John Welford
Bio
I am a retired librarian, having spent most of my career in academic and industrial libraries.
I write on a number of subjects and also write stories as a member of the "Hinckley Scribblers".
Stories (501/0)
Alexander Severus, Emperor of Rome
Alexander Severus (who is also referred to as Severus Alexander) became Rome’s emperor when possibly aged only 11. To begin with he was only a figurehead for his dominating mother, and even in adulthood he found it impossible to assert his own authority.
By John Welford3 years ago in FYI
A Racing Uncertainty
To say that he woke with a start would not be strictly accurate, mainly because he was quite certain that he was not awake at all. There was, however, a start involved – in particular a starting pistol that went off with a loud bang and started the runners in a huge race.
By John Welford3 years ago in Wander
President Woodrow Wilson, who served for too long
On 18th December 1915 the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, married Edith Bolling Galt. It was a second marriage for both of them – President Wilson had been widowed in August 1914, suffering severe depression as a result, and Edith had lost her first husband in 1908. She was 43 years old when she married the President, who was a few days short of his 59th birthday.
By John Welford3 years ago in The Swamp
The Battle of Poitiers, 1356
On 19th September 1356 the English won a notable victory against the French at the Battle of Poitiers. This was one of many battles fought at various times during the period that has become known as the Hundred Years War. This is something of a misnomer because it actually lasted for 120 years and it was not a single war but a series of eight separate conflicts between the royal houses of England and France.
By John Welford3 years ago in FYI
Julian, a 4th century Roman Emperor
Julian was born in Constantinople in the year 331, being the son of Julius Constantius and a nephew of Emperor Constantine the Great. On the death in May 337 of Constantine, who had begun to convert the Empire to Christianity, his sons, Julian’s cousins, divided the Empire between them, although the youngest, Constans, was still a minor.
By John Welford3 years ago in FYI
Handle With Care
Alfie really fancied Emma, and he was quietly confident that she felt the same way about him. Their kissing and fumbling had become quite intense of late, and Alfie felt sure that it was time for him to make the next move. He had no reason to doubt that she would respond in a mutually satisfactory way when he did so.
By John Welford3 years ago in Filthy
An Unexpected Find
I did a recent voluntary shift at Newbold Verdon Library alongside Grace, who is a final-year A-level student at Bosworth Academy, Desford. While we were there a friend of hers called in, this being a fellow student who is in the first year of her A-level studies. We got talking about the various things they were working on, which interested me in particular because the friend – whose name I failed to get – is doing English, which fascinates me far more than Grace’s Maths and Chemistry!
By John Welford3 years ago in Humans