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Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes

Shropshire Star

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Peter Rhodes on bad laws, strong doors and that Paul Newman moment

Peter Rhodes on bad laws, strong doors and that Paul Newman moment

We live in an age when, if you utter the wrong words, write the wrong stuff or meet in a Quaker hall to plan your next demo, you can expect the cops...

previous day 6

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on bad laws, strong doors and that Paul Newman moment

Peter Rhodes on bad laws, strong doors and that Paul Newman moment

We live in an age when, if you utter the wrong words, write the wrong stuff or meet in a Quaker hall to plan your next demo, you can expect the cops...

previous day 7

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on secret justice, fancy-dress drama and keeping an eye on an island

Peter Rhodes on secret justice, fancy-dress drama and keeping an eye on an island

Great secrets of our age: what exactly did Paul Marchant do? The boss of Primark stepped down this week following an allegation by a woman about "his...

friday 6

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on secret justice, fancy-dress drama and keeping an eye on an island

Peter Rhodes on secret justice, fancy-dress drama and keeping an eye on an island

Great secrets of our age: what exactly did Paul Marchant do? The boss of Primark stepped down this week following an allegation by a woman about "his...

friday 8

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on stealing land, Putin's demise and the downside of being an American worker

Peter Rhodes on stealing land, Putin's demise and the downside of being an American worker

The haggling resumes. This week Donald Trump continues trying to convince the world that, while stealing Ukraine is bad, stealing Greenland is good....

03.04.2025 6

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on gout, lumbago and a trip to the foot clinic

Peter Rhodes on gout, lumbago and a trip to the foot clinic

Great expressions of our time. “The world has changed,” laments Chancellor Rachel Reeves, trying to explain how, having promised us the New...

01.04.2025 6

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on gout, lumbago and a trip to the foot clinic

Peter Rhodes on gout, lumbago and a trip to the foot clinic

Great expressions of our time. “The world has changed,” laments Chancellor Rachel Reeves, trying to explain how, having promised us the New...

01.04.2025 7

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on secrets, pot holes and a warning of slavery in Whitehall

Peter Rhodes on secrets, pot holes and a warning of slavery in Whitehall

By coincidence, news reports of English villages being overwhelmed by tourists appear in the same week as the Government demands that local councils...

29.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on “Wild West” tourism, how kids regard TV and the pure heroism of Blue Peter

Peter Rhodes on “Wild West” tourism, how kids regard TV and the pure heroism of Blue Peter

So farewell, Blue Peter. Sort of. The world's longest-running kids' programme, will no longer be screened live, as it has usually been since 1958, but...

28.03.2025 3

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on “Wild West” tourism, how kids regard TV and the pure heroism of Blue Peter

Peter Rhodes on “Wild West” tourism, how kids regard TV and the pure heroism of Blue Peter

So farewell, Blue Peter. Sort of. The world's longest-running kids' programme, will no longer be screened live, as it has usually been since 1958, but...

28.03.2025 2

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on dodgy loans, going blonde and what the French did for the Americans

Peter Rhodes on dodgy loans, going blonde and what the French did for the Americans

It is a huge scandal, of course, to learn that thousands of foreign students are enrolling in British colleges, claiming millions of pounds in loans...

27.03.2025 5

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on dodgy loans, going blonde and what the French did for the Americans

Peter Rhodes on dodgy loans, going blonde and what the French did for the Americans

It is a huge scandal, of course, to learn that thousands of foreign students are enrolling in British colleges, claiming millions of pounds in loans...

27.03.2025 3

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on a new project, some puzzling quotes and which is better, the Knowledge or Dad-nav?

Peter Rhodes on a new project, some puzzling quotes and which is better, the Knowledge or Dad-nav?

Another week of haggling begins. How long before Donald Trump realises that his Ukraine plan is going nowhere? Watch more of our videos on...

25.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on devils, hellfire and the enduring power of the bogeyman

Peter Rhodes on devils, hellfire and the enduring power of the bogeyman

The social commentator Dominic Lawson suggests that losing our belief in hell has a “profound effect” on public order. Discuss, using one side of...

22.03.2025 4

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on devils, hellfire and the enduring power of the bogeyman

Peter Rhodes on devils, hellfire and the enduring power of the bogeyman

The social commentator Dominic Lawson suggests that losing our belief in hell has a “profound effect” on public order. Discuss, using one side of...

22.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on big sandwiches, bigger Gladiators and the rise and rise of the Sickfluencers

Peter Rhodes on big sandwiches, bigger Gladiators and the rise and rise of the Sickfluencers

What the headlines say: “Parts of country will be hotter than Ibiza this week.” What the headlines mean: The weather's lousy in Ibiza.” Watch...

21.03.2025 2

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on a songbird, a strange old lady - and who's brave enough to slap the handcuffs on Putin?

Peter Rhodes on a songbird, a strange old lady - and who's brave enough to slap the handcuffs on Putin?

Quietly forgotten by us all in the haggling over Ukraine is the awkward fact that two years ago, in March 2023, the International Criminal Court...

20.03.2025 5

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on a songbird, a strange old lady - and who's brave enough to slap the handcuffs on Putin?

Peter Rhodes on a songbird, a strange old lady - and who's brave enough to slap the handcuffs on Putin?

Quietly forgotten by us all in the haggling over Ukraine is the awkward fact that two years ago, in March 2023, the International Criminal Court...

