Today I cycled past Burns Closes bridge. The temporary pedestrian 
bridge parallel to Burns Closes bridge was being lifted out by a 
Mamoet crane http://www.mammoet.com/ . It was a very impressive bit of 
kit. I stopped on Burns Closes bridge to have a look. A chap of about 
30 stood next to me and we talked about. He said he had worked for 
Swan Hunter and he was mad about cranes. And he plainly was. I was 
interested as much in him as in the crane. We have all met men who are 
potty about steam locomotives, but cranes? Well he was potty about 
cranes. Well it's a rubbish skill now. How sad!

Michael Bell


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