Lord Camelford – A Desperate Bruiser!

Whenever I see Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak or Oliver Dowden, I always think to myself how money doesn’t buy you class and never was this more true than in the case of Thomas Pit. I must say I have a penchant for historic oddballs but Thomas Pit, the 2nd Baron of Camelford seems to have… Continue reading Lord Camelford – A Desperate Bruiser!

Revealing the remains of Eanswythe – An ancient Anglo-Saxon princess and Saint.

Exciting news has come out recently, at least exciting if ancient skeletal remains are your thing. An Anglo-Saxon princess who was one of England’s earliest Christian saints has been identified by scientists in a church in Kent. The remains have been found to Date from the mid-seventh century AD, the princess was the daughter of King Eadbald… Continue reading Revealing the remains of Eanswythe – An ancient Anglo-Saxon princess and Saint.

Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!

Everyone likes a Christmas party don’t they?  Well except me but that’s because I’m a misery guts and couldn’t think of anything worse than, except for a New Years Eve party of course. You might think that having parties at overcrowded and somewhat dodgy venues are a modern phenomena but you might be surprised to… Continue reading Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!

ST PAUL’S MONASTERY IN JARROW AND THE OLDEST STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE WORLD

Recently when I was in the area for my Hadrians Wall walk, I took a detour to a place I had long wanted to visited.  Not too many miles from the ancestral home of George Washington which I visited on the same trip. Whilst sights such as the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral… Continue reading ST PAUL’S MONASTERY IN JARROW AND THE OLDEST STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE WORLD

Sport brings people together – How Cricket is creating a new future for Rwanda

We all know that sport has a unique ability to bring people together from all around the world and those of us who have travelled to places a little less ordinary know that there are few better ways to make friends quickly than with a smile and a ball. Though there are many examples, there… Continue reading Sport brings people together – How Cricket is creating a new future for Rwanda

Shad Thames and Jacobs Island – The Venice of Drains

This my second post resulting from my scouting out a new tour I have been wanting to start offering to my lovely tourists.  As well as the regular tourist hotspots, I really enjoy taking people to the lesser visited parts and judging from the reactions of my tourists, the more authentic an experience, the greater… Continue reading Shad Thames and Jacobs Island – The Venice of Drains

When your biggest hope turns into your worst nightmare – The Legend of Prester John

Prester John was for several centuries once one of the most famous people in the world, despite not having ever existed.  His non-existence however didn’t stop him having a great and possibly horrific legacy to those who believed in him in possibly the biggest example of the phrase “Be careful what you wish for”. Before… Continue reading When your biggest hope turns into your worst nightmare – The Legend of Prester John

Aphantasia – To have a blind mind’s eye

Do you ever find yourself daydreaming?  If I ask you to imagine a beach, a mountain or a three-legged lizard juggling bananas, can you do it?   Most of us can to varying degrees.  Some of us can picture it as clear as if it were happening right in front of our eyes whilst others… Continue reading Aphantasia – To have a blind mind’s eye

Happy 100th Birthday Granddad

Today is a special day as my Granddad, Harold Stanley Heard, was born 100 years ago today on March 5th 1916.  It seems such a long time ago when you think about it.  20 of those periods would take you back to Jesus.  Of course, Granddad didn’t really get close to making his centenary and… Continue reading Happy 100th Birthday Granddad

The Battle of Verdun 100 years on.

France and its military have something of poor reputation amongst many.  Centuries of rivalry with Britain where it increasingly came off second best, its requirement to be rescued in WW1 and quick capitulation in WW2 coupled with  decisions to stay out of recent major wars mean that we all forget that there were many events… Continue reading The Battle of Verdun 100 years on.