Author: Leigh Banks

Who remembers these Communist ‘failures’? A quirky museum needed a bit more room for its array of historic cars, trucks and motorcycles. So it tried selling off part of its Slovak and Czech collection. Makes sense… we can all do with some more space can’t we. So, what do we do? We have a garage… Continue reading Silly truckers? Or Honest Joes? When Nashville museum advertised ‘appalling’ 50s Slovak wagon

Years ago I was asked to write something about Slovakia’s dream machine … a prototype flying car. I loved it, but I worried I was being a bit of an Icarus about it all, blinded by the light, waxing lyrical. I certainly didn’t want to support a car crash in the sky!   Then it… Continue reading IT BEGAN ON A WING AND A PRAYER – so, DOES SLOVAKIA’S FLYING CAR STILL HAVE A FUTURE?

I’ve protested about Artificial Intelligence ever since our barmy army of boffins came up with this real no-brainer threat to our civilisation. And, as Dylan almost said… Come gather ’round people wherever you moanAnd admit that the robots around you have grownAnd accept it that soon you’ll be turned to a clone – If your time… Continue reading Dylan’s spirit, forever we’ll keep… in this anthem for change by a robotic creep

I was cruising round the net when I came across this video of Dylan playing a REAL one-man show! Well, actually, Bob had members of his band with him – but, yep, there was only one man in the audience. I know many of us will know this performance well but it is always worth… Continue reading How does it feel to be on your own ..?

Covering the news is an important job … it’s not an ego trip for wannabes who work down the chip shop BBC political editor Andrew Marr said recently: ‘Terrible things are said online because they are anonymous. People say things online that they wouldn’t dream of saying in person.” I agree with him, blogging is… Continue reading HERE IS THE NEWS – DON’T CALL YOURSELF A JOURNALIST IF YOU ACTUALLY AREN’T ONE

Hospitals will be ‘under immense strain’ as nurses go on strike, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation has said. So, let’s look at the figures behind the unhealthiest strike of all… what do you think? The Health Foundation think-tank has said the average basic pay for nurses fell by 5 per cent in reality since 2011. RCN… Continue reading Nursing a grudge or looking to a healthier future for patients at risk?

I can count my best friends on one hand… although I need to count one name TWICE to reach five! Yep, four friends on my wagon – and I must admit one of them is my wife! In reality, three friends then. That’s it! Well, in fact we can digitally remove another of them. So,… Continue reading REMEMBERING MY MATE JEFF – THE WORLD’S FUNNIEST ‘HELL’S ANGEL’

The Preservation Society tells the story of the book they tried to ban … it has remained in the wilderness for more than six years Journalist, editor and broadcaster Leigh G Banks was commissioned by a leading publishing house to write a small book on Staffordshire’s Six Towns … then, at the last minute it… Continue reading THE BOOK THEY TRIED TO KILL BECAUSE OF A DRUNKEN LAMPOST… A TRIP ROUND STAFFORDSHIRE’S SIX TOWNS

A stunning new – heart-felt – piece from Society writer Eric Lastick … BOB DYLAN’S PAINTED ROAMS & GATHERED COURSE AT HIGHWAY  61 DREAMLIKE SCENES & VISIONS—-TOO THE PAINTED ROAMS OF THE SIXTY ONES… Digs highway signs…zags and corner stores of old. Exit a heart of a painter—too the road top moods…sullen moon’s riches in… Continue reading ‘POUR ME ANOTHER TASTE OF HEAVEN AS HIGHWAY 61 ROAMS IN BROKEN DREAMS’

Nowadays Mosa Kiswane can be regularly found sitting on top of the world. But a decade ago he had lost almost everything, was drinking in despair and loneliness… Mosa was standing at the bottom of a mountain of problems and anxieties caused by parental alienation. Today though he is an inspiration to all victims of… Continue reading The man who climbed mountains to get back to his children and happiness