Midsummer madnesses

FOR most people, wassailing is something that only ever happens in traditional Christmas carols – an ancient pastime that’s no longer relevant in the 21st century. You might find a different view in W

In the last decades of the 12th century, the townsfolk of Annan in the Scottish borders were terrified by a sinister nocturnal revenant that stalked the dark byways. “Each night his corpse, driven by

“You can’t live here. There are no shops,” my friend Jen stated. We were sitting in the van belonging to the pub I lived in, the Golden Cross, Slough, waiting for my parents who had an interview for t

AS you know, Anne and I are early bedders, but there is one night in the year Anne insists we stay up till midnight. That, as you can guess, is New Year’s Eve. On the stroke of midnight Anne pours out

An event that takes place during the depths of winter in the very northernmost reach of the British Isles, Up Helly Aa is a fiery festival that celebrates some of the customs brought to the Shetland I

I wonder how many of you watched a TV programme that dealt with the awful winter of 1947? It was fascinating for me to watch because it brought back so many memories of the dreadful time for my parent