Rupert Matthews's Blog, page 27
October 24, 2013
Introduciton to Surrey
Surrey is one of the most charming of counties. But for those who think they know it, there are some surprises in store. The county is not all suburban gardens, rolling hills and quiet villages. History has been made here, tragedy has struck and fortune has smiled.
Surrey folk today might not notice, but the bridge they drive over may be 700 years old, or might be only the latest in a string of bridges that go back to Roman times. They may, if they go shopping in Epsom, make a purchase in a shop that was once home to Nell Gwynne, the witty mistress of Charles II. Others unknowingly walk on battlefields where brave men fought and died for the causes they believed in.
For those who think Surrey is a peaceful place they might be surprised by the time that the army had to be called out to end a riot in Guildford that left houses in flames and a policeman dead. And there have been brutal murders in plenty, some of the killers ended up swinging from a gibbet but others got away with thier brutal crimes.
Not everything in Surrey has been a success. Take the grandly named Staines, Wokingham and Woking Junction Railway which never got as far as Woking. Then there was the great playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan who moved to Leatherhead to find peace and quiet in which to work, but who got so distracted by the fine fishing that he didn’t write a single word the whole time he was there.
But Surrey is not all about the past. There is plenty to be seen today, be it theatres or country walks, wildlife or fine churches.
Wherever you are going in Surrey, slip this book into your pocket and prepare to be surprised.
From "A Little Book of Surrey"
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and locals alike.
Surrey folk today might not notice, but the bridge they drive over may be 700 years old, or might be only the latest in a string of bridges that go back to Roman times. They may, if they go shopping in Epsom, make a purchase in a shop that was once home to Nell Gwynne, the witty mistress of Charles II. Others unknowingly walk on battlefields where brave men fought and died for the causes they believed in.
For those who think Surrey is a peaceful place they might be surprised by the time that the army had to be called out to end a riot in Guildford that left houses in flames and a policeman dead. And there have been brutal murders in plenty, some of the killers ended up swinging from a gibbet but others got away with thier brutal crimes.
Not everything in Surrey has been a success. Take the grandly named Staines, Wokingham and Woking Junction Railway which never got as far as Woking. Then there was the great playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan who moved to Leatherhead to find peace and quiet in which to work, but who got so distracted by the fine fishing that he didn’t write a single word the whole time he was there.
But Surrey is not all about the past. There is plenty to be seen today, be it theatres or country walks, wildlife or fine churches.
Wherever you are going in Surrey, slip this book into your pocket and prepare to be surprised.
From "A Little Book of Surrey"
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and locals alike.
An Introduction to Surrey
Surrey is one of the most charming of counties. But for those who think they know it, there are some surprises in store. The county is not all suburban gardens, rolling hills and quiet villages. History has been made here, tragedy has struck and fortune has smiled.
Surrey folk today might not notice, but the bridge they drive over may be 700 years old, or might be only the latest in a string of bridges that go back to Roman times. They may, if they go shopping in Epsom, make a purchase in a shop that was once home to Nell Gwynne, the witty mistress of Charles II. Others unknowingly walk on battlefields where brave men fought and died for the causes they believed in.
For those who think Surrey is a peaceful place they might be surprised by the time that the army had to be called out to end a riot in Guildford that left houses in flames and a policeman dead. And there have been brutal murders in plenty, some of the killers ended up swinging from a gibbet but others got away with thier brutal crimes.
Not everything in Surrey has been a success. Take the grandly named Staines, Wokingham and Woking Junction Railway which never got as far as Woking. Then there was the great playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan who moved to Leatherhead to find peace and quiet in which to work, but who got so distracted by the fine fishing that he didn’t write a single word the whole time he was there.
But Surrey is not all about the past. There is plenty to be seen today, be it theatres or country walks, wildlife or fine churches.
Wherever you are going in Surrey, slip this book into your pocket and prepare to be surprised.
From "A Little Book of Surrey"
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and locals alike.
