Tom Rank
@tomrank.bsky.social
Reflections on literature, education - and other ramblings. Was @literaryconnect in the other place 😀
http://www.literaryconnections.co.uk/
http://www.literaryconnections.co.uk/
On behalf of my grandfather, Lieutenant Sydney Rank, 216th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died in France,
23 October 1918, I protest. Oh, and my father, who helped defend India and drive the Japanese out of Burma would also wish to object.
23 October 1918, I protest. Oh, and my father, who helped defend India and drive the Japanese out of Burma would also wish to object.
November 12, 2025 at 10:30 PM
On behalf of my grandfather, Lieutenant Sydney Rank, 216th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died in France,
23 October 1918, I protest. Oh, and my father, who helped defend India and drive the Japanese out of Burma would also wish to object.
23 October 1918, I protest. Oh, and my father, who helped defend India and drive the Japanese out of Burma would also wish to object.
Lighting up the town: 'BD is LIT' last night was wonderful! @bradford2025.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Lighting up the town: 'BD is LIT' last night was wonderful! @bradford2025.co.uk
Well, @bradford2025.co.uk lit up #Bradford rather nicely this weekend with variations on that. BD is LIT, they said!
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Well, @bradford2025.co.uk lit up #Bradford rather nicely this weekend with variations on that. BD is LIT, they said!
Perhaps this is an opportunity to mention Terry Eagleton's book, 'Hope Without Optimism'?
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
November 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Perhaps this is an opportunity to mention Terry Eagleton's book, 'Hope Without Optimism'?
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
And here in #Bradford, Nowruz has become a welcome addition to celebrations. Here's the Haft-sin table at church. (No, it's not about sin but welcoming the new year, signs of prosperity, etc.)
November 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
And here in #Bradford, Nowruz has become a welcome addition to celebrations. Here's the Haft-sin table at church. (No, it's not about sin but welcoming the new year, signs of prosperity, etc.)
Why choose? And there's more: over the border, in the splendidly named Broadbottom, there's Gibble Gabble!
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Why choose? And there's more: over the border, in the splendidly named Broadbottom, there's Gibble Gabble!
And to think that I actually gave him a copy of our book, free, at an education show years ago and IT WASN'T EVEN ON HIS SHELVES! 'Down to earth common sense,' says English Adviser. Would ''Down to earth common sense' have stopped him publishing this interview?
www.englishandict.co.uk/te/index.html
www.englishandict.co.uk/te/index.html
September 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM
And to think that I actually gave him a copy of our book, free, at an education show years ago and IT WASN'T EVEN ON HIS SHELVES! 'Down to earth common sense,' says English Adviser. Would ''Down to earth common sense' have stopped him publishing this interview?
www.englishandict.co.uk/te/index.html
www.englishandict.co.uk/te/index.html
I think you're being a bit unfair on #Bradford, where we've lived for the last 5 years. @bradford2025.co.uk has helped showcase multiculturalism in a good way. The City has a pretty long history of that - there's Little Germany in the Victorian area as a reminder. See multicolourism below.... 1/2
September 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I think you're being a bit unfair on #Bradford, where we've lived for the last 5 years. @bradford2025.co.uk has helped showcase multiculturalism in a good way. The City has a pretty long history of that - there's Little Germany in the Victorian area as a reminder. See multicolourism below.... 1/2
I've baked and eaten my own woke sourdough just to "own the cons". And very tasty it is too, including as toast. Is it really so easy to annoy a Tory?
September 3, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I've baked and eaten my own woke sourdough just to "own the cons". And very tasty it is too, including as toast. Is it really so easy to annoy a Tory?
Pretty much the point of Jumana Moon's wonderful story-telling in the Tent of Hope in the Beacon in Lister Park #Bradford last night. Evening was capped by fabulous singing from the Bradford Friendship Choir @bradford2025.co.uk
August 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Pretty much the point of Jumana Moon's wonderful story-telling in the Tent of Hope in the Beacon in Lister Park #Bradford last night. Evening was capped by fabulous singing from the Bradford Friendship Choir @bradford2025.co.uk
First visit to @porticolibrary.bsky.social yesterday & it didn't disappoint: 'stuff to read' (don't touch the old books but felt inspired to crack open more at home) & imaginative exhibition, 'Songs the Morning Sang': great photos by @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social accompanied by poems from Ian McMillan
August 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
First visit to @porticolibrary.bsky.social yesterday & it didn't disappoint: 'stuff to read' (don't touch the old books but felt inspired to crack open more at home) & imaginative exhibition, 'Songs the Morning Sang': great photos by @andrewpbrooks.bsky.social accompanied by poems from Ian McMillan
From the liner notes to my CD of Mahler's 5th: "I am not always a very good conductor, not even always a good conductor. 'Great' is a word too abused and universally misused for me ever to call upon it in a serious statement."
August 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
From the liner notes to my CD of Mahler's 5th: "I am not always a very good conductor, not even always a good conductor. 'Great' is a word too abused and universally misused for me ever to call upon it in a serious statement."
