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!847- Cochrane was amazed to receive a letter from Lord Aukland, First Lord of the Admiralty. Cochrane at the age of seventy two was made Commander-in Chief for the North American and West Indian Station. It seems that Cochrane was very pleased indeed. There was no war going on in that part of the world, so it was unlikely that Cochrane  was going to lead any boarding parties on cutting out ventures.
  However Cochrane had not been idle during his enforced years ashore. Thomas had struck up a friendship with Marc Isambard Brunel. Brunel had come up with some very plausible plans to build steam tugs that could be used to tow warships. Cochrane had always claimed that steam driven war ships would and should be developed, if Britain wished to keep control of the seas. Predictably the Admiralty poured scorn on the idea, but again Cochrane saw steam development making sailing ships redundant. Cochrane also produced a compressed air device that made a tunnel under the Thames at Blackwall viable. Cochrane also worked with Brunel to produce a steam engine that would drive propellers on a ship.
   Cochrane however, being obsessed with inventions, poured much of his own money into the schemes, often to the detriment of his wife and family, his wife reportedly said in a letter to Cochrane,
" I hate the inventive faculty", it seems that he did not spend much time at home.

 I expect to have a further meeting with the manager of the North Euston hotel before October. We will be discussing seating plans, menu, and some presentations we propose to make to the hotel
 The museum,market,and shopping malls are open, but when we visited the lifeboat station, they had not then re-opened to the public, I have since heard that they may well have done so now, but will check. Bus services seem to be running as normal as are tram car services. I will be checking this nearer the reunion date.
    The hotel issues us with a simple "do and don't" list at check in, it is mostly common sense about practising hand washing and using the provided sanitising gels etc. The manager did mention several times that the hotel is spot checked on an ad hoc basis, to ensure regulations are being adhered to. On our stay we did adhere to all the rules, and found nothing inconvenient.

I have recently been without communications, some fools in a stolen car wiped out a major junction box. Everything now reinstalled.
Please note that my phone number is 01132 555562. It was misprinted in Flat Top, and people keep shouting at me !!   Stay Safe but lets start living a little bit, but safely.

AS WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID "THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END, BUT IT IS SURELY THE END OF THE BEGINNING"  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

 After a short delay to sound out some opinions, it has been decided to hold an abbreviated/reunion/do/at the North Euston Hotel, 19th/20th/21 October.
I have had two discussions with the hotel management,and the dates were their recommendation. The hotel in ordinary circumstances, would be booked out.The Blackpool Illuminations normally commence at this time, and as the tram rides through the displays start and finish close to the hotel, families have traditionally booked in for an overnight stay for children's treats.
Blackpool has extended the illuminations period this year,until after New Year and the hotel has agreed to reserve us 20 rooms, in anticipation of a lower demand on these nights.
 The hotel has been surveyed for suitability to safely open, by the environmental agency, but with a limit of no more than 30 persons as a party booking. The rooms are all booked in my name, and the hotel will monitor for me numbers of members wishing to join us.
The postponed reunion details have been kept on the hotel's books. The costs of the event has remained unchanged for us.Deposits lodged are on record, and of course remain valid for this event.
Our private gala dinner room is available for us on Tuesday evening, silver service, cooked to order, fully served at table by covid aware staff. Breakfasts are similarly served completely by hotel staff who do maintain social distancing regulations. All rooms have been sanitised prior to your arrival. The rooms will not be entered during our stay by staff, UNLESS you have a problem. The main difference is that you will need to make up your own bed for the three nights. However should you require assistance, requiring staff intrusion, you will have to vacate your room for three hours !! that means sitting in the lounge, with free news paper, and a coffee whilst your room is sanitised by a trained cleaning squad. Any requests for tea/coffee/ milk refills will be supplied foc to you, in a goody box which is handed to you on request by reception staff.

Cochran's time in Brazil, grew increasingly complicated.The Brazilians were fighting for independence from Portugal. However, as independence became a reality, it seems that fresh problems constantly arose among the administrations that took over government. Cochran's effortless control of the eastern seaboard of South America,with ,in effect only one major ship consolidated Brazilian independence. By mid June 1824, Cochrane was complaining that prize money and crews wages were not being paid as promised, and a major insurrection had broken out in
 Pernambuco,and Cochrane was asked to take overall control to sort the matter out. The Emperor himself offered Cochrane huge sums of money and full wages for the crews. Cochrane arrived on the scene of the battles, in mid August,he used his crews to establish some control, but it seems he simple got tired of the politics of the are He had moved his admirals flag into a small ship
 Piranga, and saying that he was returning to Rio,in fact set sail for England. He later said that he always intended to return to Brazil, (the Piranga was the property of the Brazilian government),
but he arrived in Spithead two weeks later, advising people he had left the employment of Brazil.
When he anchored at Spithead, he was not sure whether his status as First Admiral of Brazil would be recognised,he had been away six years, but his cannon salute was answered, although technically he was still officially an "out-law".

Cochrane in South America. Supreme Admiral of the Fleet
 Cochrane rounded Cape Horn and he landed at the port of Valparaiso to a huge welcome on the 28th of November 1818. A grand ball had been laid on for the now Admiral Cochrane, and the main leaders of the republican uprising were presented to him. The enormous task that he had set himself, (to drive the Spanish out of the Pacific) soon became obvious.The Spanish had fourteen first class frigates and numerous smaller craft.However, starting with a two frigates and a few guns boats he set about the task. He cut out and captured the Flag ship of the Spanish fleet, and after a couple of set backs, he got into his stride, and drove Spain out of Chile. Cochrane made a few mistakes, but given a free hand, and the opportunity to earn a great deal of money from prizes,he proved that many of the ideas he had wanted to implement into the Royal Navy were valid and effective. Experienced naval officers, and men on the lower decks proved happy to serve under his command,when  the men who won the money and the victories, got a share of the spoils and the due recognition. Cochrane was ready to return to England following the liberation of Chile, however he was asked to form and train navies for the emerging republics of Brazil, Peru,and eventually, Greece Cochrane's ability as a seaman, together with his flair for seeing and exploiting opportunities to act where others did not, produced many victories for him. But as in his life in the Royal Navy, he inevitably crossed swords with the Establishments, and it often cost him vast amounts of money and lost him friends. It seems that nothing at sea, and very little on a fighting ship caused Cochrane any real problems. Politics and Politicians were the stumbling blocks in his life.