Alastair Owens
@alastairhackney.bsky.social
Professor at Queen Mary University of London; Chair of Trustees at the Geographical Association. Research, write and teach about Britain (especially London) since 1800. Collaborator, especially with heritage sector + food, music, books, Hackney.
Enjoyed World Economic History Congress in Lund, Sweden, though at certain moments couldn’t help reflecting that economic history seems to have lost its way. I heard some great papers and a brilliant final session I went ‘Decolonising affluent societies’ (sadly sparsely attended) gave some hope!
July 31, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Enjoyed World Economic History Congress in Lund, Sweden, though at certain moments couldn’t help reflecting that economic history seems to have lost its way. I heard some great papers and a brilliant final session I went ‘Decolonising affluent societies’ (sadly sparsely attended) gave some hope!
Raunchy Handel’s Semele at Royal Opera House last night. Pretty Yende a fabulous diva Semele, Ben Bliss a virile Jupiter, and Alice Coote a persuasive Juno. Other roles just as good and nice taught choruses. Only cried twice. Go see - POWER30 gets 30% off
July 3, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Raunchy Handel’s Semele at Royal Opera House last night. Pretty Yende a fabulous diva Semele, Ben Bliss a virile Jupiter, and Alice Coote a persuasive Juno. Other roles just as good and nice taught choruses. Only cried twice. Go see - POWER30 gets 30% off
On the 17 June 1995 I moved to Hackney, probably the best thing I've ever done. Here's to the next 30 years!
June 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM
On the 17 June 1995 I moved to Hackney, probably the best thing I've ever done. Here's to the next 30 years!
Last call! New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods at the Ragged School Museum, London E3, 1pm-8pm, Wednesday 4 June. Free but please register by 4pm on Friday 30 May (so we can plan catering): buytickets.at/qmul19c/1704...
May 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Last call! New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods at the Ragged School Museum, London E3, 1pm-8pm, Wednesday 4 June. Free but please register by 4pm on Friday 30 May (so we can plan catering): buytickets.at/qmul19c/1704...
Queen Mary College’s (@qmul.ac.uk) new Crittall windows — a feature of its Engineering Building Stage 2 development (designed by Playne and Lacey Architects) advertised in East London Papers, July 1965
May 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Queen Mary College’s (@qmul.ac.uk) new Crittall windows — a feature of its Engineering Building Stage 2 development (designed by Playne and Lacey Architects) advertised in East London Papers, July 1965
Hackney Half done (and a bit quicker this year at 1:48). Thank you to everyone who cheered me on and supported my fundraiser
May 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Hackney Half done (and a bit quicker this year at 1:48). Thank you to everyone who cheered me on and supported my fundraiser
May 18, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Join us for 'New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods', 1pm-8pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at the Ragged School Museum, London E3. Panel discussions followed by keynote lecture by Prof Josephine McDonagh (Chicago). Free, but booking essential: www.tickettailor.com/events/qmul1...
May 15, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Join us for 'New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods', 1pm-8pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at the Ragged School Museum, London E3. Panel discussions followed by keynote lecture by Prof Josephine McDonagh (Chicago). Free, but booking essential: www.tickettailor.com/events/qmul1...
Work Awayday at QE Olympic Park — feels like I am on A Level Geography field trip
May 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Work Awayday at QE Olympic Park — feels like I am on A Level Geography field trip
When you live on the flight path for Buck Palace
May 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
When you live on the flight path for Buck Palace
Five years on from the start of the pandemic, I am interviewing Eithne Nightingale and neighbours as part of the Hackney History Festival about her documentary photography project Life under Lockdown. Join us at Sutton House, E9 6JQ, 11-11.50am Sunday 11 May, £3 www.tickettailor.com/events/hackn...
May 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Five years on from the start of the pandemic, I am interviewing Eithne Nightingale and neighbours as part of the Hackney History Festival about her documentary photography project Life under Lockdown. Join us at Sutton House, E9 6JQ, 11-11.50am Sunday 11 May, £3 www.tickettailor.com/events/hackn...
