21st Century
Teargassing a Baddie
September, 2024 The log had fallen from my eye. It was time to come from behind the screen and take action. If you were to ask 16-year-old me whether a day would come when I’d [more…]
Articles by Always Worth Saying
20th Century
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Five
There are two schools of thought, volunteer for everything, never volunteer for anything. I knew a chap sent to the South Atlantic. At Mount Pleasant airfield in what the Guinness Book of Records describes as [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 19th September 2024 The Panel: Lucy Powell (Labour) Graham Stewart (Conservative) Tim Farron (LibDem) Mariana Mazzucato (Economist) Jill Kirby (Journalist) Venue: Ashton-Under-Lyne The programme began with Fiona Bruce saying a very strange thing. [more…]
20th Century
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Four
Earlier this year, as my wife and I passed Birmingham’s Town Hall during our day trip from the North, we hummed Mendelssohn’s Elijah which debuted in the city’s triennial music festival of 1846. At that [more…]
Culture
Profession? Northerner!
Last time we looked at the early career of Jimmy Tarbuck. We noted his success hinged upon – or was at least boosted by – a cheeky-chappy persona, quick wit, smart suits and a mop-top [more…]
19th Century
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Three
Chamberlain Square Having checked out the Council House and Town Hall during our day trip to Birmingham, myself and Mrs AWS nip around the back and into Chamberlain Square, the centrepiece of which is the [more…]
20th Century
Scandal After Midnight
Busy times for Mrs Francis Killen. The adverts had been placed. The VIPs were on their way. The early weeks of 1960 saw her guests begin to converge on Merseyside. If her curly-wired bakelite GPO [more…]
Arts
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Two
There should be a law against circular railway stations, especially those with exits at each point of the compass. The danger is, once outside, visitors don’t know where they are or in what direction they’re [more…]
20th Century
More Little Women
The Puffin is a well-travelled and well-connected bird. Last week’s unread article detailed the need for little women in my evening job’s bargain retail outlet to tunnel next door to Discount Toy Canyon and steal [more…]