Surrey folk today might not notice, but the bridge they drive over may be 700 years old, or might be only the latest in a string of bridges that go back to Roman times. They may, if they go shopping in Epsom, make a purchase in a shop that was once home to Nell Gwynne, the witty mistress of Charles II. Others unknowingly walk on battlefields where brave men fought and died for the causes they believed in.
For those who think Surrey is a peaceful place they might be surprised by the time that the army had to be called out to end a riot in Guildford that left houses in flames and a policeman dead. And there have been brutal murders in plenty, some of the killers ended up swinging from a gibbet but others got away with thier brutal crimes.
Not everything in Surrey has been a success. Take the grandly named Staines, Wokingham and Woking Junction Railway which never got as far as Woking. Then there was the great playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan who moved to Leatherhead to find peace and quiet in which to work, but who got so distracted by the fine fishing that he didn’t write a single word the whole time he was there.
But Surrey is not all about the past. There is plenty to be seen today, be it theatres or country walks, wildlife or fine churches.
Wherever you are going in Surrey, slip this book into your pocket and prepare to be surprised.
From "A Little Book of Surrey"
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
The Little Book of Surrey is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. The county's most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters, royal connections and literally hundreds of wacky facts about Surrey's landscape, towns and villages (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia), come together to make it essential reading for visitors and locals alike.
October 21, 2013
Swithland Spring Water
n 1998 farmer brian Beeb called in a hydro-geologist to see if the spring water on his land had any commercial value. A 300 foot deep bore was sunk to reach the pure water reserve deep in the bedrock and the pure liquid gushed out. . A bottling plant and warehouse has now been built on the site where 150,000 litres of spring water are bottled every week by the 15 staff. There is also an on-site laboratory where daily checks are carried out to ensure the purity and standard of the water. The vast bulk of the water from Swithland Spring goes to water coolers in offices, schools, factories and the like. Over 2,000 such premises are currently supplied, with some domestic business in the area around the farm.
The Swithland Spring draws water from deep beneath the Charnwood Hills. It is a moderately mineralised water that has its own unique and pleasant flavour delicately filtered by nature. The catchment area for the water that filters down to rest under the Charnwood hills is predominately woodland and parkland and still retains the unspoilt beauty of the ancient forest.
A bottling plant and warehouse has been established at the spring source in Swithland, with all the latest equipment on site to ensure that every attention is given to cleanliness. This ensures the high quality of the water is maintained and that it is bottled in its purest form.
Contact Details:
Address: Swithland Spring Water
Hall Farm
Swithland
Leicestershire
LE12 8TQ
Tel: 01509 891189
Email: sales@swithlandspringwater.co.uk
Website: www.swithlandspringwater.co.uk
from "Leicestershire Food and Drink" by Rupert Matthews.
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Leicestershire holds an important place in the history of Britain's food. This exploration of the county's fare sets food and drink against the character of Leicestershire to discover how history, landscape and culture have shaped the county's diet. Combining tales of the creation of Leicestershire's most famous dishes with recipes that show off the quality of the local produce, the story of the Leicestershire's historic market towns and celebrated livestock farming is discussed in detail, giving a clear explanation of how world-renowned delicacies such as the Melton Mowbray pork pie, and both Stilton and Red Leicester cheese, have made their name. Illustrated with detailed images of their creation, and of course mouth-watering photographs of the final product, this book will inspire chefs far and wide. Whether a resident of Leicestershire or merely a fan of its food and drink, this book is a must-have for all those who appreciate the fine traditions of the county's cuisine.
October 16, 2013
Railway Childhood
A Childhood by the Railway
When I was a boy I lived on the north facing hill outside Esher that overlooks the main line from London to Portsmouth and Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
Years later I was living down by the River Thames and commuting up to London by train from Surbiton along that self same LSWR mainline where I had grown up. Day after day I trudged up the hill to the striking inter-wars station to get on to one of the many commuter trains running up to Waterloo. By then all the steam trains had gone, but the mark of them was everywhere. The site of the old water tower, the blackened undersides of the bridges and the old engine sheds. I often wondered what Surrey had been like back in the days of steam.
