northcountry-tours

05/03/2024

Today, back in 1936, something quite incredible was seen in the skies over southern England. As the SPITFIRE made it's first ever flight, from EASTLEIGH AERODROME (now Southampton Airport).
The SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE was the brainchild of the great R.J. MITCHELL and will ever be famous for it's role during World War II.
Of the 20,351 that were built of all the variants there are only 53 in airworthy condition.
Many different nations used the Spitfire, however, it will always make you proud to be British! So if you want to commemorate this genius of engineering, apply the Brylcreem generously and quaff a pint or two of Kent's finest, of the same name!

26/02/2024

Back in 1916 Mutual signed CHARLIE CHAPLIN to a film contract.
If that sounds rather strange to you, don't forget that us Europeans were somewhat preoccupied (if you are from across the pond, World War I had long started, you were late).
Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in 1889, down in LONDON; that's right, he's one of us!
Chaplin had a career as an actor, director, composer, screenwriter, editor and producer spanning over 75 years!
His achievements are too numerous to list; but it will always be as THE TRAMP that we remember him, a true story of rags to riches. This is despite his having married four times, fathering eleven children, finding the time to co-found UNITED ARTISTS and be the most famous and highly paid actor in the world.
Chaplin resisted the move to 'TALKIES' and after World War II was suspected of having communist sympathies, ultimately this drove him to move to Switzerland.
There are many delighful stories about Chaplin, but I'll leave you with my favourite: He once entered a Charlie Chaplin lookalike competition and only came 3rd!

14/02/2024

Happy VALENTINE'S DAY to everyone! Well almost all, today is indeed Valentine's Day in the Western Church, but not the Eastern.
Now who was ST. VALENTINE? Don't bother getting your hagiography down from the bookshelves. The answer is that nobody knows! There were at least three saints of the same name, but which are we commemorating? It's a mystery.
FEBRUARY 14th has long been their SAINTS DAY; alas there are no other records of any of them.
Originally there was no particular connection with love. It is GEOFFREY CHAUCER we need to blame for this! He and a number of his contemporaries got very excitable about the idea of COURTLY LOVE, since then they have been inextricably linked.
So, how to mark the occasion? Dinner? Flowers? Proposals? I'll break it down: Dinner, surrounded by smug people pretending to be having a much better relationship than yours. Flowers, double the price. Proposals, well did you want to propose yesterday?
If you have a loved one, endeavour to treat them well and tell them that you love them every day. If you are single, it really must be the easiest night of the year to resolve that situation, however temporarily.

30/01/2024

Today in 1965 the world still still for the funeral of SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL.
His funeral was one of only two STATE FUNERALS for a commoner in the last century. His cousin was a duke, but we have a funny view of what is common over here.
The funeral itself was held at ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL and was unusual as it was attended by the sovereign, HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II. As well as our own royal family, royalty and world leaders gathered to pay their respects to a man who was later voted to be the greatest ever Briton.
Churchill is best remember as our PRIME MINISTER for much of WORLD WAR II. He also won a general election to serve a second term.
Over his political career he held almost every great office of state. In addition to this he had been an army officer, latterly in the trenches of WORLD WAR I. He was the highest paid journalist in the country for a while too.
Notably Churchill put more words to paper than SHAKESPEARE and DICKINS combined! His HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES netted him the NOBEL PRIZE for LITERATURE.
When asked, after the war, how he thought the history books would judge him, his reply was, "Well, I intend to write them!"
After his funeral his coffin was borne along the RIVER THAMES, cranes dipping in salute. His last journey was by specially chartered train, from WATERLOO STATION to BLADON, in Oxfordshire, within sight of his ancestral home of BLENHEIM PALACE.
I can think of no greater way to pay tribute than a good cigar and a stiff brandy! Enloy!

27/01/2024

22/01/2024

This may end up being contentious, but here goes. (After all, facts are facts. )
It was today in 1771 when Spain ceded the FALKLAND ISLANDS to Britain.
Most of South America at the time was under Spanish control; thus their involvement was understandable.
ARGENTINA was not founded until 1816. This does tend to dismiss their claims to sovereignty over the islands.
However, in 1982 they invaded the Falklands. In one of the most effective projections of force the world has ever seen a British task force retook them.
So maybe today, reflect on loyalty, consider the ramifications of sovereignty and the sacrifices that will be made to protect this.
A suitable place for these reflections would be the crypt of ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, where you will find the memorial to the British servicemen who lost their lives retaking the islands, including LT.COL H.H. JONES and SGT. IAN McKAY both of whom received posthumous VICTORIA CROSSES.

#1982

19/01/2024

Today we commemorate something really quite monumental! It was on this day in 1265 that our PARLIAMENT first met.
Down in London, they host the world's oldest parliamentary democracy. The MOTHER OF ALL PARLIAMENTS! This was the first parliament in England that was not summoned by royal command. It is SIMON DE MONTFORT, Earl of Leicester we have to thank.
This parliament met in WESTMINSTER HALL, the oldest remaining part of the Palace of Westminster. This is the finest medieval hall in Europe and therefore the world.
Westminster Hall originally dates from 1097! In the fire of 1834 the Hall was saved at the expense of much of the rest of the royal palace.
If you get the chance, do go on a tour!

18/01/2024

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For those of you on Instagram, hit the link and have a follow would you?

17/01/2024

Another cold day today! Not so cold that local mountain rescue weren’t training in the river though!

16/01/2024

This is for the military historians out there! In 1809 the British defeated the French at the BATTLE of CORUNNA.
The armies under LT.GEN. SIR JOHN MOORE and MARSHAL SOULT were very evenly matched; although the British had more infantry whilst the French had cavalry.
This battle came at the end of one of the most epic retreats in history. The Spanish had been defeated, so General Moore withdrew his army, in order that they might be preserved to return to the PENINSULAR WAR. The speed at which they moved is remembered today by the pace at which the LIGHT INFANTRY march!
Marshal Soult forced the British into battle before they could be safely embarked. Although the Britsh won the day, the French could claim a strategic victory.
The British commander, General Moore was fatally wounded. He remains buried in Corunna. His death made way for a young 'SEPOY GENERAL', Sir Arthur Wellesley, better remembered as the 1st DUKE of WELLINGTON. As I hope you'll know, he defeated NAPOLEAN at the BATTLE of WATERLOO; now that was a strategic victory!
Another officer present was the then Brevet MAJOR CHARLES ROWAN. Later, as Lt.Col. Sir Charles Rowan he was the founding Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, probably at the suggestion of Wellington. He set up our police force in 1829 at the behest of, the then Home Secretary, SIR ROBERT PEEL. So if you've ever wondered why we refer to police officers as 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers' now you know.
For further reading, try the excellent poem, 'The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna' by CHARLES WOLFE.

16/01/2024

Below freezing on yesterday’s walk.

16/01/2024

Definitely a bracing walk! Worth it for the scenery though!