Monthly Archives: March 2016
Simon Hoggart
Simon Hoggart was one of our most respected parliamentary sketch writers – and he grew up in Leicester. Back in 2007, he told me about Westminster, Wyggeston and why you had better watch Brown. Simon, much to our loss, left this mortal coil in January 2014. It has been a…
Fresh photos of Leicester
You may recognise this image from the blog’s artwork. It’s the bandstand in Western Park. This piccie was taken this morning and the incremental creep of spring is all around. “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is…
The Beatles at De Montfort Hall in Leicester
The Beatles played at De Montfort Hall three times. Sunday, March 31, 1963, December 1, 1963 and October 10, 1964. It was as if time at De Montfort Hall had gone into some kind of gloopy slow motion. From the back of the stage, John, Paul, George…
An art lesson at HMP Leicester
Leicester prison is a narrow, claustrophobic building, overcrowded with men who’ve made bad choices. I’ve been to HMP Leicester twice. It is, on the outside, a whimsical concoction. A romantic dream of what a castle should look like – a portcullis, meaty turrets and arrowslits (Image at the bottom). On…
If a Jim Steinman LP was re-imagined as a church window
Frank Haines, a lieutenant in the 8th battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, died during WW1. He was killed, aged 29, on the last day of the Battle of Arras in Croisilles. He was living in Knighton before joining up. His parents lived at The Moorlands in Syston. He got…
Recent photos of Leicester and Leicestershire
What says Mothering Sunday more than dressing as one of Simon de Montfort’s knights at the Battle of Evesham (August 4, 1265)? Exactly. We were back at Jewry Wall Museum on Sunday to join in the 50th birthday celebrations. There were demonstrations, from Leicester’s many different periods, my daughter had…
In memory of George Higgs age 109
George Higgs passed away on February 27. He was 109 and among the oldest people in the world. I did this interview with George in November 2010 – although this is a totally rejigged version, with lots of info which didn’t get published. As you can tell, George was a…
The Fashion Gallery at Snibston Discovery Park. Part 1 of a Snibby series.
The clothes you see below have recently been put into storage. The exhibition has been dismantled. Packed into boxes and put in a loft at Beaumanor Hall. To see them now you require a special appointment. Snibston Discovery Park in Coalville – and I’m going to stick my neck on…