On a Lonely Beach A Tradesman's Tale Unfolds

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Roger and his dear old friend John Walls talk about their lives and growing up in the boomer generation.
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#friendship #reminiscing #nostalgia
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[@stevoc4023]

Brilliant. You don't know how many people struggling with mental health that chat might have helped. Thanks lads.

[@ImTMPZv]

As a man just shy of 30, no father figure around, nor uncles. This was a lovely little listen, plenty of wisdom indeed. I run a small bespoke carpentry and joinery business, relate to a hell of alot of the discussion. Ive never worked so many hours.

[@malcomthewasp]

Lovely…. Just great stories 👍

[@angelaneale312]

Loved this. Real people talking about real life and real work, is so much more interesting than some celebrity being interviewed about their latest project. Props to his son for valuing his Dad like that too. Nice one Mr Bisby.

[@colinmiles1052]

Priceless, heartwarming, call it what you like, real "old" blokes talking straight as it is and was. Thanks for the video. Think I'll watch it again and recommend to my three sons they do the same!

[@johnwalls7434]

Thank you for your comment Colin that’s really good to hear. Just looking at this for the first time myself, that piece of paper I’m holding is just an old receipt which Roger used for a light test- it is not a few notes, there was absolutely no preparation for this!! It was the first and only time Roger had come to visit us down on the coast, just the 2nd time we had met since 1983! Enjoy your 3 sons! John.

[@anthonyknight5465]

What a lovely video. That's the sort of conversation anyone could stumble into at any time if we asked a bit more, listened more, and of course, weren't on our phones in every idle moment!

[@BertoniBertone]

A world that I fear was wiped out after the late 90s. I came from that time and place… and it will never return. Sadly. Thank you for a heart warming waltz down memory Lane 👍

[@peterbeattie6099]

Thanks, I'm getting towards the end of my career and really enjoyed watching you two swapping stories.. Know your worth, struggled with that all my working life.. Same phone number for the last 30 years and only ever had work recommendations so guess I have been doing sorting right,,, If I see a youngster starting out always try and encourage them to stick at it.. Enjoyed my working life so far and want to keep on going...

[@alansteele3757]

What a heartwarming story & John was an open book. Thank yous for for being so open & honest. 👍

[@Thebfgman]

Beautiful chat guys, always learning lots here, and thanks for your honesty…

[@troyboy4345]

A poignant sketch of old plumbers, next to water, horizon in the background .... stories forever, nice one lads !

[@DavidWilliams-uw4xf]

Two brilliant guys I can totally relate to keep on coming! ( The Country needs people like you two!)

[@spankysmp]

That was wonderful and so heartwarming. I can identify with your meeting. Late 50s here and a month or so ago..(maybe longer!) I had a rather brief meet up with an old pal from primary school. I hadn't seen him for 47 years. He's living on the south coast now so I will make sure I visit him next year.

[@johnwalls7434]

Thanks for your comment, isn’t amazing when you meet up after so long how you feel so comfortable? It’s as though we make certain connections through life and they are somehow imprinted and instantly re-activated.

[@Pistol_Knight]

Very nice chat, I'm 62 and have had much the same 'turning my hand to anything that pays', jack of all trades master of none as they used to say, but I have earnt a living working for myself for 37yrs

[@carlzandbergs221]

The full saying goes, “JACK OF ALL TRADES IS A MASTER OF NONE, BUT OFTENTIMES BETTER THAN A MASTER OF ONE. 👍

[@george-1961]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to you guys. So happy to hear your friend survived to heart attacks. I lost my brother in 2001 aged 39 due to thrombosis of the main artery. 2 weeks kept ringing GP he didn’t feel well. Was driving home from work and crashed in Finsbury Park due to the heart attack and died on way to hospital. Simple blood thinner is all that was needed 😢

[@456Brian]

hi I lost my brother at 32 with hart attacks. he was at work one day and never came home

[@george-1961]

@@456Brian Sorry to hear that. Much too young 😔

[@blick63able]

Brilliant

[@johnwalls7434]

Thank you George for your comment. I’m very sorry to hear about your brother, so young and really quite recent for you. As I said to Roger, I know just how fortunate I’ve been. I wish you well and hope that time will help you come to terms with such a sad loss, best wishes John.

[@johnwalls7434]

@@456Brian Hi Brian, I’m very sorry to hear of your loss, so very young. Sadly we seem to be hearing more and more of young people suddenly dying with heart problems. Although the powers that be don’t seem to want to face up to the phenomenon it seems real enough to me. Best wishes Brian, John.

[@davidwalls4599]

Wonderful, really enjoyed listening and so pleased that you both got the chance to share and record those experiences with each other. You have both encouraged and inspired me to see my own projects to a finish, planning from the joist height to that final grout line 👍

[@Melvis0]

Some of the best videos on.this channel are the yarns.

