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Originally Posted by TSR2  Its the festival of Loikatung here in Chiang Mai, its like bloody bonfire night!!!! on steriods, reminds me of years ago a farmer in St Michaels wanted a duck pond, so my mate colin got an S,A,S pal to conjure up an explosion,
So we get several bags of Nitrates/Nitrites? plus some Jelly and placed them in the ground, fuse set, SAS man says walk away normally when you do this, OK then, then he suddenly legged it, so did we, The explosion was a Whoof rather than a Bang! A great cloud of black soil went airbourne, when it descended what we got was a hill not a pond,
Next time ask blaster Bates.
ps used to like B/Bates till I found out he was a special constable. even the regular coppers disliked them! |
You must be quite a character TSR2.
The idea of blowing a 'Duck Pond' is something else. I'd have hired a JCB from Anderton Kitchen or Harry Ruttle.
Explosive stuff though.
Blaster Bates, now he was something of a character, 'Shit Over Congleton' comes to mind.
I'll try and find a copy of that little episode on U Tube or somewhere and put it on here.
Cheers and thanks for the input.
Loikatung, isn't that when they float the little boats with candles and sparklers on down the River?
I have vague memories of such a festival, many years back in the depths of my mind.
Are you trying to make me feel old TSR2?
'Blaster Bates'
Derek 'Blaster' Bates The man who turned demolition into entertainment Derek 'Blaster' Bates, who has died aged 83, was a demolition expert, stunt rider and raconteur. At 6ft 4ins, he bore a striking resemblance to John Wayne, and lived his life as close to the screen adventures of the film star as he could.
Born in Cheshire, Bates served an apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce in Crewe. This was interrupted by the second world war, during which he joined the RAF, completing his training at Guinea Fowl school, in what was then Rhodesia. He saw active service flying Halifax bombers, and at the end of the war took an opportunity with the RAF to specialise in bomb disposal. This stimulated an interest in the use of explosives and demolition which led to a career spanning 40 years.
On leaving the RAF, Bates started his own demolition business in Cheshire, and soon became recognised as a leading exponent of high-stack chimney demolition. He changed the landscape of northern England by singlehandedly demolishing more than 500 chimney stacks, 54 in St Helens alone - and, in the process, earned the nickname by which he liked to be known.
His expertise became known worldwide. Among the projects he was involved with was the building of the M6 motorway, blasting through rock during the harsh winter of 1963, and work on the Oulton Park racing circuit. He called part of the track Knicker Brook after disturbing a semi-naked courting couple who fled one of his explosions.
Bates's experiences, combined with his vibrant personality, quick wit and engaging nature, led to his second career, as a raconteur. As his fame spread, he was invited on to television chat shows, was offered a record contract and did one-man shows across the UK. He produced eight records, winning a gold disc for Laughter With a Bang. He continued to talk to theatre audiences into his late 70s.
Riding his Norton motorcycle, Bates took part in scrambling and hill climb events, eventually becoming the star of a "wall of death" stunt team performing daredevil acts at fetes and carnivals. He played rugby union for Cheshire constabulary until he was 45, founded the Hydra and Full Bore Sporting Rifle Club and was its lifelong president, and won many trophies for his skill at clay pigeon shooting. He was well known for his charity work, predominantly with disabled children, and was proud to be a special constable in Cheshire from 1968 to 1980.
Bates's main interests were shooting and fishing, and he was at his happiest enjoying these pursuits in Scotland and Germany, with friends and family. In his 70s, he contracted diabetes; in the last three years his condition deteriorated, but he bore his disability with his usual sense of humour. He is survived by his wife Maud, whom he married in 1946, their son and three daughters.
· Derek McIntosh Bates, demolition expert, stunt man and raconteur, born February 5 1923; died September 1 2006