British Culture: Albion Never Dies

Don't be shy, send me a message!Homer wrote in the Odyssey (VIII) that Cyprus was the birthplace of Aphrodite (Goddess of Love), and that she came to Paphos 'where she has a shrine with an alter fragrant with incense'. That's how far back British colonial official Captain C.W.J. Orr choses to go in the second chapter of his book "Cyprus Under British Rule" (published 1918). I go through this chapter, titled 'History to the British Occupation' partially in repost to modern ideas that those who lived in the Empire paid little attention to the histories, lives, and stories to those they ruled. This is the second part, but it can be listened to without having heard the first. There are also a few 'pause points' when music plays in the background, so no need to listen in one long go (unless you really want to). I am releasing these episodes in response to long-term requests that I cover Imperial topics (as well as religion and James Bond), I always like to do requests, if I feel I can. Cyprus is close to my heart, as I lived there for seven years. Indeed, I am just back from a visit. Expect more on this topic, although not such a long episode!Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616   Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Have you ever been to an Anglican church service? I have had requests to set out what it's actually like to attend a Sunday service from listeners in the USA, Spain, Bulgaria, East Asia, and more. Thank you to Bradford Cathedral,  who allowed me to use their recordings as part of this podcast. Please do check out their media accounts:Website: https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BfdCathedralInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bfdcathedral/The book I refer to is: "England's Cathedrals"  by Simon Jenkins Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616  Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!REISSUE: I talked to Caine (normally in Fuzhou) about St. George's Day, which is April 23rd. It is often taken as a celebration of English culture and identity.  But, who was St. George, where was he from, why is he important to the English, and how can you celebrate this special day?We ask "Does it matter that St. George wasn't English?" and I feel we get a definitive answer.Check out Caine's Youtube channel, called 'Videos by Caine', lots of interesting new content coming, which he gives a sneak peak of in this episode. Also, if you haven't already, check out his previous contributions to this podcast, such as the Deep Dives into... Tea, Ink (British Tattoo Culture), Christmas and British Men's Wardrobes.Again, that's: www.youtube.com/VideosByCaineYou can find me on Instagram: @FlemingNeverDiesYou can e-mail me: AlbionNeverDies@Gmail.comCheck out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/people/british-cultureSupport the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Many people have requested me to do an episode on The British Empire, which is such a vast topic, it can be hard to know where to start. For myself, the most obvious place is to start with the familiar; the island of Cyprus, where I lived for seven years. I have quite a collection of books on the topic. However, as an introduction, I as Chat GPT about the topic, to see what it predicts a 'normal' person would say. I then look at an authoritative but non-specialist source, The Encyclopedia Britannica.  At 15 minutes into the episode, I start a long reading from a truly interesting source;  "Cyprus Under British Rule" by Captain C.W.J. Orr, published 1918. Out of print (and out of copyright in the UK), this account gives us a real insight into the times. Indeed, I find it such an interesting insight, I may return to the topic, and indeed, the book... Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616  Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 is 70 years old, Casino Royale having been published on April 13th, 1953. But for the films, he may well have been forgotten, so here, I finally give my (not so definitive) rankings of the films. This order changes regularly, but my favourite for each Bond, that stays the same. I orignaly wrote this for Country and Town House magazine, but here I expand on it greatly. You can check out the original article here: https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/best-bond-films/  Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!If you are unsure what a 'Canon' is, or the difference between a church and a cathedral, or curious about the relationship between England's state church and the state executive, then this is the podcast that answers all those questions. I am joined by Canon Ned Lunn, at Bradford Cathedral, in an interview recorded in their Peace Chapel (there will be echoes). Thanks to the media officer at the Cathedral, we can also hear some of the music from a Cathedral service. Little correction, I say we recorded this in the Peace Chapel; actually we recorded it in the Chapel to the Holy Spirit ~ there is no Peace Chapel there, my mistake! We further talk about the City of Bradford, which will in 2025 host the UK's City of Culture, something Ned is unusually well qualified to talk on. Please do check out the work of the Cathedral here: https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/ In Spring 2023, I will be covering the three most requested topics: What is 'The Church of England'? What was The British Empire really like? What is my personal ranking of the 007 films?Thank you to all those who have encouraged me to take on these, and all those who have helped me create the forthcoming episodes. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Since this podcast started in December, 2020, three topics have been often requested, but never truly covered. In Spring 2023, I will be covering all three: What is 'The Church of England'? What was The British Empire really like? What is my personal ranking of the 007 films?For the first, I am delighted to be joined by Canon Ned Lunn from Bradford Cathedral, who lends his very great insights. For the second, I draw on my own extensive library of contemporary books on the topic. For the final, well, it is an extension of an article I have published in Country & Town House Magazine, link below. My 007 rankings article: https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/best-bond-films/ Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Have you ever tried to tie someone else’s tie, as opposed to your own? Imagine trying to tie a turban on someone else! In this second part of my interview with Del Singh – ‘Turban Expert’ to 1983’s Octopussy – I ask how were turbans kept in order as men ran ontop of trains, and even clung to the outside of airplanes?  Del also tells me about the wonderful cast of the film; Kristina Wayborn (Magda), Stephan Berkoff (General Orlov), and the director John Glen. We discuss the place Octopussy has in the 007 rankings, especially against 1983’s other Bond film, ‘Never Say Never Again’ with Sean Connery. I also comment on why I am especially glad those turbans were right. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!Why does an imposing James Bond henchmen wear a school turban? This is the podcast episode that will answer this question, which you may never have asked, but are surely now desperate to have an answer to! 40 years ago, Del Singh was involved "in a very un-orthodox way" with the 007 franchise. This interview with him is so great, so fun, so lively, it cannot be constrained to a single podcast episode. In this first of two parts, Del explains how he became involved with the filming of 'Octopussy' (1983), after receiving a phone call out of the blue from EON Productions - the dream for any Bond fan! He talks about his time with Roger Moore and Kabir Bedi, who played the imposing Gobinda, and even Del's input into the latter character's wardrobe. Del even comments on the best (and worst) place for a movie crew to buy a turban.Del talked to Roger Moore about his take on Sean Connery's 007, and observed how Moore dealt with this question differently in sessions with journalists. What did Moore claim he could do as Bond that Connery could not? The answer comes at minute 26. We also hear what Moore said his favourite film was (answer at minute 27), and, hear of Roger Moore's experiences filming 'The Wild Geese' (1978) with Richard Burton and Richard Harris. The spectacular train stunts in Octopussy were filmed at the Nene Valley Railways near Peterborough, where Del hails from, back before CGI could be used for such scenes, so we also hear Del's memories of watching these incredible stunts done on location, and the immense risks involved: Del says, "they really do earn their money"!  Out of curiosity, do you know how long a turban is? Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616   Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/

Don't be shy, send me a message!For  (I think) the first time in my adult life, I have stayed within the UK's borders for 365 consecutive days. Of course, I lived in England as a child. I have also visited. But, for the majority of my adult life, I have been primarily been based overseas. Even when I was a student in the UK, I would spend a few months of the year away, visiting family. So, this is the story of how and why I returned, what other influences colour my perception of the world, and I touch on my new life in my 'home country', which can now seem very alien at times. This is a very personal story, so, I do hope you enjoy it. Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSeveral subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Support the showhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/