orn in England in 1867, Theodore Pennell qualified as a doctor (MB, MRCS, LRCP) in 1890, completing his MD and FRCS in 1891. He offered his services to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1890. His father had died during his childhood, so he developed a very close relationship with his mother. When CMS sent Pennell to India, his mother decided to go too, and they both began learning Urdu. They reached Karachi in 1892 and went to Dera Ismail Khan, where Pennell began medical work. He often travelled round the villages, wearing Pathan dress and living with the people. He made his first visit to Tank in 1893 and established relationships with the Masud and Wazir tribes.

In October 1893 he moved to Bannu to present the gospel to travellers to and from Afghanistan. He was fluent in Urdu and Pushtu by then. He combined medical work with public preaching in Pushtu and selling Christian literature, in Bannu and the surrounding villages, accompanied by the first Christian in Bannu, Jahan Khan. The mullahs strongly opposed his work, warning people not to accept his medicine. The mullahs tried to drive people away by telling them that the medicines contained alcohol and pig’s blood, and would turn them forcibly into Christians. They also said that if the people were fated to die, then it would be better to die as believers.

Pennell built a small hospital at Bannu with his mother’s money. In 1895 he opened a mission boarding school. Several Muslim inquirers showed an interest in baptism, but faced great opposition from relatives and other Muslims. Among his converts were Tayib Khan and Sayyid Badshah. Sayyid Badshah was shot dead soon after making his profession of faith. In 1896, Pennell was invited to visit the bandit Chakki. Pennell shared the gospel with him to such an effect that soon afterwards Chakki left his banditry. He wrote to Pennell: “I constantly meditate on your words and I have given up killing and robbery.”

In 1897 Pennell bought a printing press from Lahore and began publishing a newspaper. There was fighting between the British and the Wazirs but Pennell refused to have an armed guard. “Our best defence is our loving relationship with the tribes,“ he said. “Rifles and other weapons cannot protect us.” In 1898 Pennell passed his Persian exams and began studying Arabic. He preached regularly in Bannu bazaar, despite opposition. Once an Afghan bit his finger, but in court Pennell pleaded for the Afghan’s release. Later three Afghans became Christians.

In 1901 Pennell began learning Punjabi. In 1903 his disciple, Jahan Khan, went as the first Afghan foreign missionary to the Gulf and East Africa (Mombasa). During 1904 Pennell travelled through the Punjab by bicycle, mixing with the local people, with one Afghan companion. He dressed as a sadhu, and was often penniless. He was amazed at the missionaries’ bungalows, more like forts than houses, separating them from the local people, where they sat waiting for inquirers to come to them rather than going out to sit with the people. He was disappointed at the low level of conduct of most Chuhra and Chamar (Untouchable) Christians who had been baptised without inadequate instruction.

“As I travelled, I sometimes rejoiced and sometimes was saddened. I rejoiced that in almost every village and bustee I would meet a Christian, and saddened that that so many of them did not smell like Christians. The missions have the custom of baptising Chuhras and Chamars, and changing their names without examining them, with the result that their misdoings are a blot on the Christian religion.”

Pennell was also afraid that concentrating on the Chuhras would deter high caste Hindus and Muslims from coming to Christ. He felt that pressure to produce results in terms of numbers of baptismal candidates was leading to superficial evangelism and slipshod practices, although he acknowledged that many of the Chuhra Christians were worthy spiritual leaders. He was afraid that many so-called Christian workers were ‘rice Christians’, working for the mission for money alone.

In 1908 Pennell became very ill and had to return to England, the first time in 16 years. While there, his mother died. On his return to India he got engaged and married to a Parsee lady doctor, Alice Sorabji.

In 1909 Pennell was again seriously ill in Bannu and on his recovery, he was showered with flowers and congratulations by the local people. On 15th March 1912, a very sick patient was admitted to Bannu hospital with a dangerous infectious illness. Pennell’s colleague Dr. William Hal Barnett operated on him, and fell sick himself. Pennell operated on Barnett and he too fell sick. Within a few days, Dr. Barnett died and two days later Pennell also died, conscious to the end and unafraid of death. He was only 45 years old. Throughout his service, he had been characterized by patience, humility, diligence and love for the local people.

Order and download Pennell’s book Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier here

Many websites around the world have reported incorrectly on this beast, including the infamous Top Gear program. All have reported that this is the only Ferrari motorcycle ever built. A small amount of research would have made it clear that is not true.

As it is the tribute Ferrari is just that, designed and built by David Kay Engineering. Kay previously worked for MV Agusta and was granted permission from Piero Ferrari to use the Ferrari badge on this motorcycle. It shows in that the bike looks as if it is really just a replica MV Agusta with a Ferrari tank transfer and some modified body work. Ferrari never laid a spanner on the bike, delectable as it is despite the badge engineering involved. Despite this the bike has sold for enormous amounts of money at auction.

To see a real Ferrari motorcycle go here

The slope of gravity hills is an optical illusion, although sites are often accompanied by claims that magnetic or even supernatural forces are at work.

The most important factor contributing to the illusion is a completely or mostly obstructed horizon; without a horizon, judging the slope of a surface is difficult as a reliable reference is missing.

One such magnetic hill can be seen at Peterborough in South Australia. The hill and it’s illusion is treated with some levity by the locals. The effect when visited is quite marked and best viewed from the supposed uphill position.