⬇️⬇️🏃♂️🏃🏼🏃♂️🏃🏼⬇️⬇️
May 3, 2025 at 9:44 AM
⬇️⬇️🏃♂️🏃🏼🏃♂️🏃🏼⬇️⬇️
Compelling paper from David Cowan (Manchester) — illustrated through example of mid-1970s efforts to introduce UK wealth tax — on need for cultural history of the very rich and value of ‘moral economy’ framework #QMCBS
May 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Compelling paper from David Cowan (Manchester) — illustrated through example of mid-1970s efforts to introduce UK wealth tax — on need for cultural history of the very rich and value of ‘moral economy’ framework #QMCBS
Calling @qmul.ac.uk nineteenth century colleagues and our friends!
April 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Calling @qmul.ac.uk nineteenth century colleagues and our friends!
I have a fully-funded, 4 yr AHRC collaborative PhD studentship 'Soundscapes of domesticity: music and lived experiences in non-elite English homes, 1780–1870' supervised by myself and Matt Ingleby with colleagues at The Museum of the Home. Deadline 23 May See: www.qmul.ac.uk/geog/postgra...
April 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I have a fully-funded, 4 yr AHRC collaborative PhD studentship 'Soundscapes of domesticity: music and lived experiences in non-elite English homes, 1780–1870' supervised by myself and Matt Ingleby with colleagues at The Museum of the Home. Deadline 23 May See: www.qmul.ac.uk/geog/postgra...
Twenty minutes after starting…
March 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Twenty minutes after starting…
They must be on annual leave
March 27, 2025 at 8:33 AM
They must be on annual leave
Congrats to my @qmul.ac.uk geography student Jack Hanlon who has passed his PhD viva (no corrections) for his thesis: The Place of Meat: Imperial Food Systems, Public Anxieties, and the Narration of London at Smithfield Market, 1868–1993’ And thanks to Profs Lynda Nead & Tim Cresswell for examining!
March 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Congrats to my @qmul.ac.uk geography student Jack Hanlon who has passed his PhD viva (no corrections) for his thesis: The Place of Meat: Imperial Food Systems, Public Anxieties, and the Narration of London at Smithfield Market, 1868–1993’ And thanks to Profs Lynda Nead & Tim Cresswell for examining!
My @QMUL colleagues Liz Storer (Geog) and Rachel Humphris (Politics) have great funded collaborative PhD opportunity on migrant housing with London Citizens 'Housing Access and Digital Transitions: A Participatory Study with first-time home seekers in Tower Hamlets' www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/stu...
February 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM
My @QMUL colleagues Liz Storer (Geog) and Rachel Humphris (Politics) have great funded collaborative PhD opportunity on migrant housing with London Citizens 'Housing Access and Digital Transitions: A Participatory Study with first-time home seekers in Tower Hamlets' www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/stu...
A privilege to attend #LoveHackney awards this evening to celebrate talents of Joseph Roberts, Director of Hackney Empire Community Choir (and a fabulous human being), shortlisted for an award. He brings musical pleasure to so many of us! And what remarkable people live and work in the borough!
February 19, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A privilege to attend #LoveHackney awards this evening to celebrate talents of Joseph Roberts, Director of Hackney Empire Community Choir (and a fabulous human being), shortlisted for an award. He brings musical pleasure to so many of us! And what remarkable people live and work in the borough!
To misquote the late Larry Grayson, ‘What a grey day’
February 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
To misquote the late Larry Grayson, ‘What a grey day’
Up with the moon for day two of the excellent Geography Teacher Educators’ conference @gteconf.bsky.social — hoping South West Trains play ball and I get to hear the legendary Margaret Roberts at 9am!
January 25, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Up with the moon for day two of the excellent Geography Teacher Educators’ conference @gteconf.bsky.social — hoping South West Trains play ball and I get to hear the legendary Margaret Roberts at 9am!
Martin Lewis: redefining pedagogy against the grain.
A full hour of text-heavy PowerPoint slides on the topic of finance on prime-time ITV.
A full hour of text-heavy PowerPoint slides on the topic of finance on prime-time ITV.
January 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Martin Lewis: redefining pedagogy against the grain.
A full hour of text-heavy PowerPoint slides on the topic of finance on prime-time ITV.
A full hour of text-heavy PowerPoint slides on the topic of finance on prime-time ITV.
Great running weather!
January 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Great running weather!
Mile End chill
January 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Mile End chill