It is with some sadness that I write to report the passing of Martin Fouldick.
Martin (back row, 4th from left with arms outstretched) was a bit of a legend in PA circles and was revered by both bashers and Neds alike for the zeal and passion with which he pursued his hobby.
Rumour has it that he cleared every loco and multiple unit on the British Rail network by the age of 15 and he is the only known person to be loco hauled over every inch of track in the western region. Ever the outlaw, I doubt that this feat was attained legally. Indeed, Martin once related to me how he used to hide in the luggage rack of services terminating at Bristol TM in the hope that he would get shunted over a virgin stretch of track in St Philip's Marsh Junction.
One thing that I didn't know about Martin was that he was married to about the only known female gricer of our time. She was known among us as The Gravel Blower and I always assumed it was a crude reference to the way in which she administered her knickerbocker glories. Turns out, in fact, that she was given this moniker owing to her resemblance to one of these:
It's a funny old world. Anyway, I'm sure you'll all join me in expressing your condolences to Martin's friends and family.
Martin (back row, 4th from left with arms outstretched) was a bit of a legend in PA circles and was revered by both bashers and Neds alike for the zeal and passion with which he pursued his hobby.
Rumour has it that he cleared every loco and multiple unit on the British Rail network by the age of 15 and he is the only known person to be loco hauled over every inch of track in the western region. Ever the outlaw, I doubt that this feat was attained legally. Indeed, Martin once related to me how he used to hide in the luggage rack of services terminating at Bristol TM in the hope that he would get shunted over a virgin stretch of track in St Philip's Marsh Junction.
One thing that I didn't know about Martin was that he was married to about the only known female gricer of our time. She was known among us as The Gravel Blower and I always assumed it was a crude reference to the way in which she administered her knickerbocker glories. Turns out, in fact, that she was given this moniker owing to her resemblance to one of these:
It's a funny old world. Anyway, I'm sure you'll all join me in expressing your condolences to Martin's friends and family.
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