Hunting dogs, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 2011, photo by Elliott Erwitt, French-born American photographer (Magnum).

I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Preston & District U3A on Thursday July 16th, 2pm. St Cuthbert's Church Centre, Lytham Road, Fulwood. prestonu3a.org.uk/Events/

Children embrace Cornish language as it enjoys ‘remarkable resurgence’. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

A Roman board game discovered at Vindolanda, Northumberland, has been revived through 3D printing. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Flora (Fionnghal) Macdonald helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to Skye dressed as a maid on this day 1746. In later life she and her husband emigrated to North Carolina, where their support for Britain during the War of Independence meant the loss of their estates and they returned to Scotland.

On The Road To Nowhere, painting by Katie Buttimer, Irish artist based in Cork.

It's been a privilege to appear at several literary or history festivals so far this year: York, Kirkcudbright, Lancaster, Hexham, Lewes, Huddersfield, Manchester Histories, Crossing The Tees, Lowdham. A few more to come.

Angel of the North, painting by Gill Holloway (b.1928). Studied art at King’s College, Newcastle, became art tutor at Durham University’s extramural department.

Girl in a wedding headdress, Liverpool, November 1956, photo by Thurston Hopkins.

Three girls play hopscotch, Manchester, 1968, photo by Shirley Baker (Mary Evans Picture Library).

Canal at Wool Road, Dobcross, Saddleworth, painting by Oldham-born Russell Howarth, 1927-2020.

Station Cafe, painting by James Downie, b.1949 in Manchester.

Friday evening at home in Saddleworth.

I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Westhoughton Local History Group, near Bolton, Thursday July 17th 10.30am, Carnegie Hall, Library Street. Visitors welcome. westhoughtonlocalhistorygroup.com

EXCL: Starmer is preparing to publish DIP next Tues, with at least £1bn extra funding beyond settlement rejected by Healey DIP settlement is set to land at c.£14.5 - 15bn, acc to people familiar with the matter It's a victory for Dan Jarvis following govt briefings he'd receive no more than Healey

Bodnant Garden/Gardd Bodnant, Conwy, north Wales, photo by Annie Wilcox.

I'll be talking online about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' to Liverpool and South-West Lancashire Family History Society, Weds July 15th, 7pm. www.lswlfhs.org.uk/index.php/home

'I've written off two cars': The Highland village overrun with marauding deer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Old Phone Box, Tiree, inner Hebrides, painting by Ron Lawson, Scottish landscape artist.

I talked about my reading habits and future writing plans to the Northern Books blog. www.northernbooks.org/post/writer-...

Signed copies of 'These Isles' are available online at 20% off the cover price at the wonderful @foxlanebooks.bsky.social. www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page...

North Yorkshire, 1997, painting by David Hockney.

Peveril of the Peak, Manchester, painting by Yvette Earl.

Bowness, Lake District, photo by John Bentley.

Piccadilly, Manchester, 1950 (via Museum of Transport Greater Manchester).

I'll be talking about ‘These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Hyndburn U3A, Great Harwood, Lancs, on Friday July 10th, 2pm. hyndburn.u3asite.uk/forthcoming-...

Dublin, 1991, photo by Krass Clement, Danish photographer.

I'll be talking about ‘These Isles: A People’s History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Stretford Library, Trafford, 6.30pm Thurs July 2nd. This was my childhood library, I joined at age seven. Free to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/these-isle...

Statue honours 'remarkable' Welsh woman 'hidden' from history. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sea Pink, Llanddwyn, island off Anglesey, print by Beth Horrocks, Welsh graphic artist.

A fitting footprint on the history of our Isles. Review of 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' by David Robinson last month in the Yorkshire Post magazine.

Clara Street, Benwell, Newcastle, 1950, photo by Bert Hardy.

Wigan station, mid-1950s. Staff from the Coops sewing factory in Dorning Street heading off to Blackpool. (via Wigan Today)

Rainbow near Bassenthwaite, Lake District, photo by Carmen Norman.

Burnham plans to move part of Downing Street operation to Manchester as part of decentralisation agenda. [email protected] @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social.

I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Rothsay Education Centre, Bedford, on Thursday July 23rd, 2pm, 6 Rothsay Gardens. Book here: recbedford.co.uk/courses/thes...

The Other Bennet Sister to return for Christmas special. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

St Kilda, 1905, photo by Johanna Kissling (1875-1961), pioneering German photographer based in Scotland.

I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Ilkley & District u3a in Yorkshire on Saturday July 18th, 10am, Clarke Foley Community Hub, Cunliffe Road. ilkleyu3a.org/event-6422406

World's oldest football has travelled from Stirling to Florida to appear at Scotland's World Cup match against Brazil. Sadly, they won't be playing the game with it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Carting Seaweed On Sutton Sands, 1895, painting by Joseph Malachy Kavanagh, 1856-1918, Dublin-born Irish artist (National Gallery of Ireland).

More reader comments on THESE ISLES: 'Another great book Brian! Really enjoyed Made in Manchester and also Northerners. This one is just as good!' 'I'm loving the book!' 'Enjoyed all three of your books.'

Hulme, Manchester, 1965, photo by Shirley Baker (Mary Evans Picture Library). After this came the ill-fated Hulme Crescents.

The Nit Nurse, painting by Margaret Clarkson, b.1941 in Rotherham.

Worker carrying a tube of rolled glass at Pilkington Glass of St Helen's, Lancashire, 1918. Photo by George P. Lewis.

Humber Bridge opened on this day 1981, longest of its type in the world, now 12th longest. Plans first made 1930s, but money not found until 1966 Kingston upon Hull North by-election, when Harold Wilson prevailed on Barbara Castle, transport minister, to give the go-ahead.

Derby Arms pub, Ordsall, Salford, 1976, photo by John Bulmer.

I'll be talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' at Preston & District U3A on Thursday July 16th, 2pm. St Cuthbert's Church Centre, Lytham Road, Fulwood. prestonu3a.org.uk/Events/

Skinheads and punk rockers, 1983, Merthyr Tydfil, photo by Walter Waygood, Welsh photographer.

Hebridean Haven, painting by Pam Carter (1952-2022), Tanzania-born painter of Scottish landscapes and seascapes.