As a boy after the Second World War (1939-1945), I remember hearing on the wireless (radio) every Friday evening, a bandleader introduce his programme with the words, “this is Henry Hall speaking”. For those who at some future time may peruse this site, and as a gentle reminder to those who may be looking at it even now, may I begin by saying, “this is Roger Smith speaking” (1943-and a while yet, I pray!) 

If blame there is to be, then you must lay it at the feet of my parents, for it is they who instilled in me the respect I have for the institution of the monarchy and the pride I have in being English.

How fortunate then, that in celebration of my sixtieth birthday this adventure coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ii and what a bonus to discover, that the hotel at which I stayed in Malmesbury (next to the Abbey in which King Athelstan was buried), was displaying a photograph of Her Majesty The Queen taken when she visited the hotel just eighteen months before. As they say … “if it is good enough for The Queen …“. There is of course only one possible dedication for this:

To my parents – Iris and Albert

(And in memory of Roger who died in March 2016: sadly missed and remembered with warmest affection. Through this site we continue to enjoy his legacy and hear again his exuberant love of history!)