Archive for 2007
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December 2007
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Goodbyes Said in 2007
On the last day of the year, it is fitting that we should look back to some of the people who passed away in 2007.
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Working in Havant
In the mid eighties, my cinema career took me to Havant in Hampshire, between Portsmouth and Chichester.
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Cinema Manager Talk Over Dinner
I gave a talk recently to members of the Charnwood 51 Club, whose members come from the Loughborough area.
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Enthusiasts Enjoyed New Walks in London
My recent Saturday with Guided Walks in London went very well indeed.
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Unmitigated England
A lovely book that should be in the collection of everybody who loves the history and heritage of England is "Unmitigated England".
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Antiques for Everyone
I had the pleasure recently of visiting Antiques for Everyone.
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Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is the most visited castle in England, with the possible exception of the Tower of London.
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Happy Christmas
On Christmas Day, millions of Christians all over the world are coming together to celebrate the birth of their Lord.
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A Scary Night in Market Harborough
I led a Haunted Walk in Market Harborough recently.
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New Talk Available on Earls of Leicester
Speaker finders for clubs whose meetings involve talks by local speakers will be interested to know that I have a new talk available.
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History and Heritage Fair
There was a History and Heritage Fair in Leicester recently.
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Excellent Talk by Jim Cumbes
I went to a talk at Grace Road in Leicester recently.
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Congratulations to Her Majesty
Her Majesty the Queen reaches another milestone in her long reign today, when she becomes our oldest reigning monarch.
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Did You Miss the Forest of Dean Tour?
A very successful Coach Trip recently was the "Forest of Dean Tour".
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Visiting Lavenham and Long Melford
I went as a passenger recently on another of Woods Coaches day trips, this time into the beautiful county of Suffolk.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Henry II
Henry II was King of England for a period in excess of thirty years during the 12th century.
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Visit to the Tates in London
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the two Tate Art Galleries in London, both the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain.
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Coach and Bus
I visited another of the annual trade shows relevant to the tourism industry recently.
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Essex Heritage Tour Available for American Visitors
With visitors from the United States particularly in mind, I am pleased to announce the availability of a Coach Tour around the historic old Kingdom of Essex.
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Successful Tour Around the Welland Valley
I recently led one of my very popular morning Coach Trips.
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A Day in Sidmouth
I had a very enjoyable day in Sidmouth recently.
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Free Bus Travel for Over Sixties
If you didn't know about it already, and you qualify, you'd better start thinking about registering for your free bus pass for all local services throughout England.
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History of Tigers Regiment
There was a very good talk recently at a meeting of the Community History Network in Leicester.
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BP Delegates Shown Market Bosworth
I led a private Guided Walk recently around Market Bosworth for delegates to a conference run by BP.
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Coach Trips for Church Lovers
If you are one of the millions who love old churches and cathedrals ....
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Excellent Day in Gloucester
I recently spent the day in the historic city of Gloucester, on a familiarisation visit organised by Gloucester City Council.
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Interesting talk by Alan Oakman
The Leicestershire Cricket Society hold their meetings monthly during the close season, at Grace Road in Leicester.
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Working in Rugby
I spent a while in the early 1980s working in Rugby.
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National Venue Show
I went to the National Venue Show recently.
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National Venue Show
I went to the National Venue Show recently.
November 2007
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Group Leisure and Travel Show
I visited the Group Leisure and Travel Show recently.
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London's City Churches
A smashing little book of interest to anybody who is keen on history, in particular London, and in particular churches, is "London's City Churches".
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Leicestershire Legends and Traditions
I recently gave my "Leicestershire Legends and Traditions" talk for the Kirby Muxloe Local History Group.
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Austrian Students Love Leicester
I led a private Guided Walk around Leicester recently for a group of Austrian students and their teachers.
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Places Available on Free Mystery Tour
There are some places available on my annual Coach Trip known as the "Free Mystery Tour", to take place next February.
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Guided Walks in Southend Area
From time to time I come back to the Southend area, where I grew up, and lead some Guided Walks.
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Womens Institute Take a Close Look at Rochford
I recently led a private Guided Walk around the fascinating little town of Rochford in Essex for members of the Hockley and Hawkwell Womens Institute.
