A general view of Blaenavon RFC(Image: Google Earth)

Wales: Blaenavon Rugby Football Club Quits Top League & Drops Five Divisions! (14.1.2026)

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to those players, coaches, volunteers, parents, and supporters who have remained committed to the club throughout this period. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed.

“We are also extremely grateful to the many individuals and fellow rugby clubs who have reached out in recent weeks to offer messages of support, encouragement, and assistance — it has been genuinely appreciated and is a true reflection of the rugby community.

“We are excited about the future of Blaenavon RFC and remain confident that, with the continued support of our community, volunteers, coaches, parents, and players, the club can grow, develop, and thrive for generations to come.”

Gordon Cree seen knitting on Game of Wool. Photo: Channel 4

UK: Shetland Organisation of Knitters “Shocked & Saddened” by Representation in Channel 4 “Game of Wool” Show! (7.11.2025)

Small patterns in Fair Isle are referred to as “peerie patterns”, but Leask has said they “would never” refer to them as “peeries”.

“That’s never been used by a Shetlander,” she said.

“A lot of Shetlanders have said they have never even heard of that.”

Leask described the misinformation in the show as “frustrating”, and said knitters locally spent a lot of their time having to clear up similar confusion with visitors to the isles.

SOK worries now that Game of Wool will have a further damaging effect on misinformation around Shetland knitting.

“The SOK are having to stand up for ourselves,” Leask said.

“The term Fair Isle is going to be lost. Fair Isle is being used when what they are making is not Fair Isle. It’s appropriation.”

And she also railed against Game of Wool as a whole, calling the first challenge – to knit a Fair Isle tank top in 12 hours – “just unrealistic”.

Rutland - Market Overton - Ancient Village Stocks!

Rutland: Ancient Village Stocks & Whipping Post on Market Overton Green! (25.10.2025)

In the old days, the local Courts would often sentence local people to a set-time in the Stocks. With their hands and feet firmly manacled into the device – the interested village population could take it in-turns to throw rotten fruit and vegetables – together with animal waste and other such horrible substances, at the condemned. This was at a time when long sentences of imprisonment were not yet used as a punishment. This treatment was designed to be so humiliating that a villager would not dare commit a similar crimnal act in the future – or at least that was the intention.

St Nicholas Church (Sutton) - Exterior

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Stain-Glass & Stones Exhibition! (14.9.2025)

The history of England lies primarily within the grounds, buildings, and written records of its local Churches, who dealt with this information a long time before the Secular State developed – or was able to do so. The Local Authorities of Sutton possess a peculiar attitude toward local history – as if time started again in 1965 (and all previous history was wiped-out when Sutton was part of “East Surrey”) – when Sutton became part of Greater (South-West) London. Of course, for a price, Sutton Library might help you via an online enquiry – but this data is free during a personal visit. Whatever the case, always be on the look-out for local open-days and local historians.

Two Rectory Eagles Restored!

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Where Stone Eagle’s Dare! (13.9.2025)

Why did a Sutton Town Planner come up with the idea of a) demolishing the Old Rectory (which should have been a listed building), and b) placing the Gate-Eagles on two-plinths jutting-out of Council Flat walls? Was this an example of Free Masonry gone mad – or madder than their usual schemes? I spent about 15-minutes talking with a local historian in St Nicholas Church, Sutton, during an exhibition of the stain-glassed window and various stones. He told me that the Rectory Gates were originally in West Street – but the eagles ended up on the main road situated on the exterior walls of the new Council Houses – now named “Beech Tree Place” – effectively around the corner in a different street.

Priest House - Easton-on-the-Hill - Family

Easton-on-the-Hill: Priest House [Chantry] 15th Century! (28.7.2025)

Although we have visited the general area a number of time – we had never seen this exhibit or been told about it. As we are currently staying in the locale – this place came-up in an internet search about something else. Like many such attractions, even at the height of Summer, there is only ever a trickle of visitors – which is a good thing for all concerned. We were handed the key, instructed to be careful on the old spiralling stone staircase, and turn-off all the lights when we are finished. There is even a toilet on site that is accessed with a key. Everything was perfectly clean, tidy, and in good order. Our two-daughters watched a short video film about the area, its history and industry! The photographs will tell the story of what we saw. A truly magnificent historical site that emerged out of the single most important and Revolutionary event (the “Dissolution of the Monasteries”) that forged modern Britain and the world!

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