Ian Hopkinson
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ianhopkinson.bsky.social
Ian Hopkinson
@ianhopkinson.bsky.social
460 followers 1K following 450 posts
Scientist. Pythonista. Terrible guitar player. ooo...looker extraordinaire. Mr @Happymouffetard. Senior Data Scientist. @libdems since 1988 [he/his] https://www.ianhopkinson.org.uk
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Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
archaeohawke.bsky.social
#RomanBritain

In the #Roman period #Chester was known as Castra Deva (prounced Dewa), meaning "the military camp on the River Dee" Chester began life as a fort occupied by the 20th Legion (Valeria Victrix).

#RomanSiteSaturday #History
#Archaeology
The history of Chester extends back nearly two millennia, covering all periods of British history in between then and the present day. The city of Chester was founded as a fort, known as Deva Vitrix, by the Romans in AD 70s, as early as AD 74 based on discovered lead pipes. The city was the scene of battles between warring Welsh and Saxon kingdoms throughout the post-Roman years until the Saxons strengthened the fort against raiding Danes. Chester Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in Chester, Cheshire. The site is managed by English Heritage; it is designated as a Grade I listed building, and a scheduled monument. The ruins currently exposed are those of a large stone amphitheatre, similar to those found in Continental Europe, and although it was long believed that a smaller wooden amphitheatre existed on the site beforehand, excavations since 1999 have shown that the wooden grillage is the base of the seating. Today, only the northern half of the structure is exposed; the southern half is covered by buildings, some of which are themselves listed. Several original Roman column bases and reconstructed displays can be found across Chester (Deva Victrix), primarily originating from the fortress's headquarters and public buildings. Key Locations to View Column Bases The Roman Gardens: Located near the Newgate, this public park displays several column bases and shafts discovered throughout the city. Notable pieces include: Columns from the exercise hall (palaestra) of the Roman bath house (thermae), which originally stood about 6 meters tall. The largest column currently in the gardens, which originated from the assembly hall of the headquarters building (principia). Northgate Street: Several bases are visible in situ or nearby: 21-23 Northgate Street: Column bases from the headquarters building are preserved in the basement. Pret a Manger (No. 40-42): Two large Roman pillar bases are visible beneath a glass section of the floor. Outside the Coach House Inn: Relocated Roman column bases are displayed on the pavement just north of the Town Hall. Romans built earthen ramparts with wooden palisades for their fortress, Deva Victrix. Stone Reconstruction: From about 100 AD, these were reconstructed with local sandstone, a process that took over a century. Roman stones, including tombstones, were sometimes reused in later repairs Model of how Deva Victrix would probably have looked The Romans founded Chester as Deva Victrix in AD 70s in the land of the Celtic Cornovii, according to ancient cartographer Ptolemy,[1] as a fortress during the Roman expansion north. It was named Deva either after the goddess of the Dee, or directly from the British name for the river. The 'victrix' part of the name was taken from the title of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based at Deva. A civilian settlement grew around the settlement, probably starting as a group of traders and their families who were profiting from trade with the fortress. The fortress was 20% larger than other fortresses in Britannia built around the same time at York (Eboracum) and Caerleon (Isca Augusta); this has led to the suggestion that the fortress may have been intended to become the capital of the Roman province rather than London (Londinium). A perhaps likelier explanation is that there was more tribal unrest in what is now northern England, and so a larger garrison was needed.
December 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
adambienkov.bsky.social
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.

Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
thegmcconnachie.bsky.social Garry @thegmcconnachie.bsky.social · 20h
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
huwcdavies.bsky.social
Justin Webb, in a far more consequential position as presenter of a flagship news programme, has repeatedly violated impartiality rules. If he had a similar warning, it clearly had no effect and he’s been allowed to continue.
December 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
ianpatterson.com
The BBC is purging its workers (contractors in this case) of opinions. I wonder which right winger will be first to be sacked because they have too open an opinion in public. Its always the 'lefties and centrists' who seem to suffer at mo.
bsky.app/profile/prou...
proudnshort.bsky.social Proud ‘n short(ly hibernating) @proudnshort.bsky.social · 19h
I’ve long been a fan of Monkey Cage and Robin in particular. I really hope the program lives on away from the BBC. I stand with Robin and am very proud of the stance he is taking.
thegmcconnachie.bsky.social Garry @thegmcconnachie.bsky.social · 20h
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
thegmcconnachie.bsky.social
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
warwickmansell.bsky.social
"If the safeguarding principles of professional curiosity and challenge are lost to the white noise of such a zealot-like approach, we have truly lost our way." Hackney safeguarding chair Jim Gamble lambasts DfE's school behaviour ambassador Tom Bennett. chscp.org.uk/wp-content/u...
chscp.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
whenisbirths.bsky.social
You honestly don't have to show me what Twitter's saying. That's why I'm here and not there.
September 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
Is the government boosting the flu crisis to put pressure on the doctors in their dispute?

