Sunday, 11 August 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Forest of Dean
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Forest of Dean: Got a cottage on the edge of the Forest of Dean for a week, not an area either of us know so thought it might be nice. Lovely little cottag...
Forest of Dean
Got a cottage on the edge of the Forest of Dean for a week, not an area either of us know so thought it might be nice. Lovely little cottage with a very pretty garden that we hope to be able to sit in,its all enclosed so Ida can wander round as she likes. Although the cottage is excellent the 'village' of Mitcheldean is abit odd. Lots of new (ish) builds and quite a few businesses closed down, including two pubs. The two remaining pubs don't do food which is disappointing, we went to one last night , The White Horse, because they had a singer appearing there called Stuart Earle. He was very good. Lots of his own compositions and a couple of covers including 'The Seeker' by The Who and 'Running Down the Dream' by Tom Petty. I'd say I'm not a big Who fan but the more I hear of their stuff the more tracks I seem to like, I may have to invest in a CD of theirs!
The pub however was like the village, run down & abit tatty. The barmaid cleared the table we sat at and wiped it down, though it was just as sticky when she'd finished! Beer was fine but it was London Pride or Doom Bar! Nothing remotely local, the other pub should be better as its the tap room of a local brewery so the beer will be good, that's not open every day though.
Weather started well today but soon clouded over with intermittent heavy showers, but it didn't stop us going out. Years of standing either getting wet,cold or windswept on football side lines has meant the weather never stops us doing anything. Anyway, we went to Goodrich Castle, about six miles from where we're staying. It's one of the best castles we've been to in a long time. There's enough of it left to get a real feel for the grandeur and dominance this castle had. Built in 1101 it was on the site of an older structure. The Keep, small by Medieval standards has the same footprint as a Roman watch tower. The audio tours are always good in places like this,though it got a little disjointed as we kept diving for shelter when it started raining again. The castle had quite a peaceful existence up until the English Civil War when it was initially held by Parliament then Royalists under the command of the High Sheriff of Herefordshire Sir Henry Lingen occupied by them from 1643. On the 10th March 1646 led by Colonel John Birch Parliamentary forces laid siege to the castle and using mortars such as 'Mons Meg' beat the garrison into submission. it was left pretty well uninhabitable (though Birch helped by stripping the lead from the roofs and doing his best to make sure it couldn't be used defensibly again) It was never rebuilt. 'Mons Meg' still resides in the castle and is a formidable looking weapon.It must have terrified the Royalist garrison as it knocked great chunks off the castle!
While we were looking round we spotted historian, archaeologist and broadcaster Professor Mark Horton there as a normal punter it appeared ! We got round most of the castles audio tour but by now getting cold and wet we adjourned to the coffee shop. The staff at this castle were all very friendly, and most it seemed gave Ida a treat! A good day out.
The pub however was like the village, run down & abit tatty. The barmaid cleared the table we sat at and wiped it down, though it was just as sticky when she'd finished! Beer was fine but it was London Pride or Doom Bar! Nothing remotely local, the other pub should be better as its the tap room of a local brewery so the beer will be good, that's not open every day though.
Weather started well today but soon clouded over with intermittent heavy showers, but it didn't stop us going out. Years of standing either getting wet,cold or windswept on football side lines has meant the weather never stops us doing anything. Anyway, we went to Goodrich Castle, about six miles from where we're staying. It's one of the best castles we've been to in a long time. There's enough of it left to get a real feel for the grandeur and dominance this castle had. Built in 1101 it was on the site of an older structure. The Keep, small by Medieval standards has the same footprint as a Roman watch tower. The audio tours are always good in places like this,though it got a little disjointed as we kept diving for shelter when it started raining again. The castle had quite a peaceful existence up until the English Civil War when it was initially held by Parliament then Royalists under the command of the High Sheriff of Herefordshire Sir Henry Lingen occupied by them from 1643. On the 10th March 1646 led by Colonel John Birch Parliamentary forces laid siege to the castle and using mortars such as 'Mons Meg' beat the garrison into submission. it was left pretty well uninhabitable (though Birch helped by stripping the lead from the roofs and doing his best to make sure it couldn't be used defensibly again) It was never rebuilt. 'Mons Meg' still resides in the castle and is a formidable looking weapon.It must have terrified the Royalist garrison as it knocked great chunks off the castle!
