Working at 1 Portland Place opposite Broadcasting House (BH) at London W1A, we often saw well-known presenters and personalities. We’d be queueing up for lunch in the canteen at the top of BH and I’d see a familiar media figure in the queue just ahead of me, and think, ‘He looks much smaller and moreContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Five: What further stories can you tell about your time at the BBC?”
Category Archives: inspiration
Book Review: Small Wars in Madrid by Anthony Ferner
Today, I ‘m pleased to share my review of an outstanding new novel, published by Fairlight Moderns on 14 March 2024. ‘Small Wars in Madrid’ by Anthony Ferner is a novel that evoked a number of emotions in me as a reader; at different times, I felt shocked, moved, and a strong sense of illumination.Continue reading “Book Review: Small Wars in Madrid by Anthony Ferner”
The Curious, Quirky and Intriguing Surprises in Shakespeare’s County of Warwickshire – a Review of ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire’
Today I’m sharing a wonderful and detailed review of my book ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire,’ which was shared on Goodreads. The author of this review, Mari, wrote and published a trilogy of novels about family life, set in Oxford, England, which explores the relationship between science and religion in 21st century Britain; The Mullins FamilyContinue reading “The Curious, Quirky and Intriguing Surprises in Shakespeare’s County of Warwickshire – a Review of ‘Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire’”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Four: What Was Your First Permanent Job?
I’ll always remember my first working day at the BBC in London W1A. I stepped into the BBC Radio office at 1 Portland Place, W1A, opposite Broadcasting House (to be known forever as BH). By the end of that day, I had experienced my First BBC Crisis. I was working for one of the producers inContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Four: What Was Your First Permanent Job?”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Three: What Books Did You Love Reading as a Child? What Made You Want to be a Writer? What Authors Have Influenced You?
Which books did you love reading as a child? My earliest choices included the stories of Mary Plain by Gwynedd Rae – a little bear born in the Bearpit at Berne in Switzerland who is found and adopted by a man she calls The Owl Man because of the glasses he wears, and she is taken byContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Three: What Books Did You Love Reading as a Child? What Made You Want to be a Writer? What Authors Have Influenced You?”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet
What is your earliest memory? A car journey when I was four years old. I grew up in Orpington, Kent, and our family were driving back home after a visit to pedigree poodle breeding kennels near Tunbridge Wells. We had bought a miniature poodle pup. We called him “Kimmings”. He was officially a silver poodle, but when veryContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part One: Who put the pop-up in the pop-up toaster?
And the answer is: I did! That was just one of my previous jobs, on the conveyor belt at Morphy Richards factory in my hometown, when I was in my teens. In fact it was first ever paid job and I was thrilled, and when I received my first pay packet I thought I wasContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part One: Who put the pop-up in the pop-up toaster?”
Review of the RSC’s new 2023 Midsummer Night’s Dream production starring Mat Baynton as Bottom
Today, I’m pleased to be reviewing the latest production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. I saw a ‘pre-performance’ in a packed auditorium. Mathew Baynton, of course, was the main drawcard for all those who loved him in ‘Horrible Histories’ and ‘Ghosts’! And I must say that here in this RST production, he was ableContinue reading “Review of the RSC’s new 2023 Midsummer Night’s Dream production starring Mat Baynton as Bottom”
A Visit to the Newly-Reopened Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick December 2023
Lord Leycester Hospital is one of the town of Warwick‘s great medieval treasures, formerly a home for the Brethren (injured military heroes of Queen Elizabeth I‘s wars), and the pride and joy of Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leycester, from 1571, the time when he first took it over to please Elizabeth. It is nowContinue reading “A Visit to the Newly-Reopened Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick December 2023”
A Visit to Denis Severs’ House, Spitalfields, East London
We recently visited Dennis’ Severs’ House at 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields. This was a revelation to me, and I’ve discovered new things since my visit, about Dennis himself, his life, the creation of the interiors in the House, and the life of the Spitalfields community around him, which make the visit an even more poignantContinue reading “A Visit to Denis Severs’ House, Spitalfields, East London”
scskillman.com 