20th Century

The Angels of Mons

15th October 2023 Blown Periphery 0

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) had its first major engagement on 22nd – 23rd August 1914. The “Contemptable Little Army” although heavily outnumbered by the Germans, stopped their advance and repulsed them at the Battle [more…]

A Lookie at Buckie

14th October 2023 Always Worth Saying 0

Buckfast Buckfast is a small village located in Devon nestled amidst the beautiful Dartmoor National Park, offering splendid natural beauty and opportunities for hiking and wildlife spotting. Despite its small size, Buckfast remains a vibrant [more…]

’59 Trail, Part Four

10th October 2023 Going Postal 0

Part 4 of my uncle, John Alldridge’s 1959 report from Canada’s Far North for the Birmingham Mail – Jerry F Churchill, on Hudson’s Bay Life in Churchill — as in all frontier townships — gravitates [more…]

Scout Camp at …?

7th October 2023 Always Worth Saying 0

Holland, 1949 We shall interrupt my grandparents’ 1947 West Country road trip (to which I shall return) to dip into my father’s 1949 Scout trip to Holland. En route the troop passed a stricken vessel [more…]

A Postcard from Petrolhead Paradise

3rd October 2023 SharpieType301 0

A Postcard from Petrolhead Paradise Well, Stone the crows! A sunny Saturday in September saw a bit of a surprise. Although we’d noticed the colourful banner advertising the event often enough as we wandered hither [more…]

The ’59 Trail, Part Three

3rd October 2023 Going Postal 0

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…]

Buried Treasure: An Acropolis on The Frontier

2nd October 2023 Always Worth Saying 0

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…]

Cabot Cove, Midsomer, Cockington

30th September 2023 Always Worth Saying 0

Cockington Cockington is a picturesque village located near Torquay, in the Torbay district of Devon. The village is renowned for its old cottages and serene landscapes. Cockington Court Country Park, a prominent attraction in the [more…]

The ’59 Trail, Part Two

26th September 2023 Going Postal 0

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…]