Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris Ponting

@chrisponting.bsky.social

490 followers 300 following 5.1K posts

Formerly known as Sporting_chin. Cheese, beer, tripe. Sharing Arthur Hirst’s 1947 diary. If you’re looking for Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh, you’ll find him at @cgatist.bsky.social

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2h

“HOW VERY DARE YOU!”

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 18h

The heat is getting Arthur down, and he’s at a low ebb.

Tuesday 14th October 1947
Still very hot and I feel limp and depressed.

340 [miles]

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 18h

Nantucket Sleighride? Always reminds me of the smell of Sunday Lunch. Of the two theme tunes, I think I found World in Action slightly scarier.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 19h

Richard Osman’s House of Games is probably the only thing near that nowadays. Celebs quizzing for nothing more than some low quality prizes. You get the occasional show off, but Osman usually sorts them out pretty quickly.

2 2

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 19h

He’s still ignoring the cat bed we bought over a year ago.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 22h

We bought this scratching post seat combo last Christmas, and FINALLY 10 months later, Barry actually uses it.

4 2 19

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 1d

Shoulf be worth a 10 min listen on the bus to work.
My dad asked his mate who ran Cotswold Video which format to go for, and he said ‘Betamax’. So we got a Sony C6 UB MkIi. Then a couple of years later it became a Toshiba. Think they still have the C6, I must investigate.

Witness History - The home video war. Available on BBC Sounds.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 1d

I dread to think!

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 1d

More on The Brains Trust:

The Brains Trust was an informational BBC radio and later television programme popular in the United Kingdom in the 1940s and 1950s, on which a panel of experts tried to answer questions sent in by the audience.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 1d

It’s hot and Arthur’s still feeling queer.

Monday 13th October 1947
Very hot I felt very queer all day.
Doctor gaves a sleeping powder.
At 8:15 I ran a Brains Trust in Lounge with Mrs Dawes, Mrs McNeil, Wells, Graby, Marsden & Fr Weaver.
I took sleeping draught & slept fairly well.

339 #1947Diary

Monday 13th October 1947
Very hot I felt very queer all day.
Doctor gave me a sleeping powder.
At 8:15 I ran a Brains Trust in Lounge with Mrs Dawes, Mrs Hector McNeil, Wells, Graby, Marsden and Father Weaver all very nice and everybody enjoyed the show.
I took sleeping draught and slept fairly well with interval 2-4.

339 [miles]

2 4

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve had my jabs, and my reward for being a brave little soldier is mixed wrap with chip shop chips and curry sauce. Oh yes.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2d

It does look quite samosaish.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2d

A hash brown. And very tasty they were too.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2d

I didn’t until a few weeks ago, when there was an Archers themed Countryfile on BBC One and she turned up on it!

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2d

The heat still getting to Arthur.

Sunday 12th October 1947
Very hot and I felt bad but played for service in saloon at 11 a.m.
Quiet day - Bridge in evening.

325 [miles] #1947Diary

Sunday 12th October 1947
Very hot and I felt bad but played for service in saloon at 11 a.m.
Quiet day - Bridge in evening.

325

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 2d

It’s 1966, and electric trains are running from Euston. And it’s all done with explosives, a scant regard for health and safety, and absolutely no high viz.
Another fine creation from British Transport Films.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=BRJb...

Vintage railway film - Under the wires - 1965

YouTube video by Bennett Brook Railway

m.youtube.com

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

Enjoying lunch at Boston Tea Party in Cheltenham. Their Boss muffin is the absolute business.

A muffin containing sausage, bacon, egg, cheese, mustard and hash brown. And a latte.

1 13

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

The heat is taking its toll on Arthur.

Saturday 11th October 1947
Very hot and I felt queer all day and took things very easy.

339 [miles] #1947Diary

2 5

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks! She’s doing really well, should be out in the next few days. She’s going stir crazy after a week and can’t wait to be free!

1 1

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

It’s been most enjoyable. Mum
Is doing well, and should hopefully be out in the next few days.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

Call this Movie Week? I’ve repeatedly emailed them about doing something from Sex Lives of the Potato Men, and still nothing #scd #strictly

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 3d

Morning with dad visiting mum in hospital, then an afternoon with daughter and her boyfriend.
Now paying dad a visit and enjoying a complimentary pint or two. Smashing.

3 15

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 4d

It’s best not to dwell on that! But it’s nice to be a bridge between two completely different generations - to pass on the stories we were told that would be lost otherwise.

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 4d

I love the fact I knew my mum’s grandparents, there’s something special about going with your grandpa to visit his mum and dad. One of the great things about being born in the 70’s is the amount of Victorians still about. Then telling your 21st century kids all about them.

1 4

Chris Ponting @chrisponting.bsky.social · 4d

That’s great.