My first book was not Oxford Castaways or a novel or poetry book but Oxfordshire Rambles, which was published by The Oxford Times - 10 circular walks devised by the late Jack and Margaret Ibbott. Jack and Margaret introduced
On this day in history—May 6 1954—Oxford graduate Roger Bannister became the first person in the world to break the four-minute mile, at the Iffley Road Track. Watched by about 3,000 spectators, he smashed the mile in 3 minutes 59.4
Shakespeare and Donne created thousands of words between them - its a British trait that we can be proud of. Let's find new words for our time . This government’s war on woke includes opposing the ‘decolonisation’ of museums, history
Today the Oxford Mail published my feature about the Ramblers. I highlight the need for a new group under the Ramblers umbrella - a walking group for families with young children. Anyone interested? https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20125497.join-ramblers-free-walks-across-oxfordshire/ During Covid lockdowns, The Oxford Mail
My fellow oxib organiser, James Harrison was on BBC Radio Oxford last night being interviewed with the artist John Buckley who created the famous Headington shark. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bsy6nh and forward to 6.35 to hear James and John. I was privileged to
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014xt4 This morning (March3) Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ancient Sanskrit text the Arthashastra-one of the major works of Indian literature. According to legend, it was written by Chanakya, a political advisor to the ruler Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 321
My memoir has been edited, copy edited and the cover designed now it goes to Claret Press's talented book designer Petya Tsankova to create the finished product. There'll be some unusual features. Each chapter ends with a relevant recipe
Weimin says ‘I spent an hour and a half in the print room to study Raphael’s original drawing. I tried to draw the same size as the original and I presume Raphael might have spent no more than 1.5 hours
Thanks to the success of the first Oxford Indie Book Fair there will be a second one - even better - on Saturday April 2 from 10.30- 4.30 The 45 exhibitors will include independent publishers such as Claret Press,