Category: History

The Invention of Memory

I was given The Invention of Memory for Christmas three years ago by Alan Higgs. It is by Simon Loftus and traces the story of his family from their arrival in Ireland in 1560 until Mount Loftus burned down in 1934.

Down Your Way

I am going to play you something by Yorkshire-born composer, Haydn Wood. If you are my age it may sound familiar.

An Ambassador in the Family

Nigel Farage has, it seems, struck up a rapport with President-elect Trump; an unlikely friendship as Trump doesn’t drink. Might Farage be a suitable UK ambassador to the United States?

The Wall That Donald Built

This is where I put my friend Edward (Ned) York after his mis-reading of the likely outcome of the American Presidential election. Anyway, I have relented and let him out this morning with another rather interesting guest-blog.

Remembrance Sunday

This is the interior of Les Invalides chapel in Paris. Funny to call it a chapel when it is such a monumental edifice. Louis XIV started building Les Invalides in 1670 as a retirement home and hospital for his old soldiers.

Lord Mayor’s Show

It rained yesterday morning in London. Derek, who came to clean the windows, got drenched. Last time he came we worried about Brexit and this time about Trump.

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Remembrance Day

I don’t have a Remembrance Day routine. Last year I went to the SOE memorial to Violette Szabo on the Thames (Alms for Oblivion). This year I went to Hammersmith post office to collect a parcel.

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Air Accidents

Last week Charles Woodruff mentioned Reginald Warneford’s grave in Brompton Cemetery. This week on a crisp, sunny morning I set off in search of it.

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Wexford Opera

Wexford weather can be a bit chancy but this weekend the sky is blue and the Irish Sea sparkling.  John Barry stands, sword in hand, looking out to sea, not the composer of music for James Bond films, but Wexford born John Barry who was a founder of the United States navy. Behind him the… Continue reading Wexford Opera