Air Ambulance...

Resting up with a sniffly cold, my afternoon snooze was abruptly interrupted with some loud drilling noises from the workmen next door. I turned over and pressed my ear deep into the pillow trying to block out the infernal racket. The irritating buzzing continued, if anything it was getting louder. What on earth were they doing?!
I glared out the window only to see the normally busy road deserted...



I rushed outside as I realised that what I thought was drilling was a helicopter circling very low. It was the air ambulance looking for a spot to land.



After a perilous hover, slotting itself between telephone lines, it must have been a relief to the pilot to be safely on the ground, as the gas turbine engines whined to a halt.

With the rotors at a standstill, the crew sprung into a calm, but efficient routine.

The casualty was being treated in a waiting ambulance, as the helicopter was prepared.

A spine board was used to safely carry out the transfer from stretcher to air ambulance.

As far as I could ascertain, a car had been in collision with a female pedestrian. There was damage to the bonnet and windscreen, as well as an ominous dent high up on the A-pillar.

Ironically, dangling from the rear view mirror was a tag in support of the Midlands Air Ambulance.

The co-pilot checked the take off area, while the police ushered onlookers to a safe distance.



The gas turbines wound into life, while the sound of the blades rose to a deafening roar. Hesitantly the impressive machine hauled itself into the air, before gaining its grace and soaring off into the sky.

There was a small fleet of unmarked police cars (including these two regular BMWs) that had needlessly turned up. There were more than enough patrol cars to carry out all duties, and sitting there for nearly an hour was a poor use of resources.

The forensic collision investigation unit were very thorough, the scene measured, searched and photographed.

Thank goodness for the air ambulance. I will be putting some money in their donation box again this week...

The Orwellian Nightmare Unit...

The traffic snarled up and eventually came to a halt. I parked my car, grabbed my cameras and went to see what was happening. The road was blocked by police and fire engines.

More sirens rang out as a police car pulled across to block the road, while yet another fire engine arrived. I couldn't see smoke, so I assumed it must be an accident of some kind.

The air ambulance circled overhead obviously searching for a suitable landing spot.

It swung low over the rooftops, skimmed the rear gardens, and positioned itself to land at the junction of two roads.

It sunk below the outline of the suburban skyline and out of sight.

This is when the trouble started...

A policeman approached me. He asked if I was affiliated with the press, and what was I taking photographs of. I politely explained that I was just a local caught up in the traffic taking some shots of the air ambulance overhead. He then began ranting on about seizing my cameras as evidence! He was rude, aggressive and intimidating. I was shocked. I was told that I wasn't allowed to take photos. Although I was incandescent with rage, I didn't want to be arrested, or have my cameras taken, so I retreated into a side road.

With the cameras tucked under my coat I returned and attempted to blend in with the crowd. Just in time to witness another photographer suffer similar treatment. This time the police were trying to use anti-terror laws to stop him taking photos. He knew his rights, stood his ground, and informed them that they had no right to seize his camera, or prevent him from taking pictures. He was threatened with arrest for a public order offence and manhandled to a car by the policeman! Credit to the guy, he stated his case clearly, he had committed no offence and was well within his rights to take photographs on a public road. They reluctantly let him go.

Out of sight, the turbines of the helicopter whined into life. The thudding of the rotors grew louder as it emerged above the roof tiles. The police were distracted so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots...

After the helicopter left, I made conversation with the other photographer. I could tell he was very annoyed by the police. He was amazed at their ignorance of the law and of the public rights. We'd both encountered this abuse before, and I'm sure I will again.

It turned out that the incident was just a traffic accident. There was no reason to evoke anti-terror laws. I didn't hinder or obstruct anyone in any way. I didn't intrude on the casualties privacy. There was simply no reason to stop anyone from taking pictures. What was particularly hypocritical was the professional video camera crew (full size on the shoulder TV camera, plus sound man) that were shadowing the emergency services at close quarters filming the casualties from barely 6 foot away!

The police are misusing, and abusing these anti-terror laws as I suspected they would when I wrote a blog post about them when they first came into existence last year. (Read it HERE)

I will continue to take photos and strive to prevent the spread of this new branch of the police... 'The Orwellian Nightmare Unit'.

Big Brother can send you to jail for photographing the Police!!!...

If you live in the UK and like to take photographs then you should be concerned. On Feb 16th 2009 the government are implementing 'Schedule 8' an amendment to the 'Counter-terrorism Act 2000'. Within this is 'Section 76'.
The police have already abused the powers given to them under previous anti-terror laws and are often ignorant of the law, falsely believing that it is illegal to photograph or video them. You only have to see this video to know...

The Act at first read doesn't seem of much concern. It's not until you realise the full implications of the wording that it becomes worrying. You can find the full account of the new law HERE.
Sub-Section 58A of Section 76 reads thus:-

“58A Eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of armed forces etc (1) A person commits an offence who—
(a) elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been—
(i) a member of Her Majesty’s forces,
(ii) a member of any of the intelligence services, or
(iii) a constable,
which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or
(b) publishes or communicates any such information.
(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine, or to both;

It should be made clear that you don't have to be a terrorist to be prosecuted under this law but only need to possess information, video, or photographs which the government may believe is useful to terrorists.
One portion (Section 58A,(a),(iii)) in particular concerns me most. If I video the police out on the public street, (which I have done often) and they happen to be near a government building, a railway station or other 'sensitive' location it could be construed as 'useful information' for a terrorist act. The problem is the vagueness of the law as well as the onus for me to justify the reason for taking pictures. I shouldn't need an excuse, because I'm not a terrorist. The police are already uneducated in the law. I have been confronted by them quite aggressively at times and quizzed as to why I'm taking pictures. They go to great lengths to give me the impression that what I am doing is illegal... and DAMN IT... now it is!
The National Union of Journalists and the British Press Photographer Association have expressed their concerns and intend to demonstrate their 'displeasure' in London on Monday 16th Feb... photos may not be available.
So from now on, the pictures and information on my blog may be curtailed.... I NO LONGER CONSIDER MYSELF TO LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY... be warned
For further reading on the matter, see HERE

Things that go thump in the night....

Sometimes you just get one of those nights. Usually it's warm and dry, mild night madness.... How, on a straight section of 30mph road do you manage to spin your van 180 degrees and wedge it backwards in some ones doorway?

"Have you had a drink tonight Sir?" "No, ociffer!"

"Well, I was on my way home, and turned into my drive as usual...but it was gone."

"This isn't even my road... it's the council moving the signs about"

2am... 7 police cars, 3 ambulances, 1 paddy wagon and 2 riot vans. A normally placid pub had erupted into violence. Punches, wrestling in the road and broken bottle fights.

I didn't venture closer with the camera until things had calmed right down.

From the various conversations there seemed to be a 101 different causes that sparked off the violence...."Tracy had a 'tramp stamp' and it wasn't from Dave, but she's getting to married to Darnell innhe?!" "It was the posh lot being tossers again" "Trevor started it by not hitting Goldie?!" "The cops made it bad innit by nicking em innit?" All seem perfectly valid reasons for sticking a broken bottle in the face of the guy you were drinking with all night.

"No Dave stop struggling, you'll make i worser." "When I get these cuffs off I'm gonna give you a kickin copper" "AAah! Me arm, garoff me arm" "Dave, stop ee...there's more comin" "F*&k off Trace"

"I'm gon a get you" "Aaah, me arm" "mmnnoomghpfff" "Me eyes, you blinding me"

Finally secured Dave went for a little drive.

"You don't understand, I luv Dave y'know?" Sorting out her phone from a handbag..."Darnell you cum and pik me uup luv?!"

Opened by the Queen, closed to the public!...

Today was the official opening of the new war memorial in the national memorial arboretum. This huge circle of Portland stone has the names of the fallen carved on its inner edge. It is set on a huge mound, and has a slot specially aligned so at 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11 month, a shaft of sunlight will illuminate a statue of servicemen holding aloft a fallen comrade. The Queen and other dignitaries were on hand to perform the opening ceremony. Security was tight, and I had to cut through the back lanes in order to avoid the road closures.

You've never seen so many police, vans, cameras, motorbikes, plainclothes. All the local farms were being used as temporary bases for security personnel.

