History
The Birth of the Angry Young Man
In 1956 the play Look Back in Anger was first staged in Britain. Written by John Osborne, it was the story of Jimmy Porter – who came to symbolise a new force in postwar Britain – the [more…]
Philosophy
21st Century
Building on Sand? The Perils of Peacemaking in Sudan
After 16 months of civil war, Sudan increasingly resembles a ‘failed state’, with displacement and man-made famine driving one of the ‘worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory’. Following early setbacks, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) [more…]
20th Century
Disaster Over The Strait of Hormuz
As Mrs AWS and I flash through the Scottish Lowlands after our day trip to Edinburgh, passing through Lockerbie station reminds us of events decades ago and thousands of miles away. Nowadays the term ‘Gulf [more…]
20th Century
Report From Kenya, 1955 – Part Five
In 1955, at the height of the Mau Mau Rebellion, my uncle John Alldridge produced a series of reports from Kenya for the Birmingham Mail and the Manchester Evening News – Jerry F Kamiti I [more…]
20th Century
Near-Disaster at 39,000ft
Returning home from our day trip to Edinburgh, myself and Mrs AWS have pause for thought as we eat our Burger Kings in Standard Premium. Beyond our train window, the peaceful Scottish Lowlands flash past. [more…]
Democracy
A View (Miles Away) From The Greenhouse…The Reform Conundrum
I recently spent a long weekend in Llanberis celebrating my eldest daughters birthday, she chose the area because she wanted to climb Snowdon, which she did along with six of the other guests. I had [more…]
20th Century
American Journey 1952, Part Three – Washington
John Doe is Asking Awkward Questions The last thing I expected to pick up in this capital city of a great Republic (“the greatest Republic on God’s Footstool,” as I heard a Senator from Illinois [more…]
20th Century
Postcard From Peter Hitchens, Part Five
I’ve been following Daily Mail columnist and author Peter Hitchens – literally. The surprise being we only recently fell into correspondence. Both of us are keen on railways and church, enjoyed minor public school and [more…]
Culture
OTF Party: What Makes/Made Us Quintessentially English/British?
“Being British is all about driving a German car to an Irish theme pub to drink Belgian beer then going home buying an Indian takeaway to sit on a Swedish sofa in front of a [more…]