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…]
Charity
Animals
The Cnuteneering Home For Wayward Lathes and Mills
As many of you know I have been hankering after a milling machine for some time. Not being able to justify the price of a shiny new one I have been religiously checking ebay and [more…]
Journalism
Finding Ngozi
For obvious reasons myself and Swiss Bob don’t know each other’s true identities nor are we ever aware of each other’s exact whereabouts. Secret messages whizz around the globe. A sentence is out of place [more…]
Arts
Kenneth Essex’s 101st Birthday Challenge
My name is Kenneth Essex and I will be 101 on 20th July 2021. I intend, starting on 11th July, to do a sponsored walk of two 500m circuits from my house, each day for [more…]
Arts
The Curious Tale of Colonel Ellis & the Christmas Oranges
In 1908 Colonel William Verner Ellis (*) had long been retired from the British Indian Army and an adventurous & distinguished career playing “The Great Game”. His restless nature found him one grey winter’s day, [more…]
Arts
Kenneth (Ken) Essex Hits a Century!
Kenneth Essex, one of the most respected viola players of our time, celebrates his 100th birthday on Monday 20th July 2020. Born the son of a Co-op baker and confectionery manager in Hinkley, Leicestershire he [more…]
Politics
Travails of a Volunteer
I work for a very enlightened employer, it is as companies should be, and how most were 20 years ago, working in a patrician, supportive environment where employees are valued. Among many career opportunities and [more…]