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Back to the 80s – my one man boycott of Barclays
This morning, I called Barclaycard and cancelled my card. It's my one man protest about the shameful actions of Barclays in closing the Egg facility on Pride Park, leading to 659 job losses in Derby by...
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Welcome to Derby – a view from the railway station
I love Derby. Apart from the three years I spent at Warwick University I’ve lived here all of my life. So it really, really annoys me when this is the first impression that visitors to this great city...
View ArticleThe power of blogging
A few days ago, I blogged about the pitiful state of the plants outside Derby Station and also complained to East Midlands Trains. This email has arrived today: Dear Tim Thank you for your email. As a...
View ArticleDerby City Council to stop measuring complaint volumes?
There’s an interesting article in the Derby Telegraph today concerning the city council’s decision to review its service performance indicators and to revise them. Most organisations periodically...
View ArticleThe Taming of the Shrew
I went to see Derby LIVE’s production of the Taming of the Shrew last night. It was a great evening out and the Guardian’s review makes nearly all of the points about it that I’d want to, except that...
View ArticleCalling all Theatre-Makers! An extraordinary challenge from Culture Minister...
I just came across a blog post by Fin Kennedy, a playwright who attended the Performer’s Alliance Parliamentary reception earlier on this month. In it, he reports a conversation he had with Ed Vaizey,...
View ArticleThis was Derby
A fascinating film of Derby in the mid-1960s – created by Norman Fitchett and Pear Tree Junior School. As the trolley buses are still operating and one of the shots shows the (now derelict) Full Street...
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Surely this is Speakers’ Corner?
Seen in Derby today at the back of the waterless waterfall in the market place. It’s great that Derby now has an official speakers’ corner even if it is tucked well out of sight, but it’s not so great...
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This was Derby – revisited
Yesterday, I wandered around Derby city centre with my camera, inspired by the “This is Derby” film made in the mid-1960s by Norman Fitchett and Pear Tree Junior School and released by the MACE screen...
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The redundant signs of Derby
Some more photographs from my walk around Derby on Saturday 29th June 2013 – this time focusing on redundant signs. Starting where yesterday’s post left off at Laurie House, this is what little remains...
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Slumbering Derby
Continuing my walk around Derby last weekend, these are the two most obvious parts of the City Centre that are currently “asleep”. First up is the former Police Headquarters on Full Street. Built in...
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The Boy and Ram
Derby doesn’t have a wealth of great public art, so when I went for my walk around the city at the end of June I was relieved to find that the Boy and Ram statue is in good condition and in a rather...
View ArticleLondon is a miserable place
Why on earth would anyone choose to live or work there? Today it’s been hot, smelly, noisy, bad-tempered and overcrowded everywhere I’ve been. Breaking with my normal habit, I picked up a copy of the...
View ArticleNo wonder Liam Byrne left “no money”– he made an error of 25% today
Earlier on today my ears pricked up when I heard Liam Byrne make the following claim in his question about the shambles unfolding around the implementation of universal credit to Iain Duncan Smith: To...
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Stuff’s what’s make’s me’s …“mo’ste’st grumpie’st”
Dear IMS Lettings of Derby, I drive or walk past your building most days. For many months, this is the banner you’ve been displaying: Is it your intention to ask me a question or to make me a promise?...
View ArticleWhy is it so difficult to report an illegible number plate?
I have a pet peeve. Well, ok, I have more than one pet peeve as regular readers will know. But this one is reasonably high up the list. I’m thinking about people who deliberately misrepresent their...
View Article3 tickets I’d like for things that never happened
I’ve been amused by the news today that Accrington Stanley are selling 250 tickets for a third round FA Cup tie with Manchester United that never was, as they’d been already knocked out in the second...
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Underneath the arches: five of my favourite bridges in Derby
Having been inspired by Mark Pack, Stephen Glenn and Jonathan Calder‘s posts about their five favourite bridges, I’ve also decided to join in with the latest meme that’s sweeping the world of Liberal...
View ArticleDrink Levers Morning Glory Coffee
While I was out and about photographing Derby’s bridges a couple of weeks ago, I came across this rather splendid ghost sign opposite St. Helen’s House on King Street. The rest of the sign reads:...
View ArticleThe Great Northern Greenway
A few photographs from this morning’s walk along the Great Northern Greenway at Breadsall. The path follows the route of the old Great Northern railway and is currently in the process of being extended...
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