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Legendary Cave Discovered in Rome
A cave important in legends of ancient Rome has been discovered by archaeologists.
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Saga in Leicester
For a few weeks in the Summer, Saga Holidays organise week long breaks in Leicester.
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Free Walks Keep Expo Alive
In 2004 and 2005, there was an excellent Festival in Leicester over the August Bank Holiday weekend. It was known as Expo.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Matilda
Matilda is rarely mentioned in lists of Kings and Queens of England, but she was a serious claimant to the throne in the 12th century, and actually did have the power of a monarch for a while.
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Saga Holidaymakers and Leicestershire
During the Summer, Saga Holidays hold a series of holidays based in the historic but still thriving city of Leicester.
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Morning Tour Around Hidden Leicestershire
A coach party from Leicester recently sampled one of my popular morning Coach Trips.
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Malcolm and Ruth Bound for Belize
Rev Malcolm and Rev Ruth Lambert, the husband and wife team who are at present based in Leicester, are shortly to move to Belize in Central America.
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Saga Clients Learn About Leicester
Saga Holidays run a series of holidays in Leicester, which in addition to being a large cathedral city is one of the oldest towns in Britain.
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Church Dedications of Leicestershire and Rutland
I had the honour to be the speaker at a recent meeting of the Community History Network run by Leicester City Council.
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Chad Varah
Chad Varah, the founder of the Samaritans, has died at the age of 95.
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The Delights of Ely
I had the great pleasure of leading a Guided Walk around the lovely cathedral city of Ely recently.
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Talk for Saga Holidaymakers
Once again this year Saga Holidays arranged several holidays in Leicester.
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Christmas Dates Still Available for Walks or Talks
I lead Guided Walks and give talks, especially for groups, throughout the year.
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Saga Holiday at Leicester University
Among the places in England where Saga Holidays have holidays based is Leicester.
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A Trip to Barmouth
During the Summer, I went on a Coach Trip to Barmouth.
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Working in Halstead
I spent some time in the early 1980s working in the attractive Essex market town of Halstead.
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Exploring New Walk
I had the pleasure of leading a private Guided Walk around New Walk, one of the loveliest parts of Leicester, during the Summer.
October 2007
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Halesowen Group Loved Northants
A group from the Halesowen area, near Birmingham, had a trip around Northamptonshire during the Summer.
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Byways of Westminster
A little book that you may find interesting is "Byways of Westminster".
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Saga Holiday in Leicester
Saga Holidays run breaks in various places around the country, and for several years now one of the favoured cities has been Leicester.
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A Trip to North Wales
I went, as a passenger, on a Coach Trip to North Wales during the Summer.
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Top Award for Bill Tanser
Bill Tanser of Woods Coaches in Leicester has won a top industry award.
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A Weekend in the Cotswolds
Anne, my wife, and I had a weekend away during the Summer.
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Historic Towns Forum Visits Leicester
It's always a pleasure to lead a Guided Walk around Leicester for visitors from other parts of the country, or even from abroad.
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Molly Badham
Molly Badham has died.
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Did You Miss Ironbridge?
A recent Coach Trip, the Ironbridge Gorge Tour was much enjoyed. If you missed it, you missed a real treat!
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Loughborough Walk with the RNIB
I led a Guided Walk around Loughborough recently for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
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750 Years of Rochford Market
There was an event in Rochford recently, to celebrate 750 years of this little Essex town's market.
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Two Welsh Towns and a Railway
I had another interesting trip with Woods Coaches of Leicester during the Summer.
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Two Welsh Towns and a Railway
I had another interesting trip with Woods Coaches of Leicester during the Summer.
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Evington Walk for the Echo
I led a Guided walk around Evington during the Summer.
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Anne Licensed as Reader
At a service at Leicester Cathedral yesterday, my wife Anne and several others were licensed as readers in the Diocese of Leicester.
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Showing Kibworth to its WI
I recently led a private Guided Walk around Kibworth for members of the local Kibworth Womens Institute.
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Tour Around the Derbyshire Borders
A recent Coach Trip which I devised and led was the Derbyshire Borders Tour.
