then we’ll start on t’floor before Bert comes to lock up….Ahm sick of scrapin’ chewin’ gum from off t’seats..Makes you wonder what their bedrooms er like!’’
“ Ah know they must think we’re daft Madge as if we can’t see it when they’ve gone ‘ome - th’ooligans!
“ Hey up ‘ere comes Bert rattling t’keys!”..

Ho no! For the first time Mick, you’ve now got me worried.

Colin, Farage has no answers to give. Does anyone believe that Farage knows what to do about the boat people? If so please let us in on the secret because Farage himself has no practical, sensible ideas to put to the people.
Does he ever talk about Brexit these days? Is his silence not strange considering he was one of the main instigators?
Politicians! A plague on all their houses!

Veronica, that was so funny about the Mrs. Mop ladies....it gave me a real chuckle! When Peter brought the old school desk downstairs for the people from St. Peter's to collect, I remembered when we used to say our "going home prayer" at the end of the school day; after prayers we had to put our chairs up on our desks so the cleaners could easily sweep under the desks.
Cyril, you're right about the council going ahead with their plans for this Multimedia Centre WHATEVER the people of Wigan think. As for elections, as you know I haven't watched the news for forty years and I take no notice whatsoever of politics.
DTease, you'll be joining "The Parish Council" if you're not careful, my lad!

I must admit he’s got me worried Irene!

Don't worry Teasy.

The source of the Duggie originates from Rivington Moor . The financial source that feeds Wigan is based in London .
Wigan is a tributary of many , given just what it needs to survive but always held distant from the mothership - London !
You could have a brown trout as Wigan’s MP it won’t change Wigan !
What we do have , given by those who died for it ( May God Bless each one ) is our democracy which gives us choice !
Knowing that someone else , gave their lives so I could change my life and direction in any way I choose , inspires me each and every day and should be a filled mind of every child born in the flow and tributary of the Duggie ! They gave you choice - embrace it - but most it all , recognise where it came from !

It’s not you I’m worried about Mick.

Don't worry . Be happy . Weather looks good. . Shorts on . Hawaiian shirt .
Jazz music like a warm wind wafting in . Cricket , picnics , beer gardens and slow walks down rivers , women in summer dresses , pubs , BBQs ,
and Buster Keaton , who would have had a riot with that retractable seat contraption . What a joy to be alive .

Nigel could contact this lot if he’s dithering about what to do…..
”The Special Air Service (SAS) is famous around the world. Its highly trained men are renowned for their skills in covert surveillance,
close-combat fighting and hostage rescue.”
Covert skills in destroying inflatables which are only plastic made in China .
In other words they could easily find the dinghies at source …before they set sail. He probably knows this but doesn’t want to give the secret away yet….

You are one hundred percent correct Poet. Don’t worry, be happy aaaand always look on the bright side of life tee dumpty dumpty dum.

That’s clever Colin did you design the seats,a young lady from Wigan has won the in the time it takes to complete assembly of a flat pack cabinet I heard today on news.

Pretty sure Colin and myself helped to design the fore runner to this type of lecture theatre seating back in the early 70s at Rank Strand - Lowton
I think the range was known as "Academy 2000" in those days