While we were looking round we spotted historian, archaeologist and broadcaster Professor Mark Horton there as a normal punter it appeared ! We got round most of the castles audio tour but by now getting cold and wet we adjourned to the coffee shop. The staff at this castle were all very friendly, and most it seemed gave Ida a treat! A good day out.
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| Garden of our cottage for the week. |
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| Evening drinky poo's |
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| Dinner at The Man of Ross in Ross onWye |
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| Add caption |
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| Millennium Window installed in 2000 made from 15th century glass. |
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| Mons Meg |
Friday, 2 August 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Sabaton new album
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Sabaton new album: Sabaton are a band I first heard a couple of years ago and have a few of their albums ( this is their ninth studio album). Their albums are...
Sabaton new album
Sabaton are a band I first heard a couple of years ago and have a few of their albums ( this is their ninth studio album). Their albums are all about wars and conflicts ranging from the military tactician of ancient China General Su Tsu to an album called Last Stand with tracks about Rorke's Drift and Bannockburn with others besides, they also have an album about their native Sweden detailing the Swedish Empire of the 17th century.
Their music is loud, energetic and tells stories. With my obsession with all things World War One to hear their new album was entitled 'The Great War' was immediately of interest to me. It came out on the 19th July but my copy from Amazon arrived on the 18th!
It has eleven tracks covering many aspects and counties involved in the war which I thought was a good all encompassing approach.
The first track 'The Future of War' is about the advent of the tank (the first major action involving tanks wasn't until 1917 so the tracks aren't in any chronological order) , its a good opener for the album.
Next we have 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' which goes east to cover Lieut TE Lawrence's exploits in Arabia another rattling good track that also mentions how the Arabs were betrayed once they had helped win the peace. Track 3 is called '82nd All The Way' and tells the story of Sergeant Alvin York from Tennessee. ( a great film called Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper is one to catch if you haven't seen it) York, a much decorated soldier took the surrender of 132 German soldiers! The guitar solo by Chris Rorland in this is particularly good.
Track four is about an action on the Eastern front when the Germans gassed Russian troops to take Osowiec fortress in NE Poland. The track is called 'The attack of the dead men.' This is from the German reaction when they stormed the fortress after the gas attack. The few survivors appeared with bloody rags to their mouths due to the gas, the Germans took flight because it was as if the dead were attacking them. The incident is known by the title of the track. It's a good one and tells the story succinctly.
Track five is the only track on the album that I take issue with, entitled 'Devil Dogs' is about the US Marine Corps attack on Belleau Wood in June 1918. The song keeps on referring to the troops as the USA Marines, they were never called that and such a schoolboy error I find quite irritating. They have always been the US Marine Corps. Rant over.
Strangely enough the track that annoyed me the most is followed by my favourite track called 'The Red Baron.' It of course refers to Baron Manfred Von Richthofen a brilliant German fighter ace. He was eventually shot down over Northern France and buried with full military honours by the Australians. A rattling good track with a great machine gun type score. By far my fave of the album.
'The Great War' features the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele of 1917, another good track that in some ways sounds like one or two of the others, not that I'm complaining!
'A ghost in the trenches' is about the Canadian Frances Pegahmagabow credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing a further 300, how he didn't get the Victoria Cross I do not know, the lyrics of the next track 'Fields of Verdun' do perhaps leave a little to be desired. The rhyming of Verdun, begun, run, son, one and gun are going down the road of Eurovision!
