John Welford
Bio
John was a retired librarian, having spent most of his career in academic and industrial libraries.
He wrote on a number of subjects and also wrote stories as a member of the "Hinckley Scribblers".
Unfortunately John died in early July.
Stories (501)
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Queen Anne furniture
The reign of Queen Anne (1702-14) marked a period in English furniture design that was characterised by functionality, comfort and elegance. Queen Anne furniture is generally regarded today as the most popular of all English styles, although it derives more from the work of independent craftsmen than professional designers.
By John Welford4 years ago in FYI
Put That Light Out
It might be thought that the idea of night-time blackouts in the United Kingdom as a form of civilian protection during wartime originated in World War Two with the legal requirement to hide all lights that might be spotted by would-be aerial bombers. Those who remember the TV comedy series “Dad’s Army” will recall the cry of “Put That Light Out” that was regularly issued by William Hodges, the long-suffering ARP warden.
By John Welford4 years ago in Fiction
Problems with St Luke's nativity census
St Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus centres round a census that apparently took place “when Cyrenius was governor of Syria”. This required Joseph and his heavily pregnant wife to journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem because Joseph “was of the house and lineage of David” and Bethlehem was “the city of David”.
By John Welford4 years ago in Geeks
Protecting the Princess
(This was a response to a challenge to write a piece that contains six words supplied by a random word generator, with each word being used exactly twice. The words are: coin, spark, planet, parish, flea, architect. Do you want to see if I succeeded?!)
By John Welford4 years ago in Fiction
An introduction to the game of bowls
What we Brits (and citizens of other Commonwealth countries) call bowls is known in the US and elsewhere as lawn bowls, to distinguish it from the mechanised skittles game played in bowling alleys. Bowls is a game that has much more variety and subtlety to it, which is perhaps why it has not really caught on in America!
By John Welford4 years ago in Unbalanced
Portrait of Charlotte du Val d'Ognes by Marie-Denise Villers
Not everyone agrees that this portrait of an artist at work is by Marie-Denise Villers. There was a time when it was believed to be by Jacques-Louis David and then a strong case was made for Constance Marie Charpentier being the portraitist.
By John Welford4 years ago in FYI
An interpretation of "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, by Lewis Carroll, has attracted a great deal of critical attention since it was first published in 1865, much of it centred on the hidden meanings and allusions that it might contain. There are, for example, many references to people who were known to the author’s original audience of the three daughters of Henry Liddell, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.
By John Welford4 years ago in Geeks
