Although I don't especially like Andrew Marr as a political interviewer I do quite enjoy his documentary programmes about British history.

 

However, I have become increasingly worried by his fascination in attempting dodgy voice impersonations of politicians from bygone ages (his Churchill voice is especially odd) and his obsession with dressing up in period costumes.

 

In this evenings episode of "The Making of Modern Britain" Mr Marr was seen in the uniform of the "Green Shirt" movement of the 1920's / 1930's and then, alarmingly, dressed in a 1930's style swimming costume.

 

Apaprently next week he will dress up in a Home Guard uniform!

 

I don't understand why Mr Marr has to augment his otherwise interesting programmes with this "costume fetish" and I am becoming increasingly convinced that he is slowly but surely "losing the plot".

A couple of songs from the great Lancashire comedian, singer and songwriter Mike Harding.

 

I know we are a week or so past Remembrance Day but these songs do bring home the reality of how the World Wars impacted on the ordinary people of our country.

 

Firstly, Mike's tribute to his father, an RAF Navigator, who died in Bomber Commands campaign in World War 2.

 

Some of the images on the clip show the human cost of the bombing raids on Germany and you may wish not to look.

 

 

Secondly an audio clip from the same album (Bombers Moon) called "The Accrington Pals". 

 

This song tells the disturbing story of the men of the 11th Batallion of the East Lancashire Regiment - many of whom came from Accrington but also from neighbouring towns such as Blackburn, Chorley & Burnley.

 

On 1st July 1916, about 700 men of this batallion went "over the top" on The Somme.

 

30 minutes later 235 were dead and 350 wounded.

 

I have also tried to find Mike's version of Eric Bogles great song, "The Band Sang Waltzing Matilda", that tells the story of the ANZACS at Gallipoli.

 

No luck yet, but The Pogues also did a great version on their album "Rum, Sodomy & the Lash" which I may post another time.

I rarely find time to go to the cinema, however I fully intend to see Sir Michael Caines new film, Harry Brown.

 

I am sure that I will appreciate the social comment in the film but above all else I will go because for as many years as I can remember Michael Caine has made so many bl**dy good films.

 

Zulu, Alfie, The Ipcress File (trilogy), Educating Rita, The Italian Job, The Man Who Would Be King and my personal favourite, Get Carter.

 

20 odd years ago Madness did this musical tribute to Sir Michael - and not a lot of people know that................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of weeks ago the Royal Navy was widely critised when one of it's ships, Royal Fleet Auxillary Wave Knight, allegedly stood by and did nothing as a British couple were kidnapped by Somali pirates.

 

I learned today from "a very informed source" that until shortly before the kidnapping RFA Wave Knight had been carrying Royal Marines trained to deal with this sort of incident.

 

Unfortunately they had just been redeployed (much to their subsequent annoyance) at the time of the kidnapping.

 

It's interesting that the Royal Navy are clearly taking measures in the Gulf of Aden area to protect shipping and that it was probably a question of bad luck (or good luck for the pirates) that the marines had just moved on.

 

It seems rather unfair to criticise the crew of the Wave Knight (who are essentially auxillery personnel) for failing to take action - perhaps the real question to ask is why the yacht was anywhere near that area given the well publicised pirate activity?

Again, the capacity for a member of parliament to display breathtaking arrogance never ceases to amaze me.

 

I almost wrote breathtaking stupidity but as David Curry is clearly a well educated man then I can't really say that a low IQ is an explanation for his current troubles.

 

Curry has stood down as the Chairman of the Commons Standards & Privileges Committee after only 2 months in post after serious questions have been asked about his expenses claims.

 

What on earth was he doing ever accepting this post knowing that he had an expenses skeleton in the closet?

 

Was he in denial or perhaps he was so arrogant that he thought he was above suspicion & had "got away with it"?

 

Yet again this shows how too many of our MP's just aren't fit for purpose.

 

Curry stands down as the MP for Skipton & Ripon at the next general election - good riddance!