Britain is a country which says "Goodbye" to an old film director called Peter Yates

The film director Peter Yates, has died aged 81.
Things you may or may not have known about Peter, that he :

* was the son of an army officer, attended Charterhouse School Public School and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

* entered repertory theatre in the late 1940s as an actor, then worked as a racing driver and manager for the internationally successful Stirling Moss.

* dubbed foreign-language films into English and edited documentaries before becoming an assistant director on such films as 'The Inn of the Sixth Happiness' in 1958, 'The Entertainer' in 1960 and 'The Guns of Navarone' in 1961.

* From 1962, directed episodes of the TV series 'The Saint' and 'Danger Man'.

* directed his first film 'Summer Holiday' in 1963, as a lightweight vehicle for Cliff Richard :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbajf_rHzys

* the time spent as a racing driver gave him the break he needed when he was hired to direct 'Robbery' in 1967, which, with its opening car chase and climactic action sequence made the film, brought him box-office success, critical plaudits and an invitation to Hollywood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-GT-_gziw

* was nudging 40 when he was offered 'Bullitt' in 1968, starring Steve McQueen as a cool, laconic cop whose San Francisco car chase became one of cinema's most influential action sequences :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiihioRMZmU

* enjoyed a massive box-office success with 'The Deep' in 1977 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPNauytoxw

* made 'The Dresser' in 1983, a film based on Ronald Harwood's play about his experiences working for the actor-manager Donald Wolfit :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZROSsbbHJ0

* made 'Krull' in 1983 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHgC9sAEvE



.

Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Robin Ellis, Jimmy Page, David Bowie and for nostalgia Scott Walker

Robin Ellis, actor, is 69 and here he is playing Ross Poldark on tv in the mid 1970's when he was in his early 30's :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbi48y_1Zkc

Jimmy Page, musician, is 67 and here he is playing 'Stairway To Heaven' with Led Zeppelin released in 1971 when he was 27.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9TGj2jrJk8

David Bowie, singer, is 64 and here he is singing 'Life On Mars' when he was 24 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUOTImKp0k

P.S.
Scott Walker from the USA is 68 today and here he is singing 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' when he was 22 in 1965 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eAxCVTMJ-I

Britain is a country which says "Happy Birthday" to Clive Dunn and remember Lance-Corporal Jones and 'Dad's Army' set in the Second World War

Clive Dunn, seen here on the right, three years ago, with Ian Lavender, is 91 today. Clive spent his best years as an actor playing old men and featured in the comedy series 'Dad's Army' which ran for 80 episodes between 1968 to 1977 and attracted audiences of 18 million people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQwHb1pWPE

As Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, he became part of the living room furniture along with the other characters based at Walmington-On-Sea on the South coast during the Second World War.
Thet were part of the non-professional Army known as the 'Home Guard' or 'Dads Army' because they were too old or incompetent to serve in the Regular Forces.


What you possibly didn't know about Clive, that he :

* after leaving school, studied at the 'Italia Conti'.

* played small film roles from the 1930s onwards, appearing alongside Will Hay in the films 'Boys Will Be Boys' in 1935 and 'Good Morning,Boys' in 1937.

* served in the Army with the '4th Hussars', during the Second World War, during the course of which he spent 4 years in prisoner-of-war and labour camps in Austria,

* after the War, worked in music halls and theatres before winning the role of Jones the Butcher at the age of 48 in 'Dad's Army' in 1968 where he was was one of the younger members of the cast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BT0TiXbGNQ

* had strong socialist beliefs often caused him to fall out with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring and who was a committed Conservative.

* had a 'number one' hit single with the song "Grandad" on his 51st birthday in 1971
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KJGJRd8pGE

The lyrics of 'Grandad' were unapologetic, commercial nostalgia and I love them :

I've been sitting here all day thinking,
Same old thing ten years away.
Thinking,now my days are gone,
Memories linger on,
Thoughts of when I was boy.

Pennyfarthings on the street riding.
Motorcars were funny things, frightning.
Bow and hoops and spinning tops.
Annie gretzel's lollipops.
Comic cuts, all different things.

Grandad, grandad you're lovely,
That's what we all think of you.
Grandad, Grandad you're lovely,
That's what we all think of you.
Grandad, Grandad.

Areoplanes tied up with string flying.
Telephones and talking things sighing.
A radio and phonograph, Charlie Chaplin made us laugh,
Silently falling about.
Familiar things I keep around, near me.
Memories of my younger days, clearly.
Now it's in my mind?
Everyday I find, thoughts of when I was boy...

Britain is No Country for Old Men : an inventory

FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY 2011
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Hunter Davies always to remembered as the biographer of 'The Beatles'

THURSDAY, 6 JANUARY 2011
Britain is no longer a country for a sad old musician called Gerry Rafferty

WEDNESDAY, 5 JANUARY 2011
Britain is no country for old men in hospital with nowhere to go

TUESDAY, 4 JANUARY 2011
Britain is a country which says "Goodbye" to a fine old actor called Pete Postlethwaite

MONDAY, 3 JANUARY 2011
Britain is a country where Elton John as an 'old' celebrity father is not alone

SUNDAY, 2 JANUARY 2011
Britain is a country where old men remember Gene Kelly 'Singing in the Rain' when they were boys and Morecambe and Wise when they were 'youngish' men

FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to two old actors called Ben Kingsley and Anthony Hopkins

FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is an old country which gives old honours to old men

THURSDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2010
Britain in the future will become less and less of a country for more and more old men.

WEDNESDAY, 29 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men say "Happy Birthday" to Marianne Faithfull and the girl they remember when they were boys

SUNDAY, 26 DECEMBER 2010
Britain at Christmas is a country with a reflective journalist called Peter Hitchins who thinks that we have lost as much as we have gained

FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where families invite old men at Christmas

FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no country for flu in old men

FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2010
Britain in winter is a country with icey paths which are no places for old men

THURSDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for Judge James Pickles

WEDNESDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no country for old politicians who are flattered by young women

TUESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for a journalist called Brian Hanrahan

TUESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2010
Britain in a harsh winter is no place for old men

TUESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2010
Britain's Heathrow Airport overnight is no place for old men

SUNDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men look back on Christmas in the 1950's, when they were boys and reflect that : nothing has really changed

SUNDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where celebrity 'older' women like Ann Widecombe and Pamela Stephenson can give pleasure to millions with their dancing

SATURDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is country in winter, where old men can learn to keep fit from their counterparts in the U.S.A.

SATURDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men remember the winter of 1963 when they were supple boys and not brittle boned old men

FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is still a country where, in a pantomine audience, old men can once again become boys and kids prove that they are still, just 'kids'

THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for an old professor called Michael Samuels who was an expert in the history of an old language called English

WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2010
Britain, no country for an old farmer and an old actor, is still one for an old band leader called Dave Clark and three of his Five

TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is no Country for Old Men confirmed

TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men taste the food they had as boys and discover " it ain't the same".

MONDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to an old Canadian actor called Christopher Plummer

SUNDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Bill Nighy

SUNDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men need a sense of humour to survive and the good news from Canada is that they will not lose it

SATURDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men can speak and write 'good' English, whereas young men working at The Department for Education cannot

SATURDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to an old B.B.C. broadcaster called Cliff Michelmore

SATURDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where a young actor called Derek Jacobi once played the old Emperor Claudius and now that old actor plays an old King called Lear

FRIDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men, when young, protested on the streets of London against a War and now their grandsons protest against student debt

THURSDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose hospital wards are no places for old men

WEDNESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2010
Berlin in winter is a safe city for old men and still a place for the hurdy gurdy man

WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2010
Britain in the grip of severe winter weather is not just no country for old men but for anyone

TUESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men would live longer if it had more doctors who were paid less

TUESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where 'The Guardian' newspaper pays tribute to Leslie Neilsen

MONDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain says "Goodbye" to an old Canadian actor called Leslie Neilson

MONDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country which needs more and men like Christopher Irven who has that, now, rare quality of ' the Dunkirk Spirit' : a post script

MONDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where its increasing number of old men who are the victims of crime have a protectress in The Crown Prosecution Service

THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember 'Countess Dracula' and say "Goodbye" to a remarkable woman called Ingrid Pitt

WEDNESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for Brian Marsden who proved that the solar system was no longer a place for a 'planet' called Pluto

TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country facing social and economic difficulties where ' a royal wedding' will be just the thing to provide a tonic for the nation

MONDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where BBC Television is no longer a place for 'The Goodies'

SUNDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country with a London borough called Lewisham where Jude Law and I both saw the first light of day

SATURDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country awash with books for and about old men

WEDNESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain a country where old men can be proud that they are part their Government's 'Big Society Project.'... if they want to be or not.

WEDNESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where theives rob its old soldiers called Chelsea Pensioners

TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country which has said "Goodbye" to a great old man called Professor John Waterlow

MONDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain's old men fear not, you too shall be asked "How happy are you ?"

SUNDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain, if you are the 'angry' and 'cruel' country observed by Dame Helen Mirren, then you are certainly no place for old men

SATURDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men with fond memories say "Goodbye" to Pontin Holiday Camps

FRIDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is No Country for Old Men is confirmed and although Sweden is better, China and India are worse

WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain, once a country enthusiastic for war, thought it had said "goodbye" to it at 11 o'clock in the morning on the 11th of November 1918

WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is still a country which remembers its 'Old Soldiers' like 109 years old Claude Choules

TUESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men can make new banks

MONDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain's tommorrow's old men should have been born in the USA

SATURDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain said "Happy Birthday" to Peter Noone and old men remembered 'Herman's Hermits' and that simpler world of the 1960's

WEDNESDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country which says " Happy Birthday" to music makers John Barry, Bert Jansch and Lulu

MONDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men celebrate Autumn with Edith, Eric, Nat, Andrea, Doris, Eva, Cannonball, Miles, Tom, Chet + 'Autumn Leaves'

SUNDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to a remarkable old Brit called Sir Jimmy Savile

SUNDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is now no country for old stags aswell as old men

SATURDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country with a county called Kent and a castle called Sissinghurst with a garden tailor-made for old men

FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men say "Happy Birthday" to Peter Green while, remembering Fleetwood Mac an 'Albatross' and a' Man of the World'

THURSDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men now have their very own celebration on 'Older People's Day'.

WEDNESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to John Cleese, with fond memories of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and 'Fawlty Towers'

TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Bob Hoskins

MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2010
Britain, once a country where boys asked for " a penny for the guy ?", is now one where teenage youths threaten " trick or treat?" on doorsteps.

SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember a 1960's band called 'The Rolling Stones' and say " Happy Birthday" to its guitarist called Bill Whyman

SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2010
Britain will become less and less a country for 'poor' old men as the Government's 'fairly apportioned' spending cuts take hold

FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men can reflect on the coming of their autumn and listen to James Melton 'in the rain'

THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday to Manfred Mann"

WEDNESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember their teens, the 'Swinging 60's' in London and a film called 'Blow Up' by Antonioni.

TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men thank Ronald Ridout for their ability to speak 'good English'

TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where 'some' old men can stave off dementia by exercising body and brain, but 'many' cannot

MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2010
Britain in the Middle Ages, a country for Donald Sutherland in 'fiction', was no country for real old men in 'fact'

SUNDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men can contemplate the reflections of old men who have gone before them

SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country whose depressed old men might be cheered by the comedian in Tommy Cooper while turning a blind eye to his failings as a man

FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country which says "Come back Morecambe and Wise", we need your mirth making today

FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is still a country where many, who are young boys today, will look back on a poverty stricken childhood when they are old men

THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men have lost their champion Claire Rayner
WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" and raises a glass to two rich, kind old men called Sir Roger Moore and Sir Cliff Richard

WEDNESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Chris Farlowe

TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2010
If Britain is no country for old men, neither is Japan

TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where it is not surprising to find that rich old men live longer than their poorer counterparts

SATURDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where two youngish comedians called Enfield and Whitehouse make money by being nasty old men

SATURDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where young , middle aged and old men and women take part in the annual 'Great North Run'

FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember the pretty, young Margaret Thatcher and discover that she also had human weaknesses

THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country with some good news for old men in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease

THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2010
Is Britain is a country where old men want to live until the age of 144, like Dr Nakamats ?

TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country whose old men can still benefit from the laughter induced by vintage 'Candid Camera'

TUESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for Norman Wisdom

MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is perhaps, a country where the 'country' may have changed, however, the 'people' have not

MONDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2010
Is Britain, at its extremes, no Country for Old Men ?

SUNDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2010
Britain, once a country for a young Alan Bennett is no longer a country for the old one

SATURDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country which needs more old men like Khiv Ghurjar and perhaps Christopher Irven

FRIDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is now a country with almost 2000 old men of 100 years of age or more

FRIDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2010
Britain is a country where on a wet autumn afternoon, the late Jonathan Routh can be gauranteed to cheer up its old men

THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain's old men say "Happy Birthday" to Rula Lenska and Angie Dickinson

THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain's old men remember and laugh with the late Jonathan Routh

WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where some old men became the men they are in the 1970's

MONDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where today's old men in their 60's were 'feminised' in the 1970's

MONDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old boys should be treated differently from old girls

SUNDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Bryan Ferry

SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain was once a country for Jonathan Routh and 'Candid Camera'

FRIDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is more and more a country for 'Victor Meldrows'

THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for composer Geoffrey Burgon

SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2010
Battle of Britain pilots, the last of 'The Few', what do you think of the Britain you fought for now ?

SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Pete Murray

THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for an old hippy called Sid Rawle

TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is no longer a country for a great old Judge called Lord Bingham

TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is no country for poor old men

SUNDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country of old men who remember 'Only Fools and Horses' with affection

SUNDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men, with fond memories, said "Happy Birthday" to Judy Geeson this weekend and also remember Sidney Poitier

SATURDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain's old men recognize that Frank Sinatra had been there before them

FRIDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is no country for old men like Pastor Terry Jones, who want to burn books, not yet anyway...

FRIDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men try to understand their past

THURSDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain, no country for today's old men, was once one for them, when they were boys

WEDNESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is now no country for old men who do 'brain gym'

TUESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country for old men who want to satisfy their craving for nostalgia

MONDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember the dangers, safety and pleasures of their long lost youth

MONDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men remember their school days with a distinct absence of affection

MONDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2010
Britain is a country where old men, who were once boys in London on this day 70 years ago, 7th September 1940, remember the start of 'The Blitz'

SUNDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2010
The fact that Britain is no country for old men is, apparently, of some interest to some people, somewhere

THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2010
'Britain is no country for old men' : my inventory for January to September 2010:

TUESDAY, 17 AUGUST 2010 :
'BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN' : MY INVENTORY FOR 2009

SATURDAY, 14 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN PAY TRIBUTE TO AN OLD GUITARIST CALLED ERIC CLAPTON

THURSDAY, 12 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO MARK KNOPFLER

WEDNESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN WILL SOON BECOME NO COUNTRY FOR YOUNGER AND YOUNGER 'OLD' MEN

TUESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN : TWO LAUGHTER TONICS WHICH SHALL BE GOOD FOR YOU

MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH NEEDS MORE OLD MEN LIKE CLINT EASTWOOD

FRIDAY, 6 AUGUST 2010 :
IF BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, WHAT ABOUT JAPAN ?

WEDNESDAY, 4 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN HAVE FOND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF THINGS WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN

MONDAY, 2 AUGUST 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO PETER O'TOOLE

SUNDAY, 1 AUGUST 2010 : '
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN' V 'ANIMAL MADNESS' - THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS

FRIDAY, 30 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN BUY THE FALSE TEETH OF FAMOUS OLD MEN LIKE WINSTON CHURCHILL

FRIDAY, 30 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR UNSTOPPABLE OLD SINGERS LIKE TOM JONES

WEDNESDAY, 28 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR FORMIDIBLE OLD BROADCASTERS LIKE JOHN HUMPHRYS

MONDAY, 26 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AN OLD MAN CALLED 'SIR' MICK JAGGER

SATURDAY, 24 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS LESS AND LESS A COUNTRY FOR MORE AND MORE 'POOR' OLD MEN

FRIDAY, 23 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO DAVID ESSEX

THURSDAY, 22 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO THE ACTOR TERENCE STAMP

TUESDAY, 20 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO DAME DIANA RIGG AND REMEMBER HER AS 'MRS PEEL'

SATURDAY, 17 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH NEEDS MORE AND MEN LIKE CHRISTOPHER IRVEN WHO HAS THAT, NOW, RARE QUALITY OF ' THE DUNKIRK SPIRIT'

THURSDAY, 15 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE YOUNG MEN, WITH ALACRITY, STEAL THINGS FROM OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 14 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN REMEMBER EDEN KANE

WEDNESDAY, 14 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN LIKE CHRIS IRVEN WHO DO CLIFF JUMPING

TUESDAY, 13 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHOSE OLD MEN SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO AN OLD AMERICAN ACTOR CALLED DALE ROBERTSON

MONDAY, 12 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN WAS ONCE A COUNTRY WHICH LAMPOONED DEFERENCE TO ITS MONARCHY AND THE 'GREAT AND GOOD'

MONDAY, 12 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR ALF CARRETTA OF 'THE ZIMMERS'

SATURDAY, 10 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE, IN THE CITY OF LEICESTER, OLD MEN WAGE WAR AGAINST YOUNG CRIMINALS

THURSDAY, 8 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR EITHER OLD MEN, YOUNG MEN OR ANYONE NOT IMMUNE TO THE NOISE OF LOUD CAR EXHAUSTS

THURSDAY, 8 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN WAS ONCE A COUNTRY FOR ANCIENT MEN WHO LED HARD AND SHORT LIVES

TUESDAY, 6 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN WILL BECOME NO COUNTRY FOR MORE AND MORE VERY OLD MEN

MONDAY, 5 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR 'OLD GITS' IN ITS PARLIAMENTARY 'HOUSE OF COMMONS'

THURSDAY, 1 JULY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN HAVE VERY CLEAR MEMORIES OF WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG MEN IN THE 1960'S

WEDNESDAY, 30 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN - GOOD NEWS ! EXERCISE CAN BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER

WEDNESDAY, 30 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN LIVE LONGER AND LONGER AND OLD METHODISTS LIVE LONGEST OF ALL

MONDAY, 28 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHOSE OLD MEN ARE LIVING LONGER AND LONGER AND IN TERMS OF LONGEVITY, ARE CATCHING UP WITH ITS WOMEN

THURSDAY, 24 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS MORE AND MORE A COUNTRY WHERE MORE AND MORE OLD MEN HAVE LESS AND LESS TO LAUGH ABOUT

TUESDAY, 22 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY AWASH WITH ROGUE TRADERS WHO PREY ON OLD MEN

MONDAY, 21 JUNE 2010 ;
BRITAIN WAS ONCE A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN BELIEVED THEY COULD DEFEND ITS SHORES FROM ATTACK

SATURDAY, 19 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH NEEDS A UNIVERSITY WITH A ' DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK AND GERONTOLOGY' LIKE SHIPPENSBURG IN THE U.S.A.

FRIDAY, 18 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN SAID " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TODAY TO PAUL MCCARTNEY, DELIA SMITH, FABIO CAPELLO AND ME

TUESDAY, 15 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE, IN THE PRESENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, SOME YOUNG MEN DO NOT LOVE OLD MEN

MONDAY, 14 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WITH A COUNTY CALLED KENT AND A 'RIVERSIDE PARK' WHERE OLD MEN CAN WALK AND TALK AND MEET OTHER OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 9 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN'S WEST COUNTRY IS MORE AND MORE A PLACE FOR WEALTHY OLD MEN WITH WORN OUT KNEES AND HIPS

SUNDAY, 6 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WITH MORE AND MORE LONELY OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 5 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WITH GRUMPY OLD MEN LIKE TONY SLATTERY AND ME

THURSDAY, 3 JUNE 2010 :
IS BRITAIN A COUNTRY OF MIDDLE-AGED 'GRUMPY' OLD MEN ?

WEDNESDAY, 2 JUNE 2010 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN WHO EAT BANANAS CAN BECOME NEW DADS

WEDNESDAY, 2 JUNE 2010 :
IS BRITAIN A COUNTRY WHOSE WELL- HEELED GOVERNMENT WILL INFLICT FINANCIAL PAIN ON ITS POOR OLD MEN ?

MONDAY, 31 MAY 2010 :
PERHAPS BRITAIN 'IS' A COUNTRY FOR AN AMERICAN CALLED BILL BRYSON AND I

MONDAY, 31 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S KENT IS NO COUNTY FOR NEITHER OLD MEN, NOR DEAD MEN OR AMBULANCEMEN

SATURDAY, 29 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN WAS ONCE THE HOME OF A GENIUS CALLED JOHN AUBREY

FRIDAY, 28 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WITH OLD VILLAGES IN RUDE HEALTH AND OLD PUBS WITH RUDE LANDLORDS

WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO AN OLD THESPIAN CALLED ROY DOTRICE AND REMEMBER HIM PLAYING THE OLD JOHN AUBREY

MONDAY, 24 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S NEW GOVERNMENT IS NO PLACE FOR YOUNG MEN FROM POOR BACKGROUNDS

MONDAY, 24 MAY 2010 :
SO, IS BRITAIN NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ?

SUNDAY, 23 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN TODAY BUT MIGHT IT POSSIBLY BE ONE FOR ITS FUTURE OLD MEN OF TOMMORROW ?


THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO JOE COCKER

WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WITH A PLAYGROUND IN HYDE PARK FOR OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 19 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO PETE TOWNSEND

TUESDAY, 18 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO NOBBY STILES

MONDAY, 17 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S 'BABY BOOMERS' SAY " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO DENNIS HOPPER AND REMEMBER THE 1960'S

SUNDAY, 16 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHOSE 30 YEAR OLD MEN MIGHT LIVE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS : BUT DO THEY WANT TO ?

FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN WAS ONCE A COUNTRY FOR A GENTLE COMIC CALLED WILL HAY

THURSDAY, 13 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD TEACHERS WHO ARE MADE TO FEEL 'INCAPABLE, INADEQUATE AND INCONSEQUENTIAL'

THURSDAY, 13 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN SAID "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO SUSAN HAMPSHIRE YESTERDAY AND RECALLED HER BEAUTY AND THEIR YOUTH

TUESDAY, 11 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO ERIC BURDEN

MONDAY, 10 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE MORE AND MORE OLD MEN WILL MAKE IT A HAPPIER AND HAPPIER PLACE

SUNDAY, 9 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO OLD THESPIANS GERALDINE MCEWAN, GLENDA JACKSON AND ALBERT FINNEY

FRIDAY, 7 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHOSE BEAUTY OLD MEN CAN SEE FOR THE FIRST TIME

THURSDAY, 6 MAY 2010 :
IS BRITAIN A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN DO NEW AND CHALLENGING THINGS ?

WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE PROVINCIAL OLD MEN LIKE TONY FULLER CAN BECOME NEW NATIONAL HEROES

TUESDAY, 4 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO DRIVE A CONVERTIBLE CALLED THE VW EOS

TUESDAY, 4 MAY 2010 : WAS BRITAIN A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN ONCE AGREED WITH SIGOURNEY WEAVER AND LIKE HER SAID : " I LIKE GETTING OLD - IT'S INTERESTING " ?

SATURDAY, 1 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN - TAKE A LEAD FROM SIGOURNEY WEAVER WHO SAYS : " I LIKE GETTING OLD - IT'S INTERESTING "

SATURDAY, 1 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO JOANNA LUMLEY

SATURDAY, 1 MAY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS ONCE AGAIN A COUNTRY FOR AN OLD SOLDIER CALLED MARK MEAD - BUT ONLY JUST

THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN WILL BECOME NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO STILL WRITE CHEQUES

THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2010 :
THE NATIONWIDE IS NO BANK FOR OLD MEN

SUNDAY, 25 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO INADVERTENTLY SPONSOR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR CHARITY

SATURDAY, 24 APRIL 2010 :
BTITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO AMERICAN STARS OF THE SCREEN SHIRLEY MACLAINE AND AL PACINO

WEDNESDAY, 21 APRIL 2010 :
BETSEY TROTWOOD, DONKEYS, VAPOUR TRAILS AND I

WEDNESDAY, 21 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR AN OLD SOLDIER FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR CALLED MARK MEAD

TUESDAY, 20 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE ONE OLD MAN HAS GOT HIS CLEAR, BLUE SKY, BACK, FOR A TIME

MONDAY, 19 APRIL 2010 :
THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS : 'SMALL ANIMALS' VERSUS 'OLD PEOPLE'

SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE MORE AND MORE OLD MEN ARE TAKING UP EXTREME SPORTS WHICH KILL THEM

FRIDAY, 16 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN SAID " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO JULIE CHRISTIE AND OLD MEN REMEMBERED A TIME WHEN, AS BOYS, THEY COULD HAVE SPENT THEIR DINNER MONEY ON HER

WEDNESDAY, 14 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN IS 'APPARENTLY' A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO KEEP THEMSELVES HEALTHY

WEDNESDAY, 7 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "GOODBYE" TO A FINE OLD ACTOR CALLED CORIN REDGRAVE

WEDNESDAY, 7 APRIL 2010 :
BRITAIN'S MEDWAY TOWNS IN KENT ARE A PLACE FOR OLD MEN WHO LIKE TO WALK

TUESDAY, 6 APRIL 2010 ;
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO WANT TO WALK PAST WATERSHIP DOWN

FRIDAY, 2 APRIL 2010 :
IN BRITAIN : ENGLAND IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD WOMEN

MONDAY, 29 MARCH 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO ERIC IDLE

FRIDAY, 26 MARCH 2010 ;
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO AN OLD AMERICAN TV AND MOVIE ACTOR CALLED LEONARD NIMOY.

THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2010 :
BRITAIN'S IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM IS A PLACE FOR SCHOOL CHIDREN AND OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 20 MARCH 2010 ;
JAPAN IS A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

THURSDAY, 18 MARCH 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN CAN ENJOY SPRING SUN

MONDAY, 15 MARCH 2010 ;
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY FOR CATS WITH OLD CAT OWNERS

SUNDAY, 14 MARCH 2010 ;
BRITIAN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD BABY BOOMERS AND THE 'DAILY MAIL' AND DOMINIC SANDBROOK

WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH 2010 ;
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE YOUNG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS WHO ARE NOW OLD, WERE CAUGHT IN ASPIC BY A PHOTOGRAPHER CALLED MAURICE BROOMFIELD

TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2010 :
BRITAIN WAS ONCE A COUNTRY FOR YOUNG BOYS WHO ARE NOW OLD MEN WHO WERE CAUGHT IN ASPIC BY BERT HARDY

SATURDAY, 6 MARCH 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" SIR RANULPH TWISLETON-WYKEHAM-FIENNES

THURSDAY, 4 MARCH 2010 ;
THE SEA WALL AT SHEERNESS ON THE ISLE OF SHEPPEY, IS A PLACE FOR OLD MEN TO STROLL IN THE SPRING SUN

WEDNESDAY, 3 MARCH 2010 :
ONE OLD BRITON REMEMBERS DAVE BERRY

TUESDAY, 2 MARCH 2010 ;
ONE OLD BRITON SAYS "THANKS" TO DARRELL BANKS

MONDAY, 1 MARCH 2010 ;
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE ONE OLD MAN HAS SHARP AUDITORY MEMORIES OF EDEN KANE AND BILLY FURY

MONDAY, 1 MARCH 2010 :
Comments on Alexander Chancellor's article asking : Why is it so fashionable to celebrate ageing ?'

SATURDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE THE LABOUR PARTY CELEBRATES ' OUR AGEING SOCIETY'

FRIDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2010 ;
OLD BRITONS SAY " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO SANDIE SHAW.

WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2010 ;
BRITAIN SAID " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" YESTERDAY TO DENIS WATERMAN AND PAUL JONES

WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN OF 74 BUT NOT BEFORE OR BEYOND

TUESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN THIS WINTER HAS BEEN NO PLACE FOR OLD MEN BUT ONE WITH PLENTY OF ADVICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT

SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SHALL SOON SAY " GOODBYE" TO A BRAVE MAN WHO WAS, ONCE THE INFAMOUS 'INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS' CALLED, CHRIS WOODHEAD

SATURDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2010 :
IS BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR 'ANGRY YOUNG MEN' LIKE OSBORNE, SILLITOE, MERCER AND STOREY ?

FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S B.B.C. IS A NO COMPANY FOR OLD MEN WHO WANT NEWS, BUT ONE WHERE THEY CAN GET A FULL UPDATE ON THE LOVE LIFE OF GOLPHER TIGER WOODS

FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN SAY " HATS OFF" TO LEONARD COHEN WHO WROTE 'HALLELUJAH' IN 1984 AND K.D.LANG WHO SANG IT AT THE VANCOUVER OLYMPICS IN 2010

THURSDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "GOODBYE" TO CY GRANT

TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2010 :
MANS' TECHNOLOGY OF PRESENT & FUTURE WERE FORESEEN BY 2 BRITONS : H.G.WELLS AND SIR JAMES JEANS , BUT CANADA'S K.D.LANG REMINDS US OF OUR HUMANITY

MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO CLAIRE BLOOM WHO IS 79 TODAY

SUNDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO HAVE BECOME ' POLITICALLY EXPLOSIVE'

SATURDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2010 :
CANADA IS A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN LIKE DONALD SUTHERLAND

WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2010 :
Britain's old men, you are moaning busy bodies who can't laugh at yourselves

MONDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN, IN WINTER, IS NO PLACE FOR OLD MEN BUT STILL A PLACE FOR SANDIE SHAW

MONDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2010 :
GOOGLE :'OLD PEOPLE IN BRITAIN TODAY'

SATURDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO PROFESSOR GREENHALGH, JIMMY TARBUCK, RABBI LIONEL BLUE, DENIS NORDEN AND PATRICK MACNEE

FRIDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2010 :
YESTERDAY, BRITAIN SAID "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO A REMARKABLE OLD MAN CALLED SIR NORMAN WISDOM

WEDNESDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S OLD GRANDPAS, YOU HAVE A CHAMPION IN BARONESS DEECH

MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE 'COLD CALLERS' ON THE TELEPHONE PREY ON OLD MEN

SUNDAY, 31 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN COUNT BIRDS IN THEIR BACK GARDENS

SUNDAY, 31 JANUARY 2010 :
GILLINGHAM'S FOOTBALL STADIUM IS A PLACE FOR OLD MEN

FRIDAY, 29 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO TONY BLACKBURN AND ANDREW LOOG OLDHAM

TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY VERDANT WITH GRUMPY OLD MEN

TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY 2010 :
THIS BLOG HAS MADE THIS OLD MAN FAMOUS IN SWEDEN AND PERHAPS THE WORLD

TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN CONFIRMED

FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S RIVER MEDWAY HAS A RIVERSIDE PATH FOR ELDERLY JOGGERS

FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN CAN JOG THEIR MEMORIES

THURSDAY, 21 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S MEDWAY HAS A RIVERSIDE WALK FOR OLD MEN WHO LIKE LOOKING AT BIRDS

WEDNESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S BABY BOOMERS BEWARE DAVID WILLETTS : PART 3

WEDNESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S BABY BOOMERS BEWARE DAVID WILLETTS : PART 2

MONDAY, 18 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN'S BABY BOOMERS BEWARE DAVID WILLETTS : PART ONE

FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY 2010 ;
BRITAIN SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY TO RICHARD BRIERS AND WARREN MITCHELL

THURSDAY, 14 JANUARY 2010 :
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST ANTIDOTE FOR OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 2010 :
WHY IS BRITAIN NO COUNTRY FOR COLD, OLD MEN ?

WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR COLD, OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 9 JANUARY 2010 ; BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO CLIVE DUNN, JIMMY PAGE, SUSANNAH YORK AND SCOTT WALKER

WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE YESTERDAY'S RADICALS ARE TODAY'S ESTABLISHMENT

SUNDAY, 3 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED TO BE CHILDREN

SUNDAY, 3 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN IN 2016 WILL BE NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO WANT TO SIGN CHEQUES

SUNDAY, 3 JANUARY 2010 :
BRITAIN SAYS " HAPPY BIRTHDAY" THIS WEEKEND TO SOME WORTHY OLD BRITS

TUESDAY, 29 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO REMEMBER MARIANNE FAITHFULL AND SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY !"

WEDNESDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN'S PANTOMIMES ARE PLACES FOR OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO EITHER, SHOP IN TESCOS IN ICY WEATHER, OR RIDE IN EUROSTAR TRAINS TO FRANCEFRIDAY,

18 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN'S NORTH KENT WAS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN TODAY

THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO ROBERT ROBINSON, TOMMY STEELE, CHRISTOPHER CAZENOVE AND BERNARD HILL

SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN SAYS : " WHERE ARE THE PLAYERS WHO FORMED ENGLAND'S CHAMPION FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE 1966 WORLD CUP ?"

SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO 3 'PLEASURE GIVING' OLD BRITS CALLED LIONEL BLAIR, TOM WILKINSON AND BILL NIGHY

TUESDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2009 :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GEOFF HURST WHO WAS IN ENGLAND'S WINNING TEAM IN THE FOOTBALL 'WORLD CUP' IN 1966

MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY OF SOGGY OLD MEN AND SHAKESPEARE AND I AND ' THE RAIN IT RAINETH EVERY DAY'

THURSDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN IN GENERAL AND SOUTHWARK AND IN SOUTH LONDON IN PARTICULAR

TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN SAYS "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" KEITH MICHELL AND "GOODBYE" TO ITS HISTORY

MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2009 :
LAUGHTER TONIC FOR THE DAY AND TOM RUSH SINGING HIS 'REMEMBER SONG'

FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2009 :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD THESPIANS RODNEY BEWES AND JOHN ALDERTON

TUESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN WERE ONCE 'DIRTY', BUT 'HEALTHY' LITTLE BOYS

MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY OF UNHAPPY OLD MEN WHO LAMENT THE LOSS OF THE PAST BUT RECOGNISE THE BENEFITS OF THE PRESENT

SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2009 :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD THESPIAN BRITS AND OUR ADOPTED AMERICAN, TERRY GILLIAM

FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 :
THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS PART SIX : 'SMALL ANIMALS' V 'OLD PEOPLE'

FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 :
WHO ARE THE REAL BABY BOOMERS ?

THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY FOR A BIG MAN CALLED PETER KAY WHO MAKES US FEEL GOOD ON THE WAY TO AMARILLO

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR OLD WAR VETERANS : PART TWO

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2009 :
AT MY BROTHER'S SUGGESTION, A LAUGHTER TONIC FOR THE DAY : THE B.B.C'S ' PORRIDGE '
.
SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BATTLE OF THE BLOGS : PART 5 : 'SMALL ANIMALS V OLD PEOPLE'

SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR OLD WAR VETERANS : PART ONE

FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR BURT KWOUK FROM THE PINK PANTHER

THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR A DARK KNIGHT CALLED SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE

THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BATTLE OF THE BLOGS : PART 4 : 'SMALL ANIMALS' V 'OLD PEOPLE'

WEDNESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR CHURCHILL'S ENGLISH : TUESDAY,

10 NOVEMBER 2009 :
OLD LADY CROSSING THE ROAD : PART TWO :

MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR GUY FAWKES AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT

SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2009 :
LAUGHTER TONIC FOR THE DAY - GENUINE OR A SET UP ?

THURSDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A PLACE FOR THE VOICE OF DONOVAN

WEDNESDAY, 4 NOVEMBER 2009 :
LAUGHTER TONIC FOR THE DAY - GIVE A DOG A BONE

SUNDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2009 :
BIG BROTHER SAYS BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN VISIT LONELY OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2009 :
THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS PART 3 : 'SMALL ANIMALS' V 'OLD PEOPLE'

SATURDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2009 :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DICK FRANCIS AND THE OTHER OLD TIMERS WHO ROSE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR PHIL ARCHER OF 'THE ARCHERS' RADIO SOAP OF 60 YEARS

THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2009 :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO PETER GREEN, 'MAN OF THE WORLD' AND THREE OTHER SPECIAL OLD BRITS

THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A PLACE FOR OLD URBAN SQUIRRELS

THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A PLACE FOR OLD URBAN FOXES

THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A PLACE FOR OLD URBAN HERONS

TUESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2009 ;
THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS : PART 2 : 'SMALL ANIMALS' V 'OLD PEOPLE'

SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN TODAY - WELLER'S OR STING'S ?

SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2009 :
IS BRITAIN TODAY MORE A COUNTRY FOR PAUL WELLER THAN FOR STING ?

THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN'S GOOGLE IS A HEALTHY PLACE FOR THE BRAINS OF SILVER SURFERS SO SAY GARY SMALL AND TEENA MOODY FROM THE U.S.A.

WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2009 :
THE BATTLE OF THE BLOGS : 'SMALL ANIMALS' V 'OLD PEOPLE'

WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR LUDOVIC KENNEDY WHO CRAMMED SO MUCH INTO ONE LIFE

SATURDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR THE OLD MEN WHO ONCE WERE MEMBERS OF MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS

FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN SAYS " HAPPY BIRTHDAY " TO OLD TIMERS, WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH PLEASURE TO SO MANY

FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR THREE OLD HEROES CALLED DONE, CURTIS AND LEGG

THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO LONGER A COUNTRY FOR BARRY LETTS WHO GAVE US ' DOCTOR WHO' AND SO MUCH MORE

WEDNESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR ONE REMARKABLE OLD PROFESSOR CALLED DENNY MITCHISON

TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE YESTERDAY'S ELDERLY HEROES, FRED BOWERS AND SIR THOMAS LEGG, ARE TODAY'S ELDERLY VILLAINS

MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN'S SCHOOLS ARE NO PLACES FOR OLDER TEACHERS AND BABY BOOMERS ARE TO BLAME

SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2009 :
THE PENSION SERVICE - NO PROBLEM, A PROBLEM, MY PROBLEM

SATURDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NEITHER A COUNTRY FOR OLD VILLAINS NOR OLD HEROES

FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2009 ;
HATS OFF TO THE VOICE OF AMERICAN CROONER ANDY WILLIAMS

FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2009 :
HATS OFF TO CHUCK BERRY, THAT REMARKABLE OLD AMERICAN ROCKER

THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2009 :
T.S.ELIOT, BRITAIN'S 'FAVOURITE POET 'AND THE DILEMMAS OF OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 ;
IS BRITAIN STILL A COUNTRY FOR CAPTAIN PUGWASH ?

TUESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2009 ;
CONSERVATIVE BRITAIN IS NO PLACE FOR TOMMOW'S OLD MEN

MONDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2009 ; <
DENNIS THE MENACE' IS ALIVE AND WELL IN NEW ZEALAND

SUNDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE SOME REMARKABLE AND ORDINARY OLD MEN STILL LIVE

SUNDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2009 :
OLD BRITS- DO YOU KNOW THE DATE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN YOUR LIFE ?

SATURDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2009 ;
WILL BRITAIN UNDER CONSERVATIVES BE A BETTER COUNTRY FOR SOME OLD MEN ?

FRIDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IN 2109 WILL BE A COUNTRY FULL OF OLD MEN

THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2009 :
LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE BUT NOT BOUGHT AT TESCOS

WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN TODAY IN A TALE OF TWO SUPERMARKETS

TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN TODAY IN 'A TALE OF TWO CITIES'

THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
A WILTSHIRE HAMLET WHERE TIME STANDS STILL

SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BIRTHDAY BOYS AND GIRLS, DO YOU KNOW THE DATE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN YOUR LIVES ?

THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN NEEDS LORD LAYARD AND GARETH MALONE AS A MINISTERS OF HAPPINESS

MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN IS STILL A COUNTRY FOR THE VOICE OF VERA LYNN AND HER 'RESERVOIR OF LOVE'

SATURDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD THESPIANS

FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN'S OLD MEN YOU HAVE A CHAMPION IN JOAN BAKEWELL

FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN'S TESCOS - NO COMPANY FOR COMPLAINTS PART 2

THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITONS, YOUR LIFE IN 6 WORDS

THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
THERE ARE STILL 'REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL' IN BRITAIN TODAY

WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
THE B.B.C. IS NO COMPANY FOR TERRY WOGAN'S OLD GEEZERS

MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN'S WEST MIDLANDS IS A 'COUNTY' FOR OLD MEN

MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN - A COUNTRY WHERE IT IS NOT DISHONEST TO DUPE THE OLD

SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
BRITAIN'S 'SUNDAY TIMES' IS A PLACE FOR OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD TIMERS !

THURSDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IS NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN WHO CAN'T HEAR OR SPEAK CLEARLY

TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2009 ;
TODAY'S LAUGHTER TONIC FROM PETE AND DUD AND THE 60'S

TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2009 :
BRITAIN IN 1965 - A LONDON SCHOOL CALLED 'ELTHAM GREEN COMPREHENSIVE' AND THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUTH

MONDAY, 31 AUGUST 2009 ;
BRITAIN'S HOSPITAL WARDS - NO PLACE FOR SICK, OLD MEN

THURSDAY, 27 AUGUST 2009 ;
BRITAIN IN 1964 - A PLACE FOR MANFRED MANN

WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST 2009 ;
BRITAIN - A PLACE WHERE PHILOSOPHY CAN HELP OLD MEN

SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST 2009 :
OLD MEN IN THE U.S.A. - BEWARE THE 'SEARLE FREEDOM TRUST' - NO FRIEND OF YOURS

WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2009 :
BRITAIN - A PLACE FOR OLD, DAYTIME DRIVERS

TUESDAY, 18 AUGUST 2009 :
GOODBYE BAVARIA AND YOUR HAPPY OPAS AND OMAS

SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST 2009
: BAVARIA IS A COUNTY FOR OLD MEN - CONFIRMED

FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST 2009 :
BERLIN - A CITY WITH A SUPERMARKET FOR OLD MEN

THURSDAY, 13 AUGUST 2009 :
GERMANY-NO COUNTRY TO CROSS THE 'GERITOL GANG'.

WEDNESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2009 :
BAVARIAN FAMILIES- THE SECRET TO HAPPY OLD MEN

TUESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2009 :
GERMANY IS A COUNTRY SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS OLD MEN

MONDAY, 10 AUGUST 2009 :
BAVARIA IS A COUNTY FOR OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 8 AUGUST 2009 :
BRITAIN - A COUNTRY TO PROFIT FROM LOTS MORE OLD MEN

SATURDAY, 8 AUGUST 2009 :
GERMANY - A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ?

TUESDAY, 4 AUGUST 2009 :
BRITAIN - EVEN LESS OF A COUNTRY FOR FUTURE OLD MEN

TUESDAY, 28 JULY 2009 ;
EBAY IS NO COMPANY FOR OLD SELLERS

SUNDAY, 26 JULY 2009 ;
BRITAIN'S OLD TIMERS - YOU ARE NOT ALONE !

WEDNESDAY, 22 JULY 2009 :
BRITAIN'S TESCOS - NO COMPANY FOR COMPLAINTS

TUESDAY, 21 JULY 2009 ;
B.B.C. IS NO COMPANY FOR OLD WOMEN

SATURDAY, 18 JULY 2009 :
LAUGHING CLUBS FOR BABY BOOMERS ?

FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2009 :
THOUGHTS FROM AN AMERICAN POET AND AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT

FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2009 ;
ONE VIRUS HOAX AND A GRUMPY OLD BRITON

THURSDAY, 16 JULY 2009 ;
THE U.S.A. - A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN ADVERTISE THEIR AGE ON THEIR BUMPERS

WEDNESDAY, 15 JULY 2009 ; BABY BOOMERS, WE ARE 'THE PIG IN THE PYTHON'

MONDAY, 13 JULY 2009 :
LAUGHS FOR THE DAY - COURTESY OF PRESIDENT BUSH

MONDAY, 13 JULY 2009 :
NINE THOUGHTS AND ONE LAUGH FOR THE DAY

MONDAY, 13 JULY 2009 :
BRITAIN - A COUNTRY WHERE BIG BUSINESS ENTICE OLD MEN

FRIDAY, 10 JULY 2009 :
A ROLE MODEL FOR BRITAIN'S OLD MEN - NATHAN BIRNBAUM

FRIDAY, 10 JULY 2009 :
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BUY THESE T-SHIRTS ?

THURSDAY, 9 JULY 2009 :
FOR YOUNG AND OLD - ONE THOUGHT AND THREE TONICS FOR THE DAY

THURSDAY, 9 JULY 2009 ;
LAUGHTER - A TONIC FOR ALL OLD MEN

MONDAY, 6 JULY 2009 ;
HOT OLD MEN IN BRITAIN, RELAX, YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS A CUNNING 'HEATWAVE PLAN'.

SATURDAY, 4 JULY 2009 :
BRITAIN - A COUNTRY WHERE THE CLASS TO WHICH OLD MEN BELONG, STILL DICTATES HOW LONG THEY LIVE.

FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2009 :
BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY WHERE BURGLARS SHOULD BEWARE SOME OLD MEN AND WOMEN

THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2009 :
BORN IN THE U.S.A.

MONDAY, 29 JUNE 2009 ;
BRITAIN - A COUNTRY WHERE OLD MEN DRIVE NEW CONVERTIBLES

FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2009 :
GOOGLE INDICATES THAT BRITAIN IS A BLEAK COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2009 :
BRITAIN'S 'BABY BOOMERS' TODAY

WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE 2009 :
PAUL, DELIAH AND I.

MONDAY, 22 JUNE 2009 :
MONARCHY - A PLACE WHERE ELDERLY PEOPLE CAN DO USEFUL WORK

SATURDAY, 20 JUNE 2009 :
SHOULD THE TITLE BE : ' BRITAIN IS A COUNTRY FOR YOUNG, BUT NOT OLD MEN' ?

WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2009 :
WHY CAN'T DEMOCRACY IN BRITAIN BE A PLACE FOR OLD MEN ?

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2009 :
WAS VICTORIAN BRITAIN A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ?

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2009 :
SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND WAS NO PLACE FOR OLD MEN

FRIDAY, 12 JUNE 2009 ;
URBAN BRITAIN IS NO PLACE FOR OLD MEN AT NIGHT.

TUESDAY, 9 JUNE 2009 :
WHO PROFITS FROM BEING OLD ?

MONDAY, 8 JUNE 2009 :
B.T.- NO COMPANY FOR OLD MEN OR OLD WOMEN

FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2009 ;
CHINA - A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2009 :
BRITAIN 1940 A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

MONDAY, 1 JUNE 2009 :
DANDLING IN BRITAIN TODAY

SUNDAY, 31 MAY 2009:
HERNE BAY - A PLACE FOR THE VERY YOUNG AND THE OLD

FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009 ;
THE SOOTHING BALM OF AGE

WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY 2009 :
WEMBLEY STADIUM - A SAFE PLACE FOR OLDER MEN

SATURDAY, 23 MAY 2009 ;
SAD BEARD, BLACK BEARD, GREY BEARD, NO BEARD.

FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2009 :
THE GOOD TRADER

THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2009 ;
A MANTRA FOR THE ELDERLY

WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2009 :
REACTIONS

FRIDAY, 15 MAY 2009 :
IS COLOMBIA A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ?

THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2009 :
ROGUE TRADER FROM HELL : PART TWO

WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2009 :
ROGUE TRADER FROM HELL

MONDAY, 11 MAY 2009 :
TELEPHONE BANKING

SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2009 :
IN HOUSE COMMUNICATION

FRIDAY, 8 MAY 2009 :
BIG BUSINESS BANKING ON POOR MEMORY

WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 2009 :
SAFE PLACES AND UNSAFE PLACES

TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2009 :
INVISIBLE AT A PETROL STATION

Britain says "Happy Birthday" to Hunter Davies always to remembered as the biographer of 'The Beatles'

Hunter Davies, prolific author, journalist and broadcaster who is perhaps best known for writing the only authorised biography of 'The Beatles', is 75 today.

Hunter was born in Scotland to Scottish parents, moved to Carlisle when he was 11 and went to University in Durham and then worked as a journalist. In 1965 he wrote the novel 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush' that was quickly made into a film.


He raised the idea of a biography of 'The Beatles' with Paul McCartney who liked the idea of the book and advised him to obtain the approval of Brian Epstein. He agreed to it and the resulting authorised biography, 'The Beatles', was published in 1968.












He went on to :

* in 1972, write what is widely regarded as one of the best ever books about football, 'The Glory Game', a behind the scenes portrait of Tottenham Hotspur.

* in 1974, was sent by the 'Sunday Times' to look at a comprehensive school in action, wrote 3 articles and then stayed on at the school, Creighton School in North London, to watch and study through a year in its life and the result was a book, 'The Creighton Report', published in 1976.

* has written a biography of the hill walker Alfred Wainwright and many works about the topography and history of the Lake District.

* for children has written the 'Ossie', 'Flossie Teacake' and 'Snotty Bumstead' series of novels.

* as a ghostwriter, has worked on the autobiographies of footballers Wayne Rooney, Paul Gascoigne and Dwight Yorke.

P.S.
Here he locks horns with Albert Goldman in 1989, who had just brought out a controversial biography of John Lennon. It is worth skipping the first part with Goldman and go to Hunter half way through, where he appears as the charming old Briton that he is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ7sViJdxig

P.P.S. A nostalgic Beatles collage :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRREguqHgs

Britain is no longer a country for a sad old musician called Gerry Rafferty

The musician Gerry Rafferty, seen with the comedian Billy Connolly in happier days in a pub in the 1970's, has died at the age of 63. He had recorded and toured with Billy as part of 'The Humblebums', before forming 'Stealers Wheel' with his friend Joe Egan in 1972.

Things you possibly didn't know about Gerry, that he :

* was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Scotland, where his Irish-born violent and alcoholic father was a miner and lorry driver, who died when Gerry was 16

* was inspired by his Scottish mother who taught him Irish and Scottish folk songs and influenced by the music of 'The Beatles' and Bob Dylan, started to write his own material.

* left school and worked in a butcher's shop and, later, as a civil service clerk.