Still, I managed to find my way to the outskirts of the arboretum where the Queens entourage would arrive by car. As you can see I have no pictures, but you know what she looks like...big hat, nice car... I have no love for the Royal family; bunch of freeloading gits!

The general public weren't allowed in. I tried to explain that I wasn't a member of the public and never have been, but they weren't having any of it. Instead I found a little known car park by the nature reserve, that the royal security had adopted as their own. I parked alongside a black supercharged Range Rover that a man in a flack jacket with a gun was sat in monitoring the wireless cameras placed on the lampposts....if my car wasn't safe there it wasn't safe anywhere.
After a bit of wandering around looking for a good site overlooking the events, I came across a large van inhabited by some men in black with machine guns. I asked "Is there anywhere I can see the Queen and get a good shot?" As the words left my mouth, I realised they had been poorly chosen. Any way, I repacked my rucksack following the search and went on my way.

The closest I could get was across the lake in the nature reserve. The action was about 1/4 of a mile away, so I couldn't see much, but here there a some sailor chappies and a TV crew doing an interview.


The Queen sensibly kept out of sight, but did push her husband out into sniper range....

My main reason to be there was to watch the military flypasts. There was promise of a visit from the last Vulcan bomber still to fly. Vulcans are huge delta wing planes with an engine note that jibbles with your innards! It didn't show.....but there were Tornados, Typhoons etc.

Anticipating not being able to gain entry, I took some photos a little earlier so that you lot could see inside.

The National Memorial Arboretum is a 150 acre site with 50,000 trees set within the National Forest. The National Forest is a plan to recover Britain with trees once more. It's only 33,000 acres and so far they've only planted 7 million trees, but it's a good start and there are plans for another 20 million in the next 30 years.

The above statue is, "Shot at Dawn". During World War 1 many soldiers were shot for 'cowardice' or 'desertion' when often they were suffering from post traumatic stress and really had no control over their actions. Each of the posts has the name of a soldier executed by firing squad.

One of my favourite, and the first to be erected on the site is the polar bear representing the 49th West Riding Division.

I love the detail on this carving.

Memorial to maritime gunners.

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Association), a non government, volunteer based organisation that has saved countless lives around the coast.

One of the most stark and poignant is the open gate of a concentration camp...

Drive you to drink....

It wasn't a bad day weather wise, but it wasn't good either. I felt that I should do something slightly energetic in order to burn off some of yesterdays BBQ at Russells. No, I was feeling lazy, a bit of a razz in the car instead.... Heading North, the A515 lured me further on with it's luscious zig zags. After clearing the county of Staffordshire, the roads became more narrow as the hills of Derbyshire loomed ahead. Stone walls lulled you into a false sense of security, obscuring the precipice to your side as you skim the edge of the slope, encouraging you ever faster.

As you climb ever higher the lanes snake through little V shape valleys.

There's always another bend, revealing another valley, with another hill challenging you in the distance...

As I got ever higher, I noticed the sheep dotting the hillsides didn't look quite the same....

Hang on, those are Llamas (or are they Alpacas? Is there a difference?) You know you're getting high up when there's Llamas! This one had recently been shaun, someone, somewhere had got a lovely soft new jumper.

This baby Llama looked impossibly cute. I'm sure the farmer goes round putting mascara on those lashes, no way are they natural.

Llama wool is renowned for being warm and soft, if it's so good why does this chap find it so itchy?

Finally the top of the world (well of this bit anyway) was in view. This isn't a place you want to be caught out in during winter. It was flippin cold in August. There is nothing for miles around. Should you be foolish enough to wander off the road you stumble through peat bogs, dissected by deep ditches which far from helping to drain the land, just give you something to fall into and drown! The tarmac route picked its way through the difficult terrain. This is the only way across the hills, the twists and turns attract suicidal bikers and car fanatics alike. Signs warn of "Traffic Law Enforcement by Police Aircraft". Motorcyclists fit upward facing mirrors to their fuel tanks in order to spot whether they are being 'monitored' by Police helicopter!

This is the 'Cat and Fiddle', the highest public house in England, although there is some rivalry for the title with the 'Tan Inn', either way it's a long way to go for a drink!

