You will find this opposite what used to be the post office at Shelve on the Shrewsbury to Bishop's Castle road.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things are the heroes of our country. As a social historian, I've studied and researched life during the Second World War. It was vital for success that the morale of the nation that spirits were kept up. Dame Vera Lynn played a significant role in doing that. Her passing this week sees the sad departure of one of my heroes. RIP Vera.
Covid-19 has silenced choirs - we must find a way to restart singing together – that was the headline for a letter in the Guardian this week. It was signed by some very well known names in choral music, people I have admired for a long time. They included Bob Chilcott (composer of some stunningly beautiful songs), John Rutter (another well-known composer, and revered for the Carols for Choirs series which is used by almost every choir in the country), Simon Halsey (Director of the London Symphony Chorus), Harry Christophers (director of The Sixteen – my favourite choir of all ...
There's going to be a massive Conference shaped hole for many of us this September. I love heading to the seaside – Bournemouth being my favourite by far – to catch up with the Lib Dem family. Whether it's causing trouble for the leadership in the hall or indulging in late night irreverent singalongs, taking part in training, wandering round the exhibition or just catching up for a coffee or a cocktail, those few days are a whirlwind of activity. I've taken to staying an extra night at the end to have a a quieter meal out with friends and ...
The Beiderbecke Affair is the story of two middle-aged teachers in love, in Leeds, at the height of Thatcherism. If you don't know it, just go and get hold of it somehow. It will be five well-spent hours of your time. At present all six episodes are available on Dailymotion: Episode 1: "What I don't understand is this..."Episode 2: "Can anybody join in?"Episode 3: "We call it the White Economy"Episode 4: "Um...I know what you're thinking"Episode 5: "That was a very funny evening"Episode 6: "We are on the brink of a new era, if only..." I fell in love with ...
As liberals, we are uniquely placed on issues of tackling societal problems, as the UK party which has historically been driven by caring from the community level up, not just the top down: redistributive, willing to stand up for those marginalised by society, and sceptical of an overbearing and authoritarian state infrastructure. Today, especially given the racial disparities which are all too clear in our policing and our society as a whole, that liberal legacy must be put to work again, starting a radical rethink of how Britain deals with its social problems. We use the police for far too ...
Sat 20th
11:31
Ros in the Lords: Water Industry (Specified Infrastructure Projects) (English Undertakers) (Amendmen...
It is a mark of how wide-ranging the debates in the Lords are that, in six weeks, Ros spoke on volunteering, food waste, the National Archives and here, on 8 June, water infrastructure regulations... My Lords, it is a mark of the new arrangements that in recent weeks I have spoken in debates on food security, the charity sector and heritage and had between one and two minutes in which to do so. With the luxury of five, I will start with the usual courtesy of thanking the Minister for his comprehensive and useful introduction, and his officials for producing ...
Fri, 15:09: B's 23rd birthday - first time we had seen her since March. Hygienic measures had to be observed of course, but she... https://t.co/80CgPME5GY Fri, 16:05: Incest uncovered at the elite prehistoric Newgrange monument in Ireland https://t.co/kDZcvKTkse Wow. Much much more as well. Fri, 16:16: RT @LMMyles: Most saddened by this. Ian Holm was one of those magnificent actors who could make the direst script better. For me, it was hi... Fri, 18:56: Who was both oldest former US President and oldest former Vice-President, but not at the same time? https://t.co/NvUUYJDIfW Fri, 20:15: "He made us all laugh. Except ...
What is it about governments and ICT? The list of failures in this field of endeavour is endless and all boils down to ignorance and expectation. Essentially, Ministers and civil servants don't fully understand what they are being sold, and have unrealistic expectations of it. The industry does not seek to dissuade them of their ambitions for the product on offer, but ensure that contracts are so complex that the penalties for failing to meet targets and deliver the goods can never be implemented. As a result projects overrun and he cost soars until somebody pulls the plug. This may ...
International awareness of the climate emergency has arguably never been higher. The move to decarbonise much of our economy and society to tackle the causes of global warming at source has begun to accelerate. In the UK, we are even starting to have entire days and weeks where our national grid is powered without the use of harmful fossil fuels. All of this action is taken to avoid the mass loss of life, livelihoods, jobs, and the environment that the climate crisis threatens. Other people living around the world are, tragically, already living with the consequences. Of the estimated 65 ...
Hello! I'm Mark Pack, author of both 101 Ways To Win An Election and Bad News: what the headlines don't tell us, along with maintaining the largest database of national voting intention polls in the UK, stretching back to 1943. Although most attention understandably and rightly is on other things, the polling companies running semi-regular voting intention polls. Below the table, you'll find the option to sign up to email updates about new polls and also a set of answers to frequently asked questions about political polling. You might also find my podcast interview with one of the UK's leading ...
I am a historian by training, so you might expect me to instinctively favour of arguments about how 'we mustn't airbrush history' and 'we mustn't edit history to meet current values'. But two things strike me about those who say this when a contemporary controversy comes up. First, history is already massively edited. Too much has happened for it not to be. That's why there isn't a statue of me as a 4 year-old. History has been edited already to leave that out as irrelevant and trivial. Saying 'we mustn't edit history' is asking for the impossible. The question is ...
Resident have been out walking and cycling and have come up with some ideas to improve cycling - including a detailed plan for an east west route along Station Road - and a number of places where repairs are needed. If you have an idea for where a path needs repair, needs to be wider - or there simply needs to be A path - do let us know. South Glos is saying it is improving access and widening paths for social distancing - so NOW should be the moment to get all our ideas in. If you post them ...
As any who are liberal minded know, we all of us speak for freedom, it is who we are and what we believe in. But to be free takes work. Some work at it by what is called politics, as if it were separate. They do so on the political stage. Others do it in the area of culture. There are amongst them some who do it on the theatrical stage. As one involved in both, some get it, they relate to that, they understand it.You can speak for freedom, but you can sing for it too. Dame Vera Lynn, ...
Sat 20th
08:27
Developer of Linney House lodges appeal before the latest two planning applications have been decide...
At the end of last year, developer James Hepworth lodged yet another application for housing in the gardens of Linney House, this time for four homes. The previous application for eight homes lodged in March 2019 had not yet been decided. It still hasn't been decided so Mr Hepworth has asked the planning inspectorate to decide the application. He is within his rights to do so but it takes the decision out of local democratic hands. I have asked for both applications to be considered by the Southern Planning Committee. In the instance of the eight homes now being appealed, ...
From the City Council : Dundee City Council is to expand its recycling service to residents by extending operating hours and accepting more waste materials. From Monday 22nd June, residents will have to access Baldovie Household Waste Recycling Centre from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on the weekends. The Riverside recycling centre will also expand hours to 9am to 5pm daily. The facilities will begin accepting clothing & textiles, batteries, fluorescent tubes, oil, TV's & monitors, soil and turf in addition to the previous materials, such as general waste, garden waste, wood, metals, rubble, ...
