Freelance who reads the news on BBC Radio 5 Live & all 40 BBC local radio stations from MediaCityUK in sunny Salford. Bewhiskered ex-academic historian, folkie, morris dancer & geek. Bellman of the City of Preston. Husband of @davespenceruk.bsky.social.https://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3muynvdf5722gHello from Dublin. It’s always good to be back in the city.08 Sep 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muynvdf5722ghttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3muw23hpens27We’re heading down to Dublin today on the Enterprise train. It’s the first time we’ve been to the new(ish) Belfast Grand Central Station, which has a somewhat different feel to the old station at Great Victoria Street.07 Sep 2026 08:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muw23hpens27https://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3muw23hpens27We’re heading down to Dublin today on the Enterprise train. It’s the first time we’ve been to the new(ish) Belfast Grand Central Station, which has a somewhat different feel to the old station at Great Victoria Street.07 Sep 2026 08:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muw23hpens27https://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3muosqad56k2kWe had the world-renowned 'Pipe Major's Breakfast' this morning at the Pipers' Tryst Restaurant inside the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. I intended to get some new drone reeds for my bagpipes but couldn’t resist getting a 'Chanter McDuck' while we were there.04 Sep 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muosqad56k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mumwf24kus2vThe marble statue “Eve”, by the Italian artist Scipione Tadolini, sits inside the Kibble Palace glasshouse at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. It was moved here after previously being housed at the Kelvingrove Museum. There’s no better place to visit than the gardens for a free day out in Glasgow.03 Sep 2026 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumwf24kus2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3muicu4kdmk2vDon’t give me this meteorological Autumn nonsense. Autumn starts on September 23rd. Have another three weeks of Summer on me.01 Sep 2026 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3muicu4kdmk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mufbmxkn7s2tToday is the 29th anniversary of the greatest apology in the history of journalism.31 Aug 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufbmxkn7s2thttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtwftjyxic2wWhat a legend and what a sense of sadness I feel tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwBNBcFAFso25 Aug 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwftjyxic2whttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtwftjyxic2wWhat a legend and what a sense of sadness I feel tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwBNBcFAFso25 Aug 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwftjyxic2whttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtqttzlic22dI ran into Daniel from the Thaxted Morris Men while I was shouting at the Saddleworth Rushcart. He was impressed by my beard, and I felt the same about his, so I guess that’s pretty much a draw. You meet the most marvellous people at Rushcart, and the quality of the beards is second to none.23 Aug 2026 13:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqttzlic22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtou5gov222dI’ve been doing some shouting at the Saddleworth Rushcart, and it was good to run into my old friend Lewis, who was dancing with Rutland, and his chum Joe who was dancing with Cambridge.22 Aug 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtou5gov222dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtliuevtvk2rThe iconic view of the River Nidd and the Knaresborough Viaduct from the clifftop terrace behind Knaresborough Castle in North Yorkshire.21 Aug 2026 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtliuevtvk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtgekv2uc223The handsome husband looking marvellous while waiting for a train at Knaresborough Railway Station.19 Aug 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgekv2uc223https://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mtbnotzmjc2sA bellow or a shout of town criers and bellmen in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire - though I’ve heard a “headache” is a more appropriate collective term.17 Aug 2026 12:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtbnotzmjc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mt55jtzncs2fIt’s been a really excellent day at the Morecambe Maritime Festival. It was good to see so many friends from the volunteer rescue and sea shanty communities from right around the Lancashire coast.15 Aug 2026 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt55jtzncs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3msvw6lv3jc27Dave getting ready to view the eclipse by the Jubilee Tower in the Forest of Bowland. We had a panoramic view right across the coast to Morecambe Bay in the west. It was a pretty special experience for both of us.12 Aug 2026 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvw6lv3jc27https://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3msskvqfxcs2rWell, this was a little unexpected. I’ve been back on BBC Radio Lancashire for the first time since 2020. It’s 26 years since I first arrived in Blackburn to work at the station.11 Aug 2026 12:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msskvqfxcs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mspx3c2fuk2sThe remains of Ribchester’s Roman bathhouse beside the River Ribble in Lancashire. The medieval St Wilfrid’s Church stands on part of the site of the Roman fort of Bremetennacum, while the porch of the nearby White Bull pub is supported by four stone columns that are said to be Roman.10 Aug 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mspx3c2fuk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3msnncxnlyc2yWe had a bimble along the River Ribble to the beautiful St Wilfrid's Church in Ribchester. The building dates from the 13th century and is sited next to the Roman fort of Bremetennacum.09 Aug 2026 13:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msnncxnlyc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3msd5zzjeys2yIt’s going to be a busy one today, and it will begin with a blood test at the University Medical Practice.05 Aug 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3msd5zzjeys2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3ms6ahmx43s2kDave has done an amazing job with our hanging baskets this year.03 Aug 2026 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6ahmx43s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3ms3tdrd3r22aGreetings from Preston Town Hall, from the new City Bellman.02 Aug 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms3tdrd3r22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mrzqc2vmgc2iI’ve performed my first official cry as the new Town Crier and Bellman of the City of Preston. It was lovely to be joined at the Wallace and Gromit bench by John and Gina, who I used to work with in the wild world of Lancashire radio.01 Aug 2026 15:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrzqc2vmgc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mrwiecynd22qI’m heading to the local Spar in Maybole in a thoroughly overdressed fashion. I guess you need to keep up appearances.31 Jul 2026 08:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrwiecynd22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mrrkroplwk2cThe ruins of Crossraguel Abbey, near Maybole in Ayrshire, viewed from the intact four-storey Abbot’s Tower House. A special shout-out to Paul from Historic Scotland for his awesome beard and for being a thoroughly nice guy.29 Jul 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrrkroplwk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mrmn7bxx5k2zI finally got the Chameleon Circuit in my TARDIS working. Did you know that police boxes in Glasgow were painted red, in contrast to the blue used elsewhere in the UK?27 Jul 2026 10:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrmn7bxx5k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnbarnes.org/post/3mrjzeveoic26I’ve finally got to see the mural of St Mungo in Glasgow. The image depicts the city’s patron saint in modern clothing as a homeless man holding a robin, in a reference to one of his four legendary miracles.26 Jul 2026 09:00 +0000at://did:plc:kc2lasjnb5cdcfwneqzq7xhs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjzeveoic26