now we all love our football and wigan athletic in particular and its no secret there are a few on here who are keen fishermen, but what other interests / hobbies do people have outside of football. i like wildlife and am a birdwatcher. ( no tit jokes please )
WW2 history, memorabilia, etc. Used to have a big collection…but marriage saw the end of that…. :(
Especially Airborne (Paratroopers). I have studied Easy Copmany, 506th PIR of the US 101st Airborne Division, and know a lot about them, their war experiences and what they did and where they were. I have met veterans and corresponded with them. (TV Series ‘BAND OF BROTHERS’ was about them and I was attached to an historical ‘living history’ group that was involved at extras in the filming) I have spoken to several leading actors from the series, as well.
I’m also interested in British WW2 Airborne (Arnhem) and also the German Fallschirmjager (Paras) who were also elite soldiers. (Each side had tremendous respect for each other as Airborne soldiers)
If I am interested in something, I like going seeing where it happened. I’ve been to Arnhem and hope to go to Normandy soon to see the battlegrounds. I’m also interested in Oskar Schindler and the Holocaust, and I’ve been to visit his factory in Krakow (which now houses a superb museum-really good) several times. I’ve visited Auschwitz-Birkenau 3 times as well. Very sobering.
I would also like to visit the battlegrounds of WW1, such as The Somme, and Ypres, etc.
I just find it interesting, and think we have a duty to remember.
I have met veterans and corresponded with them. (TV Series ‘BAND OF BROTHERS’ was about them and I was attached to an historical ‘living history’ group that was involved at extras in the filming) I have spoken to several leading actors from the series, as well.
Was that the inspiration for the Vat69 username David?
ABL…I visited Normandy this year,Pegasus bridge,beaches,cemeteries,museums oh and a few vineyards.Very humbling what these guys did should never be forgotten and schools should be taught this history and realise that we were great once.Visit when you can pal.
ABL…I visited Normandy this year,Pegasus bridge,beaches,cemeteries,museums oh and a few vineyards.Very humbling what these guys did should never be forgotten and schools should be taught this history and realise that we were great once.Visit when you can pal.
I would like to see Pegasus Bridge, definitely. Probably the first soldier to die on D Day died there, Lt Den Brotheridge. He was killed as he led his men from the Gliders, onto Pegasus Bridge. Hit in the throat, I think.
My problem with Normandy is that I would like to see ALL of it….and I believe it’s an area of around 50 miles. (think Wigan to Stoke)
My big interest being the U.S. Airborne, I would start my tour on the Cotentin Peninsula, around St Mere Eglise, through St Marie Du Mont and St Come Du Mont, down to Carentan. I DEFINITELY want to see Brecourt Manor, where Easy Co, led by Lt Richard Winters, took out the battery of guns on D Day morning. (Parts of the guns are still at Brecourt Manor)
I would like to follow the route of Easy Co and visit the places above, then Son and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Bastogne and Foy-Noville in Belgium, Haguenau in France, and on into Germany and Hitler’s Eagles Nest mountain top retreat in Bavaria, at Berchtesgaden. Then finish off in the very picturesque looking Zell Am See, in Austria. I’d find that very interesting….not sure the family would be as keen though! Lol.
Would love to see the majority of the Normandy battlegrounds, definitely. I also fancy sampling the local food and drink too.