I'm a humanist with an interest in science, astrology and etymology.
I'm a scholar of the School of Coincidence, a professor of Paradox with a masters in Murphy's Law.
I was born in Ludlow in Shropshire and hope that my space will raise awareness of this forgotten county as it seems that few people have even heard of it let alone know where it is.
Interesting Facts About Shropshire
1. The origin of the word Shropshire is the Old English Scrobbesbyrigscir (Shrewsburyshire) perhaps taking its name from Richard Scrob the builder of Richard's Castle near Ludlow
2. Normans who ruled England after 1066 found Scrobbesbyrigscir hard to pronounce so softened it to Salopescira
3. Salop County Council was set up in 1888, the name was never popular and was changed to Shropshire in 1980.
4. A reason why Salop was unfavourable could be the fact that Salope means Bitch or Loose Woman in French
5. Historically Shropshire was part of the Kingdom of Mercia and the name still exists as the West Mercia Constabulary
6. Shropshire has no cities, but 22 towns
7. Ludlow Castle was seat of the Welsh council for 200 years making it the capital of Wales in the 15-17th centuries
8. Starkey called Ludlow "That Den of Iniquity" in one of his telly shows
9. The Ironbridge Gorge is known as the "Birthplace of Industry"
10. Shropshire is the "geological capital" of the UK as almost every rock type in Northern Europe is found within its borders as well as coal, lead, copper and iron ore deposits
11. The River Severn flows through Shropshire on it's way to the Bristol Channel
12. Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury and educated there till he left for the University of Edinburgh
13. T'Pau are from Shropshire
14. Brown Clee Hill is the county's highest peak at 540m
15. Titterstone Clee Hill near Ludlow is an ex-coal mine and famed for the unusual accent of the locals
16. Prisoner Cell Block H was never aired in Shropshire