My Uncle George had been a senior fireman on the LNER line running north from London. He used to tell me about his days on the footplate. He told me how he had started off as a teenager in the shed scrubbing and cleaning, gradually working his way up to be a fireman, first on shunters, then on local trains and finally on the great express trains that thundered along the main lines, belching smoke and steam as they powered up and down from London to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. But I think he had preferred the country lines with their quiet stations, bunnies hopping in the fields and old-style station masters.
Surrey had been like that once. The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture. Moreover, Surrey suffered only one line closure in the Beeching years, leaving over 90% of its railway lines open and operating into the 21st century. Surrey is most fortunate from the railway point of view.
From "How the Steam Railways came to Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy on kindle
Product Description
When I was a boy I lived overlooking the main railway line from London to Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture.
Those railways were to have a dramatic impact on the landscapes, people and economy of Surrey. Indeed, the Surrey that we see today has been largely created by the railways. It is no exaggeration to say that more than any other county in England, Surrey has been built on railways.
About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance.
From the Author
I grew up overlooking the mainline from London to Southampton that cuts like a swathe through Surrey. I was thrilled to write this book, bringing back as it does so many memories of the old days.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steam-Railway...
When I was a boy I lived on the north facing hill outside Esher that overlooks the main line from London to Portsmouth and Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
Years later I was living down by the River Thames and commuting up to London by train from Surbiton along that self same LSWR mainline where I had grown up. Day after day I trudged up the hill to the striking inter-wars station to get on to one of the many commuter trains running up to Waterloo. By then all the steam trains had gone, but the mark of them was everywhere. The site of the old water tower, the blackened undersides of the bridges and the old engine sheds. I often wondered what Surrey had been like back in the days of steam.
My Uncle George had been a senior fireman on the LNER line running north from London. He used to tell me about his days on the footplate. He told me how he had started off as a teenager in the shed scrubbing and cleaning, gradually working his way up to be a fireman, first on shunters, then on local trains and finally on the great express trains that thundered along the main lines, belching smoke and steam as they powered up and down from London to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. But I think he had preferred the country lines with their quiet stations, bunnies hopping in the fields and old-style station masters.
Surrey had been like that once. The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture. Moreover, Surrey suffered only one line closure in the Beeching years, leaving over 90% of its railway lines open and operating into the 21st century. Surrey is most fortunate from the railway point of view.
From "How the Steam Railways came to Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy on kindle
Product Description
When I was a boy I lived overlooking the main railway line from London to Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture.
Those railways were to have a dramatic impact on the landscapes, people and economy of Surrey. Indeed, the Surrey that we see today has been largely created by the railways. It is no exaggeration to say that more than any other county in England, Surrey has been built on railways.
About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance.
From the Author
I grew up overlooking the mainline from London to Southampton that cuts like a swathe through Surrey. I was thrilled to write this book, bringing back as it does so many memories of the old days.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steam-Railway...
Childhood by the Railway
When I was a boy I lived on the north facing hill outside Esher that overlooks the main line from London to Portsmouth and Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
Years later I was living down by the River Thames and commuting up to London by train from Surbiton along that self same LSWR mainline where I had grown up. Day after day I trudged up the hill to the striking inter-wars station to get on to one of the many commuter trains running up to Waterloo. By then all the steam trains had gone, but the mark of them was everywhere. The site of the old water tower, the blackened undersides of the bridges and the old engine sheds. I often wondered what Surrey had been like back in the days of steam.
My Uncle George had been a senior fireman on the LNER line running north from London. He used to tell me about his days on the footplate. He told me how he had started off as a teenager in the shed scrubbing and cleaning, gradually working his way up to be a fireman, first on shunters, then on local trains and finally on the great express trains that thundered along the main lines, belching smoke and steam as they powered up and down from London to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. But I think he had preferred the country lines with their quiet stations, bunnies hopping in the fields and old-style station masters.
Surrey had been like that once. The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture. Moreover, Surrey suffered only one line closure in the Beeching years, leaving over 90% of its railway lines open and operating into the 21st century. Surrey is most fortunate from the railway point of view.
From "How the Steam Railways came to Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy on kindle
Product Description When I was a boy I lived overlooking the main railway line from London to Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape.
