The story of the first Black Man in the British Army

A few weeks in a new episode of Dr Who, there was something of a story about one of the characters in that weeks episode.  It involved a platoon of Victorian British soldiers who ended up working on some alien mining complex under the surface of the planet Mars.  Rather than the actual setting being… Continue reading The story of the first Black Man in the British Army

The British who helped build The White House

  In a recent interview Dr William Seale, author and historian, said that Scots in particular were sought out for the project given their expertise in stone masonry and that a group of men who had been working on Edinburgh New Town were hired for the job. They had been found through Edinburgh Lodge Number 1,… Continue reading The British who helped build The White House

Crossing The River Thames By Cable Car

Sometimes when I am running tours, I get to do new things even in my home city.  Of course, that isn’t too hard when you live in London as not only is there a 2,000 year old back catalogue of things to do and see but there are new attractions cropping up by the day,… Continue reading Crossing The River Thames By Cable Car

Two choicest Idioms – Butter Up & As Mad As A Hatter

A few weeks ago my new book, Straight From The Horse’s Mouth was released in Paperback and Kindle formats and I have been waiting for it to work its way through onto Apple iBooks.   As it is now live, I thought I would post up two of the 101 idioms that make up Straight… Continue reading Two choicest Idioms – Butter Up & As Mad As A Hatter

The mysterious case of Lord Lucan

It was one of the most mysterious disappearances in the modern era when Lord Richard John Bingham, Seventh Earl of Lucan seemingly vanished without trace.  These days he is often mentioned in the same breath as Elvis Presley being seen sighted working in a Fish and Chip Shop in Burnley but the light-hearted jokes paper… Continue reading The mysterious case of Lord Lucan

A video of the re-opened Borough Market

Borough Market has long been one of my favourite parts of London and so aside from the more obvious issues following the recent attack there and the adjoining London Bridge, I have been waiting to get back inside both for professional and personal reasons. Having been a few times in the last week to see… Continue reading A video of the re-opened Borough Market

Politics might be serious but elections don’t have to be.

Politics is generally a serious profession, albeit one so often mired in lies, broken promises and unachievable policies.  General Elections are the one time we have a chance to change the government at a national level.  Whereas in most countries it is a matter of utmost importance and seriousness with some nations even banning even… Continue reading Politics might be serious but elections don’t have to be.

Talk of Terrorism is all hype.

I rarely post simple blog posts but this graphic caught my attention.  I’ve never quite understood the media obsession with terrorism or indeed some prominent political hype about it either and that despite living almost my entire life under the supposed shadow of terrorism. There are so many more causes of death to worry about,… Continue reading Talk of Terrorism is all hype.

London is Reeling…. NOT

Maybe it is just a fundamental difference between us and other countries but according to some foreign media, everyone in the UK and particularly London is terrified but as the headline in the Independent revealed, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I have to say that I’m not in the slightest bit terrified nor… Continue reading London is Reeling…. NOT

Roger Moore – Nobody Does It Better

We all have our own favourite James Bond actor and the films that go with it.  There are always a few who like Timothy Dalton or George Lazenby but when it comes down to it, the choice is usually between Sir Sean Connery and Sir Roger Moore though it is must be said that Daniel… Continue reading Roger Moore – Nobody Does It Better