Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ian Tattum

@iantattum.bsky.social

3K followers 1.7K following 2.1K posts

Writer and independent scholar. Used to be a vicar. Writing in Spelt, Black Bough Poetry, BB journal, Frost Magazine, The Clearing,The Pilgrim, Landlines for Nature ,The Church Times. Fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Zoological Society of London,

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · Jun 29

A piece I wrote about having a nature deprived childhood.
There don’t seem to be enough articles about working class childhoods which were just a bit dull because you didn’t get out much , and family members were not very enthusiastic.
But you did have picture books of stuffed birds.😊

1 3 26

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 6h

Retirement has been very busy so far but it still gives me more time to step into the sea and into the books that I only managed to dip into or skim read before.
This is an excellent survey with up to date scholarship and reflection on the porousness of ‘western civilisation ‘.

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 10h

Not quite a flock of seagulls 😊

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 11h

The queen in chess was originally the vizier in Persia and the Commander of the warriors in India.

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 12h

Good afternoon

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 15h

Back home

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 17h

On my way home from the dentist

Reposted by Ian Tattum

The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦 @theunhurriedreader.bsky.social · 20h

Idiot Labour needs to study its party's history in government. Attlee's ministers knew that the new NHS could not exist without immigrants. Even before it was founded there was a nursing shortage in Britain—54,000 vacancies in 1948—resulting in a concerted recruitment campaign. #HMTWindrush

1 3 6

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

A slight joke on my behalf 😊
Certainly when I wrote it they were probably out performing all other birds. Strangely usually wearing hats and scarves 😊

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

A visitor reminded me today of one of my articles.
This one was later anthologised in the Church Times collection of best Christmas writing of the century so far.
I think it qualifies as okay 🦋

1 1 4

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/201...

Feathered friend or opportunistic predator?

Robins are traditionally associated with Christmas, but, Ian Tattum writes, they are not what they seem

www.churchtimes.co.uk

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

I really did mean all I wrote🦋

Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thank you to Ian for this remarkable review of my new book - I'm deeply touched and honoured. I think Ian's response really reflects the magic of #poetry and its power to connect across lives and across #history. Thank you.
#AHistoryOfEnglandIn25Poems

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · Sep 7

open.substack.com/pub/iantattu...

Reposted by Ian Tattum

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 1d

Dolly Parton:

“There’s just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay. “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring, and keep praying for me.”
#DollyCon4

3 14 33

Reposted by Ian Tattum

Barbara Sutton @barbscov.bsky.social · 1d

This ☝️ I'm CEV and a carer but I can't get a Covid jab 🙄

Polly Atkin @pollyrowena.bsky.social · 1d

We need preventative medicine back - which includes making covid boosters available freely to ANYONE who wants one - which means masking in healthcare at the very least, which means a focus on clean air in schools, hospitals, workplaces. You can't limit long covid without limiting covid infections.

3 7

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

Just discovered that Peter Ackroyd has a critical study of W H Auden coming out next spring.❤️

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

At the Blue Pool this morning.
Beloved by Augustus John, and other artists, it reminded me of the old clay pits around Bletchley- where we went on dodging school days and for a bit of danger.
I had a very close enough with a sika stag on this occasion.

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

I meant GIANTS 😊

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

Having read about Cornish ghosts I encountered some dodgy denizen of the Dorset woodland .

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 1d

Having read about Cornish ghosts I encountered some dodgy denizen of the Dorset woodland .

1 1 3

Reposted by Ian Tattum

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 2d

I will die on this hill.

As someone who grew up with and continues to know a lot of fundamentalists: state-funded faith schools are the *only way* to make sure that children growing up in religious extremism are receiving an education that broadly accords with modern life and values.

Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 2d

Am wondering if all of those suddenly deciding they’re against communities living “parallel lives” might reconsider their support of religious schools? Or indeed private ones?

6 31 130

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 2d

A short poem I wrote on 7th October 2 year ago in response to that cruel day.

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 2d

substack.com/@iantattum/n...

Ian Tattum (@iantattum)

Two years ago I spent the night in the church garden to raise sponsored funds for our night shelter. Waking early I watched and listened to the wrens , before hearing the terrible news from Israel. ...

substack.com

2 3

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 2d

Good morning

Reposted by Ian Tattum

goldmartin @gillmartin.bsky.social · 2d

7 88 250

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 2d

substack.com/@iantattum/n...

Ian Tattum (@iantattum)

substack.com

2 1

Reposted by Ian Tattum

Gregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 3d

Scorched Earth pseudo-Toryism. Not one MP speaking out against political/ecological/economic suicide.

Conservatives vow to scrap UK carbon tax in latest climate policy U-turn

Conservative Party unveils plans that suggest it would roll back the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and scrap the Carbon Price Support mechanism, the Renewables Obligation, and Great British Energy

www.businessgreen.com

3 3 5

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 3d

I am reading this from two starting points.
The beginning and the October entries.
Such a beautiful book and a revelatory approach to Gilbert White. Like many recent books about writers it also acknowledges all his collaborators- from labourers to family- definitely not a solo creator

Ian Tattum @iantattum.bsky.social · 3d

Finally managed to walk to my local stone circle

1 7