The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture.
Those railways were to have a dramatic impact on the landscapes, people and economy of Surrey. Indeed, the Surrey that we see today has been largely created by the railways. It is no exaggeration to say that more than any other county in England, Surrey has been built on railways.
About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance. From the AuthorI grew up overlooking the mainline from London to Southampton that cuts like a swathe through Surrey. I was thrilled to write this book, bringing back as it does so many memories of the old days.
Years later I was living down by the River Thames and commuting up to London by train from Surbiton along that self same LSWR mainline where I had grown up. Day after day I trudged up the hill to the striking inter-wars station to get on to one of the many commuter trains running up to Waterloo. By then all the steam trains had gone, but the mark of them was everywhere. The site of the old water tower, the blackened undersides of the bridges and the old engine sheds. I often wondered what Surrey had been like back in the days of steam.
My Uncle George had been a senior fireman on the LNER line running north from London. He used to tell me about his days on the footplate. He told me how he had started off as a teenager in the shed scrubbing and cleaning, gradually working his way up to be a fireman, first on shunters, then on local trains and finally on the great express trains that thundered along the main lines, belching smoke and steam as they powered up and down from London to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. But I think he had preferred the country lines with their quiet stations, bunnies hopping in the fields and old-style station masters.
Surrey had been like that once. The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture. Moreover, Surrey suffered only one line closure in the Beeching years, leaving over 90% of its railway lines open and operating into the 21st century. Surrey is most fortunate from the railway point of view.
From "How the Steam Railways came to Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy on kindle
Product Description When I was a boy I lived overlooking the main railway line from London to Southampton. It had been built in 1838 by the London and Southampton Railway, later to become the famous London and South Western Railway (LSWR). From our front garden you could see the trains thundering back and forth along the embankment that ran like a stripe across the landscape. By then, of course, the glory days of steam in Surrey were long gone. It was electric trains that raced back and forth. But the odd steam train did go by, the plume of smoke drifting up into the air to disperse over the landscape. The railways came to Surrey in the 1840s and they were still being built in the 1930s, making Surrey most unusual among the counties of England. Across most of the country, railway building had ground to a halt long before the line to Chessington was opened in 1939, complete with suitably modernistic station architecture.
Those railways were to have a dramatic impact on the landscapes, people and economy of Surrey. Indeed, the Surrey that we see today has been largely created by the railways. It is no exaggeration to say that more than any other county in England, Surrey has been built on railways.
About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance. From the AuthorI grew up overlooking the mainline from London to Southampton that cuts like a swathe through Surrey. I was thrilled to write this book, bringing back as it does so many memories of the old days.
October 14, 2013
Mussolni puts one over on Hitler 1934
The dictator of Italy, Mussolini, was as keen to find an ally as was Hitler. In June 1934 he invited the German leader to Venice, tactfully including in the tour the Palazzo Vendramin where Hitler’s favourite composer, Richard Wagner, had died. Hitler accepted, but must have regretted the decision the moment he arrived. Hitler landed in Venice dressed in a blue suit and an old raincoat. Mussolini met him in a glittering uniform of gold braid and mirror-polished jackboots and backed by an honour guard in the most gorgeous uniforms the fashion designers of Italy could produce. The world’s press was on hand to take photos which were, at best, unflattering to Hitler.
Hitler was furious and tried to regain dominance by subjecting Mussolini to a two hour speech the following day when they were supposed to be making complimentary statements to each other. Mussolini, in his turn, was now angry. Little progress was made on the main point of the meeting, which was to reach some form of agreement over the status of Austria.
Before the Great War, Austria had ruled substantial swathes of northern Italy, parts of which had sizeable German-speaking minorities. Hitler had made no secret of his ambition to absorb Austria into the Reich and to embrace all ethnically German peoples into the German state. Mussolini was understandably nervous about his northern borders, particularly the area around Bolzano and Trent and wanted an agreement with Hitler. At Venice he got a vague promise from the Germans to respect Austrian independence, but it was far from being a firm pledge.
from "Hitler: Military Commander" by Rupert Matthews.
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Hitler: Military Commander examines how a non-German former corporal managed to take personal control of an army imbued with Prussian traditions, to appoint, sack and sentence to death its generals, to lead it into a world war for which it was unprepared and, ultimately, to destroy it. It examines Hitler's key military decisions during the Second World War, assesses how far these decisions were militarily justified in light of the intelligence available at the time and provides a fascinating insight into Hitler's relationships with his generals, revealing to what extent his grasp of military strategy was shaped by his personality.
Hitler was furious and tried to regain dominance by subjecting Mussolini to a two hour speech the following day when they were supposed to be making complimentary statements to each other. Mussolini, in his turn, was now angry. Little progress was made on the main point of the meeting, which was to reach some form of agreement over the status of Austria.
Before the Great War, Austria had ruled substantial swathes of northern Italy, parts of which had sizeable German-speaking minorities. Hitler had made no secret of his ambition to absorb Austria into the Reich and to embrace all ethnically German peoples into the German state. Mussolini was understandably nervous about his northern borders, particularly the area around Bolzano and Trent and wanted an agreement with Hitler. At Venice he got a vague promise from the Germans to respect Austrian independence, but it was far from being a firm pledge.
from "Hitler: Military Commander" by Rupert Matthews.
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshopHitler: Military Commander examines how a non-German former corporal managed to take personal control of an army imbued with Prussian traditions, to appoint, sack and sentence to death its generals, to lead it into a world war for which it was unprepared and, ultimately, to destroy it. It examines Hitler's key military decisions during the Second World War, assesses how far these decisions were militarily justified in light of the intelligence available at the time and provides a fascinating insight into Hitler's relationships with his generals, revealing to what extent his grasp of military strategy was shaped by his personality.
October 10, 2013
Sheriff Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett (1850-1908) was a buffalo hunter and cowboy who in 1880 was hired as a Sheriff in New Mexico on the strength of his accuracy with a gun. He won instant fame when he shot dead Billy the Kid and broke up the outlaw’s gang. Garrett then joined the Texas Rangers, returning to New Mexico in 1897 to work on a difficult murder case. He found culprits to be three deputy sheriffs and caught them after a prolonged gun battle. Garrett then went back to Texas to hold a number of government posts. He was shot dead by Jesse Brazel during an argument over grazing rights on land Garrett was renting.
from "Heroes, Rogues and Rascals" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Book Description
Publication Date: 1 Nov 2008
Written by expert authors Rupert Matthews and John Birdsall, this highly illustrated guide, with photos and memorabilia of people who have made their mark on history, includes key entries on each individual, with boxes and biographies about competitors or co-conspirators. With more than 400 extraordinary people in total it is a fascinating look at some of the most colourful characters in history - from ancient times right up-to the present day. Discover why Caligula was mad, what made Napoleon seek to conquer, and who was really was the most outlawed cowboy in the West.But, on the flip side of 'the coin of fame', meet the people who have made their name by heroic acts or astonishing feats of human endeavour. Find out who first broke the four-minute mile, and what drove him on; which astronaughts have been lucky enough to view the Earth from space; and who is the youngest war hero ever to be decorated. "Heroes, Rascals and Rogues" takes a look at some of the most unconventional people to have lived among us, in an easy-to-read, illustrated format with interesting facts and figures that will make this book hard to put down.
from "Heroes, Rogues and Rascals" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Book Description
Publication Date: 1 Nov 2008
Written by expert authors Rupert Matthews and John Birdsall, this highly illustrated guide, with photos and memorabilia of people who have made their mark on history, includes key entries on each individual, with boxes and biographies about competitors or co-conspirators. With more than 400 extraordinary people in total it is a fascinating look at some of the most colourful characters in history - from ancient times right up-to the present day. Discover why Caligula was mad, what made Napoleon seek to conquer, and who was really was the most outlawed cowboy in the West.But, on the flip side of 'the coin of fame', meet the people who have made their name by heroic acts or astonishing feats of human endeavour. Find out who first broke the four-minute mile, and what drove him on; which astronaughts have been lucky enough to view the Earth from space; and who is the youngest war hero ever to be decorated. "Heroes, Rascals and Rogues" takes a look at some of the most unconventional people to have lived among us, in an easy-to-read, illustrated format with interesting facts and figures that will make this book hard to put down.