[@scottyelder8351]

This is absolutely brilliant ! I could listen to these fine gentlemen talk all day long . God blesss them . 💫✝️✨

[@martinlouden9005]

A very touching video Rog. I must admit that the title almost put me off watching it, but I'm really glad I did!

[@SkillBuilder]

Thanks Martin. I didn't want to oversell it. We can change the title if you have a better one

[@williamford8094]

some of the storys you hear are fantastic , great to hear them

[@fenixfp40]

Lovely to hear and see Roger. Thanks for sharing this. Cheers mate. Xx

[@eddiereed5025]

Brilliant only word to describe this.

[@stephendavies6949]

Thanks for sharing. Please pass on my gratitude to your friend John.

[@gingerelvis]

Lovely bloke with some great tales to tell. Nice to see two old boys catching up. in my early 30s and currently self employed with the odd time of disillusion there's a lot to relate to and a good reminder that life always has a way of working out if you're open to what presents it's self.

[@scotty6648]

Just great, real life story. Loved it.😊

[@andrewhills6535]

I can relate , self employed in S Wales The whole spectrum of building , 59 years old and it’s how you survive 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙋🏼‍♂️

[@alaneverett2531]

What a lovely bloke all the best

[@jamesmay6895]

Lovely video, heartwarming stuff on a cold November evening. Many thanks 🙏

[@bodinski100]

Fantastic respect to you for letting this fella leave his legacy on't internet for ever. ...holds ya attention, commands respect naturally......that advice about thinking about your last tile going into place as you are sorting your floor joists or substrates...is priceless....measure well on the skeleton so the fnished body is an adonis....

[@SkillBuilder]

Well said

[@richardmarsden8003]

This is exactly how I feel Roger this is a brilliant video 💜

[@dolphine675]

Thanks for this , commendations to you both for great articulation , language has changed quite a bit in our lifetime ..

[@SkillBuilder]

you are so right. John and I were both products of a secondary modern education but, compared to now, there is a difference.

[@petearnold8020]

what a super video. lovely to see you both sat by the sea talking about the old days. magical!!!

[@asif530]

Absolutely enjoyed every moment of this chat.

[@JCOmeAlp]

What a lovely man, open, honest and hard working. If at first you dont succeed .... to me he reflects the core values of what puts the Great in Britain - ordinary men and women like John. May the youngsters look to him for inspiration on how to be in the game and succeed at being a thoroughly successfull human being.

[@skiathosmobi]

Hi Roger, what a wonderful video, life experience. Your mate is Bob on,,great, honest and open, thankyou 👍👍

[@johndevlin980]

Loved that guys 😄👍

[@murdmacmac2233]

Fantastic to old friends getting back together , Thoroughly enjoyed that 👏👏👏

[@SkillBuilder]

Thanks 👍

[@nickhickson8738]

Lovely, just lovely chat and chaps.

[@delwalker6336]

Nice to see you getting back with an old mate, good luck to you both

[@stevenwatson3963]

Fantastic informative chat Guy's.Cheers Roger and John.

[@dab6151]

Great !! we all need someone to talk to

[@RR-mt2wp]

Fantastic.

[@kennethbarr6842]

Fantastic Content ROGER

[@madgebishop5409]

what a lovely video, thanks guys!

[@SkillBuilder]

Thank you too!

[@justin-tyme]

That was very insightful and honest.

[@davidleighton7557]

This is on the beach at East Preston in West Sussex. Lovely spot.

[@rogerspencer2292]

This may seem like a featureless location but as one that used to manage that beach (coastal defence) I can recognise all the bits that make it East Preston. Lovely spot and great to hear the trade tales. Clues - the boat, the timber groynes (my bread & butter!), the strange shingle banks at low water (textbooks say they should be the other way round ie 180° from the norm), the windfarm (Rampion) and the vegetation in the shingle - all combine to make it a unique spot (end of Sea Lane).

[@chasm3607]

What a great video, thank you for sharing.

[@SkillBuilder]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dantheman1337]

Great story

[@TOPtee34]

No graft , just sat and chat , lovely , wish you both well👍👍

[@johnwalls7434]

That’s very much appreciated thank you, John.

[@Me-zo8yc]

Enjoyed this. Good Sunday night vid.

[@julianhawker7672]

Nice story. I sometimes bump into a bloke who was apprentice the same year as me, there's only 3 of us left on the tools 40+ yrs later, out of the 22 strong class of that year. I think I once owned the boat behind your shot! Its a Arran 16 and the story went it was the only red one ever built ( for the owner of the boat building company that made them) I last knew of it in south wales 15+ yrs ago, then name "louisa"

[@Maggie-g8o]

Loved this! x Thanks guys x

[@davidpickard9393]

Mr Petru did my bypass in 2002 at Brompton. I am still here so a good job

[@johnwalls7434]

Hello David, just before my time there. I’m pleased to hear you’ve done well after the bypass. I hope your memories of The Brompton and “the team” are as positive as mine. It was for me a truly fantastic experience of a superb hospital. It had an ethos which was demonstrated in all areas of that hospital. From the highest level right through to the porters, catering team, car park staff, just everyone on that site had the patient’s wellbeing at heart. Good luck David and thank you for your comment, John.