The AA (Automobile Association not Alcoholic Anonymous) survey 2003 listed this as the most dangerous stretch of road in the UK. On the homeward trip I bear ed this in mind and drove as quickly as I could in order to get off it as soon as possible!

Down in the tree clothed valleys after passing through the village of 'Winkle Bottom' several times I decided that I was lost. It was time for a coffee and to get my old faithful GPS out. This E-Trex GPS is getting on a bit now, it's been through the wars and is reinforced with tape. It's over 7 years old now, back from when I would have to explain to people what GPS was. After telling one client what it was for and how great it was to have a device that could tell you exactly where you were in the world tucked in your pocket, he replied "But if you've got it in your pocket, you know where it is"! This is the same client that years later after buying a car with a GPS enthused"My new GPS tells me where to go..", I was tempted to do the same...

E-Trex got me home as per usual, a 160 mile round trip, not bad for an afternoons drive.

Tuesday night is Bike night!...

This is 'Bassetts Pole'. Here there is literally a pole/ signpost that marks the boundary between two counties. It is now dominated by a large traffic island, and adjacent to this is Bassett Pole pub. In the summer, Tuesday night is 'bike night'..... A couple of years ago this used to be a huge weekly event (over 2 thousand), with racing, stunting, bareback riding and knee sliding. Unfortunately, following the death of a spectator, the police have become obsessed with squashing this meet.

Despite some rather 'unfair' tactics on behalf of the police, this get together is still popular.

As you approach, all you can hear is a distant thunder, a combined rumble of a thousand illegal exhausts!

'Big Brother' is watching you! I counted 4 traffic police cars equipped with ANPR (automatic number plate recognition), 2 vans with ANPR, 3 patrol cars, 2 vans, 1 unmarked pursuit car, 2 mobile motorbikes, 3 parked bikes, an occasionally circling helicopter and this mobile CCTV unit complete with 20ft camera topped mast! This isn't a Hells Angels meet! Most of these bikers are just ordinary business men. The police really don't like these gatherings, but thanks to the bloody mindedness of the bikers it continues every year!

If you ever wondered what your tax was being spent on... Well of course they need a Mercedes! Our 'under funded' police force couldn't be expected to run a budget car. They obviously have a legitimate use for the 28 speaker surround sound stereo, the self levelling gas suspension, the 12 point adjustable seats with 8 air bladders, heating and massage, the split cabin environment system...you can't expect them to be uncomfortable when they're sat on their bums all day!!!

The plain clothes team have their cover blown again. 'Something' was giving them away...

This Suzuki was a work of art. Extended rear arm allows transmission of all the power without flipping you off the back. This mod isn't as simple as it seems, if you notice, the bodywork and even the exhaust have been altered in sympathy in order to maintain the proportions of the bike.

Oversize sprocket with 'cush' drive and one cool wavy edge disc!

Bennilli Tornado, this is one of my favourite bikes. That's one distinctive back end, and it'll be getting very small very soon! You know that it is delivering some awesome power to warrant that sort of cooling.

There weren't as many trikes as usual. This one is OK, but some of them are just crazy. There is often a big black one running a Jag V12, and just to give a little extra umph he's fitted it with two Garrett T3 turbos...madness (and I love it!)

This is my cup of tea. Ugly as fuck I know, but it'll do everything. Fast and comfortable on the road, big enough for two plus equipment.

And when you get to the end of the road you can keep on going, anywhere you like! I could have some adventures on this...

I was just about to leave when I heard a noise I liked. There are a few of these around my local area, but this is the gorgeous Lambo I see arse tailing it down my road late at night!

These don't come cheap, and the owner had more labels than a jam factory.

When you stand round the back of this beast, the up swept exhausts jet scalding gas at your face, and when the throttle is blipped it blows your hair back. It's one of the most fun ways of losing your eyebrows!

After what seemed an eternity of careful reversing from the cramped car park (you don't even want to think of the consequences of knocking a line of bikes down), the Lambo made it's escape, the crackle of the exhaust spitting flame on the over run as it scrubbed speed for the island!

With the sun beginning to set I made my way home, until all I could hear was a distant rumble...