Sheriff Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett (1850-1908) was a buffalo hunter and cowboy who in 1880 was hired as a Sheriff in New Mexico on the strength of his accuracy with a gun. He won instant fame when he shot dead Billy the Kid and broke up the outlaw’s gang. Garrett then joined the Texas Rangers, returning to New Mexico in 1897 to work on a difficult murder case. He found culprits to be three deputy sheriffs and caught them after a prolonged gun battle. Garrett then went back to Texas to hold a number of government posts. He was shot dead by Jesse Brazel during an argument over grazing rights on land Garrett was renting.
from "Heroes, Rogues and Rascals" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Book DescriptionPublication Date: 1 Nov 2008 Written by expert authors Rupert Matthews and John Birdsall, this highly illustrated guide, with photos and memorabilia of people who have made their mark on history, includes key entries on each individual, with boxes and biographies about competitors or co-conspirators. With more than 400 extraordinary people in total it is a fascinating look at some of the most colourful characters in history - from ancient times right up-to the present day. Discover why Caligula was mad, what made Napoleon seek to conquer, and who was really was the most outlawed cowboy in the West.But, on the flip side of 'the coin of fame', meet the people who have made their name by heroic acts or astonishing feats of human endeavour. Find out who first broke the four-minute mile, and what drove him on; which astronaughts have been lucky enough to view the Earth from space; and who is the youngest war hero ever to be decorated. "Heroes, Rascals and Rogues" takes a look at some of the most unconventional people to have lived among us, in an easy-to-read, illustrated format with interesting facts and figures that will make this book hard to put down.
from "Heroes, Rogues and Rascals" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or a bookshop
Book DescriptionPublication Date: 1 Nov 2008 Written by expert authors Rupert Matthews and John Birdsall, this highly illustrated guide, with photos and memorabilia of people who have made their mark on history, includes key entries on each individual, with boxes and biographies about competitors or co-conspirators. With more than 400 extraordinary people in total it is a fascinating look at some of the most colourful characters in history - from ancient times right up-to the present day. Discover why Caligula was mad, what made Napoleon seek to conquer, and who was really was the most outlawed cowboy in the West.But, on the flip side of 'the coin of fame', meet the people who have made their name by heroic acts or astonishing feats of human endeavour. Find out who first broke the four-minute mile, and what drove him on; which astronaughts have been lucky enough to view the Earth from space; and who is the youngest war hero ever to be decorated. "Heroes, Rascals and Rogues" takes a look at some of the most unconventional people to have lived among us, in an easy-to-read, illustrated format with interesting facts and figures that will make this book hard to put down.
September 26, 2013
King Arthur the Right Bastard
Chapter 4
King Arthur the Right Bastard
Our sub title above is both cruel and somewhat exaggerated, but historians have been revising their view of Dark Age Britain and come up with some interesting ideas as to why the Britons became the Welsh and stuck in Wales (and the Cornish in Cornwall), rather than roaming most of the rest of this island.
In short, it may be down in no small part to money.
The British economy for centuries depended heavily on what amounted to civil service pay. Britain was celebrated for its hunting dogs, but you can’t run an economy off Crufts. It also had an ancient tin industry, less important now as the Bronze Age had long gone. People weren’t so desperately looking for that magic ingredient to mix with their copper to make their weapons of war and items of power and wealth. There was grain, and that was always in demand in the urban centres of the Mediterranean, though it was rather a distance to get it there.
So while trade did take place, and goods were being imported such as fine Samian ware from Gaul, a key component was imperial pay. Britain for much of its existence was an important military centre. With a defended land frontier in the North and a coastline exposed to the East and West to potential (and often, actual) raiders, at its height the island hosted three legions. On top of this there was the civil administration, with the number of local provincial capitals varying as the regional boundaries shifted over time, and each of these regional capitals had civil servants and a governor’s administrative staff that needed paying. Britain’s currency seems to have predominantly been imported on the back of these salaries, giving the province an early experience of trade deficits.
