20th Century
The ’59 Trail, Part Three
Part 3 of my uncle, John Alldridge’s 1959 report from Canada’s Far North for the Birmingham Mail – Jerry F Churchill, on Hudson’s Bay Until you have spent a day and a night in Churchill, [more…]
Media
20th Century
Buried Treasure: An Acropolis on The Frontier
Amongst a century of detritus at the BBC, there lies some buried treasure. Between layers of fake news, preachy left-wing documentaries and un-funny comedy, the BBC’s iPlayer hides a gleaming gem of an old archaeology [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 28th September 2023 The Panel: Mark Spencer (Conservative) Lisa Nandy (Labour) Wendy Chamberlain (LibDem) Tim Montgomerie (Writer & Broadcaster) Henri Murison (Northern Powerhouse) Venue: Sale For provincial photos to front the London BBC’s [more…]
Media
Not Many People Know That
A Maurice Micklewhite List of Interesting Facts In 1973 Peter Sellers appeared on the Michael Parkinson show and did an absolutely perfect impression of the actor Michael Caine who was obsessed with amazing facts. The [more…]
20th Century
The ’59 Trail, Part Two
Part 2 of my uncle, John Alldridge’s 1959 report from Canada’s Far North for the Birmingham Mail – Jerry F Winnipeg, Monday I flew into Winnipeg in a blizzard. Dry, eye-stinging snow was spinning about [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 21st September 2023 The Panel: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative) Thangam Debbonaire (Labour) Matthew Syed (Journalist and Author) Ella Whelan (Journalist and Author) Venue: Ipswich In the guff accompanying this week’s Question Time, the BBC [more…]
20th Century
The ’59 Trail, Part One
In May 1959 The Birmingham Mail introduced my uncle’s latest article as follows: Where will you find the last pioneers in this age when frontiers are shrinking every day? In Canada’s Far North – the [more…]
Computing
Early Impressions of Artificial Intelligence
As a regular reader, you’ll know I’ve taken on a pupil, Mr AI Bot. A useful chap, undoubtedly artificial but every inch the novice when it comes to the realm of intelligence. The vacancy attracted [more…]
20th Century
South American Journey, Part One
More writings by uncle, John Alldridge. This time he is reporting from South America in 1960 for the Birmingham Evening Mail – Jerry F I am writing this at a window seven floors up above [more…]