In the past I would have said of a Labour government "Don't be ridiculous", now I'm not sure.
December 13, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
alizaadi.bsky.social
It’s rare these days to see someone in a privileged position take such a principled stand

Robin’s kindness, empathy, thoughtfulness, and respect for others are the antithesis of what celebrity culture has become

Thank you, Robin, for putting people first
robinince.bsky.social Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 1d
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
thatdocphoenix.com
Oh @robinince.bsky.social is the best of us and it’s criminal that he has to resign from presenting on the BBC while Justin Webb and Sharron Davies and all the poisonous people continue without the “difficult” conversations
December 13, 2025 at 12:25 AM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
All kicking off in the school discipline world, Tom Bennett (government behaviour czar) published a late night rant on the Mossbourne report. Jim Gamble, the Hackney Safeguarding chair, is writing to the Minister asking if Bennett's views are those of the DfE.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Safeguarding review on ‘zero tolerance’ sparks national row
Hackney safeguarding chair will write to the education secretary to voice concerns over criticism of the review from DfE behaviour ambassador Tom Bennett
www.tes.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
scientits.bsky.social
Every Far Side cartoon is amazing, but having a science background, this is my personal favourite

The cow slapping the man and his glasses coming off sends me every time
Gary Larson Far Side cartoon Testing whether or not animals “kiss” A group of male scientists in white lab coats are in a lab, one of the men is kissing an Armadillo At the back a cow standing upright has slapped one of the men round the face and his glasses have come off One of the scientists is standing at a chalk board writing out the results
December 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
We now learn that Fifa had a very specific "ask" in exchange for its "Peace Award" to Trump, with loads of gold trinkets, and that was dismissal of a criminal corruption case against senior Fifa officials. And Trump granted it. Another corrupt bargain, barely noticed (and ignored by US media).
December 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
drjennings.bsky.social
"He was reputed to be the first person in the country to receive a football banning order when they were introduced, and spent several spells in prison in his younger days for football-related violence."
Well-known Bristol football fan died in tragic fall from lamppost
City fan Paul Lumber was a published author of books about the days of football casuals in the 1980s
www.bristolpost.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 10:24 AM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
Back in 2012 I wrote about revisions to GDP figures, the ONS were quite pleased that revisions were only 0.4% ianhopkinson.org.uk/2012/04/revi...
Revisions to UK GDP data
The BBC published an article entitled “Viewpoint: Is UK GDP data fit for purpose?” which featured a graph showing the original estimates for quarterly UK GDP growth and current estimates for those …
ianhopkinson.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 11:08 AM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
This month's Visual Code update is all about wedging more AI into it, something I very definitely do not want nor do I want AI in Excel, Word, Powerpoint or any other of Microsofts offerings.
December 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
warwickmansell.bsky.social
The line that this was driven by "campaigners determined to attack any school that doesn’t agree with their view of how schools should be run" also v revealing. "Campaigners" often parents, concerned about impact of policies on children's wellbeing.Most/all accept need for rules.
December 11, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
warwickmansell.bsky.social
It is extraordinary that the response of the public face of school behaviour policy in England is to lash out at critics, rather than to acknowledge that there may be problems, at least for some children, and seek to get to the bottom of them.
December 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
warwickmansell.bsky.social
The DfE's behaviour ambassador seems not to be acknowledging any issues with what was reported at Mossbourne VPA, other than the catch-all "there may well be issues" line towards the end of this piece: bennettt.substack.com/p/if-there-a...
If there are witches here, we’ll find them. And if there aren’t…we’ll find them anyway.
A recent hit-job on Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy succeeds in being reported as if it’s a credible analysis. It's anything but.
bennettt.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
risu.bsky.social
In a normal and good world, a school that acted this way, with such cruelty, would be a national scandal.
Think of the trauma these children and families have experienced. What that will mean for their future education/ work expectations

The harm is by design. This won’t be the only problem school
warwickmansell.bsky.social Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d
BBC story on Mossbourne in Thurrock seems to see the trust admitting, or not denying,that it penalised pupils for parents missing parents evs, going into shops after sch, sock details: Pupils withdrawn from Mossbourne Federation schools in Essex - BBC News share.google/1812t1M5DUKd...
Pupils withdrawn from Mossbourne Federation schools in Essex - BBC News
Louise Butcher is one of many parents who say a federation's two schools are too strict with pupils.
share.google
December 12, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Reposted by Ian Hopkinson
tanitatikaram.bsky.social
In August over 100 women’s rights groups in UK wrote to Starmer calling for urgent action against the weaponisation of violence against women & girls by far-right groups & mainstream MPs to further a racist, anti-migrant agenda. Instead of listening to women this is the PM’s response 🤦‍♀️..
euan.bsky.social Euan @euan.bsky.social · 3d
once again asking what would be different if we had a Reform government
Mike Tapp MP @MikeTappTweets • 14h The Home Secretary was clear today; we must identify and address any links between ethnicity, religion and culture - and child rape. We won't turn away from this. Victims come first.
December 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
Book review: Pathfinders – The Golden Age of Arabic Science by Jim Al-Khalili

#histsci #IslamicScience #bookreview ianhopkinson.org.uk/2025/12/book...
Book review: Pathfinders – The Golden Age of Arabic Science by Jim Al-Khalili
I recently read Science and Islam by Ehsan Masood having struggled to decide whether to read it, or Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science by Jim Al-Khalili – it turns out I read both.…
ianhopkinson.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
Explains why UK government is not pulling out of X for government announcements are making it follow the law on online harassment
December 11, 2025 at 8:28 AM
ianhopkinson.bsky.social
I'm going to post like I never want to enter the US again
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social Sarah McLaughlin @sarahemclaugh.bsky.social · 3d
Requiring temporary visitors to surrender five years of social media to the U.S. sends the message that the American commitment to free speech is pretense. This simply is not the behavior of a country confident in its freedoms.

It's a threat to free speech around the world and must be opposed.
Foreign tourists could be required to disclose 5 years of social media histories under Trump administration plan
The Customs and Border Protection proposal would apply even to countries that don't require visas to enter.
www.nbcnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM