John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

It’s been lovely to do lunch with my sister at the magnificent Inn at Whitewell, in the Forest of Bowland, in the aftermath of Storm Boelo.

It’s been lovely to do lunch with my sister at the magnificent Inn at Whitewell, in the Forest of Bowland, in the aftermath of Storm Boelo.

It’s always a joy to read the network news from Studio W21 at MediaCity in Salford. When I left the BBC during Covid I said I would never go back, but it’s been marvellous to rediscover my love of the medium by working with the really exceptional people here.

Legend!

Legend!

The handsome husband at BBC Breakfast inside Quay House at MediaCity in Salford.

The handsome husband at BBC Breakfast inside Quay House at MediaCity in Salford.

Greetings from Manchester Victoria station. The iconic 1904 ceramic tile map depicts the historical route system of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, which operated the station from 1847 until 1923.

Behold this issue's @existentialcomics.com by Corey Mohler: a very short history of #metaphysics in the Western thought. Explore in our new issue 176: philosophynow.org

Since I lost 11 stone (150 pounds), I’ve been walking at least five miles each day. I usually take a rest on a bench in the village churchyard. It’s a fine view.

A Northern train heading to Carlisle as it crosses the Ribblehèad Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

I've been reading The Guardian for literally 40 years, so it was a great honour to have my first piece published in the newspaper this morning. Thanks again to Ivan Novotný, Metod Špaček and Marián Žáry Kukelka for their time, thoughts and hospitality. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

My ego is very pleased with this two-page profile in the Lancashire Post detailing my role as the town crier and bellman of the city of Preston. It features a photo of me with many of my town crier friends in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Another year older, another trip around the sun, and still the handsomest husband ever. Happy Birthday best mate! 🎉

You're never too old to get excited about seeing a really big tree.

Saying isn't doing. But Burnham lifted the omertà on: Electoral reform Wide-scale nationalisation Triple lock pension Brexit So now they're all in play. And that's all positive

Cowardice versus Courage Cruelty versus Compassion Fascists versus RNLI volunteers podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

This is probably of zero interest to anyone outside the village, but it’s lovely to see that our new signs have now been erected.

The peaceful western shore of Windermere, close to the ferry landing at Far Sawrey.

Windermere from the Claife Viewing Station on the western shore of the lake. The monument was built in the 1790s to provide panoramic views for the first tourists to visit the Lake District.

I always enjoy trying on new hats. Much respect from the Preston Bellman to the team from Lancashire Police at Preston Pride.

It was wonderful to lead the Preston Pride parade today as the Town Crier and Bellman of the city and to make the opening proclamation. Love is love my friends.

Paddington says hello.

It was marvellous to see my dear friends: Jim, the town crier of New Glasgow in Nova Scotia, and Adrian, the town crier of Lichfield in Staffordshire, at the World Town Crier Tournament in Chester.

I’m a terrible piper, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to play on Piper's Brae at Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast. It’s linked to the story of a ghostly piper who, on wild and stormy nights, can be heard playing his pipes from the caves under the cliff-top castle.

Brodick Castle, on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland, looks magnificent in the late summer sunshine.

We’ve somehow ended up at the first Millport Pride on tiny Great Cumbrae Island off the west coast of Scotland. What a marvellous day.

This is a rather lovely profile. Many thanks to Leslie who spoke to me on the phone while we’re up here in Scotland. www.lep.co.uk/news/people/...

It was marvellous to see the Pride-themed stained-glass window inside Belfast City Hall. It was unveiled last year by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, the city’s first openly gay mayor.

Hello from Dublin. It’s always good to be back in the city.

We’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.

We 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.

Don’t give me this meteorological Autumn nonsense. Autumn starts on September 23rd. Have another three weeks of Summer on me.

Today is the 29th anniversary of the greatest apology in the history of journalism.

We’ve had the car serviced and had new brake pads and discs fitted today which gave us time for a long walk along the River Lune to the remarkable Lune Aqueduct. It’s a Grade I listed building and carries the Lancaster Canal over the river.

I 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.

I’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.

A 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.

It’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.

Dave 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.

Well, 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.

The 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.

We 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.

It’s going to be a busy one today, and it will begin with a blood test at the University Medical Practice.

Dave has done an amazing job with our hanging baskets this year.

Greetings from Preston Town Hall, from the new City Bellman.