'The war to end all wars' deals with Armistice and just how many were killed. It beggars believe. 'In Flanders Fields' ends the album, its a short track sung by a choir so has little relation to Sabaton, it ends the albums very quietly and is a bit naff if you ask me. Sabaton aren't a quiet band, I get what there're doing, it's all rather sombre which I understand but I just think they could have finished the album with a bang and it goes out on bit of a whimper which is a shame.
On balance its a good album. I like Sabaton so they'd have to really cock up to get a thumbs down from me, it does sound like a lot of their other albums but that isn't nessaccarily a bad thing!
Their music is loud, energetic and tells stories. With my obsession with all things World War One to hear their new album was entitled 'The Great War' was immediately of interest to me. It came out on the 19th July but my copy from Amazon arrived on the 18th!
It has eleven tracks covering many aspects and counties involved in the war which I thought was a good all encompassing approach.
The first track 'The Future of War' is about the advent of the tank (the first major action involving tanks wasn't until 1917 so the tracks aren't in any chronological order) , its a good opener for the album.
Next we have 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' which goes east to cover Lieut TE Lawrence's exploits in Arabia another rattling good track that also mentions how the Arabs were betrayed once they had helped win the peace. Track 3 is called '82nd All The Way' and tells the story of Sergeant Alvin York from Tennessee. ( a great film called Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper is one to catch if you haven't seen it) York, a much decorated soldier took the surrender of 132 German soldiers! The guitar solo by Chris Rorland in this is particularly good.
Track four is about an action on the Eastern front when the Germans gassed Russian troops to take Osowiec fortress in NE Poland. The track is called 'The attack of the dead men.' This is from the German reaction when they stormed the fortress after the gas attack. The few survivors appeared with bloody rags to their mouths due to the gas, the Germans took flight because it was as if the dead were attacking them. The incident is known by the title of the track. It's a good one and tells the story succinctly.
Track five is the only track on the album that I take issue with, entitled 'Devil Dogs' is about the US Marine Corps attack on Belleau Wood in June 1918. The song keeps on referring to the troops as the USA Marines, they were never called that and such a schoolboy error I find quite irritating. They have always been the US Marine Corps. Rant over.
Strangely enough the track that annoyed me the most is followed by my favourite track called 'The Red Baron.' It of course refers to Baron Manfred Von Richthofen a brilliant German fighter ace. He was eventually shot down over Northern France and buried with full military honours by the Australians. A rattling good track with a great machine gun type score. By far my fave of the album.
'The Great War' features the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele of 1917, another good track that in some ways sounds like one or two of the others, not that I'm complaining!
'A ghost in the trenches' is about the Canadian Frances Pegahmagabow credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing a further 300, how he didn't get the Victoria Cross I do not know, the lyrics of the next track 'Fields of Verdun' do perhaps leave a little to be desired. The rhyming of Verdun, begun, run, son, one and gun are going down the road of Eurovision!
'The war to end all wars' deals with Armistice and just how many were killed. It beggars believe. 'In Flanders Fields' ends the album, its a short track sung by a choir so has little relation to Sabaton, it ends the albums very quietly and is a bit naff if you ask me. Sabaton aren't a quiet band, I get what there're doing, it's all rather sombre which I understand but I just think they could have finished the album with a bang and it goes out on bit of a whimper which is a shame.
On balance its a good album. I like Sabaton so they'd have to really cock up to get a thumbs down from me, it does sound like a lot of their other albums but that isn't nessaccarily a bad thing!
Sunday, 28 July 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: BBQ
An idiots guide to an Idiot: BBQ: With the weather going berserk, hitting 40 degrees will I was sat in traffic by Heathrow on Thursday, we thought an impromptu family BBQ wo...
An idiots guide to an Idiot: BBQ
An idiots guide to an Idiot: BBQ: With the weather going berserk, hitting 40 degrees will I was sat in traffic by Heathrow on Thursday, we thought an impromptu family BBQ wo...
