January 17, 2007 07:52AM
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Registered: 19 years ago
Posts: 3,874
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The difference is that in history (NOT archaeology - that's a subject somewhat closer to a science) the source material cannot be tested.
In science what we test hypotheses on the basis of observation and experimentation - if X is true then Y will happen if we do Z. All stages can be done (and are sometimes actually done) in an objective manner.
However, primary historical material HAS to be interpreted by the historian. For more recent history a sequence of checks is available because we can compare one source with a multiplicity of other sources to try and achieve some sort of concensus view. However, the further we go back the more difficult reconstructing the context of a source becomes. To take an often discussed topic, the Druids are mentioned in contemporary sources a handful of times. There is no archaeological evidence. there is, in fact, no objective primary evidence as those writing the sources belonged to a culture that interacted violently with those being written about. Any historian wishing to write about the Druids is going to have to decide how accurate the sources are, how biased they are, do they derive from observation, etc. etc. etc. These are all pretty much subjective decisions.
The important thing is that, as long as the historians states the basis of his or her interpretation then this completely subjective view is valid history within the context of history as an academic subject.
Science is NOT the only forensically based system of deriving knowledge.
Pete
edited as Pete needed it changed and it was out of time for him to edit it.
God is our guide! from field, from wave, From plough, from anvil, and from loom; We come, our country's rights to save, And speak a tyrant faction's doom: We raise the watch-word liberty; We will, we will,we will be free!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2007 11:00AM by DougWeller.
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Hans |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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Rick Baudé |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Tommi Huhtamaki |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Katherine Reece |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Doug Weller |
January 17, 2007 01:00PM |
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Anthony |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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creigs1707 |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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creigs1707 |
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Anthony |
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Katherine Reece |
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Anthony |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Katherine Reece |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Katherine Reece |
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Johnee |
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Katherine Reece |
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Johnee |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Katherine Reece |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Katherine Reece |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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Sue |
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Anthony |
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Rebby |
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barry |
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Rebby |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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bernard |
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barry |
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Martin Stower |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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Martin Stower |
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barry |
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Dave L |
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Pete Clarke |
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darkuser |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Tommi Huhtamaki |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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Doug Weller |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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Pete Clarke |
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Doug Weller |
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Pete Clarke |
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Anthony |
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Pete Clarke |
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Anthony |
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Pete Clarke |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Lee |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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MJ Thomas |
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Katherine Reece |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Katherine Reece |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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Katherine Reece |
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Lee |
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Katherine Reece |
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Anthony |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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MJ Thomas |
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MJ Thomas |
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MJ Thomas |
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Katherine Reece |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Anthony |
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Doug Weller |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Anthony |
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Ritva Kurittu |
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Doug Weller |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Katherine Reece |
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Tommi Huhtamaki |
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Anthony |
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Tommi Huhtamaki |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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Lee |
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barry |
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Anthony |
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Dave L |
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Rick Baudé |
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barry |
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Katherine Reece |
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Roxana Cooper |
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Katherine Reece |
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Roxana Cooper |
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Salsassin |
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Rebby |
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Katherine Reece |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Rebby |
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Katherine Reece |
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Anthony |
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MJ Thomas |
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Rebby |
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Martin Stower |
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Hans |
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Katherine Reece |
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Rebby |
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Katherine Reece |
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Anthony |
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Anthony |
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Martin Stower |
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darkuser |
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Katherine Reece |
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Warwick L Nixon |
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Anthony |
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Katherine Reece |
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Anthony |
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Katherine Reece |
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Charlie Hatchett |
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Anthony |
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barry |
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Pete Clarke |
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Kanga |
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Anthony |
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Martin Stower |
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Sue |
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Anthony |
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darkuser |
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Lee |
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Anthony |
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