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ABOUT
THE OWNER.
Jim Halsall was born in Blackburn in 1937
and has had a life-long interest in tramcars. Having been brought
up in a house within a literal stone’s throw from the tram
depot at Intack. He was twelve when the last tramcar left the
streets of Blackburn and still has vivid memories of that occasion
and riding on them. He also remembers putting a penny on the line
like many others for the last tram to run over.
He left school at fifteen to become an apprentice
tool maker with British Northrop Loom Company in Blackburn, eventually
leaving there after 28 years’ service.
Jim married Marie in 1963 and they have three grown-up children
and five grand-children.
He joined British Aerospace at Samlesbury in 1979, and progressed
through various departments and sites. His last six years before
early retirement involved co-ordinating the training of apprentices
in the Tool room, a job which he found extremely rewarding.
At
sixty-two, ill health forced him into early retirement which has
given him (and his tramway) a new lease of life. Since 1998 Jim
has had three local history books published. One entitled ‘Blackburn
in Times Gone By’ , the second ‘Blackburn Tram Rides’,
and the third being titled 'Blackburn in Focus'
He continues to research the history of Blackburn trams at his
local reference library and also his own family history which
he can currently trace back to 1765. (Just a bit before the introduction
of horse trams into Blackburn!).
Jim is the Chairman (2006) of the Tramway
and Light Railway Society, (North Lancashire Branch), and
would encourage anyone with tramway interests to join, as much
advice on modelling techniques can be gleaned as well as interesting
talks and chats on tramway themes.
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