I like to aim to publish a new article every two weeks on Historical Ephemera, and this is the 15th article of 2026 so far. As it's roughly halfway through the year, I wanted to reflect on what’s been going on, especially in the past two weeks, acknowledge the amazing historical communities I belong to, and look forward to the rest of the year. The last two weeks have been a rolling boil of history-related research, events, and writing. I can only assume that the universe thinks it's amusing to time this beautifully with a similar increase in intensity in my day job. Trying to balance priorities during the last two weeks with two work new contracts, the prospect of an overseas project, and giving a keynote on change and AI at a London conference has been a bit sporting!
My last article on Drury Lane was based on research I had conducted in preparation for a sponsored walk from Golders Green to the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth on Saturday 13 June. Led by Al Murray, around 40 of the London Independent Company completed 18 miles taking in SWW historical sites along the way. The route was devised by Alex Galpin – a historian, who happens to be a taxi driver with a firm grasp on the knowledge as well! £3200 was raised for a very worthwhile cause, the Finlays Touch charity.