Jeremy Benson
@jembenson.bsky.social
Adviser @aqaeducation.bsky.social, MAT and @RSPH.bsky.social trustee, ex-senior civil servant; classical music, #LCFC 🦊, England⚽️🏏, walks, photos, words (no politics); husband, father, generally curious
https://substack.com/@jembenson
📍 Leicestershire, UK
https://substack.com/@jembenson
📍 Leicestershire, UK
Pinned
Late stroll. The moon is an attentive pupil in an eye of tinted cloud iris. A security light draws a bar code with tree shadows. Roadworks have closed the path, and my diversion is lit by a redambergreen traffic disco. My phone torch catches my breath, and I am a dragon.
January 3, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Late stroll. The moon is an attentive pupil in an eye of tinted cloud iris. A security light draws a bar code with tree shadows. Roadworks have closed the path, and my diversion is lit by a redambergreen traffic disco. My phone torch catches my breath, and I am a dragon.
Wordle 1,659 3/6
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
a man in a tuxedo and bow tie is making a surprised face .
Alt: Eric Morecambe looking frustrated
media.tenor.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Wordle 1,659 3/6
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Here’s the second and final part of my piece on the Grand Union canal Leicester Line.
January 3, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Here’s the second and final part of my piece on the Grand Union canal Leicester Line.
Some of my favourite photos from today’s walk.
January 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Some of my favourite photos from today’s walk.
Reposted by Jeremy Benson
I’m in Watford (not that one, the one in Northamptonshire, of Watford Gap services fame) to explore the southern end of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Heading up towards the locks and Crick tunnel first.
#BensonWalks
#BensonWalks
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I’m in Watford (not that one, the one in Northamptonshire, of Watford Gap services fame) to explore the southern end of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Heading up towards the locks and Crick tunnel first.
#BensonWalks
#BensonWalks
I’m in Watford (not that one, the one in Northamptonshire, of Watford Gap services fame) to explore the southern end of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Heading up towards the locks and Crick tunnel first.
#BensonWalks
#BensonWalks
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I’m in Watford (not that one, the one in Northamptonshire, of Watford Gap services fame) to explore the southern end of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Heading up towards the locks and Crick tunnel first.
#BensonWalks
#BensonWalks
A picture a week for 2026: 1
January 2, 2026 at 9:02 AM
A picture a week for 2026: 1
#FingerpostFriday (these are all real places)
January 2, 2026 at 8:52 AM
#FingerpostFriday (these are all real places)
Trying to game how the Secret Traitor will impact the dynamics and incentives in the castle. #Traitors
a man is standing in front of a chalkboard with mathematical equations written on it .
Alt: a man is standing in front of a chalkboard with mathematical equations written on it .
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Trying to game how the Secret Traitor will impact the dynamics and incentives in the castle. #Traitors
Reposted by Jeremy Benson
I’m writing a history of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Here’s part 1.
The Leicester Line: Story of a Canal, part 1
Part 1 of a history of the Leicester Line, the part of the Grand Union canal that goes through Leicestershire, covering the building of the canal.
jembenson.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I’m writing a history of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Here’s part 1.
Reposted by Jeremy Benson
#SymphonistsChoice2025 Happy New Year! I'm starting 2026 with a 🧵 of my Top 10 symphony & orchestral new releases of 2025. Let's hit it!
a man in a tuxedo holds up a trophy in front of a orchestra
Alt: Conductor Lorin Maazel directing an orchestra in one of the hammer blows in the finale of Mahler's Symphony No. 6. As the hammer falls and cymbals clash behind him, a trumpeter briefly covers his ear with his hand.
media.tenor.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:27 AM
#SymphonistsChoice2025 Happy New Year! I'm starting 2026 with a 🧵 of my Top 10 symphony & orchestral new releases of 2025. Let's hit it!
Happy new year all! Here’s to better things in 2026… 🎉
January 1, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Happy new year all! Here’s to better things in 2026… 🎉
Final reckoning: 1,280 walking miles for the year, my most ever and an average of 3½ miles a day, which I’m happy with. (I’ve eaten plenty of mince pies too). 🚶🏻
I’ve passed 1,200 walking miles for the year. My record for a year is 1,260, which I did in 2023. And if you think I’d be daft enough to spend the final two weeks of the year - which we’re mostly supposed to spend relaxing & eating mince pies - trying to beat that record…you’d be absolutely right. 🚶🏻
December 31, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Final reckoning: 1,280 walking miles for the year, my most ever and an average of 3½ miles a day, which I’m happy with. (I’ve eaten plenty of mince pies too). 🚶🏻
Late-year stroll. Distant fireworks wish each other & their echoes happy new year from either side of the town. A bit of fence reclines brokenly. My shadow-head bounces along the road. The railway bridge raises its brick eyebrows in bemusement. A cigarette glows past.
December 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Late-year stroll. Distant fireworks wish each other & their echoes happy new year from either side of the town. A bit of fence reclines brokenly. My shadow-head bounces along the road. The railway bridge raises its brick eyebrows in bemusement. A cigarette glows past.
Reposted by Jeremy Benson
10. Elgar Violin Concerto (Tetzlaff, Storgårds). I was bowled over by this compelling recording, which is utterly distinctive, urgent and assertive, lacking the restraint and distance of many versions. The 3rd movement has crunchy, ugly sounds. Not the only way of doing it but so glad I’ve heard it.
December 31, 2025 at 6:23 PM
10. Elgar Violin Concerto (Tetzlaff, Storgårds). I was bowled over by this compelling recording, which is utterly distinctive, urgent and assertive, lacking the restraint and distance of many versions. The 3rd movement has crunchy, ugly sounds. Not the only way of doing it but so glad I’ve heard it.
10. I wrote about my memories of working in Parliament as a civil servant, particularly working on legislation - one of those things that most people outside Government probably (understandably) give little thought to.
December 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
10. I wrote about my memories of working in Parliament as a civil servant, particularly working on legislation - one of those things that most people outside Government probably (understandably) give little thought to.
I’m writing a history of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Here’s part 1.
The Leicester Line: Story of a Canal, part 1
Part 1 of a history of the Leicester Line, the part of the Grand Union canal that goes through Leicestershire, covering the building of the canal.
jembenson.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I’m writing a history of the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal. Here’s part 1.
Off to the @bridgetheatre.bsky.social to see Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Into The Woods’, one of my favourite of his musicals (I included a couple of his songs in my tribute here.)
In praise of Stephen Sondheim
Another Twitter thread (original here) transposed to Substack for posterity, and perhaps a slightly different audience.
jembenson.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Off to the @bridgetheatre.bsky.social to see Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Into The Woods’, one of my favourite of his musicals (I included a couple of his songs in my tribute here.)
Good result last night (if not a great performance). But to the home fans singing ‘Derby get battered everywhere they go’ when we’re 2-1 up with several minutes still to play: please don’t do that again. #LCFC 🦊💙
December 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Good result last night (if not a great performance). But to the home fans singing ‘Derby get battered everywhere they go’ when we’re 2-1 up with several minutes still to play: please don’t do that again. #LCFC 🦊💙
Reposted by Jeremy Benson
Thread.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
December 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Thread.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Though @timharford.ft.com intriguingly suggests that McGonagall may, possibly, have been misunderstood.
December 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Though @timharford.ft.com intriguingly suggests that McGonagall may, possibly, have been misunderstood.
Matchday. #LCFC
a man wearing sunglasses is sitting in a chair making a funny face .
Alt: a man wearing sunglasses is sitting in a chair making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Matchday. #LCFC
9. In September I said farewell to the civil service, and to commuting to Westminster, so I wrote about a walk I will have done thousands of times over the years.
December 29, 2025 at 7:27 AM
9. In September I said farewell to the civil service, and to commuting to Westminster, so I wrote about a walk I will have done thousands of times over the years.
Late stroll. I have three perfectly synchronised shadows on a fence. Distant headlamps bounce up and down a wall as if on a light trampoline. Silhouetted trees are sprouting messy twigcuts. One long branch of a bramble leans over the path and peers down curiously.
December 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Late stroll. I have three perfectly synchronised shadows on a fence. Distant headlamps bounce up and down a wall as if on a light trampoline. Silhouetted trees are sprouting messy twigcuts. One long branch of a bramble leans over the path and peers down curiously.