Peter Gilliver

Margaret Haig (later Stuart) (1860–1933) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about her. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-...

…Felix Yockney, who married into the Morris family: themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-...

Most interesting. Puts me in mind of another former #OED assistant—and motorphobe—whom Tolkien may have known, though they didn’t work alongside each other: themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-... And then, rather differently, there’s also…

The elusive H. S. Bhide is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/miscellaneou...

And 10 months later it's grown considerably: over 150 names featured, many of them with (I'd say) fascinating lives. Please take a look—try picking a name at random—and share/link to the website if you know anyone interested in the #OED or its history. (Yes, I'm autotrombating again.)

William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–77) is my latest #OEDMaker—sort of—and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/miscellaneou...

#OTD in 1900 Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" was first performed. "The best of [him]" indeed: a very special piece.

Donate to Save Bangor Cathedral Choir - Achubwch Côr Cadeirlan Bangor, organized by Simon Ogdon [Fersiwn Gymraeg isod] Bangor Cathedral has been through a… Simon Ogdon needs your support for Save Bangor Cathedral Choir - Achubwch Côr Cadeirlan Bangor

I just donated. If you love cathedral music, or choral music, or both—and I know many of you do—please join me, Aled Jones, Rhiannon Mathias, and the dozens of others who have done likewise. We're nearly at the target!
www.gofundme.com/f/save-bango...

How to Build a Dictionary: On the Hard Art of Popular Lexicography At the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century, about 400 million people are native English speakers. With those for whom English is a second language, the number reaches far above: betw…

I guess I should share this, as I'm in it. On the other hand, if you read it and don't think you'll be interested in the conversations with any of the other lexicographers in the book, then you're that much less likely to buy the book. But what the hell.
lithub.com/how-to-build...

Thomas Wilson (1841–1915) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-...

Elizabeth Ryland Trestrail (née Dent) (1813–1900) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about her. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-quotatio...

Who can blame them?

The sheet music for Fawlty towers. Underneath it (in the correct places) is written: Won’t you come and stay in our hotel,
Where things they may not go so very well,
 As Basil…

The sheet music for Fawlty towers continues... Underneath it (in the correct places) is written: …shouts and cries While Sybil rolls her eyes And Polly tries to help Manuel (Please don’t ring the bell) There’s a rat that’s being hid a–

The sheet music for Fawlty towers continues... Underneath it (in the correct places) is written: –waaaay Oh and a salad that’s seen better days Oh there’s a missing door and Please don’t mention war And then you’re…

The sheet music for Fawlty towers continues... Underneath it (in the correct places) is written: Sure – to have – a pleas–ant. stay.

Couldn't get to sleep last night because my brain decided it was of huge importance to write lyrics to the theme tune from Fawlty Towers so here it is…
(thanks brain)

Paget Jackson Toynbee (1855–1932) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-quotatio...

Richard John Lloyd (1846–1906) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-...

Brilliant news for anyone interested in Australian culture and its history.

‘Give the man the respect due to the office he holds.’ Yes, but what if his own actions have dishonoured that office? To an unprecedented extent?

Robert Henderson Carothers (1848–1923) is my latest #OEDMaker—after a bit of a gap caused by doing yet more research on the fascinating E. S. Dodgson—and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-quotatio...

Time to autotrombate again. One of the conversations in here is with me.

Seems the BBC significantly exaggerated the Home Office case here, both in their wording on Twitter and on the broadcast itself. Home Office lawyers did *not* say this, which would be politically toxic, and play right into the hands of you know who. >

Petition to ANU Council In support of our petition, we observe that:  • ANU Council has the entire control and management of the University and is required to act in all matters concerning the ANU in the way it thinks w...

Perhaps you would expect me to sign this. I would certainly hope that you will too. www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/pe...

We must do what we can to keep the stocks of herbs at the King's London residence fully replenished. One herb in particular. #SupportPalaceThymeAction

…Dodgson was robbed of his clothes by a young man he propositioned on the beach, and ran naked into a local convent, causing consternation. Not an image I shall ever forget.

E. S. Dodgson continues to fascinate. I've just received the following extraordinary story from a very helpful correspondent (apparently recounted in a dissertation at the University of Pau—I'd be grateful if anyone can help with obtaining more from that source): on one occasion…

Charlton Huxley Walker (1873–1955) is my latest #OEDMaker, and here’s a piece about him. Also available on Facebook to @DictionarySocNA members and at themakersoftheoed.wordpress.com/the-editors-...

Or even the Olympics?

Naught but a leap to the left
And thanne a clockwyse tread;
Put thyne handes on thyne hippes,
And be thy knees yn-gatheréd:
Lo, it ys the pelvique thruste
That maketh mirthe down to rayne -
Let us do the Tyme Warpe agayne!

I certainly would! Thank you.

That's a very kind offer. I would have to admit, however, that I have no (or negligible) knowledge of Frisian—so that all I would be able to do with such a gift is look at it and say how nice it looked.

And I know my colleagues are glad to have you (still) on board!

How's that translation of ‘The Hobbit’ coming along? I remember you telling me about it many years ago....