Niall James Bradley
Bio
I am a teacher who lives in the north west of England. I write about many subjects, but mainly I write non-fiction about things that interest me, fiction about what comes into my head and poetry about how I feel.
Stories (37/0)
- Top Story - December 2023
Fairytale Of New YorkTop Story - December 2023
This is a short biography about the most popular Christmas song of the 21st Century so far [¹], Fairytale Of New York, written and performed by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. If you do not already know it, Google the name of the song. You will probably only get as far as ‘Fai…’ before you hit the link to the official YouTube video, which has been viewed 92 million times in the last 11 years.
By Niall James Bradley5 months ago in Beat
Christmas Song: Free To A Good Home
Since September, my wife has been subjecting me to a daily diet of Christmas films. She found a channel last year which showed nothing but Christmas films in the run up to Christmas and during the festive holiday. This year, she found that the channel was actually beginning showing Christmas films from the end of September! I have already, a month short of the day itself, seen more Christmas films than I ever thought could possibly exist.
By Niall James Bradleyabout a year ago in Poets
The Battle Of Bamber Bridge
The Battle of Bamber Bridge took place in the village of Bamber Bridge, just south of Preston in Lancashire on the 24th June 1943. The incident, an outbreak of racial violence between black and white American servicemen, occurred a few days after the 1943 Detroit Race Riot in America. It began when white American Military Police (MPs) attempted to arrest several black American soldiers, from the 1511th Quartermaster Truck Regiment, while they were drinking at Ye Olde Hob Inn public house.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in FYI
The Dragon Master’s Apprentice
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Simon had grown up hearing the myths about magical creatures. As a young child, he had listened to the ancient stories around the communal village fire. But he had never seen one. They had always just been myths; stories to scare young children.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in Fiction
Free Manchester
A while ago, I bumped into two Dutch tourists at Piccadilly train station. They were just leaving, having spent two days in the city and they weren’t happy. “There’s nothing to see!” they complained, at which point I reeled off a list of places they could have visited but unfortunately, by the time I was talking to them, it was all too late. This guide is to help you to know where to go when visiting the city, so that your time in Manchester is filled with so many places to visit, you will have to come back for another go.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in Wander
The Dragon Master's Son 8 & 9
Chapter 8 “Get up,” the nearer of the two guards gently demanded. “His Highness wants to see you.” John lay, frozen ridged from his flight, on the floor of his cell. Not a single muscle in his body worked, or joint moved. He was literally frozen solid.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon Master's Son 12 & 13
Chapter 12 “Where's my mother?” Frustration seeped from John's every pore. His whole world, King Elfram's kingdom, was collapsing around him and he was hiding in this cavern beneath the castle. John sat down on a rock, then sprang quickly back up. He was still painfully saddle-sore.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon Master's Son 10
Chapter 10 John stood in the Great Hall. It was obviously the Great Hall. It was the largest room in the castle and possibly the biggest room he'd ever seen. A number of the castle servants were clearing the tables and benches to the side of the room and sweeping the floor. Evidently, John had missed breakfast. He'd guessed as much. When he had finally woken, daylight had been streaming into his room through the shuttered window.
By Niall James Bradley2 years ago in Fiction