Les Back
@academicdiary.bsky.social
I teach sociology at the University of Glasgow and my interests are learning, teaching, books, ideas, culture and music.
Beautiful night in South London looking north x
November 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Beautiful night in South London looking north x
In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔
November 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
In the Taybridge Bar, Dundee watching the old firm game and making a little musical pilgrimage for the late great Michael Marra… 💔
With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.
October 24, 2025 at 5:32 AM
With dear friend Professor Lez Henry (aka Lesley Lyrics) at the farewell for Dj and world builder June Reid.
Saying goodbye today to Queen June Reid who wore the ‘crown of righteousness’. June chose a poem by David Harkins to be read as a farewell -“smile, open your eyes (and ears), love and go on.” A beautiful generous soul gone but not forgotten.
October 24, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Saying goodbye today to Queen June Reid who wore the ‘crown of righteousness’. June chose a poem by David Harkins to be read as a farewell -“smile, open your eyes (and ears), love and go on.” A beautiful generous soul gone but not forgotten.
A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya
October 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
A important new talk from Gargi Bhattacharyya
@kirsteen-paton.bsky.social amazing tips as always, Kirsteen.
October 14, 2025 at 10:54 AM
@kirsteen-paton.bsky.social amazing tips as always, Kirsteen.
I never really thought I had the literary chops for writing fiction, but @awtsn.bsky.social persuaded me to do this for her SO-Fi magazine for the Glasgow special.
October 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I never really thought I had the literary chops for writing fiction, but @awtsn.bsky.social persuaded me to do this for her SO-Fi magazine for the Glasgow special.
With my dear friend Michael Keith this week in Wapping. When we worked together at Goldsmiths I always thought we were like the academic Odd Couple! He was Jack Lemon though, the good looking one. Still the sharpest of minds. He almost smiles too 😘
September 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
With my dear friend Michael Keith this week in Wapping. When we worked together at Goldsmiths I always thought we were like the academic Odd Couple! He was Jack Lemon though, the good looking one. Still the sharpest of minds. He almost smiles too 😘
No secrets from you, Brenda. Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. They have a lovely preloved section too. I picked up an ancient copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler for my brother’s 70th birthday. Couple of old cockney geezers!
September 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
No secrets from you, Brenda. Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. They have a lovely preloved section too. I picked up an ancient copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler for my brother’s 70th birthday. Couple of old cockney geezers!
Found this in my favourite independent book shop in South London congratulations, Alice. 👏👏👏 @uofgsociology.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Found this in my favourite independent book shop in South London congratulations, Alice. 👏👏👏 @uofgsociology.bsky.social
So pleased to speak at this celebration of Michael Bull’s work in Lewes this week. Suitably it was in a local jazz venue with Bird and Monk blasting out. Michael mention a teacher had described him as an “academic dabbler” the highest possible form of praise in my mind.
September 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
So pleased to speak at this celebration of Michael Bull’s work in Lewes this week. Suitably it was in a local jazz venue with Bird and Monk blasting out. Michael mention a teacher had described him as an “academic dabbler” the highest possible form of praise in my mind.
The heart of New Cross, South London - Rose’s kitchen. The food always looks like Caribbean Crown Jewels. Bumped into old friends but sadly Rose wasn’t there.
September 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The heart of New Cross, South London - Rose’s kitchen. The food always looks like Caribbean Crown Jewels. Bumped into old friends but sadly Rose wasn’t there.
Congratulations Dr Phavine Phung who was awarded her PhD today on quilting migration stories. Her exhibition is on in the Kingsway Corridor, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London
September 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Congratulations Dr Phavine Phung who was awarded her PhD today on quilting migration stories. Her exhibition is on in the Kingsway Corridor, Goldsmiths, New Cross, London
Back in New Cross, south London today to examine a PhD at Goldsmith passing Cummin Up take away this morning and the smoke of Jerk on the BBQ… the scent of home. ❤️
September 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Back in New Cross, south London today to examine a PhD at Goldsmith passing Cummin Up take away this morning and the smoke of Jerk on the BBQ… the scent of home. ❤️
Saw this at the Citizens Theatre tonight in Glasgow. A show about the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, 1988, and the acts of love practiced by the local community to hold the belongings of the victims dear. Makes me very proud to be living in Scotland. Dealing with loss is what makes us human.
