Robin C-F

lads, what have you done?

I alas am out of the country - they may switch your ticket to a Prom you can attend, for a £1 admin fee 🙂

I'm just a boy, deleting my em dashes in Word in case people think I used AI to write the thing

@lner.co.uk Just wanted to praise the knowledge of your team at Kings X tonight who recommended a route back to Darlington via Sheffield that I'd never have thought of. Great to have experienced people on hand in challenging circumstances.

Tom Lehrer was *still alive*? Rest in Peace, comic genius.

John Niven spot on on the loss of Twitter as a social network

Last night at the #BBCProms with @rnsinfonia.bsky.social at @theglasshouseicm.bsky.social - such a great night. Lobgesang epic.

Statement: an update on our application portal Grantium An update on our application portal Grantium

Arts Council Grantium system still down. Conspicuously obviously not overloaded by traffic, which was the initial explanation. "Technical issues" could mean anything. www.artscouncil.org.uk/creative-mat...

YouTube video by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment A Tribute to Sir Roger Norrington (1934-2025)

This is so lovely

youtube.com/watch?v=pV66...

Family research, a segmentation webinar, and conference season is here Take a look at Baker Richards Consulting Ltd's latest email Family research, a segmentation webinar, and conference season is here

So! Many! Conferences! @bakerrichards.bsky.social

api.transpond.io/api/preview?...

Spotify on shuffle, ear buds in, and I'm thinking "what is this WEIRD classical music with an off-beat drumbeat underneath it?

Anyway, turns out that I'm working next to somewhere that teaches people the drums.

On both occasions, we proceeded to hear the whole case - but really the cases should've been sent to another courtroom on the same day, if one had been available - I don't recall. Cannot imagine how the defendants felt.

Sorry to say that on 2 occasions I was part of a bench that made noises about retiring once the prosecution had taken us through a complex IDPC, and before the defence case had been put. Hand on heart on one occasion I was the one who caught it and went "hang on!"... but on the other, I didn't. 🤦‍♂️

(which is, of course, the argument in favour of diversity on the bench which is, of course, broadly right - though you can have a statistically diverse magistracy in the round, while the rota still spits out a bench of 3 retirees)

I can absolutely relate to this - I gave up family before I resigned adult criminal... As someone who has never been a parent I didn't feel I could sit on family cases (I know, I know...) - I imagine that for parents, seeing someone who looks quite like them on the bench will be a comfort

Oh and age - yes. It's unquestionably very very difficult being a magistrate and working in a private company that doesn't 'get' it, which is most of them. When I joined my current company, the directors were baffled at the idea I might have the time to spare

...e.g. were I ever accused of an either-way offence I'd put my fate in the hands of two or three people who consider cases regularly rather than 12 probably inexperienced members of the public.

But of course for now, Mags are sentencers - so I think the comparison to judiciary is appropriate

Class (or economic status/poverty) is a huge blindspot for most stats in the MOJ - e.g. have long suspected the Lammy review would have needed a different narrative if the poorest white defendants had been separated out as a category.

On your first Q - I have often made that comparison...

*dons ex-magistrate hat* (It's a black cap obvs) I agree with you on 1-3 and 5, but on 4 allow me to indulge in the usual whataboutery of the diversity of Mags vs the regular judiciary. Magistrates doing rather better than judges and will in all likelihood continue to do better until it's sorted

100%

You had your chance, Internet Explorer. We know it's you.

I'm across it all, and there's an emergency pod incoming

Fun moment on the Ribblehead Viaduct earlier when we thought we might die

That'll do, pig #NorthPennines

Arts Pay 2025
Employees, freelance workers, artists and business owner-managers are being encouraged to contribute to Arts Pay 2025, to shine a light on pay and conditions in the cultural sector.

👉 survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90848584/...

#FreelancersMakeTheatreWork

Tate Members | Tate Discover a year of incredible art with Tate Members. Enjoy free exhibition entry, special Members Hours and access to Members Rooms. Find out more.

Anyway, some of the best money I spend every year is to be a Tate member. In fact, I'm going there today. Obvs this is a tiny contribution but is well worth it www.tate.org.uk/join-support...

Every one a banger. 100%

YouTube video by London Symphony Orchestra Handel: Messiah, For unto us a child is born (Sir Colin Davis, Tenebrae, LSO)

Will never understand people who are bored by Handel's Messiah. Each to their own, but they're completely wrong. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3v...

Happy Creative Industries Sector Plan day

Men who cycle through central London with no helmet on and with air pods in are a special kind of psychotic