tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post5671331088361441569..comments2024-03-26T11:27:35.814-07:00Comments on Tom Stephenson: Sir Edward Heath, K.G., M.B.E., R.I.P.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-81817425116887617452012-08-06T00:15:43.372-07:002012-08-06T00:15:43.372-07:00Oh, I was unaware of all that. Those houses must ...Oh, I was unaware of all that. Those houses must be worth a fortune - even by Bath standards.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-84635166953561483812012-08-05T21:50:50.000-07:002012-08-05T21:50:50.000-07:00Money, dosh, filthy luchre. I believe he left seve...Money, dosh, filthy luchre. I believe he left several millions for its upkeep, then the trustees tried (or maybe did) flog it off.Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-17048302531485224492012-08-05T14:40:31.143-07:002012-08-05T14:40:31.143-07:00I would have braced myself by expecting an attack ...I would have braced myself by expecting an attack by your husband, Elegance, who - I seem to remember - once threatened to stove me in for a cruel attack about his elasticated trousers, and his unflattering habit of tucking his shirt into the waist of them - we could have made an evening of it, especially as I was somewhat the worse for drink as I staggered back into your gated village at only around 11.00 p.m.<br /><br />Yes, I did see the blue plaque for Golding - I even mentioned it in the above text. You were obviously not reading my fine contribution to literature very carefully.<br /><br />Since my tower tour took about two hours and I had other pressing matters to attend to, I did not have the time to look at Pugin's church, and - I have to admit - I might not have bothered even if I had been on holiday. Pugin - to me - is a bore.<br /><br />I waved at Heath in the Close once, but that is as far as I ever got at communication with him - let alone excommunication. "Hello Sailor!" I shouted, as he pruned his roses.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-56544947284775914782012-08-05T13:35:59.304-07:002012-08-05T13:35:59.304-07:00I would have braced myself even more had I known t...I would have braced myself even more had I known that you were staying around the corner from me in Salisbury. Your photo shows the first part of my morning run across the green.<br /><br />I find the cathedral interesting if strangely unattractive. So I'm quite OK that it was stolen from us in the Reformation. But the most interesting fact about its construction is not the gravel bed ( amazing enough) but that it was built relatively quickly so it is all of one era and not a mish-mash of various architectural styles. And of course William Golding was a teacher at Bishop Wordsworth School in the Close. Did you see his blue plaque by the headmaster's office near St Ann's Gate? <br /><br />As for Heath - there is some controversy about his house Arundells, that he left as a museum to his achievements but sadly not endowed with enough money to keep it viable. Whatever anyone may think of his political or sailing career (glorious) he used his musical interests and contacts to take over from Prince Charles's pathetic efforts to mastermind a gloriously successful Appeal to secure funding for the much needed restoration of the cathedral. Many years ago, before I moved to Salisbury I met him at an unassociated London PR event and went over to thank him on behalf of my mother who loved the cathedral and was so admiring of his work. He chatted happily to me for ages to the astonishment of onlookers who remarked that he didn't like talking to women. But he did love talking about his enthusiasms. <br /><br />And maybe you should have crossed the road to look at the RC Pugin church of St Osmund. Not so interesting to you as a stone mason perhaps but rarer than pre-Reformation(stolen) cathedrals.elegancemaisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043236515999573762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-34086179230117781672012-08-05T06:17:25.962-07:002012-08-05T06:17:25.962-07:00I don't understand what you mean by 'nasty...I don't understand what you mean by 'nasty'? I think it is now used for seminars and conferences, etc.Tom Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979590950587415840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2505385214324438018.post-84898064645785193932012-08-05T05:49:18.292-07:002012-08-05T05:49:18.292-07:00Arundells, I believe, overlooks the cathedral. I w...Arundells, I believe, overlooks the cathedral. I wonder what happened to all the 'nasty' that Heath left to keep it open to the public. Wasn't there a scandal in there somewhere?Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.com