David Hay

Business heritage and archives professional.
Trustee of @NLWales / @LLGCymru.
All views my own.

[Omid Djalili @omid9]

🚨As of yesterday, the Islamic regime opened up the Internet at around 30% connectivity. Forced to do it for their own interests as the country was near to complete paralysis.

As such, hundreds of videos have now come through on the telegram channels. I’ve seen about 10% of them. I have now stopped.

We always knew what this regime was capable of. The cruelty, savagery and barbarism that I am seeing now is on a different level. It is not just the foreign militias hired by the regime from Iraq and Afghanistan to do their dirty work. It is also Iranian security forces against their fellow countrymen, unarmed civilians.

The numbers being killed each day is increasing at such an alarming rate it is beyond shocking. Bodies are piled up on the streets of the major cities in black bags like garbage. Equally staggering is the silence and inaction by the international community.

Hitler tried to exterminate the Jews. What we are witnessing in Iran in real time is a government trying exterminate a segment of their own population that that does not agree with them. Even if it’s the majority, there is no stopping them.

What gives people in Iran hope is us not looking away. But most importantly - in the brief moments the internet allows them - to glimpse messages of support from people on here. Because it make them feel less lonely.

All eyes on Iran.

#R2PforIran (responsibility to protect R2P)
#IranMassacre

[Cotswold Archaeology @CotswoldArch]

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀... 🖼️

In 1940, as the threat of invasion loomed and Allied fortunes in Europe looked bleak, the National Gallery needed a secure place to protect its collection. Some proposed shipping the paintings to Canada, but Director Kenneth Clark feared the risk of U-boat attacks. Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed and immediately rejected the idea. After much searching, the perfect location was found: the Manod slate mine.

To house the collection, the mine’s entrance was blasted wider to accommodate the largest artworks, and small brick “bungalows” were constructed deep within the caverns to ensure stable temperature and humidity. Specially designed “elephant” cases were built to transport the paintings safely. By the summer of 1941, the entire National Gallery collection had been moved and reunited underground, where it remained safely stored for four years.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗲. They were invited to the unveiling of a new tablet made from Manod slate, commemorating the quarry’s vital role in safeguarding Britain’s cultural heritage during the Second World War ⛏️🖌️🎨

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵: 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬-𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯.

@NationalGallery #WartimeBritain #Art #ArtHistory #Archaeology #Heritage

[Nation.Cymru @NationCymru]

Aberystwyth has joined a global network of 350 Creative Cities that have been recognised for their excellence in creative fields across the world by becoming Wales’ first UNESCO City of Literature https://t.co/7SYYq2xBWJ

[David Hay @commsarchives]

I have fond memories of Somerby as my family lived there until I was seven, but I never knew this.

[HistoryExtra @HistoryExtra]

#OnThisDay in 1688, surgeon and anatomist William Cheselden was born in Somerby, Leicestershire. In 1733, he would publish 'Osteographia' or the 'Anatomy of Bones', the first full and accurate description of the human skeletal system.

📸 Getty

[David Hay @commsarchives]

No prizes for guessing where this working K6 telephone box can be found. #Cornwall

[David Hay @commsarchives]

Couldn't resist posting this now rare fine example of a KX100 telephone kiosk, still in @BTGroup service. Seen yesterday in Charlestown, Cornwall.

[Nation.Cymru @NationCymru]

The music from the acclaimed historical TV drama Wolf Hall will be performed in a special concert at a festival in Wales this month.
https://t.co/vJMpPHq1uo

[The Telephone Exchange Building (1945-1981) @tele_exchange]

Cymru Calling: Telephone Exchange Buildings in Wales [online]

Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 6.30pm

https://t.co/5HfZYVL58l

A richly illustrated talk about the architectural history and evolution of telephone exchange buildings in the United Kingdom...

[David Hay @commsarchives]

@BullsNewsBlog Rather pleased to feature extreme left in this photo (with my son in law). Great win.

[David Hay @commsarchives]

Rather pleased to feature extreme left of this photo with son-in-law Chris. In the Peak District last night to see the mighty Hereford FC beat Buxton 1:2, their first win of the season and in fact their first goals scored

[Bulls News @BullsNewsBlog]

Before Kick-Off At Buxton https://t.co/WWkI7Qi6DY

[David Hay @commsarchives]

Amongst her many other later achievements, she began her career as part of Tommy Flowers' team at the GPO Dollis Hill Research Station developing ERNIE 1, the first Premium Bonds electronic random number generator. Privileged to talk with her in 2023 at an event there. 2/2

[David Hay @commsarchives]

So sorry to learn of the passing of Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley, IT pioneer, female tech entrepreneur, flexible working champion employing women in large numbers as programmers and autism campaigner. A true legend, RIP. 1/2 https://t.co/wzoRhmFwcV

[David Hay @commsarchives]

Sorry to learn of the passing of Dame Stella Rimington, first female head of MI5. She began her career as an archivist with @TheHiveWorcs before moving to the dark side. RIP https://t.co/hxaeOOXZJF

[Samuel Byers @SamuelFByers]

120 years ago, Britain built this system to ensure secure communications throughout the empire

At the bottom of the sea, enemies couldn’t tamper with cables easily

Today, we have orders of magnitude more undersea infrastructure, but it is easier than ever to attack (Nordstream, e.g.)

Different strategic picture!

[Arts Council England @ace_national]

🕵️ This year’s Reviewing Committee Annual Report is going top secret...

Alan Turing’s wartime papers for the secretive Delilah Project – the only surviving technical manuscript by Turing – is just one of the amazing items saved.

Have a read 👉 https://t.co/yoinJ5XSpH

[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama @RWCMD]

We are saddened to hear of the passing of renowned Welsh singer Iris Williams. Iris was a graduate, Fellow, and friend of the College who performed for Queen Elizabeth II and President Gerald Ford. We were honoured to welcome her at our New York Gala.

[David Hay @commsarchives]

@duolingo why do you keep showing me ads when I opt not to see them and already have maximum number of hearts (5)? Really annoying.

[National Library of Wales @NLWales]

Wales’ story belongs to all of us.

This is Your Library - Croeso.

We’re turning the page — explore the bold new strategy shaping our next chapter 👀

https://t.co/quM5Vuwpoe

[David Hay @commsarchives]

@afneil @afneil actually fascinating, if depressing, Vance's conversion from democrat to Trumpian republican. Trump is a father figure to Vance who never had one growing up. Desperate for his approval and affirmation. Seen it before in friends from broken families.

[Historic England @HistoricEngland]

These relics of 1960s design are protected thanks to applications by phone box enthusiast @K8iosk.

There are now 23 K8s on the National Heritage List for England.