VE Day - sombre celebration

In which G.M. Norton takes a moment to remember the brave.

Yesterday marked quite a landmark, the 70^th anniversary of VE Day, the day the Second World War ended in Europe.

The joy and relief felt across Blighty must have been quite incredible when Sir Winston Churchill announced news of the Allied victory.

My grandfather’s two brothers (making them my Great-Uncles) both fought during the Second World War. Sadly, only one would return home. Joseph died on the battlefield in 1940, while Norman returned home with a George Cross medal and a heavy heart. A member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Norman along with two other men, bravely saved a soldier’s life.

Here is an excerpt from the London Gazette, dated 14 January 1944:

Review: Squared Pocket

In which G.M. Norton fills his pockets with UK-made goodness.

Over the last few years, the pocket square has made a triumphant return to the breast pockets of men across the land. 

I love a pocket square, simply because they add a fancy flourish to an outfit. Of course, they are merely decorative. Originally, pocket squares (or handkerchiefs as they are also referred) were always carried to mop one's brow or to offer to a lady in need.

 

Recently, I made the acquaintance of a brand new pocket square enterprise, by the name of Squared Pocket. They are based right here in Blighty, in Leeds to be precise, and pleasingly, their pocket squares are all made in the UK. What's more, chumrades, they are very affordable too at a penny under the ten English pounds mark.

Tweed Run 2015

In which G.M. Norton find himself in tweed heaven.

This week I bring to you a pictorial post for your peepers. Last Saturday, I travelled from Manchester to the Big Smoke for an In Retrospect editors meeting. Fortuitously, the date for the trip coincided with the ever-popular Tweed Run.

For those not aware, the Tweed Run is an annual cycling event around London. Participants wear their finest tweed and take a leisurely ride through the city, stopping midway for a picnic and some light refreshments. It was quite a sight to be greeted by hundreds of tweed-clad cyclists at the Trafalgar Square meeting point. Tourists were visibly bewildered as they sought confirmation that they'd not slipped through a hole in time and gone back to the 1930s.

Naturally I couldn't help snapping away so here are the results.

Review: The Bluebeards Revenge Pomade

In which G.M. Norton puts his head on the block to test out a new hair product.

For the best part of ten months, the only hair dressing I’ve put on my head is the Legends London maximum hold hair gel.

Alas, my supplies have gradually dwindled, to the point where the cupboard is now bare. Perhaps sensing my plight, The Bluebeards Revenge contacted me to see if I was interested in trying out their new pomade.

You may recall I previously reviewed one of their shaving sets.

Mad Dogs and Servicemen: Lieut-Col. A.D. Wintle

In which G.M. Norton salutes a true eccentric British hero.

So far, we’ve looked at two eccentric military heroes as part of the Mad Dogs and Servicemen series. First of all, there was "Mad Jack" Churchill who went World War Two armed with a sword and a bow and arrow. Then there’s the splendidly named Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart. Known as ‘the unkillable soldier’, he was shot in the face, stomach, ankle, leg, hip and ear and still survived. Not content with that, he also chewed off his own fingers.

This week, I present to you the eccentric of all eccentrics, Lieut-Col. Alfred Daniel Wintle.

Prepare to be left agog.

Review: Flamingo Gifts

In which G.M. Norton reviews gifts for the discerning gentleman.

Your favourite protagonist recently made the acquaintance of an online gift emporium by the name of Flamingo Gifts. Upon visiting their webular site, I was struck by the sheer variety of gifts on offer and at prices that aren’t too taxing on the old bank balance.

They have gifts for both him, her and home, including your Aunt Begonia who is always difficult to find a present for.

Flamingo Gifts asked me to inspect their wares from the plethora of items available and pick out my favourites.

Within a couple of days, a rather intriguing box arrived containing a selection of the gifts that caught my eye. It felt like Christmas!

G.M. Norton & The Chocolate Factory

In which G.M. Norton delves into chocolate in the name of research.

I have quite a soft spot for chocolate. Or most food stuff for that matter, if I’m completely honest. But I do have a sweet tooth.

A few weeks ago, I was invited along to a chocolate masterclass by the kind people at Joe Blogs (not to be confused with the infamous Joe Bloggs). For reasons unknown, I neglected to reply. I think I was pre-occupied with something or other, which is no excuse at all. Usually I pride myself on my speedy response to electronic missives. I still feel guilty now.

World Pasty Championships 2015

In which G.M. Norton sees his periodical positively dripping with pasty goodness. 

Never let it be said, chums, that this periodical is formulaic and lacking in variety. To prove it, this week's offering is on the subject of pasties, brought to you by my roving reporter, Mr Ryan Pike. Regular visitors will remember reading about his adventures at last year's Chap Olympiad and the British Beard & Moustache Championships. 

Go tell them, Pike. 

The Pike Report

Going back to my childhood days, I can honestly say that I have always had a soft spot for the Cornish Pasty. In latter years, it has become a small obsession of mine to hunt out pasty purveyors wherever I am in the country and to my mind it is the ultimate fast food in that not only are they very tasty but totally portable when one is on the move with very little time at hand. I was therefore very intrigued to learn that each year there is a ‘World Pasty Championship’ held in Cornwall (where else?) not too far away from St. Piran’s Day.

Norton of Morton becomes editor at In Retrospect magazine

In which G.M. Norton is handed the keys to the In Retrospect kingdom.

Rather exciting news today, chumrades. Much to my delight, I am now an editor at a printed publication of particular note in the vintage world. I refer specifically to that renowned modern magazine for old fashioned people: In Retrospect.

For those who read and digest every tiny morsel of information that I impart, I have been a contributor for In Retrospect since it’s humble beginnings as a digital-only magazine. At the beginning of 2015, co-founder Becca asked if I would assume her position of Copy Editor while she concentrated on the momental task of having a baby. 

As an aspiring gentleman, I willingly stepped into the breach, along with a couple of other contributors that showed extra willing. The results of our handiwork are there for you to see and read in issue 2.

Style icon: Captain Hastings

In which G.M. Norton has the audacity to add a fictional character to his list of Style Icons.

What-ho, chumrades! It occurred to me that it’s been a jolly long time since I last proclaimed an expertly attired chap as one of my Style Icons. On the list that includes Cary Grant, Sir Roger Moore, Terry-Thomas and Sir Michael Caine, the last person to be added was one Patrick Grant.

By a strange occurrence, since granting admittance for the formerly bearded tailor and star of the Great British Sewing Bee, your favourite protagonist has grown his own face whiskers. 

As a side note, now Mr Grant is sporting the lone moustache, don’t you think he resembles a long-lost relation to Basil Fawlty?

Anyway, I am blathering on and I still haven’t formally introduced the main subject of this week’s periodical posting (ignoring the whopping great title up above). Please step forward Captain Arthur Hastings OBE, the naive foil to the narcissistic Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.