Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
@janevsw.bsky.social
Retired rare books librarian, formerly Institute of Naval Medicine civvy, thwarted medievalist, enthusiast of history, cooking, words and singing, writer, occasional poet, permanently on wheels; married to retired PO (Comms) RNR, signal engineer, bass.
Pinned
Thought I hadn't screenshot these before Brian Sibley left the other place. But <phew> I had. Time to blow my own trumpet for once.
My father has been up a ladder in the half-light, adjusting the isolator switch for his solar panels and heat pump, on the edge of the roof.
He's 90.
I think he's amazing, but ... 🙄
He's 90.
I think he's amazing, but ... 🙄
December 15, 2025 at 2:22 AM
My father has been up a ladder in the half-light, adjusting the isolator switch for his solar panels and heat pump, on the edge of the roof.
He's 90.
I think he's amazing, but ... 🙄
He's 90.
I think he's amazing, but ... 🙄
Singing alto with the Stanchester Quire tonight in East Chinnock. We outnumbered the audience .... What looks like black glass in the windows is in fact deep crimson when lit from within. Stunning. They were donated by a German former POW as a mark of peace and reconciliation.
December 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Singing alto with the Stanchester Quire tonight in East Chinnock. We outnumbered the audience .... What looks like black glass in the windows is in fact deep crimson when lit from within. Stunning. They were donated by a German former POW as a mark of peace and reconciliation.
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Over at our YouTube Channel we've put up 11 poetry workshops to help people of any age write poems. So far they've had in total 355 thousand views.
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...
Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen
Official Michael Rosen Channel
Every video and playlist here is approved by Michael himself.
If it’s on this channel, it’s the real deal and safe for children.
You may see “YTP” or “poop” remixes on...
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Over at our YouTube Channel we've put up 11 poetry workshops to help people of any age write poems. So far they've had in total 355 thousand views.
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...
It me! (and friend)
Check out our recent Research Article titled 'Hospital ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From pre-war planning to the aftermath of Jutland' by Edward J. Wawrzynczak and Jane V.S. Wickenden
doi.org/10.1177/0843...
#maritimehistory #firstworldwarhistory
doi.org/10.1177/0843...
#maritimehistory #firstworldwarhistory
Hospital ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From pre-war planning to the aftermath of Jutland - Edward J. Wawrzynczak, Jane V.S. Wickenden, 2025
In World War One, naval hospital ships played an essential role, which has been generally underappreciated, in the medical care of seamen. The Admiralty had mad...
doi.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
It me! (and friend)
Adults, young adults and older children have read and enjoyed my books, so if you are looking for good gifts, please try here!
Waterbound & Secret Songs
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/search?type=...
www.amazon.co.uk/Waterbound-J...
Waterbound & Secret Songs
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/search?type=...
www.amazon.co.uk/Waterbound-J...
Search: 2 results found for "Jane Stemp"
Search: 2 results found for "Jane Stemp"
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Adults, young adults and older children have read and enjoyed my books, so if you are looking for good gifts, please try here!
Waterbound & Secret Songs
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/search?type=...
www.amazon.co.uk/Waterbound-J...
Waterbound & Secret Songs
www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/search?type=...
www.amazon.co.uk/Waterbound-J...
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
If you’ve got children who are nervous about speaking in their school play this Christmas, you might like our gentle, reassuring picture book VIOLET’S TEMPEST!
#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/viol... @lantanapub.bsky.social
#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/viol... @lantanapub.bsky.social
Violet's Tempest
Check out Violet's Tempest - Violet’s world has changed. Her voice has gone from a giggle to a whisper. So when her teacher casts her in the school play, she is filled with worry. How will she ever st...
uk.bookshop.org
December 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
If you’ve got children who are nervous about speaking in their school play this Christmas, you might like our gentle, reassuring picture book VIOLET’S TEMPEST!
#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/viol... @lantanapub.bsky.social
#KidLit #BookSky #PrimaryEduSky
uk.bookshop.org/p/books/viol... @lantanapub.bsky.social
*polite cough* if anyone would like to read seven stories by me and support my lovely friend Katherine, now's your chance ...
katherinesoutarillustration.com/buy-my-book-...
katherinesoutarillustration.com/buy-my-book-...
Buy my book! Myths in Isolation. Available on January 1st 2026
Reviews “I’ve been a fan of Katherine Soutar Caddick for most of my life, so I knew this would be book a treasure and I wasn’t disappointed. I love the premise of this book. We are used…
katherinesoutarillustration.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
*polite cough* if anyone would like to read seven stories by me and support my lovely friend Katherine, now's your chance ...
katherinesoutarillustration.com/buy-my-book-...
katherinesoutarillustration.com/buy-my-book-...
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
The Wellcome Collection has some fascinating archives including this 1877 engraving showing deaf actors using sign language to perform a play about Don Guzman to an audience in St Saviour's church hall, London. St Saviour’s Deaf Church in Acton, opened in 1925 and was a purpose-built place of
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The Wellcome Collection has some fascinating archives including this 1877 engraving showing deaf actors using sign language to perform a play about Don Guzman to an audience in St Saviour's church hall, London. St Saviour’s Deaf Church in Acton, opened in 1925 and was a purpose-built place of
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
This #MapMonday let us take you back in time ⌛
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
November 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This #MapMonday let us take you back in time ⌛
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
My husband's great-uncle, Clive Halliburton Thorpe, Company Quartermaster Serjeant 10th Bn (Kent Yeo.) The Buffs, picked off by a German sniper on the way into Tournai, 8th November 1918. Age 32.