BBQ
With the weather going berserk, hitting 40 degrees will I was sat in traffic by Heathrow on Thursday, we thought an impromptu family BBQ would be a good idea for Friday, the weather had cooled (by comparison anyway) but it was still 24 ish with light showers so absolutely fine!
As usual I managed to over cater on food but what the hell! I'd be mortified to under cater! The fare being sausages, chicken (T had marinated the chicken in olive oil,soy sauce, onion, rice wine, Worcester sauce, brown sugar, chilli's) which was delicious, also a side of salmon and burgers with loads of salad type nibbles and sides. Including pork pies, (obvs!) with strawberries and raspberries and cream for pud.
Just us, Gary & Ellie & Olly & Laura and a very pleasant evening it was in their company. We don't often have just them round, its usually the wider family as well so it was especially nice for us. They are all just the best company.
BBQ's and me have a strange relationship, we went gas ages ago as I could never judge when to light the coals, get them to stay lit and cook on them, however when Oliver arrived the marinade I'd liberally coated on the chicken caught fire. The base of the BBQ needed a little time to go out , by that time Oliver had taken over the cooking. Just as well I think so I wisely poured myself glass of red wine. The usual chaos and laughter before, during and after dinner. No one rushed to go home even though G&E had an exciting trip to cycle in the velodrome on Saturday, and O&L had a party to go to the next night.
A grand evening, even though some of the photos don't look like it!
As usual I managed to over cater on food but what the hell! I'd be mortified to under cater! The fare being sausages, chicken (T had marinated the chicken in olive oil,soy sauce, onion, rice wine, Worcester sauce, brown sugar, chilli's) which was delicious, also a side of salmon and burgers with loads of salad type nibbles and sides. Including pork pies, (obvs!) with strawberries and raspberries and cream for pud.
Just us, Gary & Ellie & Olly & Laura and a very pleasant evening it was in their company. We don't often have just them round, its usually the wider family as well so it was especially nice for us. They are all just the best company.
BBQ's and me have a strange relationship, we went gas ages ago as I could never judge when to light the coals, get them to stay lit and cook on them, however when Oliver arrived the marinade I'd liberally coated on the chicken caught fire. The base of the BBQ needed a little time to go out , by that time Oliver had taken over the cooking. Just as well I think so I wisely poured myself glass of red wine. The usual chaos and laughter before, during and after dinner. No one rushed to go home even though G&E had an exciting trip to cycle in the velodrome on Saturday, and O&L had a party to go to the next night.
A grand evening, even though some of the photos don't look like it!
Thursday, 25 July 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Dorset
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Dorset: Another night away working had me staying at the Coppleridge Inn at Motcombe near Shaftesbury which as you know has a long history with the...
Dorset
Another night away working had me staying at the Coppleridge Inn at Motcombe near Shaftesbury which as you know has a long history with the Morgan's and other members of my family tree and also with Tara's ancestry.
Finished a very hot day and pootled over to the Inn but stopped off at the cemetery in Mapitts Lane in Shaftesbury to visit Mum & Dad's grave. Strange how it makes me feel so sombre even after all this time (17 years for Dad & twelve and a half for Mum), not sad as such but sombre. Took a cloth to clean the stone, it's the only thing we can do for them now, though it wasn't very dirty to be honest.
On to the Inn, I've stayed here before so knew it was good, booked in and got myself a very refreshing pint of Sixpenny Best bitter from the local Sixpenny Brewery in Sixpenny Handley, at 3.8% it was a good beer for such a warm night. Dinner was a very nice Pan-Seared Scallops, Haddock Bonbon, Cucumber Chutney, Saffron Aioli as a starter and a chicken breast burger and chips for main. Too full for a pud so left it there.
Slept well then after a decidedly average cooked brekky I was off to do it all again but home at the end of it.
