The other night at Stonehenge

Like summer solstice but with gentility – the Stonehenge Fire Garden. The stones close and personal and erratically wrapped in flames and paraffin smells in the growing darkness, thousands of people politely queuing, one man making gentle electronic music surrounded by a quiet crowd, a comfortable friendly gathering with no manic focus and no camera-hunger …

Congratulations Mick

Mick Aston received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Museum today, presented by John Penrose, the out and about tourism & heritage minister, at the 2012 British Archaeological Awards. To quote the citation, this was for Mick’s “long-term commitment to public education and for his ongoing support for developing our understanding of past human …

Two army aviators killed

Early this morning 100 years ago, flying from Larkhill just north of Stonehenge, Captain Loraine crashed his Nieuport monoplane during a failed turn. Both he and his passenger Staff-Sergeant Wilson were killed. I’ve written about this before, and the recent removal of the memorial at Airman’s Cross. Here are some further notes and sources. The …