The Suez Canal

[Who2]

Hopefully this could be interesting tonight on Ch4.
Mind you, celebrating the 6th of October must be like celebrating the great exodus of Afghanistan.
I believe it's called a Pyrrhic victory ?.....

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme ... ode=n9d49y

Ps: I also believe Pyrrhic is a posh word for b*llsh*t! but don't quote me...

[John Landon]

My mate Brian Parker, God rest his soul, was sent out to deal with the Suez crisis, as he was conscripted to do national service back then.

I asked him if he ever visited the pyramids while he was there.

He said "no", "we just flew over them, so all I saw was 3 big squares in the sand".


I guess it worked out well for Egypt, I believe the income the suez canal generates one 3rd of its total income.

[newcastle]

Funnily enough I’m just rewatching Series II of The Crown the first episode of which features the 1956 Suez debacle. A resounding success for Nasser.

The Egyptian-Israeli conflict of 1967 was a different matter altogether and how the Egyptians still celebrate October 6th as a great victory must rank as one of the greatest acts of self-delusion in recorded history!

[Who2]

I was interested because I met an ex bank robber visiting Egypt.
His parents worked for BP and lived in Hurgharda before any hotels or tourists.
He said, just before they were evacuated the ship he was due to evacuate on was blown up.

They were then incarcerated until repatreated.
I visited Suez twice whilst buying my Wrangler Jeep from there....

[Who2]

Funny place Suez, full of young people with money and very 'flash cars.
The streets full of outdoor excellent fish restaurants heaving with people and very cheap.

To get a drink we went to the only hotel reputed to sell alcohol, but were refused them saying it was Ramadan.
Finally found an empty holiday Butlins' type place set on a huge bay on the canal where our thirsts
where finally quenched.

Our taxi driver took us to see the French quarter nice, the whole area near rubbish skips
were populated by huge black crows.

I imagine the wealth stemmed from concrete and iron factories and the huge industry that supplied the
shipping business..

Definitely not a tourist destination as not a single foreigner was spotted. Except for myself....

[crewmeal]

There is a series by Tony Robinson on Channel for called Britain's Forgotten Wars, episode 3 is about Suez

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/ ... /episode-3

I'm downloading the series via Channel 4 - All4

[newcastle]

There is a series by Tony Robinson on Channel for called Britain's Forgotten Wars, episode 3 is about Suez

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/ ... /episode-3

I'm downloading the series via Channel 4 - All4

I imagine the Suez debacle is a war Britain is keen to forget.

Shame the programme involves Tony Robinson otherwise I might have checked in. He should have stuck to being Blackadder’s servant. I find it impossible to take him seriously as a historian.

[crewmeal]

Shame the programme involves Tony Robinson otherwise I might have checked in. He should have stuck to being Blackadder’s servant. I find it impossible to take him seriously as a historian.

I couldn't agree more. He also did a series - Around the world by train which I didn't watch. If Chris Tarrant did it then I would.

what on earth was he knighted for? I'd rather MT have one for persistance!!