Finished a very hot day and pootled over to the Inn but stopped off at the cemetery in Mapitts Lane in Shaftesbury to visit Mum & Dad's grave. Strange how it makes me feel so sombre even after all this time (17 years for Dad & twelve and a half for Mum), not sad as such but sombre. Took a cloth to clean the stone, it's the only thing we can do for them now, though it wasn't very dirty to be honest.
On to the Inn, I've stayed here before so knew it was good, booked in and got myself a very refreshing pint of Sixpenny Best bitter from the local Sixpenny Brewery in Sixpenny Handley, at 3.8% it was a good beer for such a warm night. Dinner was a very nice Pan-Seared Scallops, Haddock Bonbon, Cucumber Chutney, Saffron Aioli as a starter and a chicken breast burger and chips for main. Too full for a pud so left it there.
Slept well then after a decidedly average cooked brekky I was off to do it all again but home at the end of it.
Saturday, 20 July 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Classics in Kent
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Classics in Kent: Another brilliant weekend with our great friends Gary & Cathie. We went down to Leeds castle near Maidstone to see their classical conc...
Classics in Kent
Another brilliant weekend with our great friends Gary & Cathie. We went down to Leeds castle near Maidstone to see their classical concert featuring the band of the Royal Marines (Portsmouth), the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with solo singers Alwyn Mellor, Louise Dearman, Oliver Tompsett & Nicky Spence, some 25 pounder field guns, fireworks and a Spitfire no less!
We set off mid morning and got to our hotel, within walking distance of the castle with no problems. Settled into rooms and went to the bar for a well earned drinky poo.( Well I think we'd earned it!)
G&C suggested we load up with our chairs food drink etc for the walk to the castle, so off we went looking like Sherpas attempting Everest! The gates didn't open until 4pm but many people assembled near the gates in order to get a good spot once the gates opened. Couple of drinks later it was time heralded by a maroon going off to go in. Bit of a mad dash as there's more than one entrance, the capacity for the gig was 14000 so you couldn't all squeeze through one gate. Once at a suitable spot Cathie sprang into action and put up a table, table cloth, Union Flag bunting and an absolutely delicious feast for us all. She made it look easy but she had obviously put in an awful lot of work and fed us admirably. I must mention Gary's equally awesome sausage rolls. There, I've mentioned them, no seriously they were delicious too!
The Royal Marines started proceedings with the Corps of Drums doing their drumming par excellence. There were two special pieces written that were rather sombre, one in tribute to the RM bandsmen murdered in an terrorist bomb some years ago and another in tribute the part the HM Jollies had in the D Day landings along with a video and list, a long list, of the fallen. That said the music wasn't downhearted at all, they were fine pieces of music.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra were superb! Highlights of their offerings were Nicky Spence's solo of Nessun Dorma, sea shanties ( could have been RM ,I forget),the wonderful Pomp and Circumstance No1, Jerusalem, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture complete with church bells, fireworks and 25 pounder quick firing field guns (long since retired by the army so I guess handled by reenactors though I couldn't find out who), a truly magnificent piece of music that was second only to William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue taken from the film 'The first of the Few' made in 1942. To accompany this was one of the most iconic aircraft in the world. The Supermarine Spitfire. This one a mark IX (serial no TD314) coming off the production line in late 1944, it never saw action but did serve in the RAF, the South African Air Force and then ended up in Canada.
I have no photos of this display as I just wanted to enjoy the majesty and splendour of its graceful arcs and rolls as it flew over us time and again, also of course the growl of its Rolls Royce Merlin engine that could be heard over the orchestra, a truly magnificent aircraft, it really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
They finished the night with the 1812 and after the fireworks played some more modern stuff from Michael Jackson etc. It had been a brilliant night!
We set off mid morning and got to our hotel, within walking distance of the castle with no problems. Settled into rooms and went to the bar for a well earned drinky poo.( Well I think we'd earned it!)
