Rob Davis's Home Page

Home is Telford, Shropshire. I am a retired data analyst and database developer. You are welcome to email me but manually remove the extra 'z' from the address

Due to increased levels of phishing and spamming I don't accept email traffic from gmail accounts or those addresses ending in .eu or .io unless the mail contains the word 'zooble' in the body or subject line.

There are two cats in the house; a former stray whose name tells you all about him - 'Tabby', I think he's about eleven years old. There is also a tortoiseshell rescue cat called 'Poppy' who is eight years old.

I FLEW A SPITFIRE! On May 23rd 2023 I flew in the rear cockpit of the two-seat Spitfire from Biggin Hill, a truly amazing experience; everything I had ever read and heard about Spitfires came to life. After taking off and meeting the 'chase aircraft' for air-to-air photos, I flew the Spitfire to the White Cliffs of Dover at Beachy Head. The pilot then made four Victory Rolls over the cliffs and I flew back until the pilot took control again for the landing. This Youtube video is heavily edited from the very large amount of material given to me after landing. Many thanks to the staff at the "Fly A Spitfire" Heritage Hangar and especially to my pilot, Barry. And having flown a perfectly good aeroplane, I have just jumped out of another one from 10,000 feet! Watch my SKYDIVE
The NT650 Honda "Deauville" Red Fox Web Resource The CX500 Web Resource is now here. How to plan and carry out a successful Motorcycle Touring holiday.	RAF Bomber Command 1939-45 I have been researching various aspects of wartime bombing operations and have extensive data files regarding Bomber Command aircraft losses. I also explain how to research and find ex aircrew.
The Dams Raid. This is not an exhaustive history, but does explain the pertinent details of the famous raid on the Mohne and Eder Dams, 16/17-May-43.	The Great Escape On the night on March 24/25th 1944, 76 Air Force officers escaped from Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan, Silesia. 50 were murdered by the SS and Gestapo. This is a highly detailed account of what happened, and afterwards compares the real events and people with those of the celebrated 1963 film.
This totally fascinating site shows aerial photos of Britain from 1926 onwards. Brilliant!
*I've been to Cahir Castle, Tipperary, Ireland, one of the key locations of my favourite film EXCALIBUR,* and the then-and-now photos are here.**
Military Ranks Table. This compares all World War 2 period military ranks across various services and nationalities.
Prague : Scenes at the Church of St Cyril and Methodius, where the Czechs who assassinated Reinhard Heydrich in 1942 made their last stand.	Ypres and the Somme No-one who has not visited the battlefields of the First World War can appreciate the terrible slaughter which took place in the Ypres Salient and the Somme. Where to go, where to stay, what to see.
Here is a large set of downloadable Bell Ringing diagrams and methods in PDF format.
I have taken a number of 360-degree photos, here are the links to Google Maps Castles : Easky Tower, Sligo, Ireland : Kenilworth Castle : Stokesay Castle : Moreton Corbet Castle : Bolingbroke Castle : Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle : Stafford Castle : Eilean Donan Castle Churches : Buildwas Abbey : Haughmond Abbey : Wenlock Priory : Baschurch, All Saints : Edgmond, St Peter : Moreton Corbet, St Bartholomew : Stanton Upon Hine Heath, St Andrew : Stockton, St Chad : Kemberton, St Andrew : Lilleshall Abbey : Atcham, St Eata : Newport, St Nicholas Historical Locations : Wroxeter Roman City : Longdon Upon Tern Aqueduct : National Memorial Arboretum : Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge : Sleap Air Museum : Ardnamurchan Lighthouse : Shrewsbury 'the Dana' Prison : "We'll Meet Again" Museum, Freiston, Lincolnshire : Wappenshall Junction : Glenfinnan 'Harry Potter' Viaduct : Nant-y-Gro Dam : RAF Museum, Cosford : HMS Warrior, Portsmouth : Midland Air Museum, Baginton, Coventry : Western Approaches WW2 Museum, Liverpool
Youtube Favourites My tabby cat - whose name is simply 'Tabby' likes a good back scratch, and makes very appreciative noises! You can see him here. As a boy I listened endlessly to Michael Holliday's Runaway Train; and Billy Cotton's Dam Busters March. A great version of Barrett's Privateers. Here is me on the Spanish Pyrenees and the Millau Viaduct; and enjoying Indoor Skydiving and enjoying the Longest Zipwire in Europe. The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ypres. This clip shows Frank Kelly's masterpiece parody of "the Twelve Days of Christmas". Footage from the Great Escape site in Zagan, Poland are linked from the 'Great Escape' pages.

