Great to see Old Bloxhamist Felix Hunt making such an impact for Banbury Rugby Club today. Felix was captain of the Bloxham School Sport 1st XV last season.

This week I took a heritage group on a tour of G.E. Street's buildings at Bloxham School. These were built piecemeal between 1855 and 1871, creating some interesting effects where the buildings join. The last pic is of the 1886 Headmaster's House, by Street's assistant Milne.

Very sad to hear of the passing at the age of 103 of Nathaniel Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele, at the weekend. Every year I would take a large group of pupils to visit Broughton Castle, the family home since 1377, and he was always welcoming and kind.

700k views so far, and deserves them. Please RT and let’s get it to a million. If you haven’t watched it yet, fill yer boots. (And follow Campaign for the Arts)

Tonight's concert was absolutely wonderful, with Andreas still possessing a matchless voice. He and Tamar gave two encores and wholly deserved the ovation at the end. The highlight for me was Handel's Va Tacito from Giulio Cesare.

A recent trip to Vienna for my next book in the footsteps of Prince Eugene of Savoy, including his summer palace, the Belvedere, and the superb Military Museum and the Schonbrunn and Hofburg Palaces. 1/3.

Great to see this Old Bloxhamist trio together at Oxford Quins today. Ed Yeates played his 100th game for the hosts while Alex Caviezel Cox captained Kenilworth RFC + Scott de Weymarn refereed. Ed + Alex were in the same 2012-13 Bloxham School Sport 1st XV, Scott was 2 years ahead.

Some cracking results here, well done, boys.

Just finished reading this remarkable book by James Holland . I don't think I have read another book which so brilliantly conveys the chaos and complexity of warfare. Superb use of a vast range of primary source material from all sides involved.

Really enjoying this book by Steve Tunnicliffe 🇬🇧 📡🛰 ستيف تونيكليف on his childhood in Somalia - a lovely insight into, for me, an unfamiliar time and place.

A privilege to be at tonight's event to mark the blessing of the new redevelopment of St Mary's, Bloxham, with its distinctive curved screens at the West End, accommodating toilets and a kitchen. Great to see the church's 1583 Breeches Bible on display too.

Congratulations to Old Bloxhamist Dan Eckersley on his man-of-the-match display for Loughborough in Wednesday's BUCS Super Rugby final. Dan captained the Bloxham School Sport 1st XV during the 2019-20 season.

Captain John Wilson, 1st Australian Imperial Force (died of wounds 21.5.15 suffered at Gallipoli), Driver Maurice Adams, 5th N.Z. Artillery (KIA 28.5.17 at Messines) and Private Charles Hammill, 1st/4th Australian Infantry (KIA 18.9.18 at Hargicourt).

Yesterday I visited the beautiful Hermanville Cemetery in Normandy to pay my respects at the grave of Old Bloxhamist Lieutenant Robert Bell-Walker (1st South Lancashire Regiment), killed in action on nearby Sword Beach in the early hours of D Day, 80 years ago today.

A great Western Front trip with Footsteps of the fallen podcast at the weekend, with the highlight the steep climb up the taller (nearly 190m) of the twin slag heaps at Loos. In glorious sunshine we got a great impression of the flat and open terrain of the battlefield.

Superb conditions for today's Continental Tyres Schools Cup first round tie between Bloxham School Sport and Bedford School . After a well contested game Bloxham ultimately ran out 27-17 winners. NextGenXV

A superb history trip today to the site of Banbury's Great War munitions factory; in use 1916-24, it had 1500 workers and made 4 million HE shells + 350,000 mustard gas shells; enough survives to give a good idea of the site, with Dale Johnston doing a great job as guide.

Congratulations to Junior of Bloxham School Sport on his second appearance for England Rugby U18s in the Six Nations Festival in France. Two eye-catching performances so far. NextGenXV Bloxham School