November 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
My husband's great-uncle, Clive Halliburton Thorpe, Company Quartermaster Serjeant 10th Bn (Kent Yeo.) The Buffs, picked off by a German sniper on the way into Tournai, 8th November 1918. Age 32.
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
November 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Join us this Monday...
Monday 27 October, at 6.30pm online
INTRODUCING PHILIP HENSLOWE'S ROSE
Join Professor Grace Ioppolo, @profshakespeare.bsky.social, Founder & Director of the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project, as she examines the business partnerships that built The Rose.
More info & book: bit.ly/4nMtaBv
INTRODUCING PHILIP HENSLOWE'S ROSE
Join Professor Grace Ioppolo, @profshakespeare.bsky.social, Founder & Director of the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project, as she examines the business partnerships that built The Rose.
More info & book: bit.ly/4nMtaBv
October 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Join us this Monday...
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
Nice little puzzle for a transport history person, from a letter I'm transcribing. Has he remembered his route and method aright? 5 Oct, 1845.
"I left this house [78 Eaton Place, London] yesterday morning at ¼ before 8 determined to take the quickest course I could find ... 1/2
"I left this house [78 Eaton Place, London] yesterday morning at ¼ before 8 determined to take the quickest course I could find ... 1/2
October 17, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Nice little puzzle for a transport history person, from a letter I'm transcribing. Has he remembered his route and method aright? 5 Oct, 1845.
"I left this house [78 Eaton Place, London] yesterday morning at ¼ before 8 determined to take the quickest course I could find ... 1/2
"I left this house [78 Eaton Place, London] yesterday morning at ¼ before 8 determined to take the quickest course I could find ... 1/2
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
Thank you @naomialderman.bsky.social for writing this 👇
"In praise of “rip-off” degrees" | The Observer share.google/aoaUSb8msQ2F...
"In praise of “rip-off” degrees" | The Observer share.google/aoaUSb8msQ2F...
In praise of “rip-off” degrees | The Observer
Kemi Badenoch’s attack on the arts and humanities isn’t just culturally short-sighted, it’s economically illiterate
share.google
October 11, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Thank you @naomialderman.bsky.social for writing this 👇
"In praise of “rip-off” degrees" | The Observer share.google/aoaUSb8msQ2F...
"In praise of “rip-off” degrees" | The Observer share.google/aoaUSb8msQ2F...
Publication pending – co-author & I heave a sigh of relief.
#NavalHistory
"Congratulations on the acceptance of your paper 'Hospital Ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From Pre-war Planning to the Aftermath of Jutland'."
In the International Journal of Military History – some time soon.
#NavalHistory
"Congratulations on the acceptance of your paper 'Hospital Ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From Pre-war Planning to the Aftermath of Jutland'."
In the International Journal of Military History – some time soon.
October 7, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Publication pending – co-author & I heave a sigh of relief.
#NavalHistory
"Congratulations on the acceptance of your paper 'Hospital Ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From Pre-war Planning to the Aftermath of Jutland'."
In the International Journal of Military History – some time soon.
#NavalHistory
"Congratulations on the acceptance of your paper 'Hospital Ships of the Royal Navy in World War One: From Pre-war Planning to the Aftermath of Jutland'."
In the International Journal of Military History – some time soon.
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
We have improved our links with the Allmaps project, so that any of our maps can be freely, collaboratively georeferenced and then brought back into our Georeferenced Maps viewer 🗺️
Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/
#Georeference #MapMonday #Maps
Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/
#Georeference #MapMonday #Maps
October 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
We have improved our links with the Allmaps project, so that any of our maps can be freely, collaboratively georeferenced and then brought back into our Georeferenced Maps viewer 🗺️
Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/
#Georeference #MapMonday #Maps
Learn more > maps.nls.uk/view/help/
#Georeference #MapMonday #Maps
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
No, @thebookseller.com this is not the full list of books used to train Anthropic’s AI. It excludes many books (including mine) that were stolen and used but which do not meet the specific criteria of the settlement. Books not copyrighted in the US are excluded, so UK editions get nothing.
October 3, 2025 at 10:16 AM
No, @thebookseller.com this is not the full list of books used to train Anthropic’s AI. It excludes many books (including mine) that were stolen and used but which do not meet the specific criteria of the settlement. Books not copyrighted in the US are excluded, so UK editions get nothing.
"I went on board the U.S. Brig '[????], Commander Bruce in Sierra Leone ..."
Anyone have a US Navy List from 1845 and able to tell me which brig Bruce commanded? #NavalHistory
Anyone have a US Navy List from 1845 and able to tell me which brig Bruce commanded? #NavalHistory
October 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
"I went on board the U.S. Brig '[????], Commander Bruce in Sierra Leone ..."
Anyone have a US Navy List from 1845 and able to tell me which brig Bruce commanded? #NavalHistory
Anyone have a US Navy List from 1845 and able to tell me which brig Bruce commanded? #NavalHistory
For the love of all that is good in the book world, please work with real-life illustrators, cover designers and other creatives. In the UK, they are absolutely the best in the world.
October 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Jane Wickenden / Jane Stemp
AI ‘art’ is parasitic on real art and real artists, stealing their work and driving them out of business while impoverishing the totality of the human experience. So no, art is unfortunately not immune to machines. I will fight AI ‘art’ as long as I draw breath.
September 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
AI ‘art’ is parasitic on real art and real artists, stealing their work and driving them out of business while impoverishing the totality of the human experience. So no, art is unfortunately not immune to machines. I will fight AI ‘art’ as long as I draw breath.