September 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Saw this at the Citizens Theatre tonight in Glasgow. A show about the Lockerbie bombing on 21st December, 1988, and the acts of love practiced by the local community to hold the belongings of the victims dear. Makes me very proud to be living in Scotland. Dealing with loss is what makes us human.
Love this Jackie Kay Plaza at Uni of Strathclyde - getting it right. Thinking spaces that include thinkers
September 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Love this Jackie Kay Plaza at Uni of Strathclyde - getting it right. Thinking spaces that include thinkers
The end of the rainbow in Glasgow 💚💚💚💚
September 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The end of the rainbow in Glasgow 💚💚💚💚
Remembering writer and journalist Caspar Melville who died earlier over this year at the tender age of 58. Just by chance today at work this afternoon I found this. No gilding the sadness of losing a friend.
August 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Remembering writer and journalist Caspar Melville who died earlier over this year at the tender age of 58. Just by chance today at work this afternoon I found this. No gilding the sadness of losing a friend.
With my favourite actor and neighbour - Hannah Jarrett-Scott who was funking fantastic in Wild Rose in Edinburgh earlier this year.
July 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
With my favourite actor and neighbour - Hannah Jarrett-Scott who was funking fantastic in Wild Rose in Edinburgh earlier this year.
Wonderful embodied learning with Anna Tudos - becoming asparagus. Serious play - wonderful and imaginative. 👏👏👏
July 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Wonderful embodied learning with Anna Tudos - becoming asparagus. Serious play - wonderful and imaginative. 👏👏👏
So wonderful to be in Trento listening to Chiara Bassetti explaining the conference icon Giovanna Marini the folklorist and sing collectors and curator of the new Italian song book. Brilliant - songs of society.
July 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
So wonderful to be in Trento listening to Chiara Bassetti explaining the conference icon Giovanna Marini the folklorist and sing collectors and curator of the new Italian song book. Brilliant - songs of society.
Fantastic event on the The Art of The Football Chant at Sheffield DocFest last week - Good Habits played this tribute to the Millwall defender Tony Witter - made my night!
June 24, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Fantastic event on the The Art of The Football Chant at Sheffield DocFest last week - Good Habits played this tribute to the Millwall defender Tony Witter - made my night!
Massive thanks to
Lieven Heeremans and everyone at Sheffield DocFest, for a wonderful night at the festival. Also, to Alex Quinn and Pete and Bonnie from Good Habits who performed live reworking of football chants as part of the talk…
Lieven Heeremans and everyone at Sheffield DocFest, for a wonderful night at the festival. Also, to Alex Quinn and Pete and Bonnie from Good Habits who performed live reworking of football chants as part of the talk…
June 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Massive thanks to
Lieven Heeremans and everyone at Sheffield DocFest, for a wonderful night at the festival. Also, to Alex Quinn and Pete and Bonnie from Good Habits who performed live reworking of football chants as part of the talk…
Lieven Heeremans and everyone at Sheffield DocFest, for a wonderful night at the festival. Also, to Alex Quinn and Pete and Bonnie from Good Habits who performed live reworking of football chants as part of the talk…
Off to SheffieldDoc festival this morning to speak at about our BBC R4 Documentary Here awe Go: The Art of the Football chant. This pic iwith my son Charlie at Celtic Park enjoying the righteous noise of the Green Brigade.
June 19, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Off to SheffieldDoc festival this morning to speak at about our BBC R4 Documentary Here awe Go: The Art of the Football chant. This pic iwith my son Charlie at Celtic Park enjoying the righteous noise of the Green Brigade.
Fabulous day at the Green Music Festival… Zoe Graham taking it home. Great songs well sung.
June 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Fabulous day at the Green Music Festival… Zoe Graham taking it home. Great songs well sung.