I find it a little strange that the originator of this thread has not so far made any further contribution to it. Perhaps the political mayhem has frightened him off!
I would like to know who made this decree – the school governors? Or is the British government once again meddling, this time stirring the educational cauldron, as it seems to have been doing for quite a long time?
Having lived in Sweden for the last 30 years, there are some aspects of the UK that make me glad to be out of it! Although there are some peculiarities here that would make my hair stand on end, if I had any!

Part of my point is that there are probably millions of documents already existing that use the BC/AD references, and if this is gradually expunged through the educational system we will end up with no-one being able to decipher such references.
In other words, whoever thought this one up should be told to think again!

Since most of the world accepts this dating method, it would cause total chaos to try to find a new system now (which probably would not gain such wide acceptance anyway), and it is essential when learning in school to be able to interpret such dating (right or wrong in some people’s eyes) so my opinion is that BC and AD have to be accepted as a status quo. In other words, banning BC achieves nothing and has a detrimental effect on the children being taught.

Good stuff, Phillip, E-mail duly sent (and I haven’t read it yet!)

Todays’ news direct from Sweden to Ja from Papa Lima

Thailand’s air force confirmed on Wednesday that the country is preparing to buy six Swedish Gripen fighter planes in a deal worth 3.7 billion kronor ($560 million). Air force chief Chalit Phukphasuk also told reporters that a decision would be made after December’s general election on whether to buy a second batch of six Saab Gripens.

A source close to the air force told Reuters that Thailand had initially planned to replace its ageing F-5E fighters with US F-16 Fighting Falcons. But the deal eventually fell through since the Americans were “not allowed by their laws to sell weapons to countries whose governments have been ousted in coups.”

Owe Wagermark, director of communications for Gripen International, was delighted with Wednesday’s announcement.

“This is absolutely fantastic. It is an important step with regard to our positioning and is incredibly positive for Gripen. It means that we will retain our position as global leaders,” he told the TT news agency.

Ola Mattsson, secretary general of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (Svenska Freds), was considerable less enthusiastic.

“It should be completely out of the question for Sweden to sell Gripen planes to Thailand. It’s a military dictatorship,” he told TT.

Mattsson listed secular tensions in southern Thailand and an arms race in South East Asia as further reasons not to sell.

“The Swedish state shouldn’t contribute to a rearmament spiral in the region. Such a move runs contrary to our foreign and security policy,” he said.

Since assuming power in a military coup last year, the Thai government has approved a 66 percent increase in military spending.

Russia’s Su-30s were long tipped to get the nod ahead of Gripen and the US F-16s. Prior to being removed from his post, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is reported to have been close to signing a deal for the Russian fighters.

But last year’s military coup would appear to have tipped the balance in Gripen’s favour.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

My copy of this DVD says the photography was by Esa Vourinen F.S.C., director Mikael Hylin. Great film, must watch it again!
The DVD cost me about a fiver here in Sweden, a supermarket offer a year or more ago. It dates from 1995 and I doubt if there is an English sub-titled version, hard luck, chaps!

Vimy at South Kensington

First non-stop across the Atlantic

Many thanks for that wonderful link, evoking memories of the old-style Battle of Britain displays in the 1950s. That was my father’s Royal Air Force, the one I expected when I joined, but it all changed so quickly . . .