I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
C. S. Lewis, Clive Staple Lewis, Jack to his friends wrote more than 30 books. He is most famous for his The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven books written for children. The children visit the magical land of Narnia where Aslan, the Lion reigns. He takes the Pevensie children on a series of adventures where good eventually always over comes evil.
To go with the series I have created seven sets of crosswords and word searches, answers included.
HarperCollinspublishers have produced an excellent pop-up book to go with the series of seven books - Narnia Chronology -from the Archives of the Last King. ISBN 9780061240058
Wlkiepedia has a great deal of information about C.S. Lewis - biography notes and detailed book summaries (2 levels) about each of the books.
Alcuin, also known as Ealhwine, Alhwin or Alchoin was a scholar, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria.
He became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert. He was a court chancellor in Aachen. At the invitation of Charlemagne he became a leading scholar and teacher at the Carolingian court in France.
H e graduated to become a teacher during the 750s. He became the head at York school (now St.Peter’s) where he revived trivium (grammar/rhetoric/logic) and quadrivium disciplines and wrote a codex on the trivium. He became a deacon but was never ordained.
In 781 he was sent to Rome by King Elfwald. On his way home he met Charlemagne. who persuaded him to join his court. He joined an illustrious group of scholars. He later wrote the Lord was calling me to the service of King Charles.
He became master of the Palace School of Charlemagne. He taught Charlemagne (782-790), his sons Pepin and Louis as well as young men sent to be educated at court and young clerics attached to the palace. He brought with him his assistants from York and revolutionised the educational standards of the school. It became known as the school of Master Albinus (Alcuin’s nickname)
In 790 he returned to York for a short time. He failed to influence King AEtheired so he returned to the Carolingian court. He never went back to York ,
In 796, now in his 60’s, he hoped to retire from court instead Marmoutier Abbey was put into his care by Charlemagne - who could call on him for advice. Alcuin encouraged the monks there to use beautiful Carolingian minuscule script.
Carolingian minuscule - using a mixture of upper and lower-case letters - was perfected and restored to purity of the form. by Alcuin.
He stayed at the abbey until his death on 19th May 804.
According to Einhard’s* Life of Charlemagne* he was considered among the most important intellectual architects of the Carolingian Renaissance.
Source
Wikipedia
Alan of Lille was a French theologian and poet. He is sometimes called Alanus de Montepessulano.
He was born in Lille sometime before 1128. His exact date of his death is also unclear - research suggests between 14 April 1202 and 5 April 1203.
Although he was widely known during his lifetime there is not a great deal known about his personal life. He had a very widespread reputation during his lifetime and his knowledge caused him to be called Doctor Universalis.
As a theologian he was opposed to scholasticism in the second half of the 12th century. He claimed in order to understand religious truth and to know God,the wise must believe in faith.
His philosophy was a mixture of Aristotelian logic and Neoplatonic philosophy.
The is a long list of works attributed to him (See List of known works) but there are several Alains so it is uncertain how many of the works listed are actually his.
Notable works actually written by him include*The Plaint of Nature, Anticlaudiamus and the Art of Preaching.
Source
Wikipedia
Albert of Cologne ( known under 3 names) was a German Dominican friar, philosopher, scientist and bishop.
An encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary convinced him to enter Holy Orders. In 1223 or 1229 and he became a member of the Dominican Order.
He lectured in Cologne, Regensburg, Freiburg, Strasburg and Hildesheim. He became a full time professor at th e University of Paris holding the seat of the Chair of Theology at the college of St. James. Thomas Aquinas was one of his students.
In 1254 he was made provincial of the Dominican Order and fulfilled the duties of the office with great care and efficiency.
In 1258 he sorted out the* der Grofie Schied*- the big verdict- to sort out the conflict between the citizens of Cologne and the archbishop.
In 1260 Pope Alexander IV made him bishop of Rogensburg. To enhance his reputation for humility, and in accord with the dictates of the his Order, he refused to ride a horse, he walked his huge diocese on foot.
In 1263 Pope Urban IV asked him to preach the eighth Crusade in German speaking countries.
He became known as a mediator between conflicting parties.
He founded Cologne University, German’s oldest university.
In 1274 he grieved when his former student Thomas Aquinas died.
In 1278 he became ill and died on 15th November 1280. He was possibly 87 when he died.
During his life time he studied many different subjects. For the breadth of his achievements he was bestowed the name Doctor Universalis.
His knowledge of natural science was considerable for the age and remarkably accurate. In 1899 his writing were collected and went to 38 volumes.
Scholars have referred to Albert as the greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages.
In 1931 the Catholic Church distinguished him as one of the 37 Doctors of the Church ).
Source
Wikipedia
John Alcock was born in Beverley, Yorkshire.and educated at Cambridge University. His greatest achievement was the building of Jesus College,
Cambridge which he established on the site of the former Convent of St. Radegund.
He made a rapid rise in both the church and the state.
1461 he was made dean of St. Stephen’s Chapel , Westminster.
1462 was made Master of the Rolls.
1470 he was sent as ambassador to the Crown Court of Castile.
1472 8th January, nominated to see at Rochester
15th March, consecrated Bishop of Rochester
1476 15th July, transferred to see of Worcester
1486 6th October, moved to see at Ely
H e was the first president of the Council of the Marches in Wales from 1473-1500.
H e was Lord Chancellor twice in 1475 and 1485/7. On 7th November 1485 he opened King Henry VII’s Parliament.
He was also tutor to Edward V.
John was one of the leading pre-Reformation divines. He was a a man of deep learning and had great proficiency restoring many churches and colleges as an architect.
Source
Wikipedia
Saint Piran was a 5th century Cornish abbot and saint, possibly of Irish origin.
He is the patron saint of tin-miners and generally regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall.
He was reportedly executed by Theodoric or Tador, King of Cornwall in 480 AD.
His feast day is popular in Cornwall.The largest St. Piran’s Day event is the march across the dunes to St. Piran’s cross which 100s of people attend, generally dressed in black, white and gold, and carry the Cornish flag. Daffodils also feature in celebrations in Truro.
Saint Clare was an Italian saint and one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. He inspired her to form the Order of Poor Ladies - a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition.
Aged 12 her parents wanted her to marry a young wealthy man. She protested and sought the help of Francis.
On 20th March 1212 she had her hair cut short and had her rich gown replaced by a plain robe. Cutting her hair was a symbolic act showing she was no longer bound by the laws of man or society but rather she followed the will of God,
She was then placed with Benedictine nuns in San Paula, near Bastia.
Her parents and Monaldo- Clare’s uncle and head of the family, did not accept willingly what had happened. Catarina, her sister, who changed her name to Agnes, joined her. - this caused a tremendous uproar.
They finally relented when Clare threw aside her veil to reveal her cropped hair that they left her in peace. ( For more detail read* Life in the convent*)
The sisters remained with the Benedictines until a small dwelling was built next to the church of San Damiano. Their lives consisted of manual labour and prayer.
The nuns were barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence.town of Assisi were attacked
For a short time the order was directed by Francis. In 1216 Clare reluctantly accepted the role of abbess at San Damiano. Clare was a shy person and did not like giving orders and referred to herself as a mother, handmaid or servant rather than an abbess, She took care of Francis during his final illness (he died in1226).
1240/1 the monastery at San Damiano and the town of Assisi attacked and successfully defended as Clare prayed to Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Clare wrote the rules for Rule of Life which meant they followed a rule of strict poverty. This was the first set of monastic guidelines written by a woman.
In her later years she had a long period of poor health. She died on11th August 1253 at the age of 59, one day having her Rule approved by Pope Innocent 1V.
Her last words, to herself, are reported to be Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for He who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be You, O God, for having created me.
After her death the order was renamed the Order of Saint Clare.
(Read Legacy)
Source
Wikipedia
Martin was an eminent second generation German, Evangelical Lutheran, Christian theologian, and a protestant reformer, churchman and confessor.
He studied under Martin Luther at the University of Wittenberg , Germany. After Luther death (1546) he transfered to the University of Konigsberg (1547-8). A plague caused him to move swiftly to Saafeld.
Returned to Konigsberg (1550) to be employed by Albert, Duke of Prussia as the the court librarian.He now applied himself to theological studies with unrestricted access to what was considered one of the finest libraries in Europe.
1553 returned to Wittenberg where he joined the University faculty.in 1554.
1554 ordained and became co-adjutor of Joachim Morlin.
1567 took over as ecclesiastical superintendent when Morlin resigned.
1575/6 helped establish University of Helmstedt.
1577 Formula of Concord - one of the primary authors
1580 Book of Concord:Confessions of the Evangegelical Lutheran Church
instrumental in publication
? Examination of the Council of Trent and On the Two natures of Christ
1586 held post for 19 years, until he died.
