m’Blog

78 posts

Collecting Archive

Over the last 20 or 25 years I have been involved in a significant amount of historic research and this has led me to look into the lives of a great many people long since dead. As a result I have amassed a sizable collection of ephemera, including personal letters, […]

The Edwardians – Peace or Turmoil?

The Edwardian era that characteristically did not begin and end with the reign of Edward VII is generally regarded as Britain’s calm before the storm. I would say that this much lauded brief spell began a few years before Queen Victoria’s death and ended abruptly at the outbreak of the […]

Fair Cloth Levy

Here is a plan.  All clothes retailers and importers across the EU pay  a three per cent levy at the point of import on all clothing sourced from Asian and third world countries. Importers and retailers will be required NOT to pass on this extra charge to the consumer. The […]

Waugh Blood

I’ve been working on my genealogy for about twenty years now. When I started out there was no internet and therefore no online data, so the only way to build verified information was to visit record offices and libraries. As my mobility became worse by lucky coincidence internet access improved […]

Protecting those who were here before us

Since auction websites like eBay entered the online arena the success of moneymaking ventures by some has in a way caused serious social and devastating historic damage. I am referring here to the thousands who have unwittingly taken advantage of these websites by selling off literally tons of “family junk”, […]

His Majesty King Richard III

Now that the body found under a car-park in Leicester has definitely been identified, the fact that the circumstances surrounding the last moments of life have been ascertained, that Shakespeare, his fellow writers and certain historians should posthumously eat humble pie, there is a discussion underway regarding a potential state […]

What use local radio?

Is ‘radio local’  still the audience grabber when it comes to bad weather, emergencies and localised disaster? I have been following a debate online and a user had this to say: “Weather? I can look at my iPhone home screen or check the web. Or, given the detail you often […]

Proudly British

I for one am extremely proud of my country. A lot is published today regarding the closing of the single greatest event this nation has experienced in modern history. As an overall happening London 2012 showcased the capital and nation in way that was calm, cool and British. It made […]

Twelve Months On

12 months ago to the day the immediate world around here turned into a war zone. And that’s the truth. War had broken out in South London. I was way too concerned with my personal safety to post anything online on the 8th August. As the day progressed the unrest […]

Broadcasters in their own territory

Up until very recently the fact that listeners and viewers in Malta have, since the 1930’s, been capable of receiving radio and television transmissions from Italy has been a ‘technical coincidence’. Radio transmission from Italy before the war was in fact ‘boosted’ to enable Italian broadcasts to be heard in […]

The New London Tube

London Underground is to go entirely commercial, meaning all stations are to be renamed and linked to branding. London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, says he had the idea in bed in the middle of the night on Tuesday, phoned his commercial director at 3.30am with the plan. It’s hoped the new […]

The nightmare that is Boots the Chemist

Boots Dispensing Medication – Serious Failures Written: June 2012 Some outlets and general businesses here in the United Kingdom over the years have formed part of the retail fabric of our high streets. One of these is Boots the Chemist. The long established and until recently much respected health and […]

60 years – Head of the ‘Windsor’ brand

I have always maintained that from a historic perspective the British royals are important. Any group, collection or family, rightly or wrongly, who has maintained a place in history for generations is historically noteworthy. When we look at our history these people have featured in the story of our nation […]

Our nation humiliated again

Last week I predicted the UK would drop like a lead balloon at the EuroVision 2012 Song Contest. Gosh! How unpatriotic I am. How can you suggest such a thing? Today the British and international press are full of our humiliation. Ok we were not bottom, we were second from […]