David Pendleton
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davidpendleton.bsky.social
David Pendleton
@davidpendleton.bsky.social
Dr David Pendleton. Author, editor and historian, interested in the long 19th Century (1789-1914). Career defining moment was organising an open top vintage bus trip around a sewage works.
Urbanisation | Sport & Leisure | Maritime | Seaside
Today at noon, the latest sporting lunchtime lecture at the Record Cafe, Bradford. And it’s free!
Roy Francis, Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader
Record Cafe, Bradford, Noon, 29 November 2025
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
As the sun barely clears the horizon and the days are short, a promise of sunlit horizons.
Etch the dates on the inside of your eyelids. #CountyCricket
November 27, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I've added a few more images to the piece about the men named on the Scarborough Cricket Club war memorial.
An ongoing obsession, but the men are worthy of our remembrance. #CricketHistory #WW1
Commemorating one war, bombed in another
Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
The line up of speakers for the 2025/26 Sporting Lunchtime Lectures is complete. See you at the Record Cafe, Bradford at noon on Saturday for the latest instalment.
Upcoming Talks
2025/26 Season
sportinglunchtimelectures.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Will Geoffrey Boycott be reinstated as Scarborough Cricket Club president? A special general meeting of the members is finally scheduled for 7 December. #cricket #Yorkshire #Scarborough #GeoffreyBoycott
Rebels to Reinstate Geoffrey Boycott
Is the suspended Scarborough Cricket Club president poised for a dramatic return?
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Join me at Brompton-by-Sawdon, for a presentation on a forgotten element of the Bombardment of Scarborough.
The dramatic story of a minefield that would claim 20 ships. It is a story that is still on going, as the divers of Scarborough Sub Aqua Club hunt for five missing ship wrecks. #NavalHistory
'After the Bombardment'
Maritime History Talk at Brompton-by-Sawdon
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The busy world muffled beneath a blanket of snow.
The brief pause before the council truck appears to turn the pure white snow into slush.
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
On Saturday 29 November the Sporting Lunch Time Lecture series continues with the remarkable story of Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader, Roy Francis.
Dr Tony Collins brings this remarkable story to life at the Record Cafe, Bradford. #Bradford #RugbyLeague @officialbullsrl.bsky.social
Roy Francis, Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader
Record Cafe, Bradford, Noon, 29 November 2025
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Two Belgian brothers, and their Armistice Day trip to record the graves of Scarborough Cricket Club members who died in the Great War. #CricketHistory #Scarborough #WW1
An Autumnal Visit to the Western Front on Armistice Day
Photographing the Graves of Scarborough Cricket Club Members Killed in the Great War, 11 November 2025
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
On Armistice Day Frank and Tom Depoorter visited and photographed the graves of five of the men named on the Scarborough Cricket Club War Memorial.

I've added the images to the page dedicated to the memorial. A post about Frank and Tom's trip to the graves will be posted next week.
Commemorating one war, bombed in another
Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
On a dark March night, 100 bombers attacked Scarborough. A huge parachute mine landed in North Marine Road, bringing with it death and destruction.
A hidden history, one that lies beneath the feet of thousands of cricket fans as they enter the North Marine Road ground. #WW2 #CricketHistory
The Scarborough Blitz
A wartime tragedy adjacent to Scarborough Cricket Club
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
On Remembrance Sunday, here are the stories of two men who should have been on Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial; it is hoped that an addenda plaque will be added when the existing memorial is relocated at the ground. #WW1 #CricketHistory #Scarborough
The Missing Names from Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial
Two members who made the ultimate sacrifice
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
At last, the sporting lunchtime lectures return for the 2025/26 season. Saturday, high noon at the Record Cafe, North Parade, Bradford.
Capital of Culture. You'll Never Sing That ... and it is free. #SportHistory #Bradford
The Sporting Lunchtime Lectures Return This Saturday!
Paul Norcross: The Dude Abides With Me: German Philosophy, Films and Football Fandom
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
The bun fight goes nuclear at Scarborough Cricket Club ... Geoffrey Boycott Accused of Gross Misconduct #Cricket
Geoffrey Boycott Accused of Gross Misconduct
Scarborough Cricket Club suspends its own President
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Today's news that Geoffrey Boycott has been suspended by Scarborough Cricket Club, following allegations that he supplied confidential information to a club member who is part of a bid to overthrow the committee, my post of the club's AGM gives the backdrop to the crisis that is engulfing SCC.
Bun Fight at Scarborough Cricket Club
On a sticky wicket at the 2025 AGM
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Ghost sign lit by the morning sun in Bradford.
October 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
A few days left to grab 20% off my book ‘On the Tracks of the Flying Scotsman’.
Follow the link to Great Northern Books.
Last days of GNOctober - offer ends after 31st...
mailchi.mp
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
As we approach Remembrance Sunday, it seemed an appropriate time to rewrite my article on Scarborough Cricket Club's war memorial. I've tried to put it in its context and have expanded some of the stories of the men listed on the memorial. #CricketHistory #WW1
Commemorating one war, bombed in another
Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
A drama beneath towering chalk cliffs, retold via a rediscovered hotel visitor book.
A Hull trawler and Foords Hotel, Filey. #MaritimeHistory
Plucked from beneath the cliffs
A Hull trawler aground at Filey
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The bizarre story of a cricket club’s balloon and its journey across the North Sea.
An inadvertent cricketing message in a bottle. #scarborough #germany #cricket
The Balloon of the Century
Scarborough Cricket Club's Inflatable and a German Beach!
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I’ve been busy updating the stories of the Scarborough Cricket Club members featured on the club’s recently rediscovered war memorial. Some images of the men and their final resting places have been added. Quite a bit more to do and, as ever, any additional information would be gratefully received.
Commemorating one war, bombed in another
The Rediscovery of Scarborough Cricket Club's War Memorial
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Organising the 2025 Sporting Lunchtime Lecture programme at The Record Cafe has been tougher than normal, due to the happy fact that Bradford City's home games are a bit frantic. But here we go for the new season!
Upcoming Talks
2025/26 Season
sportinglunchtimelectures.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Sunny evening in Crown Heights. Home of good beer, good vibes and my daughter Rosie.
We toasted Bradford City’s continued reign at the top of the league. #peckedbythechickens #brooklynbantams
September 29, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The Hudson River derby. NY Red Bulls 2 NYCFC 3.
Family links to the Red Bulls previous iteration, the NY Metrostars, meant that I was rooting for the Red Bulls. But my heart wasn’t in it. #hudsonriverderby #NewYork
September 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Fans of Led Zeppelin will recognise these buildings as the cover of the album Physical Graffiti.
I used to have the vinyl album. Gave it away years ago … regrets eh #LedZeppelin #NewYork
September 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM