Arts
Postcard from Saint Agnes
I suppose the best way to start this article is to say it has almost nothing to do with St Agnes, the patron saint of girls, although rather weirdly I am unintentionally writing it on [more…]
History
Ethics
Are all civilisations doomed to fail?
Throughout history we have seen great civilisations rise, decline and fall. History has this annoying habit of repeating itself, none more so than in the case of human endeavour. As someone famous once said [more…]
Arts
No More Heroes Any More?
The recent death of JPR spurred me on to complete an article I started a few months ago on the subject of childhood heroes. I know for many JPR was a proper hero in the [more…]
Authoritarianism
Kenya: Redefining Clientele Chic
On the 60th anniversary of Kenya’s independence, Gathanga Ndung’u writes that the country has spent decades as the loyal servant of imperialism. The country may have express highways, a busy international airport, a modern railway, [more…]
20th Century
Report From Israel, 1957 – Part Five
In 1957 my uncle, John Alldridge visited Israel for the Birmingham Mail. This is the fifth of his reports. – Jerry F Eilat, Gulf of Akaba You can’t go home (they said) until you’ve bathed [more…]
20th Century
Postcard From Oman
Bob? Remember when I told you despite all the tall tales of derring-do in exotic locations, I work in a supermarket and don’t actually have a passport? Tempted the fates. Something’s cropped up. The sort [more…]
Authoritarianism
Kenya at Sixty: The Death of a Nation
Sixty years after independence we are in a worse position than we were in 1963. Levels of impunity have reached astronomical levels and, thanks to the IMF and an insensitive leadership, we are likely to [more…]
20th Century
Report From Israel, 1957 – Part Four
In 1957 my uncle, John Alldridge visited Israel for the Birmingham Mail. This is the fourth of his reports. – Jerry F Kefar Hanasi, Upper Galilee Not so very long ago, Gershon Epstein was a [more…]
20th Century
Crash of Bristol 175 Britannia 101– 4th February 1954
On the morning of February 4, 1954, G-ALRX took off from Filton on a test flight, with Captain A.J. ‘Bill’ Pegg at the controls. Flight Engineers for the trip were Ken Fitzgerald and Gareth Jones. [more…]