The Weight of Time
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN Jimmy Carter died on the 29th of December. A century old. The press fêted him, especially the left flank of the mainstream media. Now that the obligatory 72 hours have passed, it’s fair to speak plainly. Carter runs Biden close for the title of worst modern American president. I saw the actions of his ‘philanthropic’ arm firsthand in the Philippines—sinister, appalling. But … Continue reading The Weight of Time
The Breakfast Club Dilemma
BY NICK PEARCE In British education, the tug-of-war between governmental initiatives and corporate sponsorship has long been a contentious issue. The recent announcement by the Labour government to delay the rollout of free breakfast clubs in primary schools until at least 2026 is a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges that lie at the intersection of education and corporate influence. The idea of breakfast … Continue reading The Breakfast Club Dilemma
Crisis-hit Curlews, Cash & The RSPB
BY BERT BURNETT I am reminded of a project to help one of the country’s most threatened breeding bird species, the curlew, which was awarded more than £156,000 from the Scottish Government’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund. This initiative, titled Curlews in Crisis Scotland, aimed to increase breeding areas and reduce predation for Europe’s largest wader and one of its most iconic birds. Scotland is home to … Continue reading Crisis-hit Curlews, Cash & The RSPB
Cry God for Harry (Flashman)
BY STEWART SLATER They have come for Roald Dahl. They have come for James Bond. They have not, yet, come for Sir Harry Paget Flashman, V.C. Which is a surprise. For, it is hard to imagine a figure less in tune with our times. A Poster-boy for Victorian Imperialism at a time when colonialism has become a synonym for evil. Holder of unenlightened views on … Continue reading Cry God for Harry (Flashman)
A Prayer for the Environment
VICAR In every nook and cranny of our planet, from the majestic mountains to the tranquil seas, the beauty of creation speaks to the wonders of life. Yet, as we tread upon this Earth, we also witness the repercussions of our actions – pollution, climate change, and habitat loss challenge our world and the myriad species that inhabit it. This week, Dear Readers of Country … Continue reading A Prayer for the Environment
The Monk and the Gun
BY ROGER WATSON The Monk and the Gun (2023) emerges from the relatively new but thriving Bhutanese film industry, centring on events from 2008 when Bhutan held its first general election. The King had shocked the nation by abdicating ahead of the elections, leading to unease among the population, particularly as the internet had only just arrived in the country. This film prompted me to … Continue reading The Monk and the Gun
Rural Poverty: A Snapshot
CSM EDITORIAL In the fight against poverty, one of the most crucial voices is often the one that goes unheard—the voice of those who live in poverty themselves. The Poverty Truth Commission (PTC) seeks to change this by placing people with lived experience at the heart of the conversation. Established in 2009, the PTC operates across the UK, bridging the gap between those living in … Continue reading Rural Poverty: A Snapshot
January Reflections
BY STEWART SLATER Stewart Slater works in Finance. He invites you to join him at his website. Continue reading January Reflections
The Old Slaughterhouse
BY ROGER WATSON There used to be a slaughterhouse in the village where I was brought up in the northeast of Scotland. During my childhood, the slaughterhouse was a modest wooden hut. We spent a lot of time playing near the slaughterhouse as the road was quiet and we could run our carts (makeshift erections of pram wheels and a few planks) down the sloped … Continue reading The Old Slaughterhouse
Happy 2025
Dear Readers, Happy New Year to each and every one of you! As we embark on this exciting journey into 2025, what can you expect from Team Country Squire this year? We are thrilled to announce our continued expansion into new territories, strengthening our connections and collaborations. Our dedicated team is working tirelessly to bring fresh content that reflects the richness of real rural life … Continue reading Happy 2025
Why The Public Can No Longer Trust BBC News