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Accolade for Southend Pier
When visiting Southend, the town where I grew up, a couple of days ago, I learned of an accolade that has been given to Southend Pier.
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Memories of Loughborough
A recent meeting of the Community History Network in Leicester featured a talk by Margaret Zientek.
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Riverside Festival Was Best Ever
During the Summer, I made a point, as I always do, of visiting the Riverside Festival in Leicester.
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Surprise Party for My 65th Birthday
On Wednesday 12th September, I reached the magic age of 65, having been born in 1942 in the delightful old town of Rochford in Essex (pictured).
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Abbey Park Important Anniversary
An important anniversary in Leicester during the Summer was spoiled by the awful weather.
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The Big Day Out
During the Summer, I went to Coventry for The Big Day Out.
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The Website is Back
I'm very pleased indeed to be able to announce that my website is back in action.
June 2007
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If You're About to Retire
I gave a talk recently for Leicester Adult Education Centre, as part of a course which they run from time to time for people who are coming up to retirement age.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Stephen
Stephen was King of England during the 12th century.
May 2007
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Everybody Loved Rufford Abbey
My most recent Coach Trip was "Rufford Abbey".
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Thankful Villages
I was talking to a friend recently about the Thankful Villages.
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Halesowen Party Visit Cromwell Country
A coach party from Halesowen in the West Midlands were treated to a tour of Oliver Cromwell Country recently, with your truly as their guide.
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Working in Canterbury
I had a spell working in the lovely and historic cathedral city of Canterbury at the end of the 1980s.
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Norfolk Towns and Steam Railway
I went as a passenger on another Coach Trip recently, to Norfolk.
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Portsmouth Plan New Ground
Portsmouth Football Club are planning to build a new football ground.
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Ely Group Charmed By Melton and Rutland
I recently guided a group from Ely on a tour around the tiny county of Rutland, starting at the Leicestershire market town of Melton Mowbray.
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Solar System Summer at Leicester
The National Space Centre in Leicester has a feast of fun for children this Summer.
April 2007
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English Battlefields
A very useful book for those with an interest in English history and its places is "English Battlefields", by Michael Rayner.
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Antique Lovers Hear About Cinemas
I gave my "Adventures of the Bearded Cinema Manager" talk recently to the Leicester Antiques Association.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Henry I
Henry I was King of England in the first years of the 12th century.
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Severn Valley Towns and Railway
I went on a Coach Trip recently with Woods Coaches, the company from whom I hire coaches for my own excursions.
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Leicestershire Cricket Prospects for 2007
The cricket season is about to start in earnest, and Leicestershire have high hopes for a successful 2007.
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Antiques for Everyone
I went to an antiques show recently.
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Top Ten Walks for Groups
I am frequently asked to lead private Guided Walks for groups.
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Solos See Rutland
On Easter Day, I took a party on a Coach Tour around the tiny but picturesque county of Rutland.
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Essex Cricket Prospects for 2007
The 2007 cricket season is nearly here, and Essex look set to have a successful year.
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Exploring Melton Mowbray
I led a private Guided Walk over Easter around the fascinating Leicestershire market town of Melton Mowbray.
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St. Margaret Statue Graces Church
A statue of St. Margaret of Antioch has been installed outside St. Margarets Church in Leicester.
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Christ in the Centre
Once again on Good Friday, Leicester City Centre was the setting for "Christ in the Centre".
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Working in Ramsgate
I spent some time in the late 1970s working in the seaside resort of Ramsgate, on the Isle of Thanet in Kent.
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Visit to the Lake District
I went recently as a passenger on a Coach Trip to the Lake District.
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England Rocks
VisitBritain, the organisation which has the responsibility for maximising the tourism potential of the whole of Britain, has come up with a campaign called England Rocks!
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Palm Sunday in Leicester
There was a Palm Sunday event in Leicester City Centre on the afternoon of the Sunday before Easter.
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Guided Walks in Charnwood Borough
Charnwood Borough's annual Guide to Guided Walks in their area, centred on Loughborough, has just been published.
