Tag: johnnyjones.co.uk

Historical, RAF, Scotland, Wartime Memories12 Comments

I was there!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Wartime Memories 2 History records that, for a period of eight months, from September 7th 1940 until May 11th 1941, Nazi Germany subjected Great Britain to a campaign of, intense bombing: Blitzkrieg. During which time the Luftwaffe carried out continuous air raids on London and other strategic targets across the length and breadth of the U.K. What is not so well known though is that almost 11 months before that, on 16th October 1939, the first air raid on the U.K. had already taken place and that it had happened in Scotland. * 1.1 THE INCIDENT I came into this … Continue reading I was there!

General, Historical, Old Edinburgh, RAF, Scotland, Wartime Memories, World War11 Comments

Guns Galore!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Wartime Memories No.1 Not long after the end of the Second World War, under the starlit sky of an early autumn morning, a chuffing, puffing old railway engine, enveloped in a cloud of steam, shunted a clanking train of open topped freight wagons into the railway siding just to the North of Bonnington Toll in Edinburgh. With the wagon’s brakes secured, the engine steamed off to get on with its next task, leaving the sidings deserted, eerily silent and hidden from view behind the high random rubble stone wall that borders Newhaven Road. Later, with the sun creeping over the … Continue reading Guns Galore!

Historical, Old Edinburgh, Scotland, Stenlake Books, Uncategorized5 Comments

Old EDINBURGH views from above

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

THE BACKSTORY TO My book – Featured in the Edinburgh Life magazine September/October 2024 Old EDINBURGH: Views from above – Published in 2002 by Stenlake Publishing – http://www.stenlake.co.uk. – Whose editor said that, “Of all the books we have published this one is one of my favourites.” THE 1930 BLACK AND WHITE OBLIQUES In the late 1980’s a quantity of glass plate negatives were found in a Lothian Regional Council building that had formerly housed the offices of the City of Edinburgh Corporation. It was evident that they were fairly old. The images were clearly recognizable as being views of … Continue reading Old EDINBURGH views from above

General, Historical8 Comments

Photography rises to new heights!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The Edinburgh Life Magazine is currently publishing a series of  black and white Aerial Photographs taken in 1930  and comparing them to a series of my colour photos taken, from the same view point, in 1993 .With this in mind  I offer the following post as a snapshot introduction to the history of Aerial Photography. – Johnny Jones. MAN’S FIRST FLIGHT It was in October 1783 that human beings took the first manned flight. This was done in a tethered hot air balloon i.e. anchored to the ground by ropes. However it was not until, a month later, 21st November … Continue reading Photography rises to new heights!

General, Golf, Historical3 Comments

Dispatch Trophy 1890

Change Therapy

THE BIRTH OF ‘THE BRAIDS’ AND THE DISPATCH TROPHY **Johnny Jones discovers some photographic golfing treasures** A few years ago, while leafing through some old photograph albums piled up on a battered chair in an antique shop, three pages of sepia photographs, showing crowds of people watching golfers, caught the author’s eye. The photographs were all quarter-plate size and apart from the pencilled date of 1890 there were no other identifying marks. However, I did recognise the distinctive clubhouse at the Braid Hills Golf Course, Edinburgh, Scotland and given the number of spectators, it was obvious these photos had been … Continue reading Dispatch Trophy 1890

Historical, Scotland, Uncategorized15 Comments

The Bridge of Sighs – Edinburgh

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

[*Supporting information on my article EDINBURGH’S BRIDGE OF SIGHS in the November/December2022 edition of the Edinburgh Life magazine* by Johnny Jones/ Jack Jones/John A Jones] Hidden and Enigmatic Statue I was born in 1934 and as a child every time my family walked over the Dean Bridge, my father would lift me up to let me see ‘The Little Sailor Boy’. He would tell me that the statue had been put there in memory of a sailor who had committed suicide by jumping off the bridge and that it had been put there to act as a warning to others … Continue reading The Bridge of Sighs – Edinburgh

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy20 Comments

Is it finally time to relax?

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Well, it has been a long time in coming, but I have finally received copies of my final book in paperback, this week. A wee bit of panic when one box went missing from the delivery van, however it is all sorted out, but I could have done without the drama. A Storm On Any Course has finally arrived, and will be getting distributed shortly, as the date for publication is the 11th November 2021. I recently created an initiative to allow people to have their name printed in the book, in exchange for a donation to my chosen charity. … Continue reading Is it finally time to relax?

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy2 Comments

Background to the Sample story

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

I wanted to share some background to the sample story from my upcoming book, A Storm On Any Course. The main two components of this Sample story happened in other and quite different places. 1     The collapse of the motor bike line happened during a parade day in Rome. The riders, all policemen, had parked their bikes just as described and gone off to act as crowd marshals. I did not see what started it, however I did witness the spectacular and noisy domino effect of the bikes falling down! 2     The seagull was hit by a lone … Continue reading Background to the Sample story

More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Western Isles2 Comments

A Waterfall in Tobermory!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Excerpt taken from chapter 17, The Wee Wee Waterfall – Tobermory in the second book of the Zander Trilogy by Johnny Jones – More Ports More Storms. On sale now. Topographically, a significant part of Tobermory lies on the high ground above the harbour and it is there that the Western Isles Hotel occupies a prominent site. The hotel’s position allows its guests to enjoy magnificent panoramic views from Tobermory down the Sound of Mull.  Access to the hotel is via the Back Brae, a road that doubles back on itself up a steep hill.  To landward, the road cuts into … Continue reading A Waterfall in Tobermory!

General, More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles4 Comments

Fast Lady

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Zander and his crew could not believe their good fortune, to ‘manage’ the luxury 45 foot yacht the ‘Fast Lady’. It had everything they were not used to having aboard a boat! Zander was amazed to find digital controls in the bridge, including a GPS! Everything was in pristeen condition, not like what he and his crew were used to in previous yachting adventures. Their job was to take business associates of the yachts owner, on scenic trips around the Western Isles of Scotland and to ensure they were all well fed and hydrated, with the finest foods and whiskies. … Continue reading Fast Lady

A Storm in Any Port, More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Western Isles, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

High Jinks on the High Seas!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Now some of you must be wondering what is fact and what is fiction from reading the stories about Zander and his crew, throughout my first two books in the Zander Trilogy. I can tell you that the following ‘trick’ is based on fact, however the names of those responsible will never be revealed! In my second book More Ports More Storms, the crew decide to have some ‘fun’ with a rival skipper of another nearby yacht, as part of an on-going fued with Zander. After enticing the rival and his crew ashore to have a peace-making drink in Tobermory, … Continue reading High Jinks on the High Seas!

More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy10 Comments

Iona Abbey and Beyond

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

From the second book of the Zander Trilogy, More Ports More Storms, chapter 12, Zander and his crew’s itinery was set to take in a number of beautiful places on the West coast of Scotland, aboard their ‘borrowed’ 45 foot luxury yacht, the Fast Lady. The following places were included in their planned trip: The Sound of Mull, Iona Abbey, Ganavan Bay near Oban and Loch Buie Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in … Continue reading Iona Abbey and Beyond