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.
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.
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.
Further on flapjacks as oat bars, I found this recipe for "Scotch Seas"(?) in a booklet called Round the World Cookbook, ed. K Morrow &c. Reading, Pa.: Culinary Arts Press, 1936.
October 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Further on flapjacks as oat bars, I found this recipe for "Scotch Seas"(?) in a booklet called Round the World Cookbook, ed. K Morrow &c. Reading, Pa.: Culinary Arts Press, 1936.
"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
Sent from the Foreign Office 28 March 1845. Postscript: "Such bungling work you have been making of it with the ?????. You ought to stop."
I have two possibilities for the queried word, but is there something I've missed? The remainder of the letter is about a map of W Africa.
##NavalHistory
I have two possibilities for the queried word, but is there something I've missed? The remainder of the letter is about a map of W Africa.
##NavalHistory
September 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Sent from the Foreign Office 28 March 1845. Postscript: "Such bungling work you have been making of it with the ?????. You ought to stop."
I have two possibilities for the queried word, but is there something I've missed? The remainder of the letter is about a map of W Africa.
##NavalHistory
I have two possibilities for the queried word, but is there something I've missed? The remainder of the letter is about a map of W Africa.
##NavalHistory
No information at all on the postcard featuring these three young sailors, but they caught my eye, so I bought the card... early 20th century, I reckon. #NavalHistory
September 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
No information at all on the postcard featuring these three young sailors, but they caught my eye, so I bought the card... early 20th century, I reckon. #NavalHistory
I'll be there and singing! Details in Alt text.
September 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I'll be there and singing! Details in Alt text.
One down, one to go - and I'm so much in demand that this afternoon I was even co-presenting in absentia at the British Society for the History of Medicine...
![A screen "Learning in the job? Medical officers in naval hospital ships during World War One." / Edward Wawrzynczak [portrait above] & Jane Wickenden [ditto] / BSHM Congress, University of Leeds / 10-13 September 2025. Edward Wawrzynczak is standing at the lectern, lower right.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:aw24kyuhrqi53qon7vob6onc/bafkreih35j52dbpdcgdahovspe6p6ffk276dvmybrpunvbelzsooldcnaq@jpeg)
September 13, 2025 at 7:49 PM
One down, one to go - and I'm so much in demand that this afternoon I was even co-presenting in absentia at the British Society for the History of Medicine...
'Up leapt the Light,' boxwood engraving, Keith A. Pettit.
August 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
'Up leapt the Light,' boxwood engraving, Keith A. Pettit.
At the top of the St Nicholas window in St Ebba's Church, Beadnell, Northumberland.
August 9, 2025 at 7:57 PM
At the top of the St Nicholas window in St Ebba's Church, Beadnell, Northumberland.
Lt Wilson RN, HM Yacht Victoria and Albert, with Queen Mary's Siamese cat aloft (Windsor Castle Archives)
August 9, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Lt Wilson RN, HM Yacht Victoria and Albert, with Queen Mary's Siamese cat aloft (Windsor Castle Archives)
#InternationalCatDay #NavalHistory so here is ship's cat Sausage, HMS Kent, in the early 20s when my grandfather was probably Torpedo Gunner aboard (source: INM archive).
August 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
#InternationalCatDay #NavalHistory so here is ship's cat Sausage, HMS Kent, in the early 20s when my grandfather was probably Torpedo Gunner aboard (source: INM archive).
#NavalHistory 31 July 1970, Black Tot Day www.navyrecords.org.uk/members_blog...
Having my own commemorative tot in my old Wardroom
Having my own commemorative tot in my old Wardroom
July 31, 2025 at 6:38 PM
#NavalHistory 31 July 1970, Black Tot Day www.navyrecords.org.uk/members_blog...
Having my own commemorative tot in my old Wardroom
Having my own commemorative tot in my old Wardroom
Brab hat does seem to be a particular sort of hat, and oed . com has an entry for the word as palmetto tree.
July 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Brab hat does seem to be a particular sort of hat, and oed . com has an entry for the word as palmetto tree.
Seventeen years ago this morning (11.03 to be precise, it's graven on my memory), I held my mum's hand as she died after five weeks' illness with duodenal cancer. I miss her so much. She wasn't perfect (who is?), but she was lovely and funny and – all sorts of good things.
July 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Seventeen years ago this morning (11.03 to be precise, it's graven on my memory), I held my mum's hand as she died after five weeks' illness with duodenal cancer. I miss her so much. She wasn't perfect (who is?), but she was lovely and funny and – all sorts of good things.
June 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Memorial installed in 2005 if I recall correctly.
June 16, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Memorial installed in 2005 if I recall correctly.
Dad on his 90th birthday in February.
June 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Dad on his 90th birthday in February.
So lucky still to have my wonderful Dad with us.
June 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
So lucky still to have my wonderful Dad with us.
Me at the last ever Templecombe Medieval Pageant, holding a peregrine falcon.
June 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Me at the last ever Templecombe Medieval Pageant, holding a peregrine falcon.
@bho.bsky.social Hallo! When I search on your website I get the attached image. Can you fix whatever the issue is, please? Thank you kindly...
May 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
@bho.bsky.social Hallo! When I search on your website I get the attached image. Can you fix whatever the issue is, please? Thank you kindly...
Happy birthday to my favourite Scottish poet - William Soutar (picture by Katherine Soutar, no relation as far as I know). www.williamsoutar.com
April 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Happy birthday to my favourite Scottish poet - William Soutar (picture by Katherine Soutar, no relation as far as I know). www.williamsoutar.com
Is this how Anzac biscuits are supposed to look?
April 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Is this how Anzac biscuits are supposed to look?
Bought myself some sunshine.
April 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Bought myself some sunshine.