Timeline
5th Feb 1923
1st Sept 2006
1928
1933
1938
1943
1948
1953
1958
1963
1968
1978
1983
1973
1988
1993
1998
2003
Marries
Maud
Maud
Laughter with a bang
TNT for two
Watch out for the bits
Lift-off
1001 Gelignites
Gelly Babe
Blastermind
Hunting and Shooting Stories
Blast It
Stand well back
Redditch Controls
Master Blaster
Huntingdon hall
RAF and the War 1939-1945
He joined the RAF near the start of the war, completing his training at Guinea Fowl school, in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and joined the 6th airborn. He saw active service flying Halifax bombers and was in Bomber command. After operation Varsity (25th March 1945) towing gliders into Western Germany as part of Operation Plunder, he had the choice of becoming a guinea pig for gas tests or to specialise in bomb disposal. Luckily for us he decided to follow the bomb disposal route "he knew where he was safe..." and this stimulated his interest in the use of explosives and demolition (as well as playing with fireworks as a kid)
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He joined the RAF near the start of the war, completing his training at Guinea Fowl school, in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and joined the 6th airborn. He saw active service flying Halifax bombers and was in Bomber command. After operation Varsity (25th March 1945) towing gliders into Western Germany as part of Operation Plunder, he had the choice of becoming a guinea pig for gas tests or to specialise in bomb disposal. Luckily for us he decided to follow the bomb disposal route "he knew where he was safe..." and this stimulated his interest in the use of explosives and demolition (as well as playing with fireworks as a kid)
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Oulton Park 1951
A job he did on the site of Oulton Park racing circuit prior to the construction of the track, when blowing up some tree roots disturbing a semi-naked courting couple leading to part of the track being called Knicker Brook. It has since been renamed after that corner of the track was deemed dangerous and remodelled.
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A job he did on the site of Oulton Park racing circuit prior to the construction of the track, when blowing up some tree roots disturbing a semi-naked courting couple leading to part of the track being called Knicker Brook. It has since been renamed after that corner of the track was deemed dangerous and remodelled.
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Rolls-Royce 1938-1939
In 1938 after leaving school Blaster started in the tool room at Rolls-Royce at Crewe as an apprentice. Shortley after War broke out he joined the RAF.
After Leaving the RAF he tried to get his job back but there had been cut backs.
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In 1938 after leaving school Blaster started in the tool room at Rolls-Royce at Crewe as an apprentice. Shortley after War broke out he joined the RAF.
After Leaving the RAF he tried to get his job back but there had been cut backs.
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The M6 1963
Blaster worked on the building of the M6 motorway, blasting through rock during the harsh winter of 1963
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Blaster worked on the building of the M6 motorway, blasting through rock during the harsh winter of 1963
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The Torry Canyon 1967
On the morning of the 18th of March 1967 the 974ft Torry canyon, a supertanker carrying 120,000 tons of crude oil hit Pollard's Rock in the Seven Stones reef between Land's End and the Scilly Isles. It sat there leaking oil for 11 days while unscucsessful bids to refloat or salvage the vessel were carried out before begining to break up. The Royal Navy and RAF Dopped 62,000lbs of bombs, 5,200 gallons of petrol, 11 rockets and copious amounts of napalm during more than a day of bombing in an attempt to sink the tanker and burn off the oil. Somehow they managed to miss this stationary target with 25% of the ordinance and failed to either sink or burn off the oil.
Blaster was asked how he would do the job. He recomended the use of large quantities of explosives in the tanks to breakup the ship and vaporise the oil and thermalight and magnesium to ignight it but didnt get to go and do the job.
The full story can be heard on Lift-off (Volume 5)
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On the morning of the 18th of March 1967 the 974ft Torry canyon, a supertanker carrying 120,000 tons of crude oil hit Pollard's Rock in the Seven Stones reef between Land's End and the Scilly Isles. It sat there leaking oil for 11 days while unscucsessful bids to refloat or salvage the vessel were carried out before begining to break up. The Royal Navy and RAF Dopped 62,000lbs of bombs, 5,200 gallons of petrol, 11 rockets and copious amounts of napalm during more than a day of bombing in an attempt to sink the tanker and burn off the oil. Somehow they managed to miss this stationary target with 25% of the ordinance and failed to either sink or burn off the oil.
Blaster was asked how he would do the job. He recomended the use of large quantities of explosives in the tanks to breakup the ship and vaporise the oil and thermalight and magnesium to ignight it but didnt get to go and do the job.
The full story can be heard on Lift-off (Volume 5)
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Home Guard
Blaster was in the home guard (or LDV as it was at that time) until he was old enough to volunteer for the RAF
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Blaster was in the home guard (or LDV as it was at that time) until he was old enough to volunteer for the RAF
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Special Constabulary
Blaster was a special constable in the Cheshire Police Force from 1968 to 1980.
He also played rugby union for Cheshire Constabulary until he was 45 (1968)
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Blaster was a special constable in the Cheshire Police Force from 1968 to 1980.
He also played rugby union for Cheshire Constabulary until he was 45 (1968)
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Born
Crewe
Crewe
Shooting Club
He founded the Hydra and Full Bore Sporting Rifle Club and was its life long president. He won many trophies for his skill at clay pigeon shooting.
One of the places Blaster would enjoy shooting Clay's was Catton hall shooting ground just outside Frodsham
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He founded the Hydra and Full Bore Sporting Rifle Club and was its life long president. He won many trophies for his skill at clay pigeon shooting.
