Scottish Greats...

With today being St. Andrew's day, a post focusing on those "north of the border" (no, not the Canadians!) seems very appropriate.  So, returning to one of my favourite subjects - footy - I will run through some of the greats who have represented their country.

Blaenavon Iron and Steel Company...

Tomorrow is 28th November.  On Wednesday, 28th November, 1838, the town of Blaenavon, Gwent (then Monmouthshire) in South Wales suffered a terrible tragedy.  Mining accidents were not rare in those days, but this one was a little different.  There was no explosion.  There was no cage accident.

A Ghost Village...

Tucked away in a sleepy corner of Dorset is the abandoned village of Tyneham.  The story of the village's history is fascinating, but perhaps not as well known as it should be.

Blue is the Colour...

... of a number of round plaques found across Britain.  They are markers indicating a location of historical significance, or more usually, denoting a link between a particular location, and a noted person who lived or worked there.  These plaques, often erected by English Heritage, but also by other various organisations, can refer to individuals from all walks of life.

Happy Birthday to...

...an impressively long list of Britons, some of whom may be familiar to you, but probably not too many!  There was one strange little coincidence I noticed, but more about below.

Poetry of Northumberland...

Over the past months, I have published poetry from - and about - various parts of the British Isles, sometimes in a local dialect.  This time, we will look at a couple of poems, and poets, from the county of Northumberland.

Remembrance Day...

To mark the anniversary of the end of "The Great War", known today as "Remembrance Day", here is a fascinating, yet very thought-provoking video.

F.A. Cup First Round...

I have made a number of previous posts regarding the Football Pyramid, and non-league clubs in England and Wales.  This last weekend (including one game tonight) saw the first round - or first round proper, as it is often called - of the F.A.Cup.  This is where the thirty-two remaining non-league sides (after all the preliminary and qualifying rounds have been completed) join the forty-eight clubs from the lower two tiers of the Football League.

Shetland Helicopter Disaster...

Twenty-nine years ago today, on 6th November, 1986, there was a terrible tragedy in Scotland's Shetland Islands, when a helicopter carrying workers from an area oilfield plunged into the sea just short of the airstrip.

Arnold Cooke...

,,,was born in Gomersal, West Yorkshire, on this day in 1906.  Cooke developed an interest in music at an early age, and in 1933, was appointed a professor at the the Royal Manchester College of Music.

The Garden of England...

I have made a couple of previous visits to the county of Kent (often referred to as "The Garden of England), but both post centred on the historic city of Canterbury.  This time, we will take a quick look at some of the smaller towns and villages around the county, and some things you may not have known.