Human Interest
It All Makes Work
My ‘Phone Line Dies It was on Saturday morning that my friend tried to ‘phone me to tell me that the chimney specialist would be along to fit a cowl to my chimney within the [more…]
Chrissie
20th Century
Uncle Fred, Edwardian Metropolitan Policeman
Uncle Fred’s Early Life ‘Uncle Fred’, as we all called him, was, in reality, my maternal grandfather’s uncle, and my great great uncle. He was the only other member of my grandfather’s family I ever [more…]
19th Century
Herbert’s War: My Grandfather, Herbert
My paternal grandfather, Herbert, was born in Morley in 1875 to a family of coal miners and woollen weavers. The sixth of twelve children, he was a master boot and shoe maker and repairer. As [more…]
Arts
Queen of the Hebrides – Personal Recollections
17.30 Saturday 31st October 2015 For the second day running, we sit on the hard plastic chairs at Glenegedale Airport, staring despondently out of the windows into the grey Islay gloom, with only the occasional [more…]
20th Century
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Post War Britain I loved Christmas as a child: I would guess most of us did, but I am amazed and humbled when I look back at how much was achieved with how little by [more…]
17th Century
Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century “Strip” Maps
Introduction Sorry to disappoint you so early in the piece, but this article is not about the antics of the young Tom Jones, although undoubtedly he and his dissolute friends could and should have availed [more…]
Arts
Pyrography
Background Known as “pokerwork” until the late 19th Century, it is believed that this form of applied art has been practiced since Prehistoric times. At its most basic, it involves the burning of pictures or [more…]
20th Century
Behind the Lines
Recently, there have been several articles on the major engagements in World War II, and it occurred to me that some Puffins might be interested in learning about the behind the scenes support of our [more…]
Arts
Sorrows of a Language Lover
The purpose of language is communication. Anything which muddies the language is the enemy of communication, and something which deliberately obscures the meaning of the words is the work of the Devil. I want to [more…]