Richard Hillary, Battle of Britain, Archibald McIndoe, and My Favourite Book
On the 3rd of September 1940 Richard Hillary was shot down during the most intense phase of the Battle of Britain. Richard Hillary was the author of my favourite book, The Last Enemy, which I posted about in Readers Club. He had joined the Oxford University Air...
MAD, Oppenheimer, and Crossbows
My trawl through todays historical events has thrown up a coincidence. On the 30th August 1146 it is said that European leaders banned the crossbow. I confess that I am yet to find authoritative confirmation of this date. In 1139 the Second Council of the Lateran,...
According to Hoyle
According to Hoyle is a phrase I remember from childhood. On Sundays my father played golf, followed by poker at the card table in the clubhouse. According to the Oxford English Dictionary according to Hoyle means according to plan or the rules. The impression I had...
The Abolition of Slavery
King William IV, signed royal assent of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 on 28th August of that year. The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was a landmark legislation that marked a significant turning point in the fight against slavery in the British Empire. The act finally...
Writing Process
Today I’m compelled to write about the creative writing process. I’ve reached quite an exciting phase in writing my fifth novel. Yesterday scenes were playing out in my mind like scenes in a film. Now I know that I can write it. Of course it’s taken a lot of hard work...
Magna Carta & Papal Infalibility
On 24th August 1215 Pope Innocent III declared that Magna Carta was invalid He berated the barons that ‘by such violence and fear as might affect the most courageous of men’, they had forced John to accept an agreement ‘illegal, unjust, harmful to royal rights and...
Book 5 Outline and Gout
I have started writing the outline for Book 5 in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Readers of my fourth book, Called to Account will know a physician called Manuel. In my outline of Book 5, Manuel pays a house call to a patient with gout. I researched historical...
Richard III, The Battle of Bosworth Field, & Crime Writing
On 22nd August 1485 Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field. It was the final clash in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between two rival branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, the House of Lancaster and the House of York. This battle marked the...
Mary Queen of Scots
On 19th August 1561 Mary arrived in Leith to assume the throne of Scotland, after thirteen years in France. Mary Stuart had ascended to the throne of Scotland as an infant, only to face a tumultuous reign marked by power struggles, religious conflicts, and ultimately,...
Richard Hillary, Battle of Britain, Archibald McIndoe, and My Favourite Book
On the 3rd of September 1940 Richard Hillary was shot down during the most intense phase of the Battle of Britain. Richard Hillary was the author of my favourite book, The Last Enemy, which I posted about in Readers Club. He had joined the Oxford University Air...
MAD, Oppenheimer, and Crossbows
My trawl through todays historical events has thrown up a coincidence. On the 30th August 1146 it is said that European leaders banned the crossbow. I confess that I am yet to find authoritative confirmation of this date. In 1139 the Second Council of the Lateran,...
According to Hoyle
According to Hoyle is a phrase I remember from childhood. On Sundays my father played golf, followed by poker at the card table in the clubhouse. According to the Oxford English Dictionary according to Hoyle means according to plan or the rules. The impression I had...
The Abolition of Slavery
King William IV, signed royal assent of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 on 28th August of that year. The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was a landmark legislation that marked a significant turning point in the fight against slavery in the British Empire. The act finally...
Writing Process
Today I’m compelled to write about the creative writing process. I’ve reached quite an exciting phase in writing my fifth novel. Yesterday scenes were playing out in my mind like scenes in a film. Now I know that I can write it. Of course it’s taken a lot of hard work...
Magna Carta & Papal Infalibility
On 24th August 1215 Pope Innocent III declared that Magna Carta was invalid He berated the barons that ‘by such violence and fear as might affect the most courageous of men’, they had forced John to accept an agreement ‘illegal, unjust, harmful to royal rights and...
Book 5 Outline and Gout
I have started writing the outline for Book 5 in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Readers of my fourth book, Called to Account will know a physician called Manuel. In my outline of Book 5, Manuel pays a house call to a patient with gout. I researched historical...
Richard III, The Battle of Bosworth Field, & Crime Writing
On 22nd August 1485 Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field. It was the final clash in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between two rival branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, the House of Lancaster and the House of York. This battle marked the...
Mary Queen of Scots
On 19th August 1561 Mary arrived in Leith to assume the throne of Scotland, after thirteen years in France. Mary Stuart had ascended to the throne of Scotland as an infant, only to face a tumultuous reign marked by power struggles, religious conflicts, and ultimately,...