David Hendy
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davidhendy.bsky.social
David Hendy
@davidhendy.bsky.social
Writer & broadcaster, Prof. Emeritus University of Sussex. The BBC: A People's History, Noise: A Human History, Radio 4.

Writer-in-residence 2026, Gladstone’s Library

Rep: United Agents

https://societyofauthors.org/soa-member/david-hendy/
Pinned
As a 2026 Writer-in-Residence at @gladlib.bsky.social I'm doing a 'masterclass'.

It's on writing about sound: exploring ways to bring a richer sensory dimension to writing for the page and writing for radio.

Details - and booking - available here:

www.gladstoneslibrary.org/event/master...
Masterclass: Writing with an Ear to Sound with David Hendy - Gladstone's Library
Writing with an Ear to Sound – a writing Masterclass with David Hendy 10.30am-3pm, Saturday 17th January 2026 Join the writer and broadcaster David...
www.gladstoneslibrary.org
Thread
1/ What a Russian breaking of the ceasefire will look like, step by step.

There are far better experts on this, but I was an Australian diplomat in Ukraine in 2014 so I've seen this play out up close.

So join me, brothers and sisters, as we count down to a fullscale re-invasion.
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
Well, that's us fucked, then.
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
I’m not sure how I would deal with being found to have been responsible for 23k deaths, but I think it would likely involve removing myself from public life and finding some way to help save lives.
November 21, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death
The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Michael Gove claiming Covid was a lab leak on the today programme without one word of pushback.
November 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
🚨🚨This is no "peace" plan, it is a recipe for further suffering and #Russian imperialist expansion in the #west. It is difficult to appreciate just how much damage the #trump administration has done to #Ukraine and its war efforts. It is disgusting beyond words. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Ukraine banned from Nato, Russia readmitted to the G8 and territory ceded: what’s in Trump’s draft plan
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects to discuss the plan – which was reportedly drafted by Russian and US officials – with Trump
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Eat out to Help Out was killing people, but they “kept it out of the news”.
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Today, as the #CovidInquiry releases its module 2 report, we are thinking especially of everyone who will have to relive the trauma of that time, who will have to hear of the government failings that led to their loved ones' deaths. 

We will never forget our beloved dead. ❤️
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
As a 2026 Writer-in-Residence at @gladlib.bsky.social I'm doing a 'masterclass'.

It's on writing about sound: exploring ways to bring a richer sensory dimension to writing for the page and writing for radio.

Details - and booking - available here:

www.gladstoneslibrary.org/event/master...
Masterclass: Writing with an Ear to Sound with David Hendy - Gladstone's Library
Writing with an Ear to Sound – a writing Masterclass with David Hendy 10.30am-3pm, Saturday 17th January 2026 Join the writer and broadcaster David...
www.gladstoneslibrary.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
'If a lockdown had been imposed on 16 March, a week earlier than took place, modelling suggests this could have cut the number of deaths in England in the first wave of the virus by almost half, equating to 23,000 lives saved'
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…

I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Tomorrow is a hugely important day.

At 4pm, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will publish its report into the UK’s pandemic decision-making & political governance.

I dearly hope our political leaders & decision-makers will listen, learn &, above all, act on the findings.

Because there will be a next time.
November 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Less than Greggs? Public have no idea of value of top universities, study finds
Belief that snack chain’s revenues exceed those of Oxford’s one of many misconceptions about UK’s HE sector
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
"Chapman said that “the UK tries to do too much” and should focus on “where we can lead on the global stage”.
So, more investment in "Humanities" disciplines, right?
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
‘My name is Tara Selter. Every night when I lie down to sleep in the bed in the guest room it is the eighteenth of November and every morning, when I wake up, it is the eighteenth of November.'

#onthecalculationofvolume #solvejballe
November 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
happy On the Calculation of Volume Day to all who celebrate. i’m wearing my shirt to mark it
November 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
New free link on.ft.com/4r7ILgO
November 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
www.gladstoneslibrary.org/event/the-si...
Want to do a six month writing course with me? Or looking for a great Christmas present for the writer in your life?
Sign up quickly as there are only 15 places.
I would love to see you there!
The Six-Month Writing Course with Kit de Waal - Gladstone's Library
Join Kit de Waal for a six-month journey into the art and discipline of storytelling, with two visits to the UK’s finest residential library.
www.gladstoneslibrary.org
November 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
I’ll wait to see if this is actually announced. But if so… please can the PLP rise up. You owe it to your consciences, your voters, and the institution that is the Labour Party.
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs

This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
The bloody neighbours have gone out and left John Cage’s 4’33 on full blast again.
November 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by David Hendy
Of course you know why a private market in health care is so bad for health.

The best way to make money is to sell a drug that relieves the symptoms of, but does not cure, a very uncomfortable chronic condition.

The worst way to make money is to prevent illness through social change.
November 16, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by David Hendy
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.

Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Asylum in UK to be made temporary under Home Secretary’s plans
Shabana Mahmood will lay out reforms modelled on the Danish system on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM