“The life, work and riotous pleasures of Dylan Thomas in Fitzrovia.” That was the title of a wide-ranging festival celebrating one of our greatest poets in 2014, his centenary year. It was also a celebration of Fitzrovia, the culturally rich district which played an important part in his life in London. The 19-year-old first came up on… Continue reading
Browsing Category Travel
Can Welsh tourism cash its NATO dividend?
When the clattering helicopters, and the ominous motorcades with chunky black president-carriers much bigger than we used to have gone, the Wales of that very tempting Welsh Government video remains. President Obama is unlikely to return before the third week of January, 2017, when, under the constitution, he has to leave the Oval Office. (He… Continue reading →
After the NATO circus, will this corner of Wales reap a tourism bonanza?
After the screaming motorcades, and clattering presidential helicopters it will be time for touristic payback to Newport and Monmouthshire. The international media spotlight moves on, but the world will certainly have heard of the Celtic Manor resort, base for the NATO Summit, and the beautiful countryside around. I was there in quieter times, before the… Continue reading →
Swansea’s field of dreamers, poets and six sixes in an over
On August 31st, 1968, West Indies cricketer Garfield St Aubrun Sobers became the first player in the, roughly, 200 year history of the sport to hit every ball of an over for six, playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan at the St Helens ground in Swansea. To date the feat has only been repeated once in conventional,… Continue reading →
Formula E: next big crowd-pulling event to line our city streets?
Tour de France cyclists in The Mall, July 7th, 2014 Elite cycling – the new, hot draw on the street Tour de France is sure to return – but where? Could Formula E be next big mass spectator sport? Have we seen the start of a mass spectator event culture in Britain? The astonishing success of… Continue reading →
Harrogate welcomes the Tour de France, with a nice cup of tea.
Now we know where Harrogate is. The first day of the 2014 Tour de France, which took palace in Yorkshire was an event of Olympic proportions, and enthusiasm. Was there ever a televised road journey with such massive, joyous support? The race started in Leeds and ended in the sedate spa town of Harrogate. The… Continue reading →