Category Archives: Out and about

The traffic was light and the sun was shining. The Gloucestershire countryside stretched away in both directions. It seemed an afternoon for BBC Radio 3, something that would not jar. Choral Evensong from Westminster Abbey was just beginning – a … Continue reading →

There is a white horse in the field beyond my family home. Of course, white horses aren’t called white, are they? They are greys. Except this one isn’t, it seems a brilliant white against the lush green of the field. … Continue reading →

It is some thirty years since my maternal grandfather died. It is from him that my mother has inherited an encyclopaedic memory of history, a capacity to recall the oral traditions of the family, and a wide range of recollections … Continue reading →

It is Somerset Day. It is the annual county-wide celebration of what Somerset means to its people. The county flag, a red wyvern on a yellow background is much in evidence. The date was chosen because it marks the anniversary … Continue reading →

The first day of May, and in a normal year a trip to the Somerset town of Glastonbury would have brought an encounter with a large crowd gathered to mark the pagan festival of Beltane. Faces painted green, head dresses … Continue reading →