Culture
Profession? Northerner!
Last time we looked at the early career of Jimmy Tarbuck. We noted his success hinged upon – or was at least boosted by – a cheeky-chappy persona, quick wit, smart suits and a mop-top [more…]
Always Worth Saying
19th Century
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Three
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…]
20th Century
Scandal After Midnight
Busy times for Mrs Francis Killen. The adverts had been placed. The VIPs were on their way. The early weeks of 1960 saw her guests begin to converge on Merseyside. If her curly-wired bakelite GPO [more…]
Arts
Postcard From Birmingham, Part Two
There should be a law against circular railway stations, especially those with exits at each point of the compass. The danger is, once outside, visitors don’t know where they are or in what direction they’re [more…]
20th Century
More Little Women
The Puffin is a well-travelled and well-connected bird. Last week’s unread article detailed the need for little women in my evening job’s bargain retail outlet to tunnel next door to Discount Toy Canyon and steal [more…]
History
Postcard From Birmingham
Myself and my wife fussed over our Kitkats and coffees and peeled off the Standard Premium antimacassars to make it look as though were travelling First Class. Little did we realise our day trip to [more…]
20th Century
About Little Women
We play a game at work with girls’ heights. There is a reason for this. Colleagues are going to build a tunnel to the shop next door and steal their toys. To confuse the local [more…]
Journalism
Boiling Point
July saw a series of high-profile racial attacks with white people as the victims. Anthony Esan, a black man, was charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton near Gillingham’s Brompton [more…]
21st Century
Postcard From The Antebellum, Part Two
On Thursday, 25th July, Mrs AWS and myself struck out for Birmingham New Street. One of our Standard Premium day trips, it’s memorable – even without hindsight – by a heightened presence of the transport [more…]