Alex Brown

Proud supporter of Lions, Wales, Quins & Ealing rugby, plus Brentford football! Works at RAF Northolt. History lover and member of the Independent Company!

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

Jodrell Bank is the most visible causality of UKRI’s short sighted ‘vision’ for science, but as you’ll see below, there are many other valuable UK facilities and collaborations at risk. We became aware of the problem in the autumn of last year. It is not a result of the overall funding settlement for science after the spending review, which was quite generous I would say in the circumstances. Neither as far as we can tell is it a direct decision by ministers (all of whom have now gone in any case). Rather the problems appears to have been caused by senior management at UKRI focusing on short term economic ‘impact’ (whatever that means) rather than doing their job as custodians of the foundations of science. What must happen now is that the new ministerial team make the time (and space ;-)) to review the upcoming catastrophe, and instruct UKRI to do their job and focus on making Britain the best place in the world to do science, now and in the future.

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@EalingCouncil I have been going to the @ealingbeerfest for years. For the first time, I have had to circumnavigate the whole of Walpole Park after trying to exit at the normally open Culmington and Lammas Park exits. Why are there no signs indicating the only exit this year?

[Hamish DBG @HamishDBG]

Putin will be laughing at Starmer’s pitiful defence plan https://t.co/QUlY9WLWrr

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@TelegraphRugby @GavinMairs I’m all for a 3rd tier comp - I miss the likes of Cavalieri Prato, Timisoara, etc. I’m all for reducing teams - 80% of Prem qualifying is crazy. The group stages are fundamental to the comps, with groups of 4 the best. The back to back Dec fixtures were highlights of the season!

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@forgottenwarpod @HistoryBowsh My Grandad was an RAMC Warrant Officer working close to the Chindits. He called Wingate a fanatic - he wasn’t keen on him…

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@almurray @FinleysTouch @TheLondonIC1 @WeHaveWaysPod How did I do 10,000 more steps?! Didn’t think I was that short….

[Ant Bomber Brentnall @bomber_ant]

Marching for Finley - Patrol #3 @TheLondonIC1

MARCHING FOR FINLEY
Saturday 13th June 2026

Planned and devised by a crack London team @AlexGalpin79 @alexkf11990 and Kieran Hawkes aka ‘Chesney’ @Hidden1History !

On Saturday we’ll be escorting @almurray aka Sunray and members of the @WeHaveWaysPod (faaaamily) on a sponsored march across London in support of @FinleysTouch

We’ll be making sure he keeps the map the right way up!

We’ll cover almost 22 miles of London’s wartime landscape, the start line is Golders Green 0845 with a lunch stop at the world famous @FrenchHouseSoho (All hail the Ale) ending at the Imperial War Museum Lambeth @I_W_M and finishing at the @thethreestags

We’ll have two amazing speakers in @eatmatt talking about Virginia Vernon who was responsible for the welfare of ENSA performers around the world during the Second World War and Adam @UpTheAirborne Fenwick who will talk about 12 Para and the battle of Breville in Normandy 1944!

Why do we do it? To raise funds for this amazing charity who supports children with cancer and their families when they need it most.

If you’d like to support the cause, every donation, share and word of encouragement is hugely appreciated.

https://t.co/6MseGv9VfX

@James1940 @militaryhistori @GaudernMichael @GoalhangerHQ @tonypastor70 @holland_tom @dcsandbrook @Professor_Hal @robert_lyman @SpitfireFilly @AndyAitcheson @HistoryPegg @fha772 @Franksaunders21 @soave1000 @rentaquill @SilenceInPolish @JohnCMcManus3 @JohnNicholRAF @J_oey_M @james_2904 @Karl_Reid @RedFiveModels @AlasdairGSY @GaryLineker @alanshearer @MicahRichards @campbellclaret @RoryStewartUK

@WHW_NorthernIC @WHW_CambridgeIC @DorsetIc @KentBuffsIC @TheRestHistory @RestIsPolitics @RestIsFootball

#MarchingWithSunrayForFinley #WeHaveWays #FinleysTouch #WW2History #LondonHistory

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@bomber_ant @TheLondonIC1 @AlexGalpin79 @alexkf11990 @Hidden1History @almurray Fantastic cause, and really looking forward to it! Should point out to the CO that it’s 0730z…….