Meanwhile, in the real #Bradford, the BBC recorded 5 Prayers for Today to mark @bradford2025.co.uk with Christian, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish prayers. Try this one: it's very interesting!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
August 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Meanwhile, in the real #Bradford, the BBC recorded 5 Prayers for Today to mark @bradford2025.co.uk with Christian, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish prayers. Try this one: it's very interesting!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Well, that *was* foaming fun! Stephanie Luning's "Island of Foam" transformed the sober Victorian #Bradford City Hall and Centenary Square this afternoon into something magical - and messy! @bradford2025.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Well, that *was* foaming fun! Stephanie Luning's "Island of Foam" transformed the sober Victorian #Bradford City Hall and Centenary Square this afternoon into something magical - and messy! @bradford2025.co.uk
The bees are having a fine time in the lavender! Hope you've got something, somehow, to feel sunny about today too.
July 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The bees are having a fine time in the lavender! Hope you've got something, somehow, to feel sunny about today too.
Just last night, Lemn Sissay told his audience at #BradfordLitFest that adoption was the most precious thing someone could do for another human. "Moses was adopted!" This despite his own experiences, detailed in his memoir 'My Name is Why' @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Just last night, Lemn Sissay told his audience at #BradfordLitFest that adoption was the most precious thing someone could do for another human. "Moses was adopted!" This despite his own experiences, detailed in his memoir 'My Name is Why' @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
Lemn Sissay was powerful this afternoon, good attendance, great value for Bradford residents, so long may it continue! #BradfordLitFest @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Lemn Sissay was powerful this afternoon, good attendance, great value for Bradford residents, so long may it continue! #BradfordLitFest @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
Our final event at #BradfordLitFest was Lemn Sissay's Free Word Lecture today. Powerful reflections on how he put his shattered life back together (yes: aptly placed mirrors in Bradford Live's splendid ballroom). @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Our final event at #BradfordLitFest was Lemn Sissay's Free Word Lecture today. Powerful reflections on how he put his shattered life back together (yes: aptly placed mirrors in Bradford Live's splendid ballroom). @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social
Enjoying some of the riches of @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social this week. 'Poetry With a Punch' introduced me to Theresa Lola. 'Citizenship Ceremony, 2012' continues to resonate and provoke:
"Dear highly skilled migrant,
according to our Home Office you have
enough points to proceed with your life."
"Dear highly skilled migrant,
according to our Home Office you have
enough points to proceed with your life."
July 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Enjoying some of the riches of @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social this week. 'Poetry With a Punch' introduced me to Theresa Lola. 'Citizenship Ceremony, 2012' continues to resonate and provoke:
"Dear highly skilled migrant,
according to our Home Office you have
enough points to proceed with your life."
"Dear highly skilled migrant,
according to our Home Office you have
enough points to proceed with your life."
Great place, Europe. Perhaps we should get a little closer, metaphorically. Perhaps even politically? (And yes, #Slovenia is great, though even ten years ago it was hardly a secret or even underrated destination - have a sample of the beauties of Lake Bled.)
July 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Great place, Europe. Perhaps we should get a little closer, metaphorically. Perhaps even politically? (And yes, #Slovenia is great, though even ten years ago it was hardly a secret or even underrated destination - have a sample of the beauties of Lake Bled.)
Happy to help with some photos, though their heads have been lost in the post! So here's another, including the BBC production team, who ought to receive some credit too.
July 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Happy to help with some photos, though their heads have been lost in the post! So here's another, including the BBC production team, who ought to receive some credit too.
Not at all nuts; here's my own effort this morning (bit cooler in Yorkshire). A bit flat but I can already confirm it's very tasty! #bread
June 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Not at all nuts; here's my own effort this morning (bit cooler in Yorkshire). A bit flat but I can already confirm it's very tasty! #bread
Lovely day to visit Parceval Hall and enjoy the gardens! #NorthYorkshire
June 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Lovely day to visit Parceval Hall and enjoy the gardens! #NorthYorkshire
Alternative provocations from, to pick but 2: @fotoole.bsky.social : 'Hamlet is a slob, a shirker. He has a job to do and won't do it.... Alternatively: yes, Hamlet is guilty of delay and indecision, but this is a flaw in an essentially noble nature'. ('Shakespeare is Hard but So is Life') &... 1/2
June 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Alternative provocations from, to pick but 2: @fotoole.bsky.social : 'Hamlet is a slob, a shirker. He has a job to do and won't do it.... Alternatively: yes, Hamlet is guilty of delay and indecision, but this is a flaw in an essentially noble nature'. ('Shakespeare is Hard but So is Life') &... 1/2
Ah, now if only we'd been able to do that last month! Chose to go via Basel (overnight stop), then change at Strasbourg so we'd arrive at Paris Est for easier transfer to Eurostar. Did give us this amusing sight on the way, made by someone taking a less-than-serious approach to US politics!
June 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Ah, now if only we'd been able to do that last month! Chose to go via Basel (overnight stop), then change at Strasbourg so we'd arrive at Paris Est for easier transfer to Eurostar. Did give us this amusing sight on the way, made by someone taking a less-than-serious approach to US politics!