In the fifth century, direct imperial rule collapsed. In the absence of large amounts of historical data, there are different thoughts on what happened over the next hundred and fifty years, beyond the increasing appearance of Germanic settlements across the country, as the Roman way of life slowly disappears. One remarkable series of studies by Dr John Morris postulated that the celebrated Arthur character emerges to subdue the Angles and Saxons after an early revolt, but that a second rebellion a couple of generations later overturns the initial Romano-British hegemony and sets the scene for a gradual decline as a new wave of settlement from North Germany and Denmark follows.
from "A Fate Worse than Debt" by Dr Lee Rotherham
Buy your copy at a bookshop or Amazon
As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.
King Arthur the Right Bastard
Our sub title above is both cruel and somewhat exaggerated, but historians have been revising their view of Dark Age Britain and come up with some interesting ideas as to why the Britons became the Welsh and stuck in Wales (and the Cornish in Cornwall), rather than roaming most of the rest of this island.
In short, it may be down in no small part to money.
The British economy for centuries depended heavily on what amounted to civil service pay. Britain was celebrated for its hunting dogs, but you can’t run an economy off Crufts. It also had an ancient tin industry, less important now as the Bronze Age had long gone. People weren’t so desperately looking for that magic ingredient to mix with their copper to make their weapons of war and items of power and wealth. There was grain, and that was always in demand in the urban centres of the Mediterranean, though it was rather a distance to get it there.
So while trade did take place, and goods were being imported such as fine Samian ware from Gaul, a key component was imperial pay. Britain for much of its existence was an important military centre. With a defended land frontier in the North and a coastline exposed to the East and West to potential (and often, actual) raiders, at its height the island hosted three legions. On top of this there was the civil administration, with the number of local provincial capitals varying as the regional boundaries shifted over time, and each of these regional capitals had civil servants and a governor’s administrative staff that needed paying. Britain’s currency seems to have predominantly been imported on the back of these salaries, giving the province an early experience of trade deficits.
In the fifth century, direct imperial rule collapsed. In the absence of large amounts of historical data, there are different thoughts on what happened over the next hundred and fifty years, beyond the increasing appearance of Germanic settlements across the country, as the Roman way of life slowly disappears. One remarkable series of studies by Dr John Morris postulated that the celebrated Arthur character emerges to subdue the Angles and Saxons after an early revolt, but that a second rebellion a couple of generations later overturns the initial Romano-British hegemony and sets the scene for a gradual decline as a new wave of settlement from North Germany and Denmark follows.
from "A Fate Worse than Debt" by Dr Lee Rotherham
Buy your copy at a bookshop or Amazon
As the UK talks of cuts and austerity, this book explores for beginners the true scale of our financial problems, and some of the controversies behind modern spending. Warning: do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure, or lack a sense of humour in a crisis. Among the questions answered are: What is the difference between Deficit and Debt? How much does the United Kingdom Government really owe? Who is Scotland's forgotten debt genius? How big could you build a new Hadrian's Wall from Pound coins paid out of Britain's debt? Why was Britain's first civil war two thousand years ago triggered by debt repayments? How did WW2 US airmen unexpectedly help bail out Britain's war effort? What was the Geddes Axe, and how far did it swing? What can a wombat's posterior warn us of? How big is our creek today and is there a paddle? Launched to coincide with the Coalition Government's "make or break" 2013 Budget, this book puts the country's financial problems firmly under the microscope. It explains what is going on and why in terms the layman can understand - and will find absolutely terrifying. Possibly the most important book about government you will ever read.
September 11, 2013
The UFO that came to Earth
Finally, it must be said that the whole subject of UFOs and aliens is rife with hoaxes, trickery and practical jokes. On 31 March 1989 one such stunt caused widespread alarm in Surrey. The first sign of trouble came in the afternoon when police received a call from a woman living near South Godstone to say that a flying saucer was hovering over her house. The telephonist responded calmly, asking the woman for a description. The woman was clearly agitated, but was able to explain that the object was bigger than her house, was round with a dome on top and a row of windows around the rim. It was, she said, now moving very slowly north.
