Chris Ponting
@chrisponting.bsky.social
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
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
How many books was it for you to get a child?
November 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
How many books was it for you to get a child?
This What’s On sign in The Hour Glass in Exeter is probably the finest looking pub blackboard I’ve seen.
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM
This What’s On sign in The Hour Glass in Exeter is probably the finest looking pub blackboard I’ve seen.
Saturday 29th November 1947
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
November 29, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Saturday 29th November 1947
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
Arthur’s up early - to BNZ.
Quiet afternoon & tea 4:30. Then to Albert Hall for Beniamino Gigli concert. Packed with Italians & terrific enthusiasm!
He sings exquisitely, but the big things show advancing years. But all the tricks are there & lovely quality.
#1947Diary
I still have that silver jubilee Atlantean bus.
November 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I still have that silver jubilee Atlantean bus.
A great afternoon with two old mates who should know better.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A great afternoon with two old mates who should know better.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
When we were in the ‘Spoons earlier a woman asked to have her picture taken with me because without her glasses she thought I locked like Antiques Roadtrip stalwart Phil Serrell. I was happy to oblige.
On our way back to Exeter. Just got to flag the train down.
November 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
On our way back to Exeter. Just got to flag the train down.
The Christmas Loaf was lovely.
November 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The Christmas Loaf was lovely.
Went for the pork belly. Bloody lovely.
November 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Went for the pork belly. Bloody lovely.
Good afternoon from The Beer Engine. It’s a busy old place.
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Good afternoon from The Beer Engine. It’s a busy old place.
Describe your cat's personality with one photo.
November 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Describe your cat's personality with one photo.
Three great outlandishly Truefax from the 1996 Shooting Stars book. I have to thank @alisoneales.com for reminding me of its existence, which prompted me to take it off the the bookshelf.
November 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Three great outlandishly Truefax from the 1996 Shooting Stars book. I have to thank @alisoneales.com for reminding me of its existence, which prompted me to take it off the the bookshelf.
Friday 28th November 1947
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
November 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Friday 28th November 1947
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
A cold day. Donald wakes the house leaving for a few days.
Arthur heads to Putney a.m. to get glasses.
Treatment St Stephen’s then to Aimee Stewart & Mary Lehnbeck for tea where Mme Arcana appears. Arthur walks with Mary to S Ken stn for train home.
#1947Diary
Letter writing for Arthur, and physio in the afternoon at St Stephen’s.
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Letter writing for Arthur, and physio in the afternoon at St Stephen’s.
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
Then an early night.
Thursday 27th November 1947
34 degrees.
Wrote Ethel Harrington
Godfrey Westenra
Blanche Seamen
Alice McRae
Lucy Churchward.
To St Stephen’s 2:15 and had good treatment to neck.
Bed early.
#1947Diary
TARDIS? TURDIS, more like. #MoreLike #DoctorPoo
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
TARDIS? TURDIS, more like. #MoreLike #DoctorPoo
Wednesday 26th November 1947
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Wednesday 26th November 1947
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
34 degrees, very cold.
Arthur shops in the morning. Ted Forster visits for lunch and tea.
Then Arthur tries to solve a problem called Donald.
“I can’t turn him out but wish to goodness he’d go”
#1947Diary
Put it away, Baz.
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Put it away, Baz.
Tuesday 25th November 1947
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Tuesday 25th November 1947
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
40 degrees.
Clear but very cold wind. Dr came 10:30 well pleased. I to Putney a.m.
And at 2:20 to St Stephen’s where Jack Faint gave my neck gyp!!
On to Barber - and thence to Frosts and used up my points. Home 6:15.
I gave Donald a note suggesting his leaving. #1947Diary
Double Diamond update: the cans are printed now, before they were plain cans with big labels added. Hopefully this means production is stepping up.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Double Diamond update: the cans are printed now, before they were plain cans with big labels added. Hopefully this means production is stepping up.
