I'VE had a few cracking follow-ups this week, including a 60 year old confession from one of my old Pill gang.

But, for a change, I think we'll start by taking a peep into our ever popular TRM Trawler corner, this time sailing back to a century ago.

It's the Lord Leitrim M62, also named Tripp M62. A steel, coal burning drifter, built in 1910 in Selby. 74 tons; 80' length. Landed at Milford from July 1919 to Nov 1921 and from Jan 1922 to May 1928.

Local owners included William Edwin Luke, Hubberston; and William Henry East, Priory Rd, Milford.

Skippers named included…James Edwards; Charles Henry Jackson; George Ernest Sturley; William Charles Mayhew; John P James.

In December 1915, she was requisitioned as an anti-submarine net drifter, and in 1940, was again called up on similar duties.

Here's a news cutting from a H/west and Milford Haven Telegraph from September 1924.

"On Monday morning, the steam trawler Tripp, owned by the firm of W.E.East, towed into Fishguard harbour the vessel R Passmore, a ketch (wood) from Liverpool, after a thrilling experience in the severe gales which raged on Sunday last.

“It was night time, off the Smalls, when the fishing liner saw the ketch showing signs of distress, and the Skipper of the liner, J P James of Dewsland Street, lost no time in heading his vessel towards the disabled sailing craft.

“He found the men on board (four hands) at the point of exhaustion, having been in distress for something like 50 odd hours. By fine seamanship, the ketch was taken in tow, and brought into Fishguard harbour on Monday morning.

“The liner Tripp arrived in her home port of Milford the same night, and landed her voyage of fish yesterday morning.

“The ketch R Passmore was bound from Guernsey with a cargo of china clay."

In 1951, the Lord Leitrim/Tripp was broken up, and here's a snap of her.

Last week, we kicked off the Army Cadet Force memories of Doug Joyce, and included a snap of one the Milford ACF football teams.

I'm grateful to Roy Holman, who was able to recognise, and name, many in the photo, including…Walter Picton; ??? Rolls; Charlie Phillips; Arthur Nickerson; Derek Sanderson; John Winters; Reggie Kingston; Teddy Funge; Monty Howells; Gwyn John; and Wyndham Phillips.

A couple of weeks ago I included an email I'd received from the late Dave ‘Wiggy’ Wigham's daughter. Here's a follow-up from my old Crescent crony, John ‘Korky’ Morgan.

"Hi Jeff…just read TRM, and it brought back memories of our Gunkle days.

“I can remember Dave Wigham's wife and sister cooking a Chinese meal before they got married, and how we were hopeless at using chopsticks.

“We had many fires on the Gunkle, but one that sticks in my mind is when we set fire underneath the main gas pipe from a building at the top of the hill by the footpath. It got out of control, and we legged it.

“She should read your book 'Giggles on the Gunkle’.”

Cheers Korky…I'll pass on your messages to Melissa, and see if I can dig up a copy of my Giggles on the Gunkle in time for when she and her mum come over later this year.

In last week's column, Hoppy asked if anyone knew why the Fairy Fields were so called, and I received this response from George Springer.

"Hi Jeff…Just read this week's column, and I believe that the Fairy Fields were named after the Fairy Rings of dark grass, which appeared in some grassy areas and fields.

“I, and many others, used to go through the Fairy Fields to the railway track (trespassing, of course!) looking for slow-worms beneath the sheets of corrugated iron which dotted the area.

“I grew up in the 1960s/early 70s, in one of the houses in Priory Rd, which had gardens that backed onto the Meads tip, and most days, after school, went rummaging through the rubbish for useful items. Looking for pram wheels to make dandies (soapbox carts) was one of my favourite pastimes.

“We also collected lots of wood from the tip, and made some of the largest bonfires seen in the town on Bonfire Night.

“I was also a keen collector of scrap metal…copper, brass and lead…which was sold to Tucker Jones, who came round on his horse and cart. I remember that the name of the digger driver was Cecil Evans, who wore an ex-Army greatcoat and beret, and at times shared his cab with a seagull.

“My father told me that during World War 2, he had been a prisoner of war of the Japanese, and had been forced to work on the Burma Railway.

“He was a very slim man with a dark complexion, caused, I was told, by his ordeal as a POW."

Thank you George, great reply. I know this was way before your time, but I thought this snap would remind us of the days when horse and cart pedlars were a common sight.

Now teaser time, and the answer last week was…A Towel…correctly noted by Joyce Layton, Les Haines, Sheila Rimmer, Elinor Jones, Hoppy Atkinson, John Glover, Ken Davies, Patricia Richards, Roy Holman, Anne and Jets Llewellyn, Brian Phillips, Margaret Jones, and June Rees.

Thanks to all who got in touch. Here's this week's.

What is always coming, but never arrives?

Right, that's it for another TRM…have you noticed that mornings are at last starting to get brighter…I'd better start wearing my trousers earlier! See you.