Category: History

Thank You, Plum

September was a good month for Wodehousians. On the 20th we assembled in Westminster Abbey for Evensong and then, in a state of Grace but not Monaco, the Duke of Kent presented a memorial to PGW to the Dean, who dedicated it.

The Men Who Built Downing Street

Many Prime Ministers have left their stamp on Downing Street, starting with Walpole who hired William Kent. The next significant intervention was by Robert Jenkinson. Who?

News from Downing Street

An unexpected invitation to Downing Street yesterday. A few privileged people working there could ask friends and family and show them round.

The Great Game

This picture, in the British Library, was taken at Jamrud Fort during the return from a Durbar at Umballa. Amir Sher Ali Khan is in the centre with Colonel Frederick Pollock standing, Colonel Crawford Trotter Chamberlain sitting on the right and to the left, Henry Walter Bellew, Indian Medical Service, acting as interpreter.

Bugles and a Tiger

Soldiers are often able to put down the sword and take up a pen; from Julius Caesar to John Hackett. When we were in Wales recently I was introduced to a new-to-me soldier turned wordsmith: John Masters.

Uncle Herbrand

Although I was eleven when he died, I don’t remember Uncle Herbrand well. I do often think of him as I have his hairbrushes.

The Spy from Skibbereen

The Cold War was rather frightening. Leaflets advised what to do in the event of a nuclear strike. Ham-class minesweepers patrolled our inshore waters. RAF Bomber Command had nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers on standby on airfields around East Anglia. 

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Categorised as History