Leigh Stanford

Fledgling joys: a week in the country The unlooked-for delights and wisdoms of bird-watching in the Normandy bocage

A bonus post for the weekend: the deep joys of watching birds for a week in the Normandy bocage. Birds are good to think with, as Jeremy Mynott wrote. open.substack.com/pub/mathewly...

Rav from Junior Bake Off has opened a new restaurant near us with her chef husband Matty. We went last night. It was heavenly. Martinis. Monkfish. The tenderest pork. Rich dark chocolate cake. Are you in east London? Go check it out! www.ginarestaurant.co.uk

From Tate Modern to Grimsby docks: the team saving Britain’s cherished buildings from the wrecking ball Can you imagine Liverpool without its Welsh Streets or London without Battersea Power Station? For 50 years, one small band of activists have been finding creative alternative uses for great buildings...

🗞️"It is hard to appreciate now, but SAVE’s early activities fundamentally transformed the perception of heritage, & expanded the scope of what was deemed worth keeping"

🎂SAVE's 50th celebrated in the ‪@theguardian.com‬ ‪@ollywainwright.bsky.social‬

Read the story: shorturl.at/8gnse

A group of people on a walking tour. They stand in front of one modern, container style building and an older brick built building.

Here's an exciting opportunity to gain in-depth heritage sector experience with our members SAVE Britain's Heritage.

They are looking for two interns to join their team for six months.

Find our more on our website:
heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/jobs/

#HeritageJobs #HeritageInternship

Calling Epping Forest enthusiasts! There's currently a great exhibition of the photography of James A Brimble up at the visitor centre in Chingford. Dad just gave me his copy of Brimble's book (an essential EF text) & I recommend going up to see some of the photos printed out in a larger size (1/3)

History in plain sight: four Anglo-Saxon churches to visit Remarkable survivals in Kent and Essex dating from as far back as the sixth century

Four Anglo-Saxon churches to visit.

The Flash Lane aqueduct hidden deep in the woods on the old Whitewebbs loop of the New River near Enfield. Cast iron trough on brick supports, constructed 1820 over the Cuffley Brook; redundant by 1850 when the New River was shortened by cutting off the loop completely…

I’m on it Tracey, I know Joanna xx

Looking forward to seeing the new exhibition at the William Morris Gallery which starts on 5th April. My cast will come off that week 🤞and hopefully a few weeks later I can visit

With some rearranging of furniture by Mathew, I can now sit in the conservatory comfortably and look at the garden. I’m desperate to get out there and to the allotment but that will have to wait for now. What a fabulous spring day! ☀️☀️

John Rogers London-based film-maker and writer John Rogers, author of Welcome to New London - journeys and encounters in the post-Olympic city https://bit.ly/3I7E8hN and This Other London - adventures in the over...

As I won’t be out walking for a month or two I’m rewatching John Rogers walks from the last 10 years! I’ve just watched Gallion’s Reach and Highgate and might spoil myself with the Black Path one before lunch!

youtube.com/@johnrogersw...

Thanks Kate!

Breakfast in bed on this lovely sunny Sunday. Yesterday there was a chance that I would have surgery but I knew by 9am that wasn’t to be. I’ll be nil by mouth again tonight and going forward if it doesn’t happen tomorrow.

More reading and sewing today as well as icing my ankle in readiness.

Well a call on Sunday meant I was back to the hospital yesterday morning for my op! Didn’t go quite to plan as still swollen and blistered. Another operation instead, an external fixator and a stay in hospital until after the main op. On the plus side it’s sunny outside ☀️☀️😊

Gutted we can’t go now

What’s up Bluesky asks, well this actually! A trimal break of my right ankle. Operation planned in the next week when the swelling subsides.

Huge thanks to Edmund Bird for an amazing tour of 55 Broadway! Guests called it "professionally delivered and excellent" and "fascinating and informative."
We're delighted to have raised £200 for www.railwaychildren.org.uk #LondonHistory #GuidedTour

Went to Big Penny Social in Walthamstow this afternoon for their Craft and Flea it was really good.

An early evening Gertrude Lawrence album with some bubbles 🥂🍾

Abandoned unicorn Highams Park

Really looking forward to this exhibition about London in the Second World War. The London bomb damage maps are astonishing artefacts and I highly commend the recent book edition (though always a shame they don't extend out NE beyond Hackney Marsh)

Feel free to google "Moira Shearer interview" if you'd like to read up on her thoroughly shredding Michael Powell, The Red Shoes, and Peeping Tom.

Scarcely believable, how little we value some of our greatest buildings.

BBC Radio 3 - Sound of Cinema, David Lynch Matthew Sweet talks to iconic film director David Lynch.

Death was David Lynch’s subject, wasn’t it? Along with the sublime, weeping, and the way nightmares can never be escaped. His vision will surely never stop haunting us. He gave us a wonderful interview for Sound of Cinema, full of love for one of his greatest friends. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Pompeii: Spectacular new discoveries unearthed include private spa A huge private bathhouse is found after lying hidden for 2,000 years under volcanic rock and ash.

Some stunning finds here www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Space House tonight for a great @savetoreuse.bsky.social event.

Lovely to meet you too Ben! What a fabulous evening

Today I met my new colleagues as Trustee at SAVE Britain’s Heritage, and went on to enjoy the launch of our 50th year celebrations at Space House. With half a century giving new life to threatened buildings there remains much to do.
@savetoreuse.bsky.social

Beautiful Bournemouth!

Newsletter 2024 A round-up of what I've been up to over the last twelve months

A round-up of what I've been up to work-wise over the last twelve months or so. It's been pretty busy!
open.substack.com/pub/mathewly...