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Guided Walks in Charnwood Borough
Charnwood Borough's annual Guide to Guide Walks in their area, centred on Loughborough, has just been published.
March 2007
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What the Papers Said
I attended the Community History Network meeting in Leicester recently.
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Inn-Vestigated
A little book that you may well find interesting is "Inn-Vestigated", subtitled "The Origins of Public House Names", by C. R. Townsend.
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Rothley and Abolition
I was very pleased to attend a special event held on the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, at the Rothley Court Hotel in Leicestershire.
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Waterside Walks Season Nearly Here
The very popular Waterside Walks season is nearly upon us.
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City Churches and the Ripper
I recently had my Spring Day in London, when I led two Guided Walks. I do this twice a year, in the Spring and in the Autumn.
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Leicester's Good Friday in City Centre
"Christ in the Centre" will once again be performed on Good Friday in the streets of Leicester City Centre.
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Cinema Talk at Scraptoft
I gave a talk to members of the Scraptoft 50 Club recently at Scraptoft Village Hall.
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Who Are All These Kings?: William II
William II was King of England during the late 11th century.
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Visit to Norfolk Towns
I took part in a Coach Trip recently, as a passenger, to a couple of towns in Norfolk.
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Top Ten Talks For Groups
I am often asked to give talks to groups, and am always happy to do so.
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British Travel Trade Fair
I went to the British Travel Trade Fair recently. This is held annually at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) at Birmingham.
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Working in Loughborough
I spent some time in the mid 1970s working in the Leicestershire market town of Loughborough.
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History Talk at Bagworth
I was invited to the former mining village of Bagworth recently to give a talk to the Bagworth Historical Society, at Bagworth Working Men's Club.
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Dickens World Nears Completion
The major new tourist attraction Dickens World, at the Royal Dockyard at Chatham in Kent, is almost ready for its Easter opening.
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Visit to Derbyshire Towns
Three Derbyshire towns were the destinations on a Coach Trip that I went on as a passenger recently.
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365 Great Stories From History
"365 Great Stories From History for Every Day of the Year" is a very useful book for anybody who, like me, is fascinated by events that happened on any particular day you care to mention.
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Snape to Aid England World Cup Bid
Jeremy Snape has flown out to the Caribbean to help the England cricket team in their bid to win the World Cup.
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Da Vinci Code Made Popular Tour
"Da Vinci Code Tour" was the title of the latest morning Coach Trip around the East Midlands.
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Who Are All These Kings?: William I
William I is usually known in England as William the Conqueror, but sometimes, particularly in his lifetime, as William the Bastard.
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Many Destinations at NEC
I went to "Destinations", another travel and tourism show, recently.
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Cricket Star
A new reality TV show has been devised, entitled "Cricket Star".
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St. David's Day Visit to Wales
For the first time this year, I was able to visit Wales on St. David's Day.
February 2007
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Joe Orton Exhibition
There is an exhibition on the life and times of the playwright Joe Orton at the New Walk Museum in Leicester between March and April.
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Mediaeval Castles in Leicestershire
I went the other day to a meeting of the Vaughan Archaeological and Historical Society in Leicester.
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Working in Cosham
I spent a short while in 1975 working at Cosham in Hampshire.
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Essex Tourism and Leisure Show
One of my favourite trade shows, where organisations involved in tourism exhibit, is the Essex Tourism and Leisure Show, which after a few years in Colchester is now held at the Brentwood Centre.
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Building Continues on Colchester's Firstsite
Building on the Firstsite centre in Colchester continues apace.
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Free Mystery Tour As Popular As Ever
The "Free Mystery Tour" was a great success again this year. This is a Coach Tour that I have been organising and leading every February since 1995.
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New London Walks Planned
As regular readers will be aware, I have a repertoire of Guided Walks which I lead in London.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Edgar II
Edgar II, known as Edgar the Atheling, was elected King for a brief period in the fateful year of 1066.
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Watch Out for New Photos
I have been out and about a lot with my camera over the last couple of months, taking photographs for the website.
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Go Leicestershire
The new official visitor guide book for Leicester and Leicestershire has been published.
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The English Year
A recently published book is a very useful addition to the library of anybody interested in English folklore.