HKH Group (Builders) Ltd (web site and email) Tel : 07749 029304	Having engaged HKH to build a 4th bedroom over our attached garage, and make two modifications to the interior of the house, from the moment Hugh Bevan arrived to make a survey until the moment the job was completed, I have nothing but glowing praise for HKH and the 'men on the job' headed by foreman Luke. All the people were clearly very skilled and totally competent, with minimal disruption and noise. If you need any kind of building work, I thoroughly recommend HKH and am sure that they will do just an ace job with you. (November 2022 - February 2023)
NDM Energy Ltd (web site) Tel : 0333 014 7770 Haughmond View, Sitka Drive Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6LG	After the building (above section) was completed, NDM were commissioned to install solar panels. This was very efficiently done and once the 12 east-facing panels were installed, with the appropriate inverter and battery, there is now a massive reduction of what power drawn from the national grid. Surplus energy from the panels charges the battery and any extra is sent back into the grid, to give a credit. The electricy account was also switched from EON to Octopus, as the latter gives a higher return value on power which is sent back. Definitely a win-win situation.
Mark Challiner PhD RHAD, Shropshire Earwax Removal (email and web site) Tel : 07411 223357 Hearing Aid Audiologist	As GPs no longer provide this service (!) I was compelled to ask Mark to treat a persistent earwax problem. He responded promptly and provided a first class service at a modest cost, completely removing the stubborn wax and allowing me to regain normal hearing. Very highly recommended. Mark will attend you at home, or you can visit his clinic.
Bill Saunders, Domestic Electrician (email and web site) Tel : 07871 926 721 City & Guilds qualified, ELECSA Registered	Bill did a thorough and very professional job in January 2017, installing a proper armoured power supply to my new shed, fitting a flourescent light and electrical sockets. I recommend him for any similar work you may need around the house, garage or garden. He also installed a proper power point in the hallway, October 2019. Thoroughly recommended!
SHOTS DIY SOS - Kenneth Tinsley. 01952 404805 / 07944 109250. Email shots321@gmail.com	Kenny did an ace job on a bathroom in late 2017, removing damaged and tired parts and repairing, re-tiling and redecorating, even refitting the bath, sink and toilet for me. Since then he's done more work, notably in September 2019, making a superb job of redecorating the hallway and landing. Since then he's done dozens of jobs - definitely recommended! Kenny is a highly competent handyman and can do just about anything you need doing - give him a try - we are sure you won't be disappointed.
R S Salop Ltd, Unit 7, Hortonwood 33, Telford TF1 7YT. 01952 405846 / 07825 869614	The entire set of gutters, soffits and weatherboards were replaced with uPVC units and this company did a thorough, professional job at a competitive price.
"Ginger Plumber and Heating" Keith Bown, 17 Ercall View, Overdale, Telford TF3 5AP 0781 363 4089 or 0800 335 7057. Website or email. Boiler Installation / Service / Plumbing	From the moment Keith walked in it was clear that a craftsman was at work, who knew exactly what he was about and who was completely capable of replacing the ancient Baxi with a new combi boiler, under the 2010 £400 scrappage scheme. Keith and his assistant worked hard to fit the new boiler and coped fluently with some unforeseen problems. In April 2011 Keith stripped and refitted the bathroom, removing the bath, sink and toilet as well as the wall tiles. Keith made a superb job of re-equipping with a walk-in shower, running off the new boiler he had fitted the previous year, and new sink, taps and toilet. Here is a real expert at work! In April 2012 Keith came back again, extending the heating system to fit a radiator in the conservatory, making as always a superb job of work and again coping with some unforeseen problems. Keith came yet again in early 2016 and replaced the downstairs toilet cistern and washbasin, again doing a superb job. I've lost the details of Jo, lady tiler he recommended, but she also did an excellent job and completely re-tiled the room. In 2017 having bought an apartment in Telford and a house in Leicester, I have had no hesitation in engaging Keith to refit the former's bathroom and install a modern condensing boiler in the latter. Keith also removed the old gas hob at home and installed a new one. Since then Keith has done many jobs here and it's a pleasure to recommend him. He is thoroughly recommended to anyone considering similar work.
Oswestry Windows and Doors www.owdgroup.com / sales@owdgroup.com 0161 680 998	This company did a first class job in removing the 16-year old polycarbonate roof from the conservatory and replacing it with a proper thickly insulated hard roof, complete with opening skylight and ceiling lights. The sales and consultation process was painless and informative and once on site the team worked diligently to complete the job, ensuring that any unavoidable disruption was kept to a minimum. They are thoroughly recommended. Their electrical colleagues CNE (01691 437 720 / 07754 562 720, www.chrisnorriselectrical.co.uk / info@chrisnorriselectrical.co.uk) completed the electrical installation and added some extra requested features.
Aquasoft Systems Ltd www.aquasoftsystems.co.uk / enquiries@aquasoftsystems.co.uk, 01952 228 844 / 07514 069 332)	It is extremely hard water here in Telford but after Aquasoft installed a TwinTec water softener machine under the sink, the difference in water quality was immediate and quite astonishing. It's no longer necessary to buy bottled water as the tap water is pleasant to drink without any additional filtering, and the dishwasher no longer needs rinse aid or salt added. Furthermore, no limescale cleaning products are necessary and the domestic water produces a fine lather and generally feels completely different to how it was before. If you too suffer from hard water woes, you won't believe the difference a proper water softener machine will make to your property's water supply.

On no account engage the solicitors or lawyers called Janet Middleton or James Middleton of Donnington, Telford for any legal issue. Whilst acting for the buyer of my property, these people showed themselves to be the biggest bunch of plonkers I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. Their appalling inefficiency, dithering and lack of communication caused the sale to drag on for almost six months. Had I not given them 'an offer they couldn't refuse' I am quite certain that the sale would have been lost. My own solicitors and the agents for the property were equally scathing of them. A 7-letter word beginning with 'w' comes to mind, to describe them.

So I heartily recommend that you do not touch this legal firm even with a barge pole. Not even a very, very, very long one.

Do any of the National Westminster Bank staff who volunteered to help handle the deluge of paperwork associated with the launch of Access Cards in late 1972 remember Mariner House, Pepys Street, London EC3?