History
Does Sir Jim Ratcliffe get a fair press?
Our sporting press like nothing better than to criticise. Two weeks ago, in rugby’s Six Nations tournament, England were predicted to lose to France and head coach Steve Borthwick was under the cosh. England then proved the critics wrong. Underlying this critique is the patronising assumption [...]
The Boys Book of Soccer (1957)
At a garden fête last year I bought the above slightly fixed volume and interesting reading it made too. Of most interest were the league tables for 1955/56. In those days you had a Third Division – north and south – from which only one team was promoted. Brighton, Ipswich Town, [...]
The Upside Down World/Benjamin Moser
This book is an assessment of the Golden Age of Dutch Art – the 17th century- by an American who relocated from the States to Utrecht. He is not an art historian but an appreciator. I was recommended to it by a friend whose bag was more Renaissance Art but looked for an introduction to Dutch [...]
Super Bowl 2025
The Super Bowl poses many challenges. To the viewer, he/she must – if he/she wants to see it live – stay awake between the hours of 11.30pm and 3-30am. As it’s mainly an event, rather than a sporting spectacle of competitiveness, the commentary must cater for the casual as well as the [...]
England 26 France 25 (Six Nations)
England confounded the negativity of the Press in the build-up by not collapsing in the final quarter but by winning in the dying embers. In truth it was not a great game of rugby. France dominated the first half but made some dreadful errors. Marcus Smith’s kicking was not reliable off the [...]
A Woman Bathing In A Stream/Rembrandt 1654
You might have thought radio is not the best medium to present an art programme but I always enjoy Moving Pictures on Radio 4 presented by Cathy Fitzgerald. The picture subject matter is on the programme website but I prefer to consult my Works of Rembrandt by the publisher Taschen which had a [...]
France 44 Wales 0 (Six Nations)
France opened the Six Nations with a resounding victory over Wales. The only negative in an impressive performance was the upgraded red card given to Romain Ntamack which might put the fly half – only recently returned from a long injury lay-off – out for a sizeable part of the rest of [...]
Nazi war crimes: fact or fiction?
In the week I had two interesting conversations regarding the Nazis. The first was with an old cultivated friend and brother of a distinguished historian, who said that non-fiction was more reliable than any fiction in understanding history. The second was with a highly knowledgeable, well informed [...]
Sir Keith Park
On Monday I walked from Victoria Station to my club The Reform in Pall Mall. As a London park I prefer Regents Park, not just because of its greater amenities (the boating lake, Rose Garden, Open Air Theatre and Zoo), but because you can get lost there – whereas at St James, you are more or [...]