Category Archives: History

The UKIP Fox-hunter, or, “How nothing much has changed in British politics in 300 years”

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Stuart Crow

UKIP MP Douglas Carswell has an excellent piece in the Daily Mail on the folly of xenophobia. I was very disappointed that he felt the need to leave the Tory Party and join up with UKIP, so many of whose … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | Comments Off on The UKIP Fox-hunter, or, “How nothing much has changed in British politics in 300 years”

ARK Schools’ Insult to Portsmouth and Charles Dickens

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Stuart Crow

The News are carrying the story on their front page today of how Charles Dickens Primary school, which is converting to an Academy this coming school year, is losing the “Charles” from its name.  I am in general a supporter … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Portsmouth City Council | 3 Comments

Blair Twenty Years On

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Stuart Crow

It’s a little bit more than 20 years on for me.  I was one of many who were struck by his dazzling performances against Michael Howard, both as his shadow as Employment Secretary and then Home Secretary.  Blair shone against … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | 1 Comment

“Tricorn – Controversy in Concrete” at the City Museum

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Stuart Crow

There is no controversy in my view.  The Tricorn was a thing of great beauty and enormous potential, and the City Council were bloody idiots to knock it down.  For a long time, that felt like a small-minority view, but … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 5 Comments

UPDATE 4/12/13 Portsmouth City Council’s Planning Committee today approved both the planning applications submitted in support of the ARTches project.  More from me on today’s meeting is here.  Original blog continues below: As this blog must seem to regular readers … Continue reading →

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Stuart Crow | 2 Comments

HMS Excellent 1830-1930

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Stuart Crow

I was shopping in Chichester last week when I came across the centenary history of the gunnery school at Portsmouth, published by Charpentier of Portsmouth.  The famous Excellent, Collingwood’s ship, ended her days moored in Portsmouth Harbour, and the earliest … Continue reading →

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The Miners: Thatcher vs Wilson

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Stuart Crow

UPDATE 4/1/14 I’ve been reading the stories over the last couple of days in the wake of the latest archive releases under the “30 year rule” which have been picked up so excitedly by some in the media.  This blog … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | 2 Comments

A quick post about slow trains

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Stuart Crow

I often moan on Twitter about the uselessness of our privatised railways.  As the late Robert Adley predicted, it has become a sort of “poll tax on wheels”, pleasing nobody and not delivering any measurable improvement in the affairs of … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | 2 Comments