It has been just over six decades since a small television set was brought into the school dining hall, hoisted onto a high shelf so that all could witness the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. Approximately one hundred and twenty pupils attended that establishment, which was old-fashioned even then. A modern co-educational version exists today, but it is largely unrecognisable, much like everything else in our rapidly changing world.
A Glimpse of Historical Grandeur
The staff and pupils of my era would likely be baffled and perhaps scornful of their modern counterparts, perceiving their lives as softer and less rigorous. We were raised in anticipation of war and danger, primarily as sons of West Country farmers and naval officers. Our existence was Spartan and chilly, with television viewing a rare privilege, limited to black-and-white screens that displayed more shades of grey than true colour.
Yet, through some strange magic, I quickly forgot the small, monochrome, blurred picture and the scratchy, feeble sound. The event remains etched in my memory as if the mighty Edwardian parade had been broadcast in vibrant colours on an enormous screen. If I ever forget this moment, I shall be dead for all intents and purposes. This recollection compelled me, in September 2022, to queue for hours in the gathering darkness to see the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II, seeking another portal into a past that should not be forgotten.
The Last Traces of Greatness
In the thumping of military bands, the slow rumble of the gun-carriage pulled by bluejackets, and the strained faces of soldiers carrying the lead-lined coffin, I witnessed the final departing traces of actual greatness. Since then, society has become too small and comfortable for such grandeur, which may be a good thing, but its existence was real, and I am grateful to have seen it.
Jude Law's Portrayal of Putin
I recently viewed the film The Wizard of the Kremlin in France, impressed by Jude Law's depiction of Vladimir Putin's transformation from a dreary secret police functionary into a sinister, fascinating tyrant. Based on a brilliant book that was a bestseller in France but little-known in Britain, the film is unlikely to receive much release here due to our national disinterest in Russia, a folly that blinds us to important insights.
The Crisis in Modern Parenting
Years ago, I mentioned on television that children were arriving at British primary schools untrained in using the lavatory, a telling measure of societal decline. This issue has only worsened, with primary teachers now complaining of wasting time changing nappies for children aged four to seven. The root cause is clear: the feminist revolution has driven young mothers into wage-slavery, depriving children of normal parenting.
Instead, they endure long hours in day-orphanages, cared for by paid strangers who mind rather than raise them. This lack of basic training hints at broader deficiencies in upbringing. Left-liberal types, typically suspicious of big business, support this recruitment of women into often ill-paid toil because they loathe the traditional family more than capitalism, a key insight into the modern Left's priorities.