One of the places Blaster would enjoy shooting Clay's was Catton hall shooting ground just outside Frodsham
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Berkenhead railway yards
The Raconteur 1947-2004
Blasters second career is the one we all know and love. He would travel the country giving his talks, a large amount of the proceeds of which went to charity (estimated at over 6 million pounds in the 50+ years he spoke). In the late 60's he teamed up with Mike Steyn producing the albums. Laughter with a bang being awarded a gold disk. He continued to talk to theatre audiences into his 80s. I saw him in 2003 and even though most of the audience knew most of the stories they were still kept spellbound, There was just something about the way he told em....
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Blasters second career is the one we all know and love. He would travel the country giving his talks, a large amount of the proceeds of which went to charity (estimated at over 6 million pounds in the 50+ years he spoke). In the late 60's he teamed up with Mike Steyn producing the albums. Laughter with a bang being awarded a gold disk. He continued to talk to theatre audiences into his 80s. I saw him in 2003 and even though most of the audience knew most of the stories they were still kept spellbound, There was just something about the way he told em....
.
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Blasting 1945-1991(ish, last known job)
On leaving the RAF after the war, he failed to get his job back at Rolls Royce and started his own demolition business around Cheshire. After a short stint using a push bike he bought an ex-war department Ariel motorcycle .
He soon became recognised as an authority in the demolition of high-stack chimney's. He changed the landscape of Northern England by demolishing over 500 (or "let the light in" as he put it), more than 50 of which were in the St Helens area, during which time he earned the nickname by which he liked to be known.
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On leaving the RAF after the war, he failed to get his job back at Rolls Royce and started his own demolition business around Cheshire. After a short stint using a push bike he bought an ex-war department Ariel motorcycle .
He soon became recognised as an authority in the demolition of high-stack chimney's. He changed the landscape of Northern England by demolishing over 500 (or "let the light in" as he put it), more than 50 of which were in the St Helens area, during which time he earned the nickname by which he liked to be known.
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This page is very much a work in progress, so please dont take all the information as 100% correct, If you know of an error or can add anything please let us know.
Wood Mine 1964
In 1964 Blaster sealed the entrence of Woodmine after many accidents by visitors.
More details on the Derby Caving club website
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In 1964 Blaster sealed the entrence of Woodmine after many accidents by visitors.
More details on the Derby Caving club website
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Motorcycling 1936-1963
He first got the motorcycling bug at the age of 13 when he and a mate got an old belt driven Douglas and would ride it as fast as they could around the local cricket pitch.
Riding his Norton 500T, Blaster would enjoy scrambling, hill climbing and stunt events, eventually becoming the main attraction of a "ladder of death" and "wall of fire" stunt team performing daredevil acts at fetes and carnivals. His most famous antic took place at Beeston castle in 1952 which has a hill of about 1 in 3 (on an earlier Norton). He attached rockets in an attempt to make it to the top using a mixture of Nitrate of Sodium and sugar. Off up the hill he went, unfortunately he was 12 feet in front of the bike. He ended up with burns on his legs and part of the rocket stuck in his back side. Blaster asked the doctor if he would need stitches and was told .... "Stitches?? we'll have to bloody darn". 72 hours later he was out of hospital on crutches but had to attend out patents for a further 10 months. When his mate Walter took him home maude was there and said something along the lines "Oh, Dump him in the corner he'll be allright"
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He first got the motorcycling bug at the age of 13 when he and a mate got an old belt driven Douglas and would ride it as fast as they could around the local cricket pitch.
Riding his Norton 500T, Blaster would enjoy scrambling, hill climbing and stunt events, eventually becoming the main attraction of a "ladder of death" and "wall of fire" stunt team performing daredevil acts at fetes and carnivals. His most famous antic took place at Beeston castle in 1952 which has a hill of about 1 in 3 (on an earlier Norton). He attached rockets in an attempt to make it to the top using a mixture of Nitrate of Sodium and sugar. Off up the hill he went, unfortunately he was 12 feet in front of the bike. He ended up with burns on his legs and part of the rocket stuck in his back side. Blaster asked the doctor if he would need stitches and was told .... "Stitches?? we'll have to bloody darn". 72 hours later he was out of hospital on crutches but had to attend out patents for a further 10 months. When his mate Walter took him home maude was there and said something along the lines "Oh, Dump him in the corner he'll be allright"
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10 Days in Hospital 2001
Even though he flew in WW2 hunted 22 wild bour, been charged by 3 in Germany, shot dozens of stags, has 300 trophies for motor cycle racing and attended countless fetes, carnivals and fund raisers with his stunt riding he had never been in hospital for more than 72 hours, always walking wounded then in 2001 he had to spend 10 days layed up on 28 antibiotic tablets a day... why? Because he burnt his foot on a hot water bottle.
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Even though he flew in WW2 hunted 22 wild bour, been charged by 3 in Germany, shot dozens of stags, has 300 trophies for motor cycle racing and attended countless fetes, carnivals and fund raisers with his stunt riding he had never been in hospital for more than 72 hours, always walking wounded then in 2001 he had to spend 10 days layed up on 28 antibiotic tablets a day... why? Because he burnt his foot on a hot water bottle.
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Picture by Mike Steyn
Timeline
Timeline
Whitbread Exchange Brewery 1983
On 30th-September-1983 blew up a 120 ft chimney at Whitbread Exchange Brewery to make way for a new extension.
Michael Cairney, a civil engineer and the world domino-toppling champion, used dominoes to trigger the explosion.
Probably the Chimney at the start of Sand well back
On 30th-September-1983 blew up a 120 ft chimney at Whitbread Exchange Brewery to make way for a new extension.
Michael Cairney, a civil engineer and the world domino-toppling champion, used dominoes to trigger the explosion.
Probably the Chimney at the start of Sand well back
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