G&C suggested we load up with our chairs food drink etc for the walk to the castle, so off we went looking like Sherpas attempting Everest! The gates didn't open until 4pm but many people assembled near the gates in order to get a good spot once the gates opened. Couple of drinks later it was time heralded by a maroon going off to go in. Bit of a mad dash as there's more than one entrance, the capacity for the gig was 14000 so you couldn't all squeeze through one gate. Once at a suitable spot Cathie sprang into action and put up a table, table cloth, Union Flag bunting and an absolutely delicious feast for us all. She made it look easy but she had obviously put in an awful lot of work and fed us admirably. I must mention Gary's equally awesome sausage rolls. There, I've mentioned them, no seriously they were delicious too!
The Royal Marines started proceedings with the Corps of Drums doing their drumming par excellence. There were two special pieces written that were rather sombre, one in tribute to the RM bandsmen murdered in an terrorist bomb some years ago and another in tribute the part the HM Jollies had in the D Day landings along with a video and list, a long list, of the fallen. That said the music wasn't downhearted at all, they were fine pieces of music.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra were superb! Highlights of their offerings were Nicky Spence's solo of Nessun Dorma, sea shanties ( could have been RM ,I forget),the wonderful Pomp and Circumstance No1, Jerusalem, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture complete with church bells, fireworks and 25 pounder quick firing field guns (long since retired by the army so I guess handled by reenactors though I couldn't find out who), a truly magnificent piece of music that was second only to William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue taken from the film 'The first of the Few' made in 1942. To accompany this was one of the most iconic aircraft in the world. The Supermarine Spitfire. This one a mark IX (serial no TD314) coming off the production line in late 1944, it never saw action but did serve in the RAF, the South African Air Force and then ended up in Canada.
I have no photos of this display as I just wanted to enjoy the majesty and splendour of its graceful arcs and rolls as it flew over us time and again, also of course the growl of its Rolls Royce Merlin engine that could be heard over the orchestra, a truly magnificent aircraft, it really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
They finished the night with the 1812 and after the fireworks played some more modern stuff from Michael Jackson etc. It had been a brilliant night!
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Beer
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Beer: We took Julian to the Victoria 's Beer Festival for his Birthday this year. The weather wasn't brilliant but I was surprised at how...
Beer
We took Julian to the Victoria 's Beer Festival for his Birthday this year. The weather wasn't brilliant but I was surprised at how poorly attended the festival was which is a great shame.
There was a good
selection of beers from local breweries and a couple of ciders as well, Olly & Laura & Gary joined us as well and we had a really good time. Even got a few games of darts as well thanks to Julian suggesting it. My standard was as low as ever but I think others did well.
Having only intended an afternoon session we were there until about 10.30pm having been sustained by a very nice buffet laid on by the pub. The Vic has changed since new owners took over about 18 months ago now, as usual some people just don't like change, I think its for the better with alot more young people, though as I say ,its sad that the fest wasn't better attended, we'd had a great time!
There was a good
selection of beers from local breweries and a couple of ciders as well, Olly & Laura & Gary joined us as well and we had a really good time. Even got a few games of darts as well thanks to Julian suggesting it. My standard was as low as ever but I think others did well. 
Thursday, 18 July 2019
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Harrow etc
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Harrow etc: Abit out of date now as I haven't been blogging very regularly but a couple of months ago we went down to Harrow for Tara's school ...
Harrow etc
Abit out of date now as I haven't been blogging very regularly but a couple of months ago we went down to Harrow for Tara's school reunion. First we'd booked a tour of Harrow School, they do this once a term. Its a guided tour and all the better for that, our guide was very enthusiastic and informative. Got taken into the building that serves as a memorial to an old boy killed in World War One, Alex Fitch. His parents renovated the room on condition that his portrait was hung there and lit night and day, which it has been. The room itself is a composite of floorboards, walls etc from far and near. Some from a battleship of the Napoleonic era, fireplace from a stately home that was about to be demolished.
