The King’s Pilgrimage

I'm off to Flanders next weekend for a night away with a good friend and am currently day dreaming about watching dawn break at the Menin Gate and night fall in the Silent Cities. These pilgrimages have become more and more important to me over the years and I'm reminded of a poem by one … Continue reading The King’s Pilgrimage →

Decorated Warriors

In 1917 behind Waterloo Station in London, George Burchett was doing a roaring trade. He had been practising his craft since he was a small child, reportedly expelled from school at the age of 12 as a result. At the turn of the century, he began working in the East End of town. The docklands … Continue reading Decorated Warriors →

But ne’er shall we forget, my boys… in Sussex by the sea.

The High Weald in East Sussex is an area of outstanding natural beauty which extends across Sussex, Surrey and Kent. It is a patchwork of ancient woodlands, farmland, sunken lanes and historic villages that spans the undulating landscape of the South East of England. I know many of these villages well, as it is where … Continue reading But ne’er shall we forget, my boys… in Sussex by the sea. →

‘Why are you here with all your watches ended?’

I went to see Peter Jackson's new film 'They Shall Not Grow Old' last night. It was absolutely incredible. The footage and sound were phenomenal and it was so powerful to see the men brought back to life. It was powerful because it injected life into the old footage that we often see and with … Continue reading ‘Why are you here with all your watches ended?’ →

‘I watch a man go out of his mind, And he is My Mother’s Son’

I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of the Sussex High Weald next to the historic village of Burwash. The village is probably most famous for being home to Rudyard Kipling for much of his life. His glorious house, Batemans, is somewhere I go often. It's a beautiful place with stunning gardens and acres … Continue reading ‘I watch a man go out of his mind, And he is My Mother’s Son’ →