You might look at this pole and see just a run-of-the-mill 7 metre BT light Pole from 1988. Two dropwires, no crossarms, no insulators., but a placard declaring that it is pole #898. Oh and it’s in black and white. Well, this is a pole with a story. And I’ll relate it pretty much as it came to me.
Mark Scott is an author and researcher who was delving in to the family history and persecution of Charlie Warmington’s (see prev post) family at the hands of the Nazis and discovered that Charlie’s great aunt and uncles were, in fact, resistance fighters in Nazi occupied Vienna – for which they paid a heavy price. Anyway, Whilst Charlie and Mark were on a trip out to Vienna to discover more they found themselves, typically, in a pub at the end of the day.
“During one of these sessions I wanted to show Charlie a photograph of a boat, a dilapidated Dunkirk ‘Little Ship’ moored in bad shape, that I had discovered. I flicked through the photos on my phone with Charlie looking on and suddenly he shouted ‘Stop, stop!’. He stopped me at a photograph I had taken of Telegraph Pole 898 which lives not far from me.
Charlie asked could I send him the photo, which, incidentally was taken using a Leica iiic camera and Ilford FP4 film. I sent him the image then and there. Then he asked if he could forward it, ‘Of course’ I said. He told me he had a friend who would be delighted to see my photograph of Telegraph Pole 898 and he was very excited to know I had taken such an image.
I am very proud of the shot, for reasons I know not.”
I received several pole photos from Charlie – mostly around his home in Newtonabbey – but never this one until now, courtesy of Mark. I think we’re way past Pole of the Month for this one. It will henceforth, forever now be known as the Charlie Warmington Memorial Pole. And below is a mini-placard that I have just ordered and have every intention of attaching to said pole.
Meanwhile, Mark’s book is called “Transport Number 4” and will be available online immediately after the launch event.
