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Thoughts on the Six Nations

I sent an email to a rugby enthusiast with my prediction that Ireland would win the Six Nations but was not confident of England’s chances. Aside from the injuries, a back row that did not inspire and Joe Marchant on the wing, I have serious doubts about Eddie Jones’ game management. My friend [...]

February 6, 2022 // 0 Comments

Scotland hold on for a famous victory

Writing as a Scot now residing in the English home counties, yesterday’s 20-17 rugby union victory over England at Murrayfield comfortably qualified as a welcome not to say exhilarating opening to the annual Six Nations campaign. Statistically, it is very rare that a team losing its opening game [...]

February 6, 2022 // 0 Comments

Sir Edward Elgar

I would lay a penny to the Pargiter tenner that if anyone had to cite the quintessential English composer it would be Edward Elgar. He composed five versions of Pomp and Circumstance and Land of Hope and Glory – written at a low point in the Boer War – is the most stirring of anthems. [...]

February 5, 2022 // 0 Comments

Casting to type – an interesting aspect of modern sensitivities

In these modern times of saturation-coverage of fashionable issues such as  “levelling up”, diversity, equality, transgender rights versus those who argue these affect “women born as women” (if I’m even allowed to use that phrase) – just “wokedom” [...]

February 5, 2022 // 0 Comments

My art week

I cannot really add to Derek Williams’ appreciation of the Tudor Portraits at the Holburne gallery in Bath. I’m not a huge fan of royal portraiture as it constrains a great court painter like Velazquez, but thankfully not Gustav Klimt who left the court of the Habsburgs in the secessionist [...]

February 4, 2022 // 0 Comments

The One and the Other/Philip Kerr

This novel – written in 2006 but published after the author’s death – reflects the best and the worst of Philip Kerr. The best? His sense of location, his knowledge of the Third Reich and the creation of the “Good German” cop Bernie Gunther. The worst? The failed attempt [...]

February 3, 2022 // 0 Comments

To Bath (and back again one day)

I had previously visited Bath only five times in my life – three of them day expeditions to watch the Harlequins play “away” Premiership matches against Bath Rugby – and so my wife and I, delighted to take up the suggestion of the Rust’s esteemed sports editor that we join him at The Rec [...]

February 2, 2022 // 0 Comments

Those were the Krays, my friend

Last night I watched the second part of an ITV documentary Secrets of the Krays on the Kray twins. My immediate reaction was that this all happened so long ago – their hey day was the late 1960s – and most of those on the programme were necessarily quite old now. The point was made that [...]

February 2, 2022 // 0 Comments

Praise to Dave Ryding

Dave Ryding – England’s greatest skier – is not a household name but he should be. Ryding, aged 35, recently won the gold at slalom in the Alpine World Cup on Kitzbuhel. Born in Bretherton, Lancashire – the son of a market trader and hairdresser – he had to learn his trade [...]

February 1, 2022 // 0 Comments

“WOKE”-WATCH LATEST

It is a duty that falls to me – as editor of The Rust – to bring to the attention of our adherents the latest madness from the 21st Century “woke”/diversity fraternity and I take no particular pleasure today in having to present to you the following:- HIGHWAY CODE CHANGES [...]

January 31, 2022 // 0 Comments

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