I was saddened to hear of the passing of Rick Buckler, the superb drummer with The Jam. My all-time favourite band, they were such a part of my childhood and adolescence, it’s hard to process one of their members dying so young, or so it seems.
19th February 2025.
Following yesterday’s issues with the boiler, my health and my lack of time at the workbench, today has been a little more like it.
I’m pleased to say that my blood test earlier this morning passed by without a hitch, the results coming back negative. This means that whatever is causing issues with my foot and lower leg, it’s not a feared blood clot so that certainly put my mind at rest. The new tablets have yet to take effect, so all being well the reaction that I think might have been caused by the earlier medication, may well start to settle down. Fingers crossed, eh?
The news about the boiler was not so great. It took the engineer only a few minutes to decide that the leak was caused but a pretty warn-out machine and that the only course of action was a complete replacement. A two week wait and a substantial bill was the upshot of that decision, which as you can imagine was not that pleasing to hear. In the meantime, we are nursing our boiler through its last few days of life, a bucket unceremoniously placed beneath its rotting carcass to catch those unwanted drips. I just hope it lasts two weeks!
In other news, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Rick Buckler, the superb drummer with The Jam. My all-time favourite band, they were such a part of my childhood and adolescence, it’s hard to process one of their members dying so young, or so it seems. I can still remember being made aware of their music during the late Seventies, and how I would listen to them every chance I could. I even remember where I was and how I felt that day in 1982 when we were told they planned to split up, news that broke many a young man’s heart.
Such was (and still is) my love of the band, I was gifted a large box set of all of the recordings when I left the Land Registry to begin my work editing Military In Scale in 1997 and though I no longer have a CD player, that set remains one of my most prized possessions. More than that though, Rick was the reason I wanted to play drums. His cool, passion and skill captured my imagination like nothing else. The amount of time I must have air-drummed to songs by The Jam, long before I ever started to actually play! Great drummer, great man and integral part of one of the greatest bands ever to come out of the UK.
RIP Rick – gone but never forgotten.
And finally! I’ll discuss this in more detail tomorrow, but at last I have a completed Anson. I’ve not had chance to photograph it yet, so a teaser will have to do, but I have to say that I pleased with the finished model. It was certainly a project that tested me at times and though I wasn’t sure about that rather plain colour scheme, now that it’s sat on my desk it does look very smart. I will of course reveal more of the finished model tomorrow.
So that’s it for today. Sorry it’s a short one but my focus has been on the model, hence this being written at 9.45pm, rather than teatime as usual. Normal service will I hope, resume in the morning.
There has been no music today as I couldn’t really face it after hearing about Rick Buckler. There will be plenty tomorrow, all of which will I am sure, come for one band in particular…
Have a lovely rest of your day and I will see you tomorrow.
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: WHY HAVE I NEVER BUILT A LIGHTNING?
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A TRIP TO BRISTOL…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A RELAXING DAY…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: HOW MANY MORE KITS DO I HAVE, HALF STARTED?!
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: 2025 ALL WRAPPED UP!
Wow! I built a dozen back around 1980. Entered them as a collection at the IPMS USA Nationals. Didn’t win…
Yes, stop procrastinating……build a Lightning🤣
Who knows, you might even consider publishing another bookazine on building the BAC Lightning as well?
I am glad that the man was talked down. It’s definitely hard to see without knowing the outcome, until later.…
sadly(?), I’ve at least 15 models at various stages of completion. 2 I started back in the 80s, iirc I…
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
Great news to hear both your health report and the Anson update but there is nothing worse than being surrounded by drips!😂
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bad news about the boiler but great news about your health. Us older blokes need to look after ourselves.
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The Jam, yeah good band. Sad for their loss. I remember when Joe Strummer died, I was crushed. The Clash made such a huge impression on me as a young man living in a small city in the state of Oregon.
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Sad news… A good piano piece to play at this time is ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ by Rick Wakeman Very uplifting item.
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Hi Spencer I saw the loss of Rick reported yesterday. Its a huge loss & he was part of one of the greatest bands ever. The Jam also heavily influenced those of us living in the Colonies. I totally understand your feeling of loss.
On the positive real glad your health is ok sounds better than your boiler and the likely substantial hit on your pocket to get it finished. Thanks for the updates each and everyone always resonate with me and they are therefore very enjoyable.
Cheers Sean from New Zealand
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Hi Spencer
good news about your health. That at least gives you less to worry about. Mind, wait till you find a small bucket under your chair by your desk. You’ll suddenly realise that you and that old boiler in the loft have something in common. Just kidding eh…..Yes anyway, indeed sad news about Rick. Here’s to the music and the talented people that give us great enjoyment.
You have again done a grand job on another masterpiece, the Anson, looks really good just looking at the close up.
Stay well Spencer.
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Town Called Malice was one of my go-to songs as I was suiting up to go out on my bike. A fantastic band.
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