Stratford upon avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace. See also image below		In Henley Street
Looking along Henley Street		Birthplace Visitors Centre
Birthplace of the founder of Harvard University, hence the US flag!		Along the River Avon
River Avon		Canal Boats on the River Avon
Canal Signpost		Swans and Geese by the Hundreds feed along the River Avon
Lock Gate		River Avon view
River Avon view	Heading back out on the A3400 we arrived at the village of Wootton Wawen	where I took these following images of the oldest Saxon Church in the County
Denotes the history of the site from Benedictine Priory onwards		Grave of one Francis Smith
Rafters		Doorway
Ancient books denoting a service for the King		Illuminated Address
Part of the Church		Memorial Window
Stained Glass Window		Doorway
Font		Chest dates from about 1322
Grave of John Harewell		Crusader "graffiti"
Crusader "graffiti"		External doorway
External View of Church		View from rear of Graveyard
Another View from Graveyard		Final View from near entrance

	September 4th 2003	Another Visit
	I stood outside listening to a guide explaining to some Americans that this was "almost certainly" the house	the Shakespeare was born in. The house WAS his but they cannot prove he was born there.
	This is deceptively small on the outside but when you go in, and upstairs it opens up into a very large multi roomed building full of	antiques including this 1972 D Sqn 1 RTR mug. I was in the Sqn at the time of its issue. Only about 100 or so were ever made made.
	The first one man tank - a suit of armour for sale in the antiques shop - slightly rusted too!	A beautiful model of the Sovereign of the Seas in the shop for £1995!!
	A 1944 Russian Maxim Gun in the Military Antique Section of the same shop serial 876. See below also.	The Royal Shakespeare Theatre rear view from Trinity Church direction.
	A beautiful afternoon on the banks of the River Avon. Here is a view from the bridge near town centre	Here we have a small people ferry that hand cranks its way back and forth across the river.....
	from the towpath on the one side to by Trinity Church on the other. This and the next	image are looking both up and down the river from the ferry as we crossed heading for Trinity Church
	The passengers relax whilst the ferry man turns the crank winding us across the river	Looking towards the bridge across to the town centre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the left bank
	Trinity Church from across the River Avon	And from another aspect
	Close up of the Tower and Spire - Trinity Church	The main entrance to the Church. Holy Trinity Church William Shakespeare was both baptised and buried in Holy Trinity Church and his wife, Ann Hathaway and daughter are buried alongside him.Tel: 01789 266316
	The Tower. Personally, I think the spire spoils the effect of antiquity.	And from further back. Note name of Church (Trinity) and the perfectly white dove on the edge of the roof.
	A tiny stained glass window which is situated within the entrance	A very gnarled tree lies to the rear of the church
	The driveway leading from the church gate to the entrance, somewhere down there, daughter Lorna!	and, looking back, towards the church entrance
	Houses behind Shakespeare's house	Victorian Graffiti, names dates etc. Graffiti is not something new!
	And now, a visit to the Butterfly Farm on the banks of the River Avon. See below for information.



	One of the best Butterfly collections I have been lucky enough to see. Iguanas, birds and spiders live there too as well as other items.	Canal boat on the River Avon.

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm Swan's Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon
Whatever the weather stroll through the wonderful world of an exotic rainforest: a lush landscape of tropical blossom surrounding splashing waterfalls and fish-filled pools. Enjoy the unique pleasure of watching hundreds of the world's most spectacular and colourful butterflies flying all around. You can see them feeding and flying in a wonderful tropical environment. See their amazing lifecycles in the Caterpillar Room. Observe the fascinating and strange in Insect City, where Stick Insects, Beetles, Leaf-cutting ants and many more remarkable creatures are to be found. For the bolder, get close to the deadly and dangerous in perfect safety in Arachnoland; home of the worlds largest spider, a scorpion colony and other spinners of webs and dealers of death. Open: Daily 10am-6pm. Winter 10am-Dusk. Tel: 01789 299288 http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/

Stratford-upon-Avon Tourist Information Centre
Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6GW. Tel: 01789 293127

The Maxim Machine Gun pictured above in the Antique Shop is here depicted in use on the Russian Front.

Original Russian-made M1910 Maxim Machine Guns in 7.62 mm x 54 calibre. These weapons were discovered in Finland where they had been stored in military arsenals since they were captured by the Finns, who were allied with the Nazis in WW2. On sale in USA gun stores advertisement.

Here is the gun in Henley Street Stratford almost certainly used by the Chinese or North Korean Forces.

"Goodbye to All That"
Roy Briggs on 01789 262906

Sokolov Pulemyot Maxima
*Operation*	Automatic only, recoil operated, water-cooled
*Caliber*	7.62mm
*Ammunition*	Heavy Ball M1930; 185 gr bullet, 50 gr charge
*Muzzle velocity*	2830 fps
*Capacity*	250-round fabric belt
*Weight*	52.8 lbs, unloaded
*Weight*	99.71 lbs, approx, with shield and water
*Overall length*	43.6 in
*Barrel length*	28.4 in, 4 grooves, right hand twist
*Rate of fire*	520-580 rpm
*Effective range*	1000m (1100 yds)

The above weapon, the last version of the PM 1910, was produced in vast numbers and was widely used by the North Koreans and the CCF in the Korean War. Still in use in the 70's, it is probably the longest-lived of the Maxim variants.
Like most Soviet Maxims, the above model has the "Sokolov" mounting, a pair of wheels supporting a large turntable to allow traversing, and a U-shaped trail. The CCF and North Koreans frequently were fitted with a steel shield. (See Photo). It added greatly to the weight, but did give some protection against the ferocious counter-fire of UN forces, and also increased the weapon's already considerable stability. This was the best gun the CCF had in during the 1st year of the Korean War. For winter warfare there was a sled fitting, and all models could be fitted with drag ropes, and anti freeze in the jacket helped give this heavy machine gun great all-weather reliability. I have since seen an image of Zhukov crouched behind this weapon WITH shield in place on the road to Berlin.

Sokolov Pulemyot Maxima