Photo archive

I'm trying to put together an online archive of old photos of Plymouth, many rare and unseen. By putting them on Flickr, they will be easily viewable to everyone. I've made a start at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/derektaitoldphotos and hopefully, over the next few months (or years), the archive will grow to contain many thousands of photos. I hope to include many views and events that haven't been seen before on the net and I hope they will be of great interest to many people.

Merry Christmas!

A merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog and buys my books (and to everyone else!).
It's been an interesting year; new book contracts, artists, chalk giants (oops) and newspaper columns. I've also been sent lots of interesting photos and stories for which I'm always very grateful.
There's lots in store next year with several books on the First World War and one all about the 1960s.
Thanks to everyone who has written to me over the year. Hope you continue to enjoy my books and blog and I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy 2014!

A Sunderland flying boat in Plymouth Sound

This latest rare photo features a Sunderland flying-boat touching down in Plymouth Sound. It comes from a scrapbook of cuttings which once belonged to the historian Marshall Ware which all seem to date from 1959 to 1960.
The accompanying text says:
'A Sunderland flying-boat touched down in Plymouth Sound today for the first time for over two years.
Belonging to the French Navy, the Sunderland brought two French officers paying an official Plymouth call after taking up NATO appointments last month. They were Capitaine de vaisseaux Kervella, Air Commander at Brest, and the chief of staff there, Capitaine de vaisseaux de Lachadenede.
First they called on the A.O.C. No.19 Group, Costal Command, R.A.F., Air Vice-Marshal G.I.L. Saye, at Mount Batten, and later on the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Command, Admiral Sir Richard Onslow, at Mount Wise.
The Sunderland's visit brought back nostalgic memories for officers at R.A.F. Mount Batten, who had served with these flying-boats during the war. France still uses the Sunderland for reconnaissance, although no flying-boats are at present in service by Britain.'