What the woman did not explain, because she was unaware of the fact, was that she was standing in the doorway of her house totally naked. She was so amazed by the object overhead that she had forgotten that she was getting changed to go out. Only when a neighbour shouted across to her did the woman realise her situation and dash back inside.
Next to call in was a motorist on the M25 near Limpsfield. He was using the emergency roadside telephone which was usually reserved for breakdowns to report a huge UFO overhead heading toward London. Then a second motorist called in, this time on a car phone, to report the same thing. Convinced that something odd was happening, the telephonist alerted a police car in the area and sent it to investigate.
The police car arrived to find several vehicles stationary on the hard shoulder of the M25 as the occupants stood about staring into the sky to the north. The police followed their stares and were amazed to see a large, disc-shaped object that looked exactly like the popular image of a flying saucer. It was silver, had portholes or windows around the outer edge and was topped by a dome, also bearing windows. The object was huge, estimated at around 90 feet across, and was quite clearly descending to land.
The policemen sprang back into their car and raced off toward the landing site. They arrived to find that the ‘UFO’ was in fact a hot air balloon specially commissioned to look like a flying saucer by the millionaire businessman Richard Branson. The balloon was being test flown for an April Fool Day’s stunt in London’s Hyde Park the following day.
from "Paranormal Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or at a bookshop
The county of Surrey may wear a face of suburban and rural normality, but lurking not far below the surface is an unequalled amount of paranormal activity and strangeness. In this volume, well-known local author Rupert Matthews, an expert on the subject of the paranormal, draws together a terrifying and intriguing collection of first-hand accounts and long-forgotten archive reports from the county's history. From big cat sightings and ancient monsters to poltergeists and UFOs, this compendium of the bizarre events that have shocked and frightened the residents of Surrey is richly illustrated with a range of modern photographs and archive images. Finally revealing the story behind many of Surrey's most famous myths and legends, whilst also shedding light on some lesser known paranormal phenomena, this book will fascinate those who are unaware of this side of the county's character.
What the woman did not explain, because she was unaware of the fact, was that she was standing in the doorway of her house totally naked. She was so amazed by the object overhead that she had forgotten that she was getting changed to go out. Only when a neighbour shouted across to her did the woman realise her situation and dash back inside.
Next to call in was a motorist on the M25 near Limpsfield. He was using the emergency roadside telephone which was usually reserved for breakdowns to report a huge UFO overhead heading toward London. Then a second motorist called in, this time on a car phone, to report the same thing. Convinced that something odd was happening, the telephonist alerted a police car in the area and sent it to investigate.
The police car arrived to find several vehicles stationary on the hard shoulder of the M25 as the occupants stood about staring into the sky to the north. The police followed their stares and were amazed to see a large, disc-shaped object that looked exactly like the popular image of a flying saucer. It was silver, had portholes or windows around the outer edge and was topped by a dome, also bearing windows. The object was huge, estimated at around 90 feet across, and was quite clearly descending to land.
The policemen sprang back into their car and raced off toward the landing site. They arrived to find that the ‘UFO’ was in fact a hot air balloon specially commissioned to look like a flying saucer by the millionaire businessman Richard Branson. The balloon was being test flown for an April Fool Day’s stunt in London’s Hyde Park the following day.
from "Paranormal Surrey" by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy at Amazon or at a bookshop
The county of Surrey may wear a face of suburban and rural normality, but lurking not far below the surface is an unequalled amount of paranormal activity and strangeness. In this volume, well-known local author Rupert Matthews, an expert on the subject of the paranormal, draws together a terrifying and intriguing collection of first-hand accounts and long-forgotten archive reports from the county's history. From big cat sightings and ancient monsters to poltergeists and UFOs, this compendium of the bizarre events that have shocked and frightened the residents of Surrey is richly illustrated with a range of modern photographs and archive images. Finally revealing the story behind many of Surrey's most famous myths and legends, whilst also shedding light on some lesser known paranormal phenomena, this book will fascinate those who are unaware of this side of the county's character.