His works demonstrate his ability as a biblical, doctrinal and historical theologian in the orthodox Lutheran tradition.
Martin died in Braunschweig aged 65.
In the Evangelical Lutheran tradition he is known as Alter Martinus - the Second Martin.
Source
Wikipedia
Charles Harold Dodd was a Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian.
1912 ordained
He was a Congregational minister for 3 years in Warwick before going into academia.
1915 Yates lecturer in N.T. at Oxford
1930 Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and exegesis at the Victoria University of Manchester
1935 Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge
1946 elected fellow of the British Academy
1949 emeritus at Norris-Hulse
1961 appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour
He directed the work of the New English Bible translators from 1950.
He wrote over 30 books and 5 Journal articles ( See Works).
C.H. Dodd died in Goring-on- Thames. aged 89.
He is known for promoting ‘realized eschatology ’ - the belief that Jesus’ references to the kingdom of God meant present reality rather than a future apocalypse.
Source
Wikipedia
,Margaret Clitherow , known as ‘the Pearl of York’ , was pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea to the charge of harbouring Catholic priests.
To be ’ pressed to death’ meant having a door being put over the top of the accused and the door loaded with an immense weight of rocks and stones. This was the standard inducement to force a plea.
Margaret converted to Roman Catholicism in 1574.
Her husband paid her fines for not attending the Established church. In 1577 she was imprisoned for not attending church. 2 further incarcerations followed at York Castle. Their son William was born in prison.
The Act of 1584, by the Jesuits, made it a capital offence to harbour and maintain priests. Margaret had 2 chambers-one next to their house and a second in rented house some distance away.
Local tradition holds she also housed some priests in the Black Swan where the Queen’s agents lodged!
These 3 chambers became important hiding place for fugitive Roman Catholic priests in the north of England. There Mass was celebrated through the thick of the persecution.
In 10 th March 1586 the house was searched. A frightened boy revealed the location of the priest hole. She was arrested and called before the York assizes. She refused to plea. She was sentenced to death. She died on 25th March 1586
She was beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius X1 and canonised by Pope Paul V1 on 25th October 1970 among the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales…
Saint Margaret’s shrine is as 35/6, The Shambles, in York.
Source
Wikipedia
Jacob Knapp was a popular Baptist preacher of the 19th century.
In 1821 he entered a theological college at Hamilton, New York (now Colgate University) He began active work at the Baptist church in Springfield, New York and managed a farm. He moved to Watertown where he became both pastor and manager of a large farm.
In 1832 he experienced a deeper religious impression which he called his second conversion. He applied to the New York Sate Baptist convention to become a missionary. They hesitated and he began preaching as an evangelist on his own responsibility.
He preached at first in school houses and obscure churches but he was soon sought after by larger churches and distinguished parsons.
In Baltimore, Boston and New York vast numbers attended his preaching to the extent protection by the civil authorities was necessary.
His preaching was stern and terrible, yet cultivated. 1000s believed they were converted under his ministry.
In 1845 he published a collection of hymns The Evangelical Harp: A new Collection of Hymns and Tunes Designed for Revivals of Religion and For Family and Social Worship
Jacob lived to the age of 74; he died on 2nd March 1874.
During his lifetime 1000s had heard him preach and many were converted.
Samuel was an evangelist and Presbyterian minister. He ministered in Hanover County from 1748-1759 followed by a term as the fourth President of Princeton University. He was one of the first non-Anglican preachers in Virginia and one of the earliest missionaries to slaves in the 13 Colonies.
A child of deeply religious parents he was named after the prophet Samuel.
Unable to afford to send their son o college he was tutored by Rev. Samuel Blair at Faggs Manor, Pennsylvania.
Presbytery of New Castle licensed him to preach in 1746. In 1747 he travelled south to minister to minister to religious dissenters against the Anglican church.
He eventually led 7 congregations in 5 counties despite frail health from tuberculosis.
When his wife Sarah died from a miscarriage in 1747 he too believed he was near death so he threw himself wholeheartedly into his preaching ministry.
He advanced the cause of religious and civil liberty. He helped found the Presbytery of Hanover and served as the first moderator.
He advocated the educating of slaves , including teaching them to read. Slavery became a major focus of his ministry.
You know I have shown a tender concern for your welfare, ever since I have been in the colony and you may ask my own negroes whether I treat them kindly or no, from 1755 sermon by Samuel.
