Main Magazine, North Centre Bastion, Dover UK (2)

John Latter, on April 18, 2007, said:

An image of John Latter (aka Jorolat, aka ME!) taken inside the Main Magazine atop the North Centre Bastion 'island' on April 18th, 2007.

I wish I could have smiled but all that was going through my mind was: "I bet the bloody self-timer doesn't work!"

Anyway, a smile wouldn't have made much difference - I doubt whether even plastic surgery would help! :)

(This is the first image I've uploaded from "Expedition 2" to the NCB)

John Latter, on April 19, 2007, said:

Image taken on April 18th, 2007.

rosina lamberti, on April 20, 2007, said:

Think your other photo is cuter :):):)

John Latter, on April 20, 2007, said:

rosina lamberti said:

"Think your other photo is cuter :):):)"

I really did laugh out loud when I read that, Rosina!

I have to agree with you, but on the other hand, I don't think much of the other pics anyway.

Maybe because I remember what I used to get up to... :)

rosina lamberti, on April 20, 2007, said:

what about now your chasing ghosts :)

John Latter, on April 20, 2007, said:

Everybody needs a hobby! :)

John Latter, on April 21, 2007, said:

Oh, I promised Bob Goodall of Dover I would say "Head-torch courtesy of Bob Goodall". There - that's done!

Also, Bob's not on the internet so I can say what I like about him. F'instance, Bob currently has a Jorolat Rating (see below) of "Pretty Good Guy" and if he stops greeting me with "Hello, ya old git!", then I'll upgrade it to "Really Good Guy". Pigs will probably fly first.. :)

The name Jorolat is made up from:

JOhn RObert LATter

Have you ever considered that Jorolat Ratings might be important in the Afterlife? No? Well, why take the risk? Start being nice to me now, not later.. :)

John Latter, on April 21, 2007, said:

Standard Info:

See the Satellite view of the North Center Bastion annotated with tunnel system locations, surface features, drawbridges, etc.

The North Center Bastion is only part of Dover's extensive Napoleonic defenses - click on Western Heights and then check the tag list for all the locations covered (eg Drop Redoubt, Grand Shaft, North Entrance - more will be added as time goes on).

Also see St Martin's Battery

Axel Hölzinger, on May 8, 2007, said:

I have to say that you are one of the most interesting and entertaining personalities at panoramio. I like your informative descriptions of your pictures and your sense of humour in your writing style. No kidding! Keep on posting. Cheers Axel

John Latter, on May 8, 2007, said:

Thank you very much indeed, Axho :)

rosina lamberti, on May 8, 2007, said:

Everybody needs a hobby! :)

How are u, John new pics are interesting :)

John Latter, on May 8, 2007, said:

rosina lamberti said:

How are u, John new pics are interesting :)

I'm fine thank you, Rosina. How are things in (deletes "the Colonies") Australia? :)

rosina lamberti, on May 8, 2007, said:

alls well in the colonies weather getting colder new settlements on the rise must remember to bake bread :)

John Latter, on May 9, 2007, said:

rosina lamberti said:

...must remember to bake bread :)

Ahh, the Good Old Days - when a woman knew her place..

('ducks')

Only joking - honest! :)

rosina lamberti, on May 12, 2007, said:

here come my convict ghost friends to play with your hobby :):)

John Latter, on May 12, 2007, said:

Be nice, Rosina.. :)

John Latter, on May 29, 2007, said:

My 'historical' (or hysterical) photos currently include:

Queen Street (aged about 2)

Belgrave School (aged about 6)

St Mary's School (aged 11)

Dover Grammar School for Boys (aged 12 or 13)

Other photos appear under the "John Latter" tag.

© Annick Restle, on November 13, 2007, said:

Don't let me cry... !

John Latter, on November 14, 2007, said:

Annick Restle said:

Don't let me cry... !

You should be safe enough, Annick - just don't look too closely at any photos of me! :)

marrycurry, on November 15, 2007, said:

?Where do you want to go ?

John Latter, on November 15, 2007, said:

marrycurry said:

?Where do you want to go ?

Hi Mary,

I'm afraid I don't understand your question - could you explain what you mean, please?

