I nearly called this piece Oscillating Oswestry, such is the number of times it has moved (from one side of the Welsh Borders to the other). Although it’s most recent move came courtesy of the Ordnance Survey. To find out why, you’ll have to check […]
Tag: The People’s Friend
Enchanting Exmoor
This week’s issue of The People’s Friend (dated 6th June 2020) has my travel piece about Exmoor on the front cover.
A Pride of Barbers
This week’s issue of The People’s Friend (30th May 2020) contains my article about a fascinating organisation: The Lions Barber Collective. It was set up by barber, Tom Chapman, after the sudden death of a friend through suicide. Tom realised that a barber shop was […]
Come to Caldey
This week’s issue of The People’s Friend carries my travel piece about Caldey Island on its front cover.
Scenic Shrewsbury
The latest issue of the People’s Friend has my feature about Shrewsbury in it and on the front cover.
Dazzling Displays
Selfridges are well known for their Christmas window displays (Check out this link for this year’s displays). But how much work goes into creating these displays and when do they start planning and designing them? Well, check out the latest issue of The People’s Friend […]
Historic Hereford
My feature on Hereford appeared in The People’s Friend’s issue dated 28th September 2019. When Alex, the Features Editor, commissioned me to write it I jumped at the chance, even though the city is only 40 miles from where I live, and it’s a place […]
Captivating Crickhowell – Bonus Bits!
My feature about the Welsh Border town of Crickhowell can be found in the current issue of The People’s Friend, and as with all such pieces, there’s only so much that you can fit into three pages, and only so many photos. So here’s some […]
Pilgrimage to Plymouth
Simon Whaley enjoys a journey around this delightful Devonshire City. ‘Climb the oak tree,’ says the tourist guide, ‘but think laterally.’ She winks as she hands over a map of Plymouth city to help me explore. I have to admit, it’s been a few […]
Blackcurrant Jelly
Donald drummed his fingers against the steering wheel of his Ford Focus, his eyes fixed on the school entrance. Any minute now, those doors would fly open and hundreds of happy kids would stream out, overjoyed at their freedom. Then he would see his […]
On The Waterways
“Every time someone opens these lock gates,” says Mike, the engineer, “we lose 40,000 gallons of water.” We’re standing at the bottom of Lock 72 of the Trent & Mersey Canal in Middlewich, Cheshire, thanks to one of the Canal and River Trust’s Open Days.
Going Ape!
“Is it true monkeys like bananas?” my nephew, Ashley, asks as we watch a gibbon swinging on a rope high above our heads. Thankfully, we have an expert to hand.
Along The Welsh Marches
“Uncle Simon, why is there a goat on top of that castle wall?” My nephew stares at the white adult goat fifteen feet above us. A series of frantic bleats fill the air and, suddenly, three sure-footed kids join their parent on the narrow, stony […]
Charming Church Stretton
It’s not difficult to see why Church Stretton is known as Shropshire’s Little Switzerland when there’s been a fresh dusting of snow overnight. If weather forecasters predict snow in Shropshire, you can guarantee Church Stretton will get some!
Lakeland’s Autumnal Colours
“I know New England is famous for it’s autumnal colour,” drawls the American tourist standing next to me in the grounds of Rydal’s St Mary’s Church, “but your Old England display is pretty spectacular too.”
Age UK – The People’s Friend
If you can get hold of a copy of The People’s Friend, dated 21st March 2015, then check out the feature exploring the life of an Age UK charity shop in Newport (for which I took the photos). In this month’s issue, shop manager […]
Age UK Magazine Models
My latest batch of Age UK photos has been published in The People’s Friend magazine. They’re such a lovely team at the Newport, Shropshire shop, and they are all fantastically friendly, especially when they hate having their photos taken! Mind you, I can understand their […]
Age UK join forces with The People’s Friend
I’ve just caught up with the issues of The People’s Friend that contain the new monthly series of articles from Age UK. Whilst Age UK could supply the text, The People’s Friend needed someone local to the Newport shop that Age UK have selectued to […]
A Treasure Hunt in Tenby
Simon Whaley goes looking for a hidden gem in this Welsh fishing town … “Sorry, all boat trips to Caldey Island are cancelled today,” the operator apologises from his wooden hut in Tenby Harbour. “The sea is too rough to land,” he explained. “You […]