Eugene Byrne

Was Bristol's tobacco industry preparing to sell marijuana in the 1970s? And why would an Avonmouth ghost only appear to card-carrying union members? Buy a ticket for this tomorrow night and find out. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/m-s...

There’s a ton of loot from the 1831 Bristol Riots waiting to be recovered somewhere in Bristol, and I know where. I'm giving everyone who wants to be fabulously rich the exact location at this event.*
(*Fabulous richness not guaranteed.)
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/m-s...

The golden flanks of civic pride? Or the brazen buttocks of municipal contempt? For a bizarre tale of the City Hall unicorns and other tall tales from Bristol's distant and recent past, book now for www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/m-s...

Want to hear a bunch of stories about Bristol that probably/definitely aren't true? Plus a token amount of Serious Historical Analysis? Click here. And bring a friend.
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/m-s...

I read The Maltese Falcon last year. To understand the stakes involved I researched the historical price of gold and ocean liner tickets. The research took me three times longer than reading the book. On balance, I think they overspent on the statue.

Some things are best left to remain legendary.

BT's in today’s Bristol Post with a 1960s Bristol murder tale with shades of the Talented Mr Ripley; a local naturalist who worried about climate change 200 years ago; where to get the best Guinness in old Bristol and some other bits, too. Best dash out for your copy now!

The script writes itself! On the evening of Friday July 24 1885, 11-year-old Mary Emily Wookey swam half a mile of the New Cut in Bristol with her hands tied, and her ankles bound together. Thousands of spectators turned ou…

I found a plot for you. Also a fable about how raw data and basic details have us making up the script in our heads. eugenebyrne.wordpress.com/2025/07/20/t...

Thanks Wendy. Please see my DM to you on Twitter/X.

In 1885, 11-year-old Mary Emily Wookey swam half a mile of Bristol's New Cut with her hands and feet tied. Thousands watched her attempt the full mile 9 years later, though few knew of the private tragedy that drove her. It's all in Bristol Times in today's Bristol Post. Dive in and get a copy now!

I'm doing two library talks this week with my brand new talk about some of the amazing but forgotten women who are included in #TheWomenWhoBuiltBristol Volume Three. As such, you are invited to join me at Southmead Library this Friday (11 April) at 2.30pm for a FREE talk (lasting up to one hour).

#DoTheWriteThing
is a day of action against AI companies stealing copyrighted work from authors to train their software. (At least 8 of my books have been pirated)

Authors: Send a letter to the Ai companies: actionnetwork.org/letters/auth...

Book lovers: Sign the petition chng.it/mXBHJqqHDY

Sign the Petition Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training

This. chng.it/VkrFBgMqcH

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

Authors! If you've not already looked, check here: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Nope, still have to look twice to see whether the headline is from The Onion or the Financial Times.

How a 19th century journalist shone on a light on poverty in Bristol Homes of the Bristol Poor was one of the first pieces of investigative journalism revealed the poverty of much of the population

Journalists in Victorian Bristol didn't do investigative reporting until James Crosby - "Gentleman James" - decided to have a go. thebristolcable.org/2025/03/how-...

Shrove Tuesday's brutal history in Bristol Shrove Tuesday is a minor holiday at best these days. But turn the clock back, and there was a lot more than pancakes to worry about.

Pancake Day, is it? thebristolcable.org/2025/03/cock...

Bristol Times is in today's Bristol Post. It's got: the Bath brother and sister who got triggered by Shakespeare; the back story to the all-purpose Bristol City Council News Story Photo AND the 1930s Tarzan of ... Coalpit Heath. Don't miss!

Bristol Times is in today's Bristol Post with a long look at the bright lights, sights (and smells) of the city 100 years ago. A time of "flappers", high unemployment and fears of revolution. Only in BT, only in the Post, in the shops today. Don't miss!

Petition against proposed closure of three Bristol museums: democracy.bristol.gov.uk/mgEPetitionD...

Concerned I am going to become a local councillor when I'm older. I am that person who photos and reports graffiti and potholes. Also I have obtained a new tree and brand new children's play park for my road. Excitement in your mid-30s is different to mid-20s.

I'm following both the FT and The Onion, and I have to look twice to figure out whether the headline is for real or satire.

Excellent stuff. Mandatory reading if you live in Bristol.

Evangelism, Tumps Nature Area, Patchway.

13 things we miss about Christmas growing up Using your pocket money to buy your mum bath salts

I wrote this a few years ago, and now it seems to be repeated every Christmas. www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/history...

YouTube video by MrPasta Tony Fayne And David Evans - Do You Love Old Santa Claus

A seasonal song for you by Bristolian comedy duo Tony Fayne and David Evans, stars of 1950s stage and radio, known for their quickfire patter and impersonations. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt8l...

Killer's rap videos boasting of Max and Mason murders revealed The two brothers made threatening tracks stirring up the 'postcode rivalry' but the jury never saw them

A long-read, if you can bear it, looking in detail at the postcode rivalry context to the double murders in South Bristol.
The very worst part of all this is Max and Mason had nothing to do with any of this.
Please do read and share

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

This year we're going to go to 1974 to do the big Christmas food shop at the Co-op as it'll be cheaper. Though it might be best not to speculate as to why they thought plastic buckets were seasonal essentials.

Things on top of Bristol bus shelters, no. 9. Engagement ring, Union Street, 2017. This was the stop just outside Wilko. Perhaps she saw him kissing another girl in the homeware department, ran out in tears, caught the no. 2 bus home and flung his ring out of the window. Will we ever know?

Gents! Get your "party scene" shirts from C&A in Broadmead in December 1974. These men have all got theirs and are laughing at the man in the corner who can only afford a 99p nylon shirt from the Co-op's Fairfax House department store.