BY PAUL T HORGAN The annual number of murders in the UK appears to always be between 500 and 600 these days. What can be said with a degree of certainty is that the overwhelming majority of the murderers will be male. Female murderers are exceptional. Females lack the strength and the aggression to kill another adult human being, especially if that adult is a … Continue reading Why The Public Can No Longer Trust BBC News
The Value of Latin Best Appreciated Sub Specie Aeternitatis
BY SEAN WALSH Trigger warning: contains references to Catholicism. No politician does casual spite quite like Bridget Phillipson. In a Seasonal message to the struggling but aspirational middle-class family she has decided to cancel the Latin Excellence Programme. This, you may know, is a provision introduced in 2022 to around 40 non-selective state schools. From February the resource will no longer be available to the … Continue reading The Value of Latin Best Appreciated Sub Specie Aeternitatis
Dear Supermarkets
As consumers, we’ve noticed a significant shift in the way you supermarkets (and large retail stores) operate. The rising trend of self-checkouts has become a defining feature of our shopping experience. The intention behind this move is to streamline the process and cut costs, increasing your profits. Well, we’re not happy. During a recent shopping trip, I encountered a scenario that encapsulates the frustration many … Continue reading Dear Supermarkets
A Christmas Miracle
BY JAMES BEMBRIDGE ‘Just write,’ my editor said. What a load of Woman’s-Weekly-self-helping bollocks. Did Monet just paint? Did Whitney Houston just sing? Did Jemma Jameson just wiggle that tremendous arse of hers? I think not. That arse made men pawns to her star, just as my writing will make – ‘You’re disgusting!’ some small, hen-faced woman says, and I realise I’m thinking aloud again … Continue reading A Christmas Miracle
The Divine Side of Reality
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN The salesmen of atheism are quiet at this time of year. How I miss their clever rants. They remind me of a woman I witnessed last summer in Biarritz, stepping into the Atlantic. She had a great tear in the seat of her burkini, unknowingly exposing her pale cheeks to the world. The atheists’ words are like faith adrenaline, inspiring in their … Continue reading The Divine Side of Reality
A Prayer for the Elderly
VICAR In the gentle embrace of time, where wisdom weaves itself into the fabric of our lives, the elderly hold a cherished place in our communities. Their years of experience and stories enrich our understanding of the world, yet many face loneliness, health challenges, and the daunting reality of ageing. This week, Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, let us offer our heartfelt prayers for … Continue reading A Prayer for the Elderly
Peak Farage and ‘Automated’ Clickers
CSM EDITORIAL The latest spat between the Tories and Reform over the alleged automated membership counter on Reform’s website misses the key issue: party membership numbers do not directly correlate with election success. In the last decade, Jeremy Corbyn famously spiked Labour’s party membership. The number of full members moved from 190,000 in May 2015 to 515,000 in July 2016 – an influx of 325,000 new … Continue reading Peak Farage and ‘Automated’ Clickers
Mary
BY ROGER WATSON If you were intending to watch Frank Caruso’s Mary over the festive season, prepare yourself for a Christmas turkey like no other. This film is essentially ‘Mary: the Prequel’, as Caruso attempts to narrate the story of Mary leading up to and immediately following the birth of Jesus. We know very little about Mary prior to her betrothal to Joseph and The … Continue reading Mary
Vincent
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN Just before Christmas, while on holiday with my family, I received a text. A parcel had been delivered to my neighbour’s house. We live in the sticks. The parcel went to Martin’s farm. He is our nearest neighbour. A tall man with blue eyes and a quiet way. God-fearing. He has a penchant for scrumpy. I texted Martin. A few hours later, … Continue reading Vincent
The Scrooge Letters: Part Three
BY MAX WALLER Dear Ebenezer, It is cold once again, which suits my current state of mind quite well, though I find it less of a friend than I used to. No, I now see the suffering it brings—the incessant gloom, reduced sunlight, and icy air—more as a means of atoning for ever believing that warmth (be it climate or humanity) could be found in … Continue reading The Scrooge Letters: Part Three