In 1753 he took the dangerous trip to Great Britain with Gilbert Tennent, a fellow minister, to raise money for the College of New Jersey. They stayed for 11 months. Samuel and preached 60 sermons, and together they raised £4,000 .(equivalent to $230,000 today) through church collections.
In 1759 the college asked him to be their president. He became the fourth president of what is now known as Princeton University. On New Year’s Day 1761 he preached his last sermon quoting Jeremiah 28 v16. 1 will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shall die.*
Almost prophetically Samuel died one month later, on 4th February, from pneumonia.
Samuel accomplished much despite his relatively short life. He was one of the major contributors to the Great Awakening - a series of religious revivals which caused America to break away from the Church of England.
Sue Barker is a former professional tennis player and television presenter.
During her tennis career she won 15 WTA tour single titles including the 1976 French Open aged 20. She also won 12 doubles titles. She reached a career high singles ranking of world No. 3 on 20th March 1977.
She won her last doubles title in 1982 at Cincinnati and played her last professional match in 1984.
Her mentor throughout her career was Arthur Roberts. He began coaching her in 1966 when she was 10 years of age.
In 2004, recalling her French Open win in 1976,she said,* I’m still incredibly proud of what I achieved.***
She retired from playing tennis to presenting it!
From 1985 until 1990 she became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia’s Channel 7.
She then joined British Sky Broadcasting.
In 1993 she joined the BBC and was a regular guest on* Today at Wimbledon* with Harry Carpenter.
In the 1990’s hosted BBC Wimbledon Highlight show with Pam Shriver.
In 1994 took over as host of* Today at Wimbledon*.
From 2000 until 2022 she anchored the 2 week long broadcast of the Wimbledon tennis championships for the BBC.
Sue had a long broadcasting career. She enjoyed commentating on many sports- from horse racing to the Olympics. - summer and winter.
From 1997 until 2020 she presented* A Question of Sport*- a programme which viewers very much enjoyed watching.
In 2000 received an MBE for services to sport and broadcasting.
In 2016 received OBE for broadcasting and charity.
In 2021 received CBE for broadcasting and charity.
In 1982 met Cliff Richard.
In 1988 married Lance TanKard
Autobiography ‘Calling the Shots’ published in 2022.
Sources
Wikipedia
Passing the Torch - Sportswomen who Inspire
Hugh was the Bishop of Worcester(1535-9) during the Reformation. He became the C of E chaplain to King Edward V1.
In his middle 60s he faced a trial on 14th April 1554… He argued, in writing since he was hardly able to sustain a debate at his age, that the doctrines of the real presence of Christ in the mass, transubstantiation and the propitiatory merit of the mass were unbiblical.
In 1555 under the Catholic Queen Mary 1 he was tried for his beliefs and teachings. He was burned with Nicholas Ridley at the stake. He became one of the three Oxford Martyrs -Thomas Cramner was the third.
It may come in my days,as old as i am, or in my children’s days, the saints shall be taken up to meet Christ in the air, and so shall come down with him again.
Hugh Latimer
Source
Wikipedia
Stephen was considered one of the greatest of the medieval Archbishops of Canterbury.
Stephen was an English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and 1228. He was consecrated by the Pope at Viterbo on 17th June 1207.
He supported the barons in the struggle with King John. At a council of churchmen at Westminster on 25th August 1213 certain barons were invited to read the charter of Henry 1 and called for its renewal. Stephen’s energetic leadership and the barons’ military strength forced John to grant his seal to Magna Carta -15 June 1215 on Runnymead in Windsor…
Stephen is believed to be the one who divided the Bible into the standard modern arrangement of chapters.
Clare has close family links with horse racing and between 1988-1993 was a leading amateur flat jockey. In 1990 she was the Champion Lady Rider. She then moved onto commentating on horse racing.
She is an English broadcast journalist and author. Her memoir My Animals and Other Family, looking at her life growing up in racing yard won the 2012 National Book award for* Autobiography of the year.
She has reported on 7 Olympic Games and presented 5 Paralympic Games.
(Read her Broadcasting Career- 30 years covering sport and many other events)
She has written columns for* The Sporting Life, Racing Post, Sunday Telegraph, The Evening Standard,* and regularly writes in the Waitrose Weekend.
She is now focusing on women’s sport and had a great time doing women’s football show for C4, women’s super League matches for BT Sport, women’s tennis for the BBC and BT.
