oh no don’t paint it -it’s perfect!

Thank you Rosemary. I don’t think I will make the pages of ‘Railway Modeller’ but I had fun. It should be painted, but I like it just as it is.

Thanks Rita. It is great to have the extra information. And also the excellent random fact at the end!

Good morning John. The story of the identity of Tom Pearce and his fellow men seems to be hotly debated, in fact the history of the whole song is fascinating and I did spend time exploring it. After some thought I decided there wasn’t space to explore it fully here. But perhaps I should have made a brief mention – so thanks for taking the time to comment.

The verses appear to be from “The Worth of Hours” by Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton, (1809-1885). He was a member of The Apostles Club, a friend of Tennyson and a cousin of Harriet Martineau. Very much a liberal, he was a supporter of women’s rights, an abolitionist, a social reformer and all-round good egg. Though happily married he also collected a very large library of masochistic erotica, which he left to the BM. (Thanks Gemini AI and Wikipedia 🙂 )

Hello Nic. I lack the model railway, but the little model looks just as good perched on a corner of my desk. I’m ridiculously proud that I made it myself!

Well, I’d rather have one in a larger scale, but it’s a start!