hackblackburn.bsky.social
History Correspondent and Deputy Diary Editor for The Times
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In my line of work, it’s impossible to avoid. Just have to convince myself that the journey is more important than the destination.
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Just amused that they won’t let me watch what is in essence a YouTube clip of Ben Foakes taking a catch
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I’ll try not to spoil the ending. But it’s like thousands of Zulus vs a few hundred actors. What do you think’s going to happen?
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That too
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The public seem to agree with you - we’ve turned off comments
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Agreed!
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You are correct - of course! My brain was going from his obvious affinity with and love for St Francis and Leo XIVth’s citation of Augustine in his speech (as well as his Augustinian background).
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And finally, London moved into perhaps the greatest night of its life. For one person in the crowd, it was one of the most wonderful nights in her not unextraordinary life.
thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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The war in Europe was not yet over. The Russians were insisting on another surrender in Berlin. This would be a very strange affair, including some problems with flags.
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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Before the evening got into full swing, Churchill spoke to the crowds in Whitehall. “This is your victory!” he cried.
He was cheered but there were boos… only because he mentioned Japan, a reminder that the war went on in the East
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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At 5.30, an extraordinary moment on a balcony on May 8 (if you can imagine such a thing)
A commoner emerges with the royals at Buckingham Palace
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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Live posting here got a little knocked off course here by some small news elsewhere in the modern day…. But, to resume!
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“Oh… gosh… crikey… didn’t quite catch his name”
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After Churchill spoke to the Commons, MPs have processed to a thanksgiving service at the church of St Margaret’s
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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One figure who is absent is the prime minister’s wife Clementine, who is representing the nation in Russia today. She has, however, been in touch with her husband during the momentous day.
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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Thank you!
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The prime minister has addressed the nation and announced that hostilities in Europe will cease at 12.01am
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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Churchill is preparing for his broadcast to the nation, from the same room where war was declared almost six years previously
Meanwhile, in Glasgow, beer stocks already look worryingly low…
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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As Europe celebrates, Germany lies in total ruin and the women are picking up the pieces of Hitler’s War
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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More stories from VE Day include the journalists who secured a German surrender in Norway, and the Nazi weather station in Svalbard which has heard of the end of the war and is now stranded
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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News of the surrender was broken by an @apnews.com journalist called Ed Kennedy. He broke the embargo. This did not go down well.
thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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Details on how the surrender was signed
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The French have reached Hitler’s lair of Berchtesgaden, and they have taken a tank and blown the doors off his wine cellar
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b... #veday80
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The same!
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On the morning of May 8, London was taking a breather in the middle of a party
www.thetimes.com/article/ac4b...
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Choosing to believe this is about the conclave
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At this stage on May 7, 1945, people were beginning to lose hope that a formal announcement of peace was imminent
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At this point, 80 years ago, a German broadcast has announced their surrender - but this has not been verified.
Then, in the last few minutes, the Associated Press reported this - but official confirmation has still not been received.