May 19 - Day 57 - 'By tramway excursion To Dore and to Totley In search of diversion The millworkers come.' John Betjeman

John Betjeman died on this day (May 19) in 1984.

The connection with Sheffield is often, however, not as well known as his links with other places. He spent significant periods of time in the City and described Broomhill as ‘what is still the prettiest suburb in England’. While in Sheffield, he spent time developing his attachment with Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of the tenth Duke of Devonshire and also had a period of time in the Hallamshire as a stroke patient. He wrote the poem, ‘An Edwardian Sunday, Broomhill, Sheffield (which is where the quotation in the title is from) in 1966.

I could now make a link to the Botanical Gardens in Broomhill (and the bear pit) but that’s probably for another blog. Funny that bears have come up already in my accounts - last time in relation to wild garlic. Or, I could just make a link to the same date in 1536 when Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife, was beheaded in London - but that’s a long story - so I’ll go and see some clients in the Centre instead - while also checking that it doesn’t look like thundering and lightening again today.