19th Century

Ma, Ma, where’s my Pa?

12th November 2024 Going Postal 0

I suspect that all Puffins are fervently hoping that the US Presidential Election will result in the return of the Donald to the White House. If this happens, it will be an unusual but not [more…]

Enemies Within: A Curious Incident at The Observatory

9th November 2024 Always Worth Saying 0

On a crisp February afternoon on a non-descript Thursday in 1894, tram conductor Mr William Smith issued a through ticket from Westminster Bridge to Greenwich. On entering the horse-drawn tram, the passenger concerned wore a [more…]

Reparations for Slavery

4th November 2024 well_chuffed 0

Free Gear Kier has said reparations are off the table only to find that the Commonwealth leaders have put it firmly on his table. The prediction has to be that this weakling will cave in [more…]

Slavery

28th October 2024 well_chuffed 0

It is reasonably well known that the UK abolished the Slave Trade in 1807 and created the West Africa Squadron in an attempt to suppress said trade worldwide. For this we are vilified these days [more…]

A Voyage to India, 1888

22nd October 2024 Going Postal 0

In October, 1888, Miss Kate Pettitt sailed from Liverpool to Bombay in the steamship Eden Hall.She was going to India as a governess with an English family from Manchester. The voyage took five weeks, and [more…]

Postcard from Birmingham, Part Six

28th September 2024 Always Worth Saying 0

In recent weeks we have allowed ourselves to be distracted by summer riots, 1980s football matches and pop concerts, the Falkland Islands and even the delivery of mail to the South Pole at Christmas. Puffins [more…]

Postcard From Birmingham, Part Three

7th September 2024 Always Worth Saying 0

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…]

Moving the Talai

28th August 2024 Going Postal 0

August 14, 2024 The evidence of colonial Britain’s attempt to eliminate the Talai a century ago is only now coming to light, as the last of the survivors seek justice. Above: Kibore Cheruiyot Ng’asura, 102 [more…]

Disaster at Quintinshill

6th July 2024 Always Worth Saying 0

Setting off from Edinburgh on a splendid May day, Mrs. AWS and I enjoy our Burger Kings. In the mad world of railway pricing, one of only two differences between Avanti Trains Standard Premium and [more…]