Tuesday 11 December 2018

Stockholm - ABBA Museum

                     Bjorn                Anni                Agnetha         Benny
ABBA was formed in Stockholm 1972 by  Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

They came to prominence in 1974 when they won the Euro Vision Song Contest for Sweden with the song 'Waterloo'.


They would subsequently go on to sell 400 million records worldwide before they disbanded in 1982. 


ABBA

Abba Museum Stockholm

Abba Museum Stockholm
In the beginning - Agnetha

Abba Museum Stockholm
Eurovison 1974 costumes

Abba Museum Stockholm
Eurovision 1974 Bjorn Guitar

Abba Museum Stockholm
Eurovision 1974 Winners
 
Abba Museum Stockholm
Eurovision 1974 Winners Trophy
*****

*****


Abba Museum Stockholm
ABBA

Abba Museum Stockholm
VM
 
 
 
 

Monday 10 December 2018

Stockholm - Royal Palace

Stockholm Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is the residence of the Swedish Royal Family. There has been a royal residence on the northern part of the island of Gamlastan since the 13th Century. The original palace was constructed between 1607 and 1760, with several renovations over the centuries.




 
 


 
Stockholm Royal Palace
Entrance


Stockholm Royal Palace
Palace Guard
The Royal Palace houses the Swedish Crown Jewels

Stockholm Royal Palace
Crown Jewels
 
Stockholm Royal Palace
Swedish Coronet
Stockholm Royal Palace
Canon

Stockholm Royal Palace
VM / IJ mirror and ceiling

Stockholm Royal Palace
Chandelier corridor

Stockholm Royal Palace
Interior



Stockholm

 
Stockholm
 Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the biggest city in Scandinavia. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea.  

The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age. The Vikings built the first major settlement in 1000 AD and it became a major trading location.

Viking Settlement
 The city was established in 1252.  Between 1397 and 1523 the Kingdom of Sweden was part of the Klamar Union, a confederation of the monarchs of Denmark (including Greenland, Iceland and Faroe Islands) , Norway (including Northern Islands [Orkney and Shetland] and Sweden  (which included most of which is now Finland). It left the Union in 1523 and became an independent sovereign state.
From 1348 till 1700, Sweden was part of the Hanseatic League, a trading community amongst the nations of Northern Europe during with Stockholm being a major trading location.  
During the Thirty years War (1618 to 1648), Sweden expanded annexing territories around the Baltic. In 1634 Stockholm became the capital of the Swedish Empire.  The Swedes were unable to sustain a large empire and ceded territory to Russia (including Finland) and other Nordic nations. The last time Sweden went to war was 1814.


Stockholm
Stockholm Gamla Stan
Old Town

Stockholm Riddarhuset

Stockholm
Gustav Vasa, king of Sweden from 1523 to 1560

Stockholm
Riddarholmskyrkan

An old haunt …… Wirstroms Pub


Stockholm
Wirstroms Pub
 
Stockholm
King Gustav III Monument
Stockholm
Royal Palace
Stockholm
Riksdag

  
Stockholm
Grand Hotel
Stockholm
 af Chapman Ship
 
Svensk Jul





Sunday 11 November 2018

Hexham Remembers

Hexham War Memorial
November 2018


Hexham author Alan Grint published a book telling the story of the 149th (Northumberland) Brigade, the Territorial Battalions who fought in the First World War.

4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Hexham
5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Walker
6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Newcastle
7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Alnwick 

The Brigade was part of the 50th Northumbrian Division which mobilised in August 1914. The Brigade would initially move to locations in the NE to defend the UK. In April 1915, they deployed to France moving into Belgium. Shortly after arriving the Territorials were thrown into the Second Battle of Ypres. The Northumbrian Brigade was the first Territorial Brigade to go onto battle as a formed unit and were awarded the Battle Honour St Julien.

The Brigade would go to be involved on the Somme in September 1916, Arras April 1917, and the Third Battle of Ypres in October 1917. In 1918, they faced the full force of the German Spring Offensives. The first German offensive, Operation Michael, was launched on the Somme. After intense fighting on the Somme,  the Brigade was moved to the Armentieres Sector. It was here  the Germans launched their second attack, Operation Georgette. Once again the Northumbrians were involved in heavy fighting. Having fought in two major offensives, the Brigade was moved to the Chemin des Dammes, a quiet sector. Unfortunately it turned out that this would be the location of the third German attack, Operation Blucher, after which the 149th Brigade ceased to exist due to the heavy losses sustained.


The 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Memorial Arch stands at entrance to Hexham Park adjacent to Hexham Abbey.

Hexham - 4 NF Memorial Arch
November 2018

Hexham - 4 NF Memorial Arch
November 2018

Hexham - 4 NF Memorial Arch
Company Locations
November 2018

Hexham Abbey
Hexham Abbey was the location of an exhibition , Hexham Remembers, to remember and commemorate the First World War.





Hexham Remembers Exhibition
Hexham Courant 4NF Recruiting Advert

Hexham Remembers Exhibition
Hexham Courant 4NF Recruiting Advert
Hexham Remembers Exhibition
Parish Magazine from WW1
In Hexham Abbey on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday the County of Northumberland held a service of Remembrance and Reflection to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice. The event was hosted by the Duchess of Northumberland.

Hexham Abbey
Tabernacle

Hexham Abbey Remembrance Service
Northumberland Pipers
Hexham Abbey Remembrance Service
Cassino Band Northumbria ACF
Hexham Abbey Remembrance Service
Duchess of Northumberland