BRIAN REID PHOTOGRAPHER
Aeroplanes and Other Things
There is an aeroplane further down and it is a pretty unique Auster, which failed to sell to the services who chose to go the helicopter route for the roll that it suited. It flew over me in the Swiss Garden and sounded unusual. A nice machine. Most of todays post shows some of the butterflies around including the lovely brown argus (above), gatekeepers, small heath and plenty of different whites....
Not Just Spitfires
More from the Shuttleworth Summer Air Display. Yes that is a MIG-17 from the Polish Airforce lighting up the evening sky. They don’t have jets very often at Shuttleworth air shows so this was a little special. The rest of today’s post is a selection of my favourites in the collection, and some visitors, and hopefully they convey just how good this place is for enjoying watching aeroplanes, close...
The Supermarine Spitfire is 90 years old this year
The Shuttleworth Summer Air Display was inspired by the 90th anniversary the first flight of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire. The team had arranged as many aircraft from the many different marks of this famous WW2 aircraft as they could in a range of colour schemes including those of versions that flew with the USAF and the Russian Air Force. Quite a treat. I am focusing this post on the Spitfires...
Bedfringe 2026
It was wonderful to be asked to return to Bedfringe for our fifth time. The event is an excellent showcase for, largely, local talent and, unlike many small festivals, this one has survived. The format has adjusted in recent years to accommodate as many performers as possible with slightly curtailed set lengths and tight integration of the three onsite venues, the main auditorium, the garden stage...
A week in the sunshine, mostly
Summer continues with plenty of sunshine but not quite so hot. Anglesey Abbey are getting ready for the local school holidays with activities for families but I hope the visitors also take the time to enjoy the dragonflies, ladybirds and other insects that enjoy the park, gardens and mill pond. Green is becoming the watercolour of the summer with, what appears to be, duckweed on every slow moving...
Back across the border
Well, after my cool break in Scotland, that is cool equals good and indeed cool weather wise, it has been back to my usual haunts hunting for butterflies to photograph. Not too many this year yet. It seems we now get barren years and bumper years and this one is shaping up to be the former. There is still plenty to catch my interest so here are a selection of photos from The Lodge, Paxton Pits and...
North of the Border Part 2
As promised, here is part two of my trip north of the border. Despite a damp forecast we enjoyed Almond Valley Heritage Centre, dry, and had a lovely day out. Animals, forts, slides, places to hide, bouncy things and a decent lunch, what’s not to like?
Rosie knows where the camera is!
North of the Border
It was a lovely break from the heat with a trip to catch up with family in Scotland last weekend, so a double hit. As a bonus there was little traffic on the road so quick journeys each way to boot. On Friday it was around the Penicuik area and on Saturday a day out to Almond Valley Heritage Centre near Livingstone, for some recreation and to enjoy the antics of Jack and Rosie. Throw in good food,...
Moggerhanger 1 July 2026
Welcome to the monthly music session in Moggerhanger Village Hall. It was good to see Richard Harradine for the first time in a while. Well done to the team whose efforts make it a a great evening. A new GoPro has been added to the kit and with a longer battery life we are back in business. I have edited the video in two parts, as on the night, and they can be found here. I have added a couple of...
A warm week
I have spent much of the past week either indoors or under some other shade. There was a lovely couple of red heat alert days in Dorset, taking it easy sipping cold drinks and eating very well combining the barbecue with some kitchen magic. We did manage a visit to Compton Abbas airfield. There was not a lot of action but the Wildcat made a couple of circuits and hovers. Nice one. Back at home, the...