20.03.2025 6

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on thumbscrews, half-crowns and some curious TV locations

Peter Rhodes on thumbscrews, half-crowns and some curious TV locations

Curious, isn't it, that while we cheered, clapped and banged kitchenware to honour the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic a few years back, not a...

19.03.2025 4

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on thumbscrews, half-crowns and some curious TV locations

Peter Rhodes on thumbscrews, half-crowns and some curious TV locations

Curious, isn't it, that while we cheered, clapped and banged kitchenware to honour the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic a few years back, not a...

19.03.2025 6

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on hawking, cold homes and making money out of death

Peter Rhodes on hawking, cold homes and making money out of death

People in the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead live in fear of a large hawk which dives at people, sometimes inflicting head wounds. You would think...

18.03.2025 4

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on hawking, cold homes and making money out of death

Peter Rhodes on hawking, cold homes and making money out of death

People in the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead live in fear of a large hawk which dives at people, sometimes inflicting head wounds. You would think...

18.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on conscription, electricians and a particularly dark drama

The electrician came, as reported a while ago, and installed a new LED kitchen light which is so awesomely bright that you'd think the whole room was...

15.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on pylons, poles and a useful new form of currency

I contacted an electrician to install a new 48-inch lighting tube. “What's that in feet?” he asked. “I don't do inches.” Metric never really...

14.03.2025 4

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on pylons, poles and a useful new form of currency

I contacted an electrician to install a new 48-inch lighting tube. “What's that in feet?” he asked. “I don't do inches.” Metric never really...

14.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on scams, spies and something missing from UK's Eurovision entry

Star columnist Peter Rhodes gives his views on the UK's Eurovision entry, scams and spies “Do you know how to spot a scam?” asks a leaflet from...

13.03.2025 3

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on Trump's weakness, Boris's predictions and our soaring population

You may recall that about this time last year a reader complained bitterly that, for no apparent reason, her car insurance premium had doubled. Watch...

13.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on Trump's weakness, Boris's predictions and our soaring population

Star columnists gives his views on US President Donald Trum, Boris Johnson and more You may recall that about this time last year a reader complained...

12.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on loincloths, woolly mammoths and why Americans regard Russia as a friend

Astonishingly, a new poll suggests that more than a third of Americans view Russia as a friendly nation and 50 per cent would accept a ceasefire, even...

11.03.2025 5

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on loincloths, woolly mammoths and why Americans regard Russia as a friend

Astonishingly, a new poll suggests that more than a third of Americans view Russia as a friendly nation and 50 per cent would accept a ceasefire, even...

11.03.2025 5

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on pop fashion, ID cards and the peculiar power of a fishing licence

As you are probably aware, Americans pronounce some words differently from us. We say tomato, they say tomayto; we say aluminium, they say aluminum....

08.03.2025 3

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on plugs, WD40 and why America needs enemies

Diversity experts at Cardifff University advise us not to use terms such as “killing two birds with one stone” because they are “very...

07.03.2025 5

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on a beautiful spring, Trump's shiny shoes and something heading for the moon

Blue skies, windless days, the lush green beauty of spring about to burst upon us and perfect conditions for a little gentle gardening and drying the...

06.03.2025 6

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on spies, calories and the eternal mystery of the balalaika

Farewell, the balalaika. We have been having a spring clean-out, transferring all sorts of long-stored tat to the local tip and charity shops. Watch...

05.03.2025 7

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on spies, calories and the eternal mystery of the balalaika

Farewell, the balalaika. We have been having a spring clean-out, transferring all sorts of long-stored tat to the local tip and charity shops. Watch...

05.03.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on cheap flights, welfare theft and a dodgy tummy at 30,000 feet

The Climate Change Committee says we must change our ways to achieve net zero: heat pumps for all, fewer flights, etc. Dream on. Nobody I know wants a...

04.03.2025 1

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on cheap flights, welfare theft and a dodgy tummy at 30,000 feet

The Climate Change Committee says we must change our ways to achieve net zero: heat pumps for all, fewer flights, etc. Dream on. Nobody I know wants a...

04.03.2025 3

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on Lords, gorillas and missiles that go “plop!”

One in ten members of the House of Lords are reported to have accepted payments from companies. The media stress that “there is no suggestion of...

02.03.2025 7

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on calories, boozers and the snags of rearming Europe

How hard would you diet to save two calories? I pose the question having happened upon a healthy-eating guide which suggests all sorts of choices you...

02.03.2025 8

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on Lords, gorillas and missiles that go “plop!”

One in ten members of the House of Lords are reported to have accepted payments from companies. The media stress that “there is no suggestion of...

02.03.2025 10

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on stoves, kites and choosing a costume for a themed party

26.02.2025 10

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on stoves, kites and choosing a costume for a themed party

26.02.2025 8

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on payback for America, dancing with chainsaws and the Peter Pan guide to fertility

25.02.2025 10

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on payback for America, dancing with chainsaws and the Peter Pan guide to fertility

25.02.2025 9

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on fake meat, a lost fortune and a Welsh claim on the Big Apple

13.02.2025 4

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on fake meat, a lost fortune and a Welsh claim on the Big Apple

13.02.2025 5

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on trillions, Brazilians and a nuclear reactor in every home

11.02.2025 10

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on trillions, Brazilians and a nuclear reactor in every home

11.02.2025 10

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on key workers, Gaza and the desire to travel less

10.02.2025 10

Shropshire Star

Peter Rhodes

Peter Rhodes on key workers, Gaza and the desire to travel less

10.02.2025 10

Express & Star

Peter Rhodes