Derek Bentley...

Today would have been Derek Bentley's 81st birthday.  Sadly, he was to die before even reaching the age of twenty.  The young man's life - and death - remain very much in the public eye in Britain.  Bentley's headstone says it all, but more about that later...

Northern Ireland Photo Gallery...

Today we make another trip across the Irish Sea, and have a look at some of the wonderful sights of Northern Ireland.

Quite Interesting...

... or QI, for short, is a British television quiz show/comedy.  The premise of the show is that so much of what we "know", is in fact myth.  The celebrity contestants are awarded points, not for getting correct answers (points are deducted for giving the obvious - and wrong answer), but for being "interesting".

The Banks o' Doon...

Robert Burness was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, on January 25, 1759.  Young Robert was one of seven children, and was the eldest son.  The name probably won't mean anything to you, but if I tell you he later shortened the name to "Burns", that will be more familiar!

A Walk on the Wild Side...

Much of the wildlife of Great Britain - if not totally unknown in North America - is at least, not as common as it is in Europe.  There will be more posts of this nature to come, but for now, here are three of the creatures one might come across back home.

And Now for Something Completely Different...

No, it's not going to be some Monty Python post!  It's going to be me venturing an opinion on the events of the last week and a half.  Regarding the World Cup, and England's dismal showing...

Albion Colliery Disaster June 23

Cilfynydd is a small village in Glamorgan, a short drive from the Welsh capital of Cardiff.  Situated on the banks of the River Taff, it is right in the heart of the South Wales Coalfield.  In 1887, the village welcomed the opening of the Albion Colliery.  Seven years later, the local residents were reeling from one of the worst mining disasters in British history.

When I was a Lad...

Yeah, I know it was a long time ago, but I can still remember those days!  As with many Britons of my generation, I look back on some of the kids television programmes with extreme fondness.  I'm not talking about the Hanna-Barbera cartoons and the like - which we did get in the UK - but some of the native stuff.

A British Gallery...

I have just put together a small selection of great photos from around Great Britain that I thought you might enjoy.

Not Born in the USA...

The Billboard Hot 100 was introduced in November 1955.  Since then, there have been quite a few chart-toppers from across the pond.  There are some obvious names (the Beatles and Elton John, for example), but quite a few not-so-obvious ones.  Here is a list of solo artists (not "featuring" other vocalists) who made it to Number One in the US.

Highlands and Islands etc...

Here is another post directed primarily at Americans, just to confirm that Scotland is not simply a part of England!  However, there are some interesting facts here for everyone.

A Legendary Director...

Today is the 78th birthday of a television and film director who has had a huge influence on British audiences with his uncompromising - though realistic and believable - style, but who remains a virtual unknown in the United States.

Victoria Hall Disaster...

Today is the 131st anniversary of one of the saddest events in British History.  The Victoria Hall disaster in Sunderland saw nearly two hundred children lose their lives in a tragic stampede.

Consuls, Corsairs, and Cortinas...

Ford may be an American company, but they have designed a number of cars for the British market.  Here are a few of the familiar models from days gone by.  I'm sure these will bring back some great memories for you!

Myfanwy...

Myfanwy is a Welsh girl's name, meaning "beloved".  It is also the name of an incredibly beautiful welsh song.  With music by Joseph Parry, and words by Richard Davies, it was first published in 1875.  There are many recordings of Myfanwy available, but I decided to go with an instrumental version, although I have posted the lyrics in Welsh.

At the World Cup (Part Two)...

As promised yesterday, here is the continuing story of the Home Nations at the FIFA World Cup.  We conclude today with the history of the Champions from 1966, England!

At the World Cup Part One)...

As many of you know, football's World Cup starts tomorrow in Brazil.  The English still boast about the events of 1966, when England became World Champions at Wembley.  However, other than this one time, there isn't really that much to shout about.  Sadly though, the other Home Nations have had even less success.  Today, I will be running through the World Cup history of Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, and will conclude with England's chequered history tomorrow!

In a Summer Garden...

... was a piece by the English composer, Frederick Delius.  Born on January 29, 1862, in Bradford, Delius died eighty years ago today.  Speaking personally, no composer has had the impact on me that Delius has.

Rik Mayall R.I.P.

I hadn't intended posting anything today, but I have just read of the passing of comedy legend Rik Mayall, and felt I had to post something in tribute.  He is best known for his work with comedy partner Adrian Edmondson, including the TV series The Young Ones and Bottom.

The Beautiful Yorkshire Dales...

The Yorkshire Dales is a region of outstanding natural beauty.  It is basically a an area of hills and river valleys, and is home to one of Britain's most popular National Parks.  In addition to the hills and valleys, there are also a number of spectacular cave systems, 

Cod Roe and a Ha'peth of Chips...

WHAT?

Had you visited an English chippy (a fish 'n' chip shop) in the early part of the last century, that could well have been your order.

We are the Champions (Part Two)...

Continuing from yesterday, here are the other motorcycling World Champions that Great Britain has produced.  Some of these sports may not be totally familiar to American readers!

We are the Champions (Part One)...

Motorcycling has long been a love of the British, and not just recreationally either; they love to compete too.  Over the next two days, I will post a list of the solo motorcycling World Champions from the UK.  Today I will concentrate on the different classes of road-racing, and tomorrow, I will go through the various other sports.

Not a Fool, but a Giant on the Hill...

Hill figures (or chalk figures, as they are sometimes known) are not unique to Great Britain, but are more prevalent there than anywhere else in the world.  They are large figures - usually of humans or horses - that are etched into the ground.  They are either cut from the grass, carved into chalk, or formed by digging trenches and lining them with chalk.

Cholmondeley and Mainwaring...

Many Britons will see where I'm headed with this post, but outside of the UK, few will be able to even guess.  It has everything to do with pronunciation, you see.  It's not that the British are unique in this respect, but we do have some odd-looking names, with even odder-sounding (known as counterintuitive) pronunciations!  That applies to both people and place names...