Monday 24th November 1947
Arthur writes to Jimmy 😊 v.g.
Sam & Mrs Winard to tea 4 til 6 who drop Arthur at East Putney where he heads to Wigmore Hall for Frank Merrick’s recital.
To see he’s not impressed with Frank’s performance is an understatement.
Still, home in comfort via Victoria.
#1947Diary
Arthur writes to Jimmy 😊 v.g.
Sam & Mrs Winard to tea 4 til 6 who drop Arthur at East Putney where he heads to Wigmore Hall for Frank Merrick’s recital.
To see he’s not impressed with Frank’s performance is an understatement.
Still, home in comfort via Victoria.
#1947Diary
November 24, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Monday 24th November 1947
Arthur writes to Jimmy 😊 v.g.
Sam & Mrs Winard to tea 4 til 6 who drop Arthur at East Putney where he heads to Wigmore Hall for Frank Merrick’s recital.
To see he’s not impressed with Frank’s performance is an understatement.
Still, home in comfort via Victoria.
#1947Diary
Arthur writes to Jimmy 😊 v.g.
Sam & Mrs Winard to tea 4 til 6 who drop Arthur at East Putney where he heads to Wigmore Hall for Frank Merrick’s recital.
To see he’s not impressed with Frank’s performance is an understatement.
Still, home in comfort via Victoria.
#1947Diary
Sunday 23rd November 1947
Very mild muggy & clear.
Arthur walks to Ellen’s and left shawl with her to be washed.
At 3:40 to Brackenhurst - pleasant chat with the Clarkes - then to Roy Walkers for tea.
Evening with Donald. Smettie played magnificently on wireless - Chopin & L'isle joyeuse.
#1947Diary
Very mild muggy & clear.
Arthur walks to Ellen’s and left shawl with her to be washed.
At 3:40 to Brackenhurst - pleasant chat with the Clarkes - then to Roy Walkers for tea.
Evening with Donald. Smettie played magnificently on wireless - Chopin & L'isle joyeuse.
#1947Diary
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Sunday 23rd November 1947
Very mild muggy & clear.
Arthur walks to Ellen’s and left shawl with her to be washed.
At 3:40 to Brackenhurst - pleasant chat with the Clarkes - then to Roy Walkers for tea.
Evening with Donald. Smettie played magnificently on wireless - Chopin & L'isle joyeuse.
#1947Diary
Very mild muggy & clear.
Arthur walks to Ellen’s and left shawl with her to be washed.
At 3:40 to Brackenhurst - pleasant chat with the Clarkes - then to Roy Walkers for tea.
Evening with Donald. Smettie played magnificently on wireless - Chopin & L'isle joyeuse.
#1947Diary
A trip to Putney and tea for Arthur on this muggy Saturday.
Saturday 22nd November 1947
45 degrees. After warmest night in Nov for long years. Muggy and overcast.
I to Putney a.m.
At 3:45 Victoria Larken called for me and took me to ‘Amery’ for tea. Beryl landing me home after.
#1947Diary
Saturday 22nd November 1947
45 degrees. After warmest night in Nov for long years. Muggy and overcast.
I to Putney a.m.
At 3:45 Victoria Larken called for me and took me to ‘Amery’ for tea. Beryl landing me home after.
#1947Diary
November 22, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A trip to Putney and tea for Arthur on this muggy Saturday.
Saturday 22nd November 1947
45 degrees. After warmest night in Nov for long years. Muggy and overcast.
I to Putney a.m.
At 3:45 Victoria Larken called for me and took me to ‘Amery’ for tea. Beryl landing me home after.
#1947Diary
Saturday 22nd November 1947
45 degrees. After warmest night in Nov for long years. Muggy and overcast.
I to Putney a.m.
At 3:45 Victoria Larken called for me and took me to ‘Amery’ for tea. Beryl landing me home after.
#1947Diary