[@Sapphire-the-Cat]

Roger reminds me so much of my dad!

[@SkillBuilder]

He had a bike so he got about a bit.

[@Sapphire-the-Cat]

graduated from riding on John's shoulders to something speedier! @@SkillBuilder

[@martyn2141]

Nice video.Well done.

[@SkillBuilder]

Thank you very much! It is a bit different to our usual output

[@Anannoyingmouse]

Interesting chat...Thanks.

[@willthecat3861]

Great video! I really liked it. Best regards.

[@attlee1945]

Brilliant chat- lovely to see you guys back together chewing the fat. And I can assure you Bangkok Hospitals are as good as the NHS, if not better.

[@cybetica]

Just wonderful!

[@EddieEggman]

These must be the good old days that my Grandad talks about!

[@wokelefty]

I could have listened to hrs of this. Best part of my job is when a customer of a similar age to you guys or older, offers up a story with a cuppa.

[@femiwilliams7906]

Loved this.

[@markwebster243]

Fantastic conversation,maybe some customers might see this and realise how hard being self employed can get even when we turn up smiling and chirpy.I was very glad that the gentleman called out Rodger about doing a bit of painting because later on we decorators have to fix up that job if it’s not done properly,maybe in those days it was to earn coin but you have to look at some of the utter crap that so called plasterers,joiners and every other trade leave where customers rely on them to be honest yet we get shafted and let’s not talk about site agents.

[@johnwalls7434]

Hi Mark, thank you for your comment, how right you are about keeping cheerful with your customers whatever is happening behind the scenes. I’d just like to emphasise that taking on a painting job would inevitably be due to a plumbing customer asking “could you do this for me?” I’ll always remember when working for David, we had to get a gas pipe moved across the industrial unit. The guy arrived and I asked his name, it was Peter Painter, yes you’ve guessed it, he was Peter Painter the Plumber!! Cheers John.

[@markwebster243]

Cheers John👍🏻

[@maddmanxx8042]

Cheers Lads 👍

[@lazylad8544]

Absolutely brilliant two old geezers (hope you dont mind me calling you that😉) chewing the fat and reliving life experience and adventures. That's what it's all about.

[@johnwalls7434]

Hi Lazylad, don’t mind that one bit! Thanks for your very kind comment.

[@thegrandmuftiofwakanda]

What a backdrop...and a friendly dog came along.

[@ffs5532]

Tell you what mate...you are one talented human being...

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Great video. Can’t beat a good old catch up chewing the fat. 🙌🏻

[@jackrussell9811]

two normal blokes chatting ,more of this stuff roger proper interesting ,sort of stuff happened in pubs before they got closed

[@danielconlon2388]

Two gentlemen shooting the breeze and laying it out there. You had to do what had to do and no apology needed. It put food on the table and beer in a glass. Fair play at least he didn't lay over and give up. Would like to see you two meet up for another discussion reminds me of when you had Rob clevet on for a few builders discussions around issues. Im lucky my father and father in law are both hands on men. I like to believe that I am too.

[@johnwalls7434]

Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say so, it means a lot, John

[@GrumpyGarry121]

Brilliant vid roger. Bet he had some tails to tell about you off camera 😁

[@nickmail7604]

Nice.

[@jdjones4825]

9:40 12:08 a genuine issue

[@FrederickBowdler]

Yes self employed can be very stressful.😮😊

[@justmeEnglandUK]

He hit the nail on the head years ago the thickness of the grout lines didn't matter now with a change of attitude it's become the most important thing in some customers life . If your customer even hints of this leave them to it . Walk away it takes years of experience to have a good customer radar to spot the grout line criticising customers

[@paul756uk2]

Was it Hall & Co John meant? Their head office happened to be in Redhill. My wife worked for them for 20 years before they were taken over by build center. They were good employers. Always treated their staff well.

[@SkillBuilder]

I think I would have known your wife. CI Bournes was next door to Hall and Co. UBM bought them out and then I think it became Surrey Value Timber Merchants

[@paul756uk2]

@@SkillBuilder sorry Roger, I didn't mention that she worked at the Portsmouth branch! Listening to this she said the head office was in Redhill.

[@davidcole5803]

I agree with John Walls, doing a job to the finished look is dangerous, and depending on the type of customer can be used to reduced the finally agreed price. Leave the finish work to someone else and sleep at night.

[@DiscoveringSpain]

Found myself nodding all the way through, not from boredom 😂 from agreement, only difference I was still smashing holes in concrete with a pick & shovel at the age of 54 🥴

[@garrydiggins3181]

That looks like Rustington East Preston seafront in West Sussex where I live

[@johnwalls7434]

Yes Garry, well spotted! John.

[@GrooveTasticThang]

I was thinking the same- The Bluebird Cafe bacon sandwich won’t help the heart condition!!

[@mambastu]

Recognised the windmills on the horizon !

[@garrydiggins3181]

@@mambastu i recognise some of the stones 😂 🤣🤣

[@mambastu]

@@garrydiggins3181 Recognised the view of the windmills having seen them from Worthing but didn't recognise the boat 😋

[@Clayshots12]

Redhill/Reigate boys like myself, what school?

[@SkillBuilder]

Albury Manor

[@johnwalls7434]

Albury Manor infants and primary for me, then Horley secondary. Roger & I go back to infants, 65 years difficult to take in, John.

[@Clayshots12]

bit older than you, Woodhatch boy@@johnwalls7434

[@Clayshots12]

Woodhatch boy myself, and a bit older than yourselves@@SkillBuilder

[@johnwalls7434]

@@Clayshots12 hi clayshots, if you are a bit older than me (70). and from Woodhatch I wonder if you ever new a guy called Ken Lacey? No doubt you remember The Angel? What an absolute travesty that it is now flats. Pubs like that should be listed and protected!!

[@Pixelkill3R]

Orkney Longliner 👌

[@christastic100]

Maybe rather than another practical guidance books you two should write a book about your life experiences. I think many people have interesting experiences and stories in construction industry. I definitely would love to write it down. Maybe one day

[@SkillBuilder]

As it says on the thumbnail 'Everyone Has A Story' the trouble is these days that a lot of people don't read so writing stories down is more of a cathartic exercise than anything else.

[@johnf3326]

Up here we have the 4 Yorkshiremen. ".... and tell that to the young folk of today! They'd never believe ya!"

[@swabs7004]

Rogers turned into Michael Parkinson 😂. John seems like a top fella. I hope that his MH struggles are behind him

[@SkillBuilder]

swabs Hopefully I haven't turned into Michael Parkinson on account of him being dead.

[@peterthebricky]

I remember Newsons or nuisances as my old man used to call them we had one at Sunbury , re the dodgy people if I get asked cash or card I remember the old staff discount scheme

[@DrRogB]

My father was a self employed builder and decorator. He also lost the house in the same depression in very similar mathematics. He died in 03 from a heart attack. Its a hard life being self employed. I have done much better in engineering.

[@DrRogB]

He died at work too, working on his own. Very sad indeed.

[@johnwalls7434]

Thank you for your comment DrRogB, as I said to Roger, I’m very aware of how fortunate I’ve been to survive two cardiac events. We just don’t know how long we will be here, I’m pleased to hear you got into something that has been good for you, all the best John.

[@soylentgreen326]

Money at the end of the week, 😂 Roger’s wallet 🎉

[@martingill6996]

👍🏼Wow you’ve hit so many nails on the head, pardon the pun, I know we all make our beds but it’s always amazes me the perception of some that being self employed is an easier life, not so, it’s been a mental struggle for me for years but I seem to be set to stay in it😵‍💫

[@davidgooch976]

Great, better than Mortimer and Whitehouse.

[@kennethbarr6842]

Me from A Plumber and a Heating Engineer Dom And Comm Two Making Homes Energy LOW Carbon At No Zero Cost?

[@kennethbarr6842]

THE FINNISH IS THE BEST PART OFF A PROJECT AS EVERY PROJEC IS BESPOCK? ONE ON ONE , Famiso ,EVERY PROJECT IS JUST WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND Add Value TWO EVERY POJECT?

[@cypeman8037]

On a Lonely Beach, Two Old Codgers Talk About Life, hospital appointments, medication, the government and the cost of living payments they’re expecting this month. 😂

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

You dont have to be an old codger to do that

[@cypeman8037]

I know, I hear the cliches and analogies all day long at work of life in the good old days before central heating, inside toilets when tuberculosis and smallpox was rife, I miss those fabulous times.

[@SkillBuilder]

cypeman I am still working and paying National Insurance and loads of tax. I have lots to moan about

[@cypeman8037]

​​@@SkillBuilderI don't recall saying anything about your working or tax status. And I can assure you the moaning occurs whether you're working, retired, unemployed or paying tax or not.

[@SkillBuilder]

@@cypeman8037 Sorry mate, when you said 'Cost of living payments' I thought you were suggesting that we are on benefits or a burden on the state.

[@ownyourworld]

Our country is dead

[@LupusMechanicus]

Now that's a story mate, innit.