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 spamming I don't accept email traffic from email addresses ending in .eu or .io unless the mail contains the word zooble in the body or subject line, or unless the sender is on my whitelist.

The following telephone numbers are scam fake calls so don't fall for their tricks:-

SCAMAZON numbers : 03067741191 : 01722320583 : 07712140386 : 02992267664 : 08107330848 : 01788310341 : 03332029470 : 02033764258

BEWARE a scam email supposedly from Virgin Media saying that your account has been migrated. Don't respond or click any of the links.

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

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.	Many of my various writings, including my novel, are available for free download
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 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
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 what life might have been like in the Death Star Canteen and is one of the funniest things I've seen, as is 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.

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. Definitely recommended!
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. 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.

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?