Category Archives: Personal

A personal pause – another (two) MAs

My wife Julie is the clever clogs of the family. MA (Cantab), PGCE, MA (Open University). I have an MA (Cantab) and a BTh Hons (Nottingham). Once I could put ALA after my name, until I stopped being an Associate … Continue reading

Posted in Derbyshire, Personal | 1 Comment

A Personal Pause – Harry and Sarah’s Wedding

Back in the North East for Harry and Sarah’s wedding at Newcastle Civic Centre on Saturday 21 September 2019. Here is me wearing a tie (and needing to lose some weight), Julie looking decidedly elf-like, Hannah (the one who works … Continue reading

Posted in Newcastle upon Tyne, Personal | 1 Comment

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire – Christ the Cornerstone

Driving home from High Wycombe on Saturday 18 August we stopped in Milton Keynes, and went to the Church of Christ the Cornerstone – SP 850 388. It wasn’t that busy on a Saturday morning – the café wasn’t open … Continue reading

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Hanbury, Worcestershire – St Mary the Virgin

Friday 24 May and we are en route for a few days in Worcestershire. Hanbury Hall NT property is on our way – http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hanbury-hall-and-gardens. The Vernon family moved to the estate in the 1570s, and Thomas Vernon started work on … Continue reading

Posted in National Trust, Personal, Worcestershire, World War 1 | Leave a comment

Darjeeling via Oxford

On Wednesday 5 June I am giving a paper at our MA Conference in Derby. My title is ‘The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – Toy Train, Relic of the Raj, World Heritage Site’. I am excited, Laura is excited (she wants … Continue reading

Posted in Oxfordshire, Personal, Railway interest | Leave a comment

Coventry Cathedral – a personal pause

My beautiful wife Julie is a Coventry girl, and Monday 3 December 2018 was our 35th wedding anniversary. We drove to Coventry, parked at the west end of the old cathedral and then went in to the new one. We needed … Continue reading

Posted in Cathedral, Personal, West Midlands | Leave a comment

Cherry Hinton, Cambridge – St Andrew

Rob and I continued on a bus to St Andrew’s church in Cherry Hinton, which is at TL 490571, and has a website. At 3 pm we had an appointment with Karin the Vicar and a lady called Isobel. We were … Continue reading

Posted in Cambridgeshire, Evetts' windows, Personal | 2 Comments

Cambridge – photos of Robinson and Selwyn Colleges

We had a day in Cambridge (Monday 17 September). Julie and Anne did Heffer’s and other bookshops. Rob and I had a walk. We called in at Robinson and Selwyn Colleges, both of which have been blogged before. Rob takes … Continue reading

Posted in 1,000 mile walking, Cambridgeshire, Personal | 1 Comment

Cambridge – Selwyn College

In Cambridge for the day. I left northernreader in Heffers bookshop and walked across to Selwyn College. Some of my earliest memories are of staying with Granny and Granddad – Joan and Len Hoskison  – who kept 23 Grange Road … Continue reading

Posted in Cambridgeshire, Personal | 2 Comments

Heckington, Lincolnshire – Mill

Having been to the stunning church, we went to Heckington windmill – a unique eight-sail windmill beside the station, signal box and level crossing (though I still think the new H&S-complaint signal is hideous). The ‘box is 1876 Great Northern … Continue reading

Posted in Lincolnshire, Personal, Railway interest | Leave a comment