The Speech Room was very grand as was the chapel across the road. When this chapel was built the masters had to agree a design for the spire. All but one master, William Oxenham agreed and did he make a nuisance of himself by flatly refusing to agree and so blocking the spire being put in place. Comes the day, in 1865 that Oxenham shuffles off this mortal coil, and being a master of Harrow School (even women teachers are called masters here!) a memorial was erected to him. What better memorial could there be but to erect the spire on the chapel...…
The original school was just once room , called the Forth Form, this room is covered in graffiti where boys have carved their names, its also featured in feature films such as Harry Potter, Young Winston and many more besides. It was a very interesting tour and one you could probably do again. I guess a different guide would tell you their favourite titbits of the schools history.
The main purpose of the exercise was Tara's school reunion. We were staying at a cheap & cheerful hotel in South Harrow (bizarrely it was a converted office block, an office Tara had worked in!) not far from The White Horse where Tara & her chums were to meet. It's very different inside the pub today. Its all one big bar rather than a public and saloon as it was 30 plus years ago! Food was excellent! Very good venison pie for me & veggie burger for T. I stayed just so Tara wasn't sitting there on her own but as others arrived I left for The Castle alittle higher up the hill to meet an old friend, Robert. We had a fine evening of beer and chat & eventually (chucking out time!) went back to the White Horse where their gig was winding up. Tara had had a very good evening with all her old school chums, about 20 there I think. It had been a great success and they've already booked for next year.
Back to our cheap and cheerful hotel. Brekkers in the morning...….the hot plate was interesting consisting of: scrambled egg, boiled eggs, baked beans and that staple of a cooked breakfast, sweetcorn! Odd to say the least but there was plenty of other things and gluten free for T so it was all OK.
The Speech Room was very grand as was the chapel across the road. When this chapel was built the masters had to agree a design for the spire. All but one master, William Oxenham agreed and did he make a nuisance of himself by flatly refusing to agree and so blocking the spire being put in place. Comes the day, in 1865 that Oxenham shuffles off this mortal coil, and being a master of Harrow School (even women teachers are called masters here!) a memorial was erected to him. What better memorial could there be but to erect the spire on the chapel...…
The original school was just once room , called the Forth Form, this room is covered in graffiti where boys have carved their names, its also featured in feature films such as Harry Potter, Young Winston and many more besides. It was a very interesting tour and one you could probably do again. I guess a different guide would tell you their favourite titbits of the schools history.
The main purpose of the exercise was Tara's school reunion. We were staying at a cheap & cheerful hotel in South Harrow (bizarrely it was a converted office block, an office Tara had worked in!) not far from The White Horse where Tara & her chums were to meet. It's very different inside the pub today. Its all one big bar rather than a public and saloon as it was 30 plus years ago! Food was excellent! Very good venison pie for me & veggie burger for T. I stayed just so Tara wasn't sitting there on her own but as others arrived I left for The Castle alittle higher up the hill to meet an old friend, Robert. We had a fine evening of beer and chat & eventually (chucking out time!) went back to the White Horse where their gig was winding up. Tara had had a very good evening with all her old school chums, about 20 there I think. It had been a great success and they've already booked for next year.
Back to our cheap and cheerful hotel. Brekkers in the morning...….the hot plate was interesting consisting of: scrambled egg, boiled eggs, baked beans and that staple of a cooked breakfast, sweetcorn! Odd to say the least but there was plenty of other things and gluten free for T so it was all OK.
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| Harrow School Speech Room |
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| Ditto |
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| Alex Fitch, killed in action during World War One aged just 19. |
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| Window dedicated to him featuring his regiments badge, The Royal Garrison Artillery. |
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| The chapel with the spire erected in memory of a complete pain in the arse! |
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| Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, former Harrow School boy and champion of the poor and oppressed of Victorian Britain. |
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| Self and Memsahib in The White Horse |
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| Venison Pie |
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| Veggie Burger |
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| At The Castle with Robert, an old friend |
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