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

Extraordinarily - and this seems to demonstrate a complete disregard of the seriousness of defence at the heart of government - John Healey was only told what the offer was for additional defence funding on Monday afternoon.

I am told Number 10 then tried to rush and publish the Defence Investment Plan on Thursday.

Then a handbrake was applied by Mr Healey and his military chiefs. The (now ex) defence secretary made clear that racing to release the blueprint without a settlement that had been accepted by him and his team would be a risk for defence and for its soldiers, sailors and aviators.

You can only imagine the tone of the exchange that must have taken place - and I know that people were in the MOD until very late last night.

But John Healey firmly believes the settlement was inadequate and, if left unchallenged, would not enable the UK to keep the country safe or meet its international commitments - such as help defend Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

A key detail is that Mr Healey believes defence spending must be increased to 3% of GDP by 2030, up from 2.3% now. This would guarantee tens of billions of additional pounds for defence.

But - despite the stakes and the position of the defence secretary - the Prime Minister and Chancellor agreed just to inch it up to 2.68% of GDP within that time frame, after hitting a new target of 2.6% next year (which is already being inflated by lumping in the 0.1% that is spent on the intelligence agencies).

Utterly incredible.

What must our allies and our adversaries be thinking, let alone everyone in the UK armed forces and, frankly, everyone in our country?

We all rely on a secure UK to live, work, go to school, enjoy holidays, access healthcare, spend time with friends and families.

This is not a divine right. It happens because we have security - something that might not be apparent until or unless it is compromised...

[Al Murray 🇺🇦 @almurray]

MARCHING with SUNRAY

Saturday 13th June in aid of @finleystouch helping families facing childhood cancer
Join us, join in, donate

Thank you!

https://t.co/rXedMDY6Gf

[Robert Lyman 🇺🇦 @robert_lyman]

I don’t actually think that this is true.

What is true is that we have never before faced such dramatic insecurity as a country whilst being so inadequately defended.

We are living in dangerous times in large part because you @Keir_Starmer and your government refuse to defend the country properly.

There are consequences to profound military weakness. Insecurity is one of them.

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@meggettonian @acdmom3 @kershaw_alex I would not recommend Ambrose as he is rather liberal with facts…. E.g in Band of Brothers he says Blythe doesn’t survive his Normandy wounds, when he actually wins a Bronze Star in Korea! Sand & Steel by Peter Caddick Adams is the best D-Day history IMO.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

One of the many great days in our wonderful history. Which today’s young folk know nothing about. Watch and be proud. We liberated a great ally (still is) from the greatest evil.

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

I got my steps in today with another terrific @guidltours walk taking advantage of an Ealing rugby away day! Today, @CharlesEsdaile was my guide for the Civil War battles of Powick Bridge and Worcester. The latter was fascinatingly complex including a bridge of boats!

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

Another great morning spent with @guidltours before a rugby away match! Today was a quirky tour of Cambridge led by @JulesHumphrys before Cambridge v Ealing. He is a superb guide telling some great stories!

[Robert Lyman 🇺🇦 @robert_lyman]

Further to this, if you want to understand why we have an entire political class entirely clueless about the nasty, violent and brutal business of warfighting -itself a critical function in defending U.K. national interests and preserving our security - look no further than this nonsense. He’s not alone; an entire political class in parliament and Westminster hold these views. I know; I’ve seen and heard them. The push back? Weak, divided and simply not effective in the face of the progressive mantras spouted by the people who govern us.

[Robert Lyman 🇺🇦 @robert_lyman]

We’re lost.

This is a masterclass in explaining why we are entirely undefended, when policy makers like Tom Fletcher do not understand war. I know he’s UN, but people like this are listened to by a U.K. government keen to align itself to ‘progressive’ principles of engagement that mean we will never be able properly to fight to protect our interests.

In war, none of the things Fletcher mentions are war crimes, and are perfectly legitimate - and important - targets. The @BBCr4today appears also clueless in failing to properly challenge this utter nonsense.

[Alex Brown @BeeQuin1]

@metoffice Deep sigh - Monty being made out as the villain once again, with ridiculous statements like “if we delay we will lose this war” and saying Stagg would be personally responsible for losing the war. Ahistorical nonsense that upholds an American belief that Monty was a villain.

[Toby Li @tobyliiiiiiiiii]

Humans are returning to the Moon for the first time in 54 years exactly one week from today.

This is not being talked about enough.