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The Explosion That Shook Staffordshire
The Community History Network, run by Leicester City Council, had another meeting recently, and of course I attended as usual.
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Yes, Guided Walks Continue After February
I have been asked by quite a lot of people over the last two or three weeks whether I am continuing to lead Guided Walks after the end of February.
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Many Destinations at Earls Court
I went to the "Destinations" travel show at Earls Court in London recently.
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Major Archaeological Find in Leicestershire
A treasure hunter has made a major archaeological find in rural Leicestershire.
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Have Fun When You Retire
A recent talk that I gave was for the Adult Education Centre in Leicester, as part of a course, under the title "Places of Interest in Leicestershire".
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Working in Westcliff
I worked in Westcliff from 1972 to 1975.
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Chinese Students Discover Old Leicester
A group of students from China were shown around the oldest parts of the historic city of Leicester recently.
January 2007
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Magazine to Be a Gateway Once More
The Magazine Gateway, one of the historic buildings in the ancient city of Leicester, is to be brought back to its original function.
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Did You Miss the Oxford Trip?
Well, if you did miss the Coach Trip to Oxford, you must be kicking yourself.
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Magnet on the Motorways
A giant roadsweeper with a huge magnet attached has been stalking major roads in Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey.
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Rotary Hear of Cinema Career
I gave a talk recently to Wreake Valley Rotary.
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Matisse to Freud: A Critic's Choice
The council-run New Walk Museum in Leicester is to host an important art exhibition during the Spring.
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Cubs Haunt Market Harborough
The picturesque old town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire was the scene recently of a ghost walk attended by a pack of cubs.
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The Next Guided Walks in London
In addition to the many Guided Walks which I devise and lead in Leicestershire and Rutland, and others in Essex, I have a day twice a year when I lead two walks in London.
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Excursions
I visited the Excursions trade show recently.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Harold II
Harold II was King of England for most of the fateful year of 1066.
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A Day in Shakespeare's Stratford
I went on a Coach Trip recently to the bustling old town of Stratford-upon-Avon.
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Film Tourism Conference
There is a to be a conference on film tourism in March.
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A Victorian Christmas in Leicester
The recent Community History Network meeting was on a Christmas theme.
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Harris's Guide to Churches and Cathedrals
"Harris's Guide to Churches and Cathedrals" is a fine new reference book to many of the most interesting Christian places of worship in England and Wales.
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Christmas Market at Bury St. Edmunds
I went on a Coach Trip to Bury St. Edmunds recently.
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Radio Leicester Forty Years Old
A significant anniversary this year will be the 40th birthday of the BBC's first local radio station.
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Young People Shown Round Blaby
I recently had the pleasure of showing a group of children and teenagers around the village of Blaby, to the South of Leicester.
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Working in Gravesend
I spent a short while in the early 70s working at Gravesend in Kent.
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Retirement With Interest
I gave a talk recently for Leicester Adult Education Centre, entitled "Places of Interest in Leicestershire".
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Fine Upgrade for Argents Mead
There is a first class new look for Argents Mead in Hinckley.
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Fine Upgrade for Argents Mead
There is a first class new look for Argents Mead in Hinckley.
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The Spooking of the Cubs
I took a party of Cubs on a spinetingling tour of the ghostliest parts of Old Leicester recently.
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Who Are All These Kings?: Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor is one of our most famous pre-Conquest kings, with a reputation for sanctity which might not be wholly justified.
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Did You Miss the Hereford Trip?
Well, if you did miss the Hereford Coach Trip, you missed a very good one.
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Important Anniversaries in 2007
2007 has an excellent batch of important anniversaries, and hopefully they will all lead to plenty of celebrations.
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Haunted Loughborough
A ghostly walk recently took me around the oldest parts of Loughborough.
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England in Particular
"England in Particular" is an excellent addition to the library of anybody interested in the bits and pieces that make up England.
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Talk for Evington Echo Distributors
I recently gave a talk to distributors of the Evington Echo.
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Guided Walks and Coach Trips in 2007
On the first day of the New Year, it might be worth giving you an idea of some of the Guided Walks and Coach Trips on which you could join me in 2007.