This is Northumberland Calling 12.5.23

The Brideshead Reimagined Edition

Oxford took a distinct Brideshead lurch this week when Jesus College declared they would do a ‘safe room’ complete with teddy bears (any named Aloysius?) for students traumatized at the thought of Kathleen Stock daring to speak at  the Oxford Union. Kathleen Stock has decided to channel Antony Blanche, the waspish gay friend of Charles Ryder in Brideshead who invites his tormentors to join him in the fountain and enjoy the forbidden pleasure. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trauma-help-for-debate-students-makes-oxford-a-joke-xsmknrvfb or https://archive.is/cTNw3

The Oxford Student Union in light of the invitation to speak has disinvited the Oxford Union from the Freshers Fair, the place where societies gain new members.  Oxford Union is standing firm though. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/10/oxford-union-finances-trans-row-kathleen-stock/ or https://archive.is/8ne1A

Not to be outdone, protesters were out in force in Cambridge last Friday when Simon Fanshawe who helped to found Stonewall but has actively denounced their current direction spoke in conversation with a lovely transwoman. The protestors block booked seats and didn’t show up, several dressed in trans flag rose and pointedly left. Thankfully the organiser has stood firm about these discussions. This is Simon speaking to a journalist about the experience:

https://twitter.com/TalkTV/status/1655860200123801600

The organizer of the Free Speech lectures at Cambridge, Ahmed is set to become the first Free Speech czar overseeing free speech at universities in England and Wales (unfortunately not Scotland). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/09/rishi-sunak-confirm-cambridge-arif-ahmed-free-speech-tsar/ or https://archive.is/SN71v

In Scotland Joanna Cherry has started proceedings against the Stand, the comedy club which rescinded her booking because of her protected views. She published a 50 page advice from an eminent KC on why this was direct discrimination and has given them 5 days to respond.  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/joanna-cherry-tells-fringe-club-that-cancelled-her-apologise-or-ill-sue-d2xl09t7q or https://archive.is/wjlIO

And the Telegraph published this great feature article on why censorship and sensitivity readers is bad for readers’ mental health. It was good to hear Tom Hanks defending unabridged versions of the classics this week. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/sensitivity-readers-censored-books-brain-health/ or  https://archive.is/ZUAjs

The ferry situation in Scotland continues to rumble on as does the motor home which no one in the SNP apparently knew was purchased except for presumably Nicola Sturgeon and her husband as the vehicle in question was parked on the mother-in-law’s drive. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-husband-kept-snp-treasurer-in-the-dark-over-purchase-of-110-000-campervan-lbvfvr5rs or https://archive.is/jB2QA

The police in England have new powers to deal with protesters and used them to prevent the coronation procession from being attacked. Police intelligence indicated that they intended to use rape alarms to spook horses, throw paint and lock on to various objects.  Some people thought they were heavy-handed. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronation-arrests-trigger-fears-over-free-speech-threat-ktcs99cc8 or https://archive.is/3nvki

Penny Morduant who caught many people’s eye with her striking  teal and gold dress and headdress as she held the jewelled sword did a lovely op-ed explaining that everyone who took part should be thanked and that she was not the only person to have to hold a sword for that long. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/10/the-coronation-celebrated-what-we-have-in-common/ or https://archive.is/OGhpp

During the Big Helpout day on Monday, Prince Louis made his first official appearance with the rest of his family, helping to renovate a Scout hut. The Princess of Wales is the patron of the Scouts and it was clear everyone in her family enjoys doing outdoor things. Prince Louis seemed very fond of smores. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/05/08/prince-louis-official-royal-debut-digger-scouts/ or https://archive.is/wWdML

For my part, I went and did curlew surveying up at Goatstones. I did not see any curlews and suspect they were sitting on the eggs as the crows and ravens were much in evidence. Goatstones refers to a stone circle – four poster one as there four stones. No idea why it is there but it has been there for a long time. There are also the remains of ancient huts. The only person in the area when I was there was me though

Goatstones, Northumberland 4 poster stone circle.

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