Diary Saturday 10th September 2016

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Probably my most active day since arriving in Preston. I got to meet the Lord Mayor, explore the history of the railway station, and pretend to be Isambard Kingdom Brunel in a very interactive fun event . It was all part of the city’s annual Heritage Open Days Weekend where many public buildings offer guided tours that include access to areas not usually open to the public. Of 24 events taking place across the city I was able to take in four. Many overlap in timed tours so it is impossible to get to everything. I’ll review each tour / event I attended separately. I’ll do a few more on Sunday though I have other scheduled activities too. Though I have taken lots of photos with my little pocket camera this was my first outing with my big digital SLR since arriving in the new city. I also found time to post a postcard to one of our members in the USA, check out a very nice café, serving an unusual but delicious Thai-Coconut flavoured soup, and I job hunted as well. My four tour events in order were; 1/. Preston Town Hall, including a meeting with the Lord Mayor. 2/. Preston Masonic Hall 3/. Preston Railway Station, including a very surreal re-enactment of an event that nearly happened 4/. An exploration of the board rooms above a pub that used to be a bank. I’ll cover the bank/pub tour here. The Wetherspoons owned Twelve Tellers pub is named after the city’s huge Preston Saving’s Bank which traded from 1907. The bank promised to have at least 12 tellers serving to reduce queues at any given time. There was no organized tour here and some staff were confused when people like me turned up clutching flyers and asking to see rooms even some bar staff won’t have explored yet. A manageress kindly showed me the stairs to the two boardrooms, lined with art, and portraits of the bank’s leading dignitaries, as well as great wood panelling, real fire places and chandeliers. One plaque declared proudly that a staggering 40,508 accounts were opened at the bank on one day, the 20th November 1912. I could just imagine a queue of such numbers turning up at my local high street branch now. Back to the flat then to write this lot up for your delight and delectation. Arthur Chappell