* played in a series of music groups, one with Connolly and then 1972, formed 'Stealers Wheel' with Joe Egan and had a huge hit with 'Stuck in the Middle' :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OMAIsqvTh7g

* legal issues after the breakup of 'Stealers Wheel' meant that, for 3 years, he was unable to release any material until his second solo album, 'City to City' in 1978, which included 'Baker Street'. Based on his experiences in the 1960's busking in the London Underground as a struggling musician, it is for this that he will be best remembered. All these years later,its saxophone riff still has the power to send a shiver down the spine. By 2010 it was recognised by the BMI as having exceeded 5,000,000 worldwide 'air plays' :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkS169P_Eeo



Windin' your way down on Baker Street,
Light in your head and dead on your feet,
Well another crazy day.
You'll drink the night away,
And forget about everything,
This city desert makes you feel so cold.
It's got so many people but it's got no soul.
And it's taking you so long,
To find out you were wrong,
When you thought it had everything.

You used to think that it was so easy,
You used to say that it was so easy,
But you're tryin',
You're tryin' now.
Another year and then you'll be happy,
Just one more year and then you'll be happy,
But you're cryin',
You're cryin' now.

Way down the street there's a lad in his place,
He opens the door he's got that look on his face,
And he asks you where you've been.
You tell him who you've seen,
And you talk about anything.

He's got this dream about buyin' some land,
He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands,
And then he'll settle down there's a quiet little town,
And forget about everything.

But you know he'll always keep movin',
You know he's never gonna stop movin,
Cus he's rollin',
He's the rollin' stone.

And when you wake up it's a new mornin',
The sun is shinin' it's a new morning,
You're goin',
You're goin' home.

It was 'the booze' which finally destroyed Billy, a chronic alcholic, 32 years after he wrote :
'He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands'.

The music journalist Paul Gambaccini has said :

" 'Baker Street' was about how uncomfortable he felt in the star system and what do you know ? it was a giant world hit. The album 'City to City' went to no 1 in America and suddenly he found, that as a result of his protest, he was a bigger star than ever. And he now had more of what he didn’t like and although he had a few more hit singles in the United States, by 1980 it was basically all over, and when I say ‘it’, I mean basically his career, because he just was not comfortable with this. ”

Gerry himself once said : "There have been periods in my life where I have experienced depression...It has been through some of my darkest moments that I have written some of my best songs. For me, singing and writing is very therapeutic...My main ambition is to continue to write music, which helps me to evolve in a spiritual sense and hopefully to inspire others."

Britain is no country for old men in hospital with nowhere to go

The 'Guardian' newspaper ran an article today :

Bed blocking on the rise as care cuts leave elderly stuck in hospital. Doctors blame local councils for making it harder for older people to access home help, forcing them to stay in hospital.

The facts are that :

* thousands of older patients are being forced to stay in hospital long after they are fit enough to leave.

* in a survey of 502 doctors working in British hospitals, 251 (50%) said the problem known as 'bed blocking', which costs the National Health Service tens of millions of pounds a year and forces needier patients to wait on trolleys, was worse now than a year ago, while 200 (40%) said it had not improved.

* senior doctors blamed local councils for making it harder for older people to access 'home help' for vital tasks, such as eating and washing and so forcing them to stay in hospital unnecessarily.

* doctors also said that recent cuts to local council social services budgets were exacerbating the problem because by redefining the 'eligibility criteria' had left older people, who have been unwell, trapped in hospital because they cannot afford to return to living independently at home.

* other patients with 'pressing medical conditions' cannot be admitted immediately because healthy patients are occupying beds.

* the Commons Public Accounts Committee has previously estimated that bed blocking costs the NHS £170m a year and has complained that an 'intolerable' number of elderly patients wait too long after treatment before they are discharged.

* paients who have a prolonged spell in hospital face an increased risk of suffering complications associated with health care, such as infections, blood clots, and social isolation.

What a sad country Britain has become.

P.S.

To lighten things up : the comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Io1imJ97aA

Britain is a country which says "Goodbye" to a fine old actor called Pete Postlethwaite

The great British actor, Pete Postlethwaite has died at the age of 64.
What has been said about his wonderful face :

* His rugged features made him every casting director's go-to guy for raw, lived-in truth.

* The stark planes and bulges of his face created a veritable Easter Island statue of authenticity and plainness.

* For around a quarter of a century he played the same approximate middle age, with the face of a man whose life had been hard-earned, and whose dues had been paid in full long before.

* He had a face that elicited many similes, among them "a stone archway" and "a bag of spanners".

What has been said about the man and his work :

* Steven Spielberg once said : "he was the best actor in the world" after working with the actor on the 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park', to which Pete quipped: "I'm sure what Spielberg actually said was : "'The thing about Pete is that he thinks he's the best actor in the world.'"

* Was best known as a screen actor in the 1993 film, 'In the Name of the Father' the true-life drama about the wrongful arrest, trial and imprisonment of the 'Guildford Four' as IRA bombers. He played Guiseppe Conlon, father of Gerry Conlon and the innocent, law-abiding blue-collar worker in 1970's Catholic West Belfast who subsequently died in prison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ff5KjZ7vM
The role earned him an Oscar nomination for 'Best Supporting Actor'.

John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister said the greatest acclaim for an actor was to be so good that it made people get out and do something. "Pete Postlethwaite made me do the latter – twice. He was a fine actor, a devoted campaigner and a good man. Pete will be missed but his art changed the lives of many for the better. I can't think of a better compliment than that."

Julie Walters, actress : "He invented 'edgy'. He was an exhilarating person and actor."

Jim Sheridan, Film Director : " Everybody loved him. He was an amazing character and a lovely man. He was a great warrior. He looked indestructible, that was the thing about him."

Bill Nighy,actor called him "a rare and remarkable man. I was honoured by his friendship – he is irreplaceable".

Film Clips :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2011/jan/03/pete-postlethwaite-career-clips

Danny's Speech from 'Brassed Off' in 1996 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=lKx3MUqzCcQ

In Memorium :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Q_PzfeuPPqk

Britain is a country where Elton John as an 'old' celebrity father is not alone

Apparently, the announcement that the 62 year old Elton John and his 48 year old partner are now fathers is causing controversy because of their age.






Elton, however, is not alone because :

Rod Stewart : was 60 : when Alistair was born
Sir Paul McCartney : was 61 : when Beatrice was born
Michael Gambon : was 68 : when William was born
Des O'Connor : was 72 : when Adam was born

Having failed to adopt a child Elton and David went abroad for surrogacy parenthood. The couple have not said which of them is the biological father of the baby who was born via a surrogate mother in California on Christmas Day and is Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.
Elton, wed David in a civil partnership ceremony in 2005 after 12 years together. They first attempted to adopt an HIV positive child from the Ukraine last year, but were rejected because of Elton's age and the fact that the country did not recognise civil marriages.

The proud moment :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1342092/Elton-John-David-Furnish-welcome-son-Zachary-help-surrogate-mother.html

Britain is a country where old men remember Gene Kelly 'Singing in the Rain' when they were boys and Morecambe and Wise when they were 'youngish' men

I watched a wonderful biopic on tv last night about the early years of the great British Comedian duo of Morcambe and Wise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/dec/31/eric-ernie-bbc2-biopic

It was preceded by a repeat of their 1976 'Christmas Special' which featured their 'Singing in the Rain' which I first watched when I was 29 years old. It made me smile and laugh and reflect that the humour of great comedians is timeless :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mDTn-QvO9I



It also made me think about the original sequence in Gene Kelly's film 'Singing in the Rain' which my Dad took me to see when I was a little boy of 5 years old in 1952. Kelly's exhuberance and joy is just as tangible today as it was almost 60 years ago :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME


P.S.
Eric died at the age of 58, 26 years ago and Ernie at 74, 11 years ago.