She is a patron for a number of charities (Read* Charitable activities*)
She believes strongly that improving coverage and investment in Paralympic and women’s sport will have far reaching benefits
In 2013 received OBE for services to broadcasting and journalism.
In 2020 appointed ,for 2 years, president of the Rugby Football League. In her tenure she hoped women’s game would turn professional.
In 2022 she received a CBE for services to sport and charity.
Clare is definitely one of the UK’s renown sports broadcasters.
Sources
Wikipedia
Women in Sport by Rachel Ignotofsky
*Passing the Torch Sportswomen who Inspire Mary Peters Trust
Sharron is a former English swimmer who represented GB in the Olympics and European championships.
She has attended 12 consecutive Olympics -3 as a competitor and 9 as a commentator. She also competed in the international community spanning 20 years.
She learned to swim when she was 6 years of age.
By the age of 8 she was training seriously.
Aged 11 swam for the British national team.
Aged 13 represented GB at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Aged 14 won 2 bronze medals at the 1977 European Championships.
Aged 15 won 2 gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in the 200 ` and 400 individual medleys.
Aged 17 she won a silver medal at the 1980 games in the 400m individual medley
Aged 18 ‘called time’ to build her television profile and career in modelling.
Aged 27’ returned’ to the pool.
Aged 32, in 1994, finally retired having been British champion 22 times , broken 200 British swimming records and held 5 World Masters records( eligible when over 30)
When she retired she worked for various media organisations and programmes.
(Read* Publications, media programmes and other work*)
Given a MBE in 1993 in recognition for her sevices to swimming.
In 2005 supported London’s bid for the 2112 Olympics. On BBC’s Question Time made a strong case for bringing the Games to London.
She is a patron of the Disabled Sport Rngland and SportsAid.
She has her view on trans women.In 2023 criticised Nike for using Dylan Mulvany, a transgengender woman to model their products.
There is talk that her silver , won in 1980, could still be turned into gold. The gold medallist, Petra Schneider, from East Germany, has admitted that the victory was drug enhanced.
Thomas was an English Wesleyan Methodist preacher. He was converted by John Wesley on 1st May 1739 in Bristol.
In March 1740 he travelled for a period with Charles Wesley,
In 1742 John put him in charge of the Foundery Society directing him to pray with the members and give them suitable advice. He also began to preach ’ without being called to it’ so there were complaints. Countess of Huntindon was impressed with his talents. Wesley heard Thomas and decided the dispute in his favour.
In June 1745 he was 'pressed ’ for the navy while preaching in Cornwall. He ended up being given over to the military and spent several years in the army.
On his release John had him ordained at Bath, He became one of Wesley’s main assistants and an assistant chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon.
Thomas was a divisive figure. He encouraged those who had visions. He adopted fellow minister George Bell’s prediction that the world would end on 28th February 1763.
A schism became inevitable. Thomas in February told Wesley You take too much upon you .April 28th he broke from Wesley. Bell and about 200 left,
Thomas set up his own church in Moorfield.
A reunion was attempted but it never happened. (Read last 2 paragraphs)
Thomas had a large congregation in Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfield,. He finally set up in Princes Street. Moorfield.
Wesley did visit Thomas in his last illness and preached in his chapel.
Thomas died at his house in Moorfields on 18th March 1784.
Richard Branson fulfilled a personal dream by going to the edge of Space.
The picture I have chosen shows a very happy man fulfilling a dream.
He beat his fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos by days to be the first billionaire space company founder to ride in his own spacecraft.
Originally he was to fly on its second last flight but it was brought forward.
I have created a phrase and vocabulary sheet - I created a blank so you could choose which of the 3 pictures you preferred. There is also a blank comic strip.
I hope the children enjoy using the sheet.
Madge was a figure skating champion. She participated in the Men’s category in 1902 because there was no women’s category . She came second smashing everyone’s expectations!
Madge Syers was world figures-skating champion in 1906.and 1907.
At the London Summer Games in 1908 she won the Olympic title in the ladies competition, and bronze, with her husband and trainer,Edgar.
She is the only female skater to win both individual and pairs at the same Olympics.
She always wore a hat when performing. She also took her ice-skates every where she went.
Madge was the first to perform technically perfect jumps.
She retired shortly after 1908, due to poor health, and wrote books about the art of figure skating
1920 was the last time figure-skating was included in the Summer Games.
In 1924 it became part of the first Winter Olympic Games held in Chamonix, France.
Sources used
Wikipedia
Amazing Athletes by Jean-Michel Billioud