A hundred years ago this week (September 18, 1917) the work of a Welsh composer almost forgotten today was performed at the Proms, under the baton of the illustrious Henry Wood. She was just 26. Morfydd Llwyn Owen was in distinguished company. All the other composers performed that night were Russians of considerable reputation, Glazunov, Mussorgsky,… Continue reading
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Carpe Diem – how to have a good day, every day
This is a perfect example of the day not grasped. I finished reading Carpe Diem Regained, by Roman Krznaric, about a month ago. So many half-formed thoughts I could easily have turned into sagacious comments while they were fresh in my mind. So I ought to have have set aside time the next day and… Continue reading
Buckinghamshire’s Anglo-Saxon Lenborough Hoard goes on display
Coins from the Lenborough Hoard are now on permanent display in Buckinghamshire County Museum in Aylesbury. A room dedicated to the finds was opened at the Museum on Saturday, July 15. 2017. The coins passed into public ownership after a successful public appeal raised £1.35 million, the value put on the find by the Treasure Valuation Committee,… Continue reading
Launching a literature festival in an English village – BeaconLit comes to Ivinghoe
Suitably dramatic skyscape over Windmill Field, close to the BeaconLit venue in Ivinghoe, Bucks. BeaconLit, our local literary festival, was launched in 2013. This year (July 1) is the fifth festival. It is now held in the dry and welcome warmth of the local school in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire. People attend to be inspired, informed and to… Continue reading
Oxford meets Istanbul in new book by best-selling Turkish writer
Three Daughters of Eve, written by Elif Şafak, is set in Oxford and Istanbul and focusses on three Muslim women, several men, and one big question. Elif Şafak was the subject of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs on June 2nd, 2017. Apart from London, I don’t think there is a city in the UK with more… Continue reading
How Hay Festival ideas stay run the mind and find their time
I like to come away from the Hay Festival with an idea or two to ponder on. Time was short this year, and even then we made one wrong choice. The estimable John Julius Norwich, with his “Four Princes” seemed a good choice, but on reflection it was no more than a polished but ultimately… Continue reading