It saddens me to report the death of a long standing friend and contributor to this most sage society. If you’ve been following this site since the dawn of time, you will likely recognise the name Keith S****. Or to give him his fuller title: Keith S**** Honorary Technical Adviser. It was for reasons of state secrecy, he said, that he didn’t want his name published – but I think I can reveal now that his name was Keith Salad and he lived in Rochdale.
Keith spent a long career with the GPO, later sourcing trees from around the northern hemisphere for use as telegraph poles. There wasn’t the tiniest mote of pole‑worthy tree lore- nor so much as a whisper about telegraph poles – for which he wasn’t already the key‑holder. Keith got in touch in our early days and his knowledge was such that I felt a little like someone in the presence of telegraph pole greatness.
Keith understood entirely that our society, whilst outwardly quietly serious, had more than an element of tongue-in-cheek about it. He was long retired and told me that he had one big quest left and that was to find a telegraph pole butt with his initials etched in from “back in the day”.
Keith was known for his charity work, also as a woodcarver and as a writer of poetry. It is our great honour and somehow fitting that his poem “God’s Poor Orphans” were the very last words in our book “Telegraph Pole Appreciation for Beginners”
If you follow this <link> it will take you to a search on our site with all references to Keith S**** H.T.A.T.P.A.S. Where you may also see a picture of a much younger Keith inspecting poles. R.I.P. Keith
