I HAVE been asked a few times this week about the Shackleton expedition to the Antarctic, as I understand the BBC have been doing something about this on TV, and showing some pictures from slides brought back, with what is claimed to be the only pictures there are.

Ian, my younger son, remembers a lecture given by a gent, by the name of Green, who was cook on the Endeavour during this expedition, and who had been able to bring back about 150 three-inch glass slides which had been preserved in the ice before he brought the best away.

It is thought that the lecture by Mr Green, who used an ancient and huge, 'magic lantern' was either at New Earswick Camera Club, or Malton Camera Club, of which we were members. However, I have a distinct memory of another visit by him to Malton, where he gave a show to the Malton Wheelers Cycling Club held in the Co-op Rooms in Castlegate. Whether this was pre- or post-war I can't remember.

The question on Ian's mind is, are the pictures used by the BBC which they claim to be the only ones in existence the ones brought back by Mr Green, or is there another source of slides somewhere waiting to be seen.

I wonder if any old members of either of the clubs mentioned can come up with any information, or even anyone with just some knowledge of the shows, or who might have some more details. We'd love to know in the event further pictures can be seen of those historic endeavours.

And whilst on the subject of expeditions to the poles, when I was a lad at school, there was an explorer living up Welham Road, Norton, who I think was called Commander Adams and who was pointed out to me one day as he walked homewards. I remember the incident well enough, but am not sure about who exactly he was now, and what he had done. Can anyone put me wise please?

- During the summer we paid a visit to Ravenscar, by car of course, but it wasn't so long ago that I used to ride there on the bike along the old railway line which runs along the cliff tops, from Burniston, through Ravenscar. The most wonderful ride there ever was, cycling on the edge of the sea for miles. The 'village' is what remains of an attempt, years ago, to make it into a smart resort but in the end came to naught.

Searching for some information on the origins of Ravenscar, without success, I read in an 1890 reference book mention of the village of Thorpe, being of course, Fylingthorpe, which is on a hill overlooking the "German Ocean". Somewhere along the line this had been changed to North Sea, and although I thought this may have been as a result of the First World War, I note that in my 1903 Pear's Encyclopaedia it is referred to as the North Sea, or German Ocean. The cafe at Ravenscar sells postcards and one most interesting one shows the railway station in 1907, with the hotel and shop looking just as they are today, a porter, with his baton or tally which would be part of the signalling procedure on this single line, and passengers, with luggage, waiting for the train which is just steaming in. The engine looks like a tank engine, but I can't make out its number and I wonder if the enthusiasts will already have done so. A tidy station platform, with flower troughs and everything spic and span, a pictorial image of the days when there was always time and the rush to be there faster than the next man hadn't yet started. Worth a trip out there, even if just to purchase a copy of the sepia postcard.

- Lots of grumbles about slippery roads. Well, that's to be expected in frosty weather, and whilst the staff of the gritters work wonders, they just can't be everywhere all at once. Bear in mind people must use extreme care, instead of placing the blame on someone else. Years ago we didn't have fleets of gritter wagons standing by, and took the responsibility for using roads upon our own shoulders.

Whilst on the subject of roads, I see that the DETR say that 50pc of 'accidental' deaths amongst children are now caused by cars - a shocking statistic.

- I keep coming across notes I've made when I've spotted something interesting. The one in front of me now tells me that the village of Ryton was once called 'Listerpike', that there was a church there, and that the font went to Hutton-le-Hole Church. As well as this a further couple of lines tell me that Annie Rivis of Westow operated a carrier service on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and when her horse dropped dead in Malton, she made this her opportunity to pack the job in.

- Discussion amongst friends. "My uncle is 91. He's just stopped riding his bike! The quick reply was, "What's up, has 'e'ad a puncture?" From Dalesman, Aug, 1997.

Updated: 12:33 Thursday, January 24, 2002