On 17 March, he reached Batchelor Airfield, from which he flew to Alice Springs, and then took the Ghan Railway to Adelaide. MacArthur and his family were exhausted by flying and MacArthur ordered a special train to take him South to Melbourne. Little did he know that the only railway was a slow narrow gauge one across the Australian outback. They travelled the 1,028 miles of narrow gauge track to Adelaide in South Australia, in a three car wooden train pulled by a steam locomotive. The journey took 70 hours.

The train arrived at Terowie Railway Station about 220 kms north of Adelaide at 2 pm on 20 March 1942. Much to MacArthur’s surprise his “secret” arrival in Terowie was not so secret. A huge cheer went up from the locals who had gathered when he left the train. General MacArthur responded by striding towards an opening between a line of railway carriages and saluted the people of Terowie on the other side of the carriages and some passengers on a nearby train.

MacArthur greeted at Terowie by Major Claude Rogers, C.O. Terowie Staging Camp

It was here that MacArthur made his first statement to the Australian Press. It was here that his most famous statement was made “I came out of Bataan and I shall return”.

He subsequently repeated the line “I shall return” in a number of other speeches, in a number of other places. The event is commemmorated by a plaque on the now disused railway platform.

Upon his arrival in Adelaide, MacArthur abbreviated this to the now-famous, “I came through and I shall return” that made headlines. Washington asked MacArthur to amend his promise to “We shall return”. He ignored the request.

One can well wonder what MacArthur made of Terowie, a lonely outpost in the Australian outback.

Bob the Railway Dog

Bob first experienced the railway life, when, as a young dog, he took a fancy to the workers building the railway near Strathalbyn and followed some of the navvies to the line. He was brought back to his owner, the publican of the Macclesfield Hotel, two or three times before finally disappearing; he was about 9 months old at the time.

His true railway career appears to commence not long after being consigned from Adelaide along with fifty other dogs to Quorn, to be used to exterminate rabbits near Carrieton. Bob was, it was believed, picked up as a stray in Adelaide. He was swapped (though it has been suggested he “broke pack”) for another dog, obtained as a stray from the Police in Port Augusta by William Seth Ferry, then working as a Special Guard at Petersburg as Peterborough was then known. Ferry “registered him right away” and is recorded as noting he acquired Bob on 24 September 1884.

Eventually William Ferry was promoted to Petersburg Assistant Station Master in February 1885, by which time Bob became accustomed to train travel.

He was known to venture to and from Petersburg often sitting in the front of the coal space in the locomotive tender, travelling many thousands of miles. According to the Petersburg Times ” His favourite place on a Yankee engine; the big whistle and belching smokestack seem(ed) to have an irresistible attraction for him….he lived on the fat of the land , and was not particular from whom he accepted his dinner”

He did not like suburban engines, because of their cramped cabs, but was known to clear out third class compartments for his sole use by “vigorously barking at all stations, usually succeeding in convincing intending passengers that the coach had been reserved of his special benefit”. “His bark was robust and often caused strangers to believe that he was being aggressive when he really intended to be friendly”. He had no master, but was befriended and enabled by the engineers (for whom he seemed to have a special affinity) and trainmen, and permitted to “ride for free, like a politician.”

Some sources suggest that Bob’s travels took him to all mainland states of Australia, being seen as far afield as Oodnadatta, Queensland, and even Western Australia (given there was no railway connection at the time, this is unlikely). However, he was noted as having “several river trips up the Murray and around the coast”. He was present at the opening of the railway between Petersburg and Broken Hill, as a “distinguished guest.

A memorial to Bob has been given pride of place in Petersborough South Australia.

Museum website

More Museum photos

List of motorcycles on display:

40CC Husqvana Auto Cycle 1952 Sweden
50CC Gitane Testi Corsifie’ 1973
50CC Guilietta 1965 Italy
50CC Flandria 1963 Belgium
50CC Cimatti 1971 + 1972 Italy
50CC Paloma 1969 France
50CC Rocvale 1972 Italy
50CC Gitane Testi 1972 France
50CC Benelli 1964 Italy
50CC Negrini 1968 Italy
50CC Malanca 1962 Italy
50CC Itom 1967 Italy
50CC Casal 1975 Portugal
50CC Hercules K50SE 1974 West Germany
50CC Malaguti 1972 Italy
50CC Garelli 1966 Italy
50CC Gloria Micromotor AMF Milano 1951 Italy
100CC James Cadet 1949 England
125CC Malanca 1980 Italy
125CC Puch 1967 Austria
125CC Motobecane 1977 France
125CC Villa 1987 Austria
125CC Bombardier 1971 Canada
125CC Casal 1975 Portugal
250CC Bultaco 1966 Spain
250CC Ossa Wildfire — Race Bike 1968 Spain
250CC Harley Davidson golf buggy
(Road registered as a utility) 1968 USA
250CC Yvels French racing bike. 1921 France
250CC Jawa 1949 czechoslovakia
250CC French racing bike. 1927 France
250CC Montessa Impala. 1981 Spain
350CC Jawa 1955 Czechoslovakia
350CC Aermacchi 1969 Italy
350CC Cossack 1972 Russia
500CC Laverda Monjuic 1979 Italy
750CC Honda Automatic 1977 Japan
750CC Moto Guzzi S3 1975 Italy
850CC Moto Guzzi MK1 Lemans 1976 Italy
1000CC Laverda Jota 1981 Italy

BMW K1200S