John :)

John Latter, on November 21, 2007, said:

More historical (or hysterical) photos of myself taken between the ages of 16 and 19 (ie 1967 - 1970) while I was an "Apprentice Tradesman" at the Royal Corps of Signals Army Apprentices College in Harrogate, Yorkshire, training to be a 'Radio-Relay Technician':

1) 67C Recruit Squadron Group Photo

2) 67C Recruit Squadron Close-Up

3) Senior Term 1970 Group Photo

4) Senior Term 1970 Close-Up

Daniel Mitin, on November 22, 2007, said:

Hmm, so you used the self timer instead of a buddy. Is it ever scary going in places like that alone? The ghosts that I encounter aren't scary most of the time, they are just jerks.

Daniel Mitin, on November 22, 2007, said:

This was taken 5 days before Boris Yeltsin died, and I remember because I was in San Francisco, CA at the time. Thanks for the memories.

John Latter, on November 23, 2007, said:

Daniel Mitin said:

Hmm, so you used the self timer instead of a buddy. Is it ever scary going in places like that alone? The ghosts that I encounter aren't scary most of the time, they are just jerks.

I was first taken to the North Centre Bastion when I was about three and began unsupervised exploration with my friends from the age of about six onwards. Consequently, I am very familiar with the layout.

Having said that, it is a very dangerous environment mainly because it is deceptively so. The stretch of tunnel where the first 'ghost photo' was taken, for example, consists of a repetitive series of arches separated by about 15 feet of tunnel.

Familiarity can breed contempt, as they say, and a chap I once met called Stan Newman (who would be about 90 now if he were still alive) told me he had broken his leg by falling into a drawbridge counterweight hole in the one stretch of tunnel that is different than all the rest.

This is the drawbridge where it happened (looking back up the tunnel to where the ghost photo was taken) - you have to bear in mind that these tunnels are usually pitch-black and it's easy to miss things unless your torch beam is pointing in the right direction. It must have been a compound fracture because Stan had a very bad limp for the rest of his life.

It's a question of being intensely aware and receptive to everything that's happening, or could happen, in your immediate surroundings and nowhere else. Taking your eye off of the ball for just a moment can make things very tricky indeed:

Just prior to taking the second ghost photo (also see the animated gif) I had looked up and thought, "Right, I'll take a photo of that embrasure on the right-hand side when I get to it!" whereupon I immediately slipped on a short flight of what had once been perfectly servicable steps.

My left arm banged against the wall in an attempt to keep my balance which caused my torch, in a not unreasonable manner considering the circumstances, to say "Hey, I'm not putting up with this kind of treatment!" and launch itself into space.

On hitting the ground the torch disassembled itself into its component pieces and if I hadn't been wearing the otherwise useless head-torch I would probably still be there now (only joking, you can see the approximate run of the tunnels in this satellite view).

As well as degrees, there are different types of fear. To take this photo of a hole above a tunnel created by the sidewall giving way I first had to position myself as if I was sitting on top of a playground slide and gripping the sides tightly in order to stop myself falling. Then, to actually take the shot, I had to let go of the sides, quickly raise both hands into the air, and press the shutter release before gravity took too great a hold. It wasn't the distance I was going to slip that was the problem, it was the small sharp pieces of flint and chalk sticking out of the collapsed earth that I knew were going to rip into my back that caused a 'slight hesitation'..

Basically, however, two hours in the North Center Bastion gives more head-to-toe excitement and exhilaration than a year spent playing video games, disco dancing, or a lifetime watching soaps. Fear just goes with the territory :)

After I published the ghost photos on the Internet, a paranormal group wanted to come to Dover and stay overnight. Half of them found then found better things to do once they saw photos of the approaches to the tunnel systems and the other half have not yet decided on a date (they live some distance away, apparently). It will be very interesting should their trip ever get off of the ground!

andydover, on June 23, said:

Hi John, So pleased to find this page purely by chance - I googled myself. It was nice to learn that you still remember the Saturday mornings we spent on the Shepperton and Hampton curtesy of my (step)father. Unfortunately he was killed in an accident on another train ferry, the Anderida, in 1974.

John Latter, on June 23, said:

andydover, said:

Hi John, So pleased to find this page purely by chance - I googled myself. It was nice to learn that you still remember the Saturday mornings we spent on the Shepperton and Hampton curtesy of my (step)father. Unfortunately he was killed in an accident on another train ferry, the Anderida, in 1974.

I must admit that 'andydover' threw me a bit, John, but yes, I certainly do remember those Saturday mornings - along with visiting your home (105 Folkestone Road?) where you had quite an amazing model train layout in the loft (unless, of course, memory's playing me tricks!).

Sorry to hear about the tragic accident involving your father.

John

[The original page/photo andydover is referring to is 67C Recruit Squadron, Army Apprentices College, Harrogate (2)]