Historian. Archivist at Bloxham School. My latest Great War book, 'Remember Him at the Altar', is available from @Helionbooks. Opinions are my own only.
Congratulations to Junior of @Bloxhamsport on his second appearance for @EnglandRugby U18s in the Six Nations Festival in France. Two eye-catching performances so far. @NextGenXV @BloxhamSchool
Team news π
England U18 Menβs head coach Jonathan Pendlebury has named his squad to take on Spain in the U18 Six Nations Festival on Monday.
#U6N18 | @Honda_UK
A superb history trip today to the site of Banbury's Great War munitions factory; in use 1916-24, it had 1500 workers and made 4 million HE shells + 350,000 mustard gas shells; enough survives to give a good idea of the site, with Dale Johnston doing a great job as guide.
Superb conditions for today's @SchoolsCup first round tie between @Bloxhamsport and @BedfordSchool . After a well contested game Bloxham ultimately ran out 27-17 winners. @NextGenXV
A great Western Front trip with @footsteps_pod at the weekend, with the highlight the steep climb up the taller (nearly 190m) of the twin slag heaps at Loos. In glorious sunshine we got a great impression of the flat and open terrain of the battlefield.
Yesterday I visited the beautiful Hermanville Cemetery in Normandy to pay my respects at the grave of @OldBloxhamist Lieutenant Robert Bell-Walker (1st South Lancashire Regiment), killed in action on nearby Sword Beach in the early hours of D Day, 80 years ago today.
@DalrympleWill I think he was actually Ambassador to Versailles a couple of decades before he commanded at Dettingen, but it certainly is a fine portrait.
Captain John Wilson, 1st Australian Imperial Force (died of wounds 21.5.15 suffered at Gallipoli), Driver Maurice Adams, 5th N.Z. Artillery (KIA 28.5.17 at Messines) and Private Charles Hammill, 1st/4th Australian Infantry (KIA 18.9.18 at Hargicourt).
This morning I took part in a school assembly explaining ANZAC Day. Alongside Dr Earl and me, two pupils of New Zealand descent told the stories of three @OldBloxhamist ANZACs who perished in the Great War; they will be remembered in the school chapel on Thursday. @Gallipoli100
Congratulations to @OldBloxhamist Dan Eckersley on his man-of-the-match display for Loughborough in Wednesday's BUCS Super Rugby final. Dan captained the @Bloxhamsport 1st XV during the 2019-20 season.
πAn absolute EPIC at the StoneX, and it's @LboroSport who take the title and end @ExeterUniRFC's dreams of a three-peat!
What. A. Game.
#EXELOU 31-35 | FT
A privilege to be at tonight's event to mark the blessing of the new redevelopment of St Mary's, Bloxham, with its distinctive curved screens at the West End, accommodating toilets and a kitchen. Great to see the church's 1583 Breeches Bible on display too.
@GemmaHAuthor If you want to escape the crowds in the chateau, pop along to the tennis court where the oath was sworn in 1789 - if you can manage to find it open!