Bridge update

Work on the base for the bridge has gone ahead this week with concrete arriving on site mid week with the wood templates in place ready for it
By Friday the wood has gone and the new concrete is in place

Help Needed Charles Dick

We have a relation of Dick, Charles who is trying to find any information on
him or any photos if you have anything please contact us

Born at Broughty Ferry in 1838, he served an apprenticeship from 1854
under James How at Monifieth Foundry. After short times as a workman
in the marine-engine shops of J. & G. Thomson on the Clyde and of James Jac
k & Co at Liverpool, he was taken-on in the Crewe erecting shops in August
1860 after walking to that place from Liverpool in search of work.
In 1862, while a chargehand erector, he attracted the attention of young
Webb at the evening classes of the Mechanics Institute where he won a prize.
Webb brought him into the office as a temporary tracer and draughtsman, and
in 1863 he became an established member of the drawing office staff at 8s 4d [42p]
a day. He succeeded Kampf as chief draughtsman on 15 December 1871 at a salary
of £160 a year raised in steps to £225 at the end of 1874 and, as he himself wrote,
with heavy work and long hours. Under his charge were developed the designs of the
Webb Precursors, Precedents and coal engines.

In February 1877 he was appointed manager of the signal department at Crewe; he
had manufacture, installation and maintenance in his care, with much outdoor wor
k along the line in all weathers. G. P. Neele, the LNWR traffic superintendent,
paid him compliments for his signal work in Railway Reminiscences ( 1902).

In February 1882 he succeeded Worsdell as works manager, though the appointment
was still styled indoor assistant. He died on 2 June 1888 of chest and kidney
complaints at the age of 50, but in essence he was worn out by the work and its
responsibilities following his hard and often penurious youth. In reporting his
death to the Locomotive Committee Webb said "he was a very able and faithful
servant of the Company." A grant of six months' salary, less amount paid on
sick leave, was given to his four children aged 23 to 14, for he was a widower.
Dick came to take much part in Crewe local affairs. He was deputy mayor to Webb
in the Jubilee year of 1887, and presided at the public dinner to celebrate the
Queen's Jubilee and Crewe's railway jubilee, for Webb as mayor of the borough
was away at the national thanksgiving service in Westminster Abbey. He was treasure
r of the Mechanics Institute 1875-81. After Dick's death in 1888 a shelter was
erected in the then new Queen's Park i

n memory of him; he himself had supervised the layout of the park.
Webb and Dick always got on well together and were much of an age.
One of Dick's letters preserved long after his death shows him to have
been human and unaffected, and gives a good first-hand account of
Crewe in the mid-1880s. 

Burma Island

Most of the work in the last 2 weeks has been done on Burma Island and also some on the bottom island.
Burma island has had the walls all rebuilt from scratch and its not far off being finished
These wall should last for years. Work hasnt been helped by heavy rain for the last two weeks as diggers have been stuck in the mud but its all coming together and progressing well.
Friends of Queens Park have a meeting on Tuesday 8th December at 6:00 pm at the queens park jubilee Cafe were everyone is welcome to come along.

Queens Park Bandstand

The work on the bandstand is progressing with the roof repairs well under way take November 2009
Some pictures of the bandstand as the crane lifts the dome off the bandstand
It is then lowered onto a trailer to be repaired off site
The crane moving in ready for the lift
A close up of the bandstand at the start of restoration

Autumn Color in the Queens park

Autumn is a wonderful time in the park with some really colorful sites so armed with the trusty Finepix s1500 I have captured so of the scenes for those of you who have missed it

The big tree by the childrens play area
A colorful tress by the lake October 2009
Childrens Play area and lovely yellow leaves on the tree behind

Two shot across the lake as the trees loose their leaves
The tree by Princess Diana memorial from two directions

Winter moves in

The work continues this week on Burma Island with the soil and wall being removed and lots of cages being built at the front. What they are for I dont know I expect we will find out in time I assume some sort of template for the bridges.

There has been a lot of work going on and lets hope the lake will be open next March

With November the park shows its other side with Autumn color and the gardeners have come up trumps with a fine pansy display. It just goes to show no matter what time of year the gardeners put on a fine display for us and there is always something to see.


The ducks are not being left out as people are still feeding them even as winter approaches and the fallen leaves make a wonderful carpet of yellow

Queens Park Tour

The first meeting of the Friends of Queens Park which has taken over from the Stakeholder took place on Tuesday night with a trip around the park to see the progress led by Ian Bright, from EBM consultants. A lot turned up despite the bad weather and darkness.



We were shown the new roadway being built by the lake as a temporary measure so heavy machinery can move about the park such as diggers and cranes.


A lot of work has been done on Burma Island and half of the island has been removed so it can be rebuilt. All the islands will need most of the surrounding brick work removed and rebuilt to prevent collapse


We were then shown Broad walk and the band stand. Most of the path is full of heavy machinery and work has been done on the main bridge which will span the valley to Coronation Walk. The heavy wooden bridge will be supported by a large arch and this time it will be level with steps on one side and a disabled ramp on the other so people can get to Coronation Walk. It will all be replanted.


Its hoped the new bridges will arrive in January- February and will then be put in place with huge cranes as the bridge will have to come in large pieces. It will be major work to get these cranes into confined spaces but it is all planned. The lake area should be open by March and the paths will be rebuilt as a temporary measure. In the future the paths will have to be closed so new ones can be built once all the work has been done. Its hoped the lake will have both boats and fishing once again. There is problem with having Carp in the lake but with a new filtering system its hoped this can be done

Burma Island

Work on the lake has been mostly about Burma Island this week with the surrounding brickwork knocked down and the soil removed ready for a rebuild.

Half of the island has gone and will be replaced along with new brick work around the island. All the islands have to have the surrounding brickwork redone before they collapse into the lake

Big stink at the Queens Park

There was a big stink at the Queens park today as all the flowers in the main drive were removed and tons of new soil and manure were delivered ready for next years growth. So we should have some good displays next year but in the mean time the park has some good healthy smells




Down at the lake work was being done on Burma Island and down by the sluice gates. Wrekins display boards were being removed at long last. So people can now go down to the park and see some action at last. Its been a frustrating time for all and tempers have frayed with no work since early this year. But at last we can see work being done. Check back for updates.

Finally dont forget the next meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Time:
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Location:
Queens Park Cafe, Crewe for a walk around the park ALL welcome

Queens Park Work Started at Last

The work on the bandstand is progressing and as you can see they are working on the roof at the moment



Down on the lake after waiting for several weeks for the new contractor to start work this week we have seen some action. Until now most of the work has been moving offices and tools and surveying the lake. But this week we have seen diggers out and work on the small bridge near the sluice gates so it hoped there will be lots of action in the coming weeks and we will keep you up to date with any action as it happens. People have been frustrated by the delays but now hopefully its full steam ahead