Sir John Eliot Gardiner, on the BBC, is not afraid to tell it how it is. Bravo! @thoroughlygood @nfmusic @mrjamesob @nicholascollon pic.twitter.com/PxrFi3Smud — David Coronel (@King_Ouf_I) May 6, 2023 The wonderful music at the Coronation gave rise to pride at this country's achievements in the field, but also to foreboding. As Britain becomes more unequal, there are fears that musicmaking - both pop and classical - may follow the theatre, cricket and rugby union in becoming largely a preserve of the products of wealthy families. And cuts to BBC arts funding mean there will be fewer career prospects even for ...
First of all: it was a coincidence, but it must have been galling to Putin that both the Queens burial and the crowning of Charles III were two occasions that the British, geopolitical competitors of Russia since the era of the Eurasian "Great Game" around China, Afghanistan and Persia, presented the world with two brilliant military displays of discipline, high-end marching ability, historical uniforms, and with a plethora of Commonwealth troops joining in. By contrast, the May 9th military parades for Russia's VE Day over the "Nazis", since 1945 one of the main manifestations of Soviet/Russian military might, have been ...
The Whinnies Community Garden in Sunniside held a coronation celebration day yesterday. I popped in for a few minutes. I'm pleased to report that despite the best efforts of the weather to drive people away, they were still turning up to enjoy the event.
The 2023 local elections have finally passed. Many of us put a great deal of time and effort into leafleting and canvassing around our communities to get out the vote and even to sway some voters. At these elections, we won a net gain of over 400 councillors and control of the councils in: Chichester Horsham Stratford-upon-Avon Dacorum West Berkshire South Oxfordshire Guildford Surrey Heath Windsor and Maidenhead Mid Devon South Hams Teignbridge Whilst the Conservatives received a real drubbing, losing a thousand councillors, Labour failed to make the impact that they were so hoping for. National vote projections produced ...
With local government struggling to maintain services, and with some even facing bankruptcy, one would have thought that all councils need to conserve their resources to deliver the basics on behalf of residents. Alas, it appears a large number are able to still indulge themselves in feel-good events, while schools and social services struggle to make ends meet. The Independent reports that local councils across the UK are set to spend more than £3.8 million of their own money on coronation events with research suggesting that some spent tens of thousands of pounds on events over the bank holiday weekend. ...
Shropshire Council is currently consulting on ideas for a Ludlow Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. This is one of a series of articles explaining the proposals. There are more than 50 proposals, some welcome, some controversial, some impractical. In this article, I present a summary of a complex set of proposals. These proposals are at concept stage. There has been no assessment of whether schemes are practical or affordable. It is not clear how Shropshire Council will take any the proposals forward after the consultation, which ends on 16 June. You will have a chance to give you views ...
In January I turned seventy and, having discussed things fully with my wife Erica, I decided that now would be the right time for me to stand down as Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats. I told the Party in ... Continue reading →
The annual soup and pudding charity event organised by Lesley Nicoll, Phil Welsh and Just Bee Productions happens this Saturday - May 13th. Lunch will from the cook of cooks Alison Cruickshank, always superb and not to be missed! All money will be donated to Penumbra, supporting mental health - a superb cause.
