David Pendleton

Yorkshire v Warwickshire at a blustery Scarborough.
Man’s newspaper blew onto the ground. Players retrieved the various sections, handed it to him, but as he walked off his hat blew off to cheers.

Super smashing great … as Jim Bowen might say
#scarborough #yorkshire #countycricket

Or a wet one at Old Lane

Sedate afternoon as Yorkshire meet Sussex at Scarborough’s beautiful North Marine Road.

A Right Royal Romp At Scarborough Cricket Club ...

To celebrate the start of the second county game at Scarborough Cricket Club, here's my updated piece on the only appearance of a member of the royal family in a first class cricket match ... and it was at Scarborough!
#CricketHistory #RoyalFamily #Scarborough

Cricket on Holiday? Early cricket on the Yorkshire coast

Final day of the Scarborough Cricket Festival, so reposting my history of cricket on the Yorkshire coast. #yorkshire #cricket

High tech drying of the outfield at Scarborough

Threatening skies at the famous Scarborough Cricket Festival

Cricket on Holiday? Early cricket on the Yorkshire coast

Cricket on Holiday? As the first day of the famed Scarborough Cricket Festival gets underway, we take a look back at the early history of cricket on the Yorkshire Coast. #Cricket #Scarborough #CountyCricket @anniechave.bsky.social @thegrumbler.bsky.social

We came as tourists, but left smitten #wimbledon

Funky Kingston, as Toots and the Maytals sang about a Kingston that might not be KT1 … but it’s hotter here.

Long defunct Foords Cricket Club at Filey. Some impressive names in the honours board, which is still in situ in the pub. #Filey #Yorkshire #cricket

The first ever Pullman car service in Britain ran from Bradford Forster Square to London St Pancras.

Today’s Forster Sq is a shadow of its former self, but trains to the capital still depart from its platforms.

Bradford Wool Exchange

In my hometown of Bradford, leading a University of Leeds day school on a walk around the people of North Parade.

The Only Railway Station in the World to be Named After a Book? Edinburgh Waverley

The only railway station in the world to be named after a novel?
We complete our journey 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman' at Edinburgh Waverley.
The fabulous Balmoral Hotel overlooks the station, its clock 3 minutes fast to allow passengers to catch their trains with ease. #Edinburgh

Towards the Athens of the North Sunny Dunny and the Firth of Forth

Over the border, past a dreamy Scottish castle (and a cement works and a nuclear power station, but bear with me). We dip our toes into the North Sea at Sunny Dunny (Dunbar to the uninitiated), before the tracks of the Flying Scotsman being the approach to Edinburgh, the fabled Athens of the North.

The Castle Crushed by the Railway Berwick Castle capitulates to the North British Railway

A border skirmish at Berwick. The town's castle wasn't conquered by vast armies, it was the North British Railway that smashed the castle walls. The station platforms are built directly over the castle's great hall.
Another teaser from 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'. #Berwick #LNER

The Flying Scotsman on the Northumbrian Coast Widdrington: One of Britain's least used stations

The tracks of the Flying Scotsman race along the Northumbrian coast.
Childhood tales of a lost branch line and one of Britain's least used stations.
More teasers from my book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'.

The Wrecking of the Flying Scotsman A dramatic day in the Northumbrian coalfields

The day the Flying Scotsman was derailed by striking miners in Northumberland.
The tale of a dramatic day as told in my new book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'.

A Cathedral of Steam Newcastle Central Station

Newcastle: A bar advertises itself as 'probably the greatest station bar in the world', an unamused Queen Victoria looks on.
Victoria used to draw her carriage curtains when she passed through Newcastle. The mass of industry were too much for the Monarchial gaze. open.substack.com/pub/davidpen...

Ancient Greece and the Angel of the North County Durham's Monument Valley

A 15 minute dash through County Durham's own Monument Valley. From Ancient Greece to the Angel of the North, to the seven bridges of the Tyne and the world's biggest coal staiths.
Another snippet from my new book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'.

The World's Greatest View from a Railway Carriage? Old Durham Town

Old Durham Town. Narrow cobbled roads, cosy pubs and where the Northern Saints sleep. This pocket city is unmissable.
But it is the visual drama that marks Durham out. The approach across the rooftops of the town, offers one of the greatest views from a railway carriage anywhere on the planet.

The World's First Railway Station Heighington, County Durham, the cradle of the railways

In September it will be 200 years since the first steam powered locomotive turned its wheels on the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
Another teaser from my book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'. As we explore County Durham and the world's first ever railway station.

York: The Roman City Conquered by the Railways Another halt 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'

York: The Roman city conquered by the iron horse.
Another teaser from my new book: 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'.

Newark: Where a King choked on too many peaches But it might have been binge drinking ... or being poisoned by a toad

Newark: Where in 1216 that King John died after eating too many peaches. His death is also blamed on binge drinking on sweet ale and being dosed with poison from a toad.
More tales from my book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman', out now published by Great Northern Books.

The Lowest Pub in Britain and a Church on the Move Odd goings on in the Cambridgeshire countryside

A church slowly creeps down a hillside and Britain's lowest pub. Strange tales from the Fenlands.
Another snippet from my new book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'.

North Marine Road: injured seagull. Bloke darts into road, picks it up, runs off down a side street. As I’m trying to make sense of it, a man appears on a push bike with a dismantled single bed strapped to his back.
The Evening league cricket, Scarborough v Folkton & Flixton was tame by comparison

King's Cross Railway Lands Potatoes, steaming engines and the station of the dead

The King's Cross railway lands are today abuzz with coffee shops and high end retail. But once it was here that London was fed, heated and built. Potatoes, coal and bricks arrived in the millions.
Another snippet from my new book 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'. #London #KingsCross

London King's Cross Queen Boudica's Ghost

Was it here that the buildings began to burn and the blood flow?
London King's Cross station and the legend of Queen Boudica.
Another snippet from my newly published book, On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman. Out now!

Sound the Whistle ... A journey 'On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman'

Over the coming weeks I'll be posting snippets from my new book, On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman.
I'm available to give talks all along the route, from London to Edinburgh and all points in between. Please get in touch if you organise talks, literature festivals or even own a bookshop.