iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 8h

The peaceful western shore of Windermere, close to the ferry landing at Far Sawrey.

1293

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 02/10/2026

Windermere from the Claife Viewing Station on the western shore of the lake. The monument was built in the 1790s to provide panoramic views for the first tourists to visit the Lake District.

5799

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 27/09/2026

I always enjoy trying on new hats. Much respect from the Preston Bellman to the team from Lancashire Police at Preston Pride.

0301

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 26/09/2026

It was wonderful to lead the Preston Pride parade today as the Town Crier and Bellman of the city and to make the opening proclamation. Love is love my friends.

626434

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 23/09/2026

It was marvellous to see my dear friends: Jim, the town crier of New Glasgow in Nova Scotia, and Adrian, the town crier of Lichfield in Staffordshire, at the World Town Crier Tournament in Chester.

0302

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 15/09/2026

I’m a terrible piper, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to play on Piper's Brae at Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast. It’s linked to the story of a ghostly piper who, on wild and stormy nights, can be heard playing his pipes from the caves under the cliff-top castle.

2605

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 13/09/2026

Brodick Castle, on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland, looks magnificent in the late summer sunshine.

0316

Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @davespenceruk.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

We’ve somehow ended up at the first Millport Pride on tiny Great Cumbrae Island off the west coast of Scotland. What a marvellous day.

3885

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 11/09/2026

This is a rather lovely profile. Many thanks to Leslie who spoke to me on the phone while we’re up here in Scotland. www.lep.co.uk/news/people/...

lep.co.uk

Folk, diversity, and radio news: Life as Preston's town crier

“I think I have the biggest and heaviest bell of any town crier in the United Kingdom. It’s not a euphemism: it’s just a very big bell.”

1313

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 09/09/2026

It was marvellous to see the Pride-themed stained-glass window inside Belfast City Hall. It was unveiled last year by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, the city’s first openly gay mayor.

4749

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 08/09/2026

Hello from Dublin. It’s always good to be back in the city.

0244

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 07/09/2026

We’re heading down to Dublin today on the Enterprise train. It’s the first time we’ve been to the new(ish) Belfast Grand Central Station, which has a somewhat different feel to the old station at Great Victoria Street.

1271

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 04/09/2026

We had the world-renowned 'Pipe Major's Breakfast' this morning at the Pipers' Tryst Restaurant inside the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. I intended to get some new drone reeds for my bagpipes but couldn’t resist getting a 'Chanter McDuck' while we were there.

0161

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 03/09/2026

The marble statue “Eve”, by the Italian artist Scipione Tadolini, sits inside the Kibble Palace glasshouse at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. It was moved here after previously being housed at the Kelvingrove Museum. There’s no better place to visit than the gardens for a free day out in Glasgow.

1152

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 01/09/2026

Don’t give me this meteorological Autumn nonsense. Autumn starts on September 23rd. Have another three weeks of Summer on me.

6465

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 31/08/2026

Today is the 29th anniversary of the greatest apology in the history of journalism.

212135

Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @davespenceruk.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We’ve had the car serviced and had new brake pads and discs fitted today which gave us time for a long walk along the River Lune to the remarkable Lune Aqueduct. It’s a Grade I listed building and carries the Lancaster Canal over the river.

1272

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 23/08/2026

I ran into Daniel from the Thaxted Morris Men while I was shouting at the Saddleworth Rushcart. He was impressed by my beard, and I felt the same about his, so I guess that’s pretty much a draw. You meet the most marvellous people at Rushcart, and the quality of the beards is second to none.

2281

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 22/08/2026

I’ve been doing some shouting at the Saddleworth Rushcart, and it was good to run into my old friend Lewis, who was dancing with Rutland, and his chum Joe who was dancing with Cambridge.

0221

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 17/08/2026

A bellow or a shout of town criers and bellmen in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire - though I’ve heard a “headache” is a more appropriate collective term.

0243

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 15/08/2026

It’s been a really excellent day at the Morecambe Maritime Festival. It was good to see so many friends from the volunteer rescue and sea shanty communities from right around the Lancashire coast.

0172

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 12/08/2026

Dave getting ready to view the eclipse by the Jubilee Tower in the Forest of Bowland. We had a panoramic view right across the coast to Morecambe Bay in the west. It was a pretty special experience for both of us.

1161

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 11/08/2026

Well, this was a little unexpected. I’ve been back on BBC Radio Lancashire for the first time since 2020. It’s 26 years since I first arrived in Blackburn to work at the station.

1361

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 10/08/2026

The remains of Ribchester’s Roman bathhouse beside the River Ribble in Lancashire. The medieval St Wilfrid’s Church stands on part of the site of the Roman fort of Bremetennacum, while the porch of the nearby White Bull pub is supported by four stone columns that are said to be Roman.

2243

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 09/08/2026

We had a bimble along the River Ribble to the beautiful St Wilfrid's Church in Ribchester. The building dates from the 13th century and is sited next to the Roman fort of Bremetennacum.

1181

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 05/08/2026

It’s going to be a busy one today, and it will begin with a blood test at the University Medical Practice.

0231

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 03/08/2026

Dave has done an amazing job with our hanging baskets this year.

0591

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 02/08/2026

Greetings from Preston Town Hall, from the new City Bellman.

2421

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 01/08/2026

I’ve performed my first official cry as the new Town Crier and Bellman of the City of Preston. It was lovely to be joined at the Wallace and Gromit bench by John and Gina, who I used to work with in the wild world of Lancashire radio.

0262

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 31/07/2026

I’m heading to the local Spar in Maybole in a thoroughly overdressed fashion. I guess you need to keep up appearances.

5621

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 29/07/2026

The ruins of Crossraguel Abbey, near Maybole in Ayrshire, viewed from the intact four-storey Abbot’s Tower House. A special shout-out to Paul from Historic Scotland for his awesome beard and for being a thoroughly nice guy.

0254

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 27/07/2026

I finally got the Chameleon Circuit in my TARDIS working. Did you know that police boxes in Glasgow were painted red, in contrast to the blue used elsewhere in the UK?

5627

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 26/07/2026

I’ve finally got to see the mural of St Mungo in Glasgow. The image depicts the city’s patron saint in modern clothing as a homeless man holding a robin, in a reference to one of his four legendary miracles.

12610126

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 25/07/2026

The Glasgow Necropolis is an astonishing Victorian cemetery on a hill near St Mungo's Cathedral in the city. Fifty thousand people are buried here in what’s been described as a city of the dead.

3372

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 22/07/2026

We always love visiting the Danny DeVito-themed Poppin’ Pizza in Irvine for their amazing chicken burgers.

0181

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 21/07/2026

We’re back in Dundee, which is one of my favourite cities. The Desperate Dan statue on the High Street celebrates Dundee’s heritage as the home of DC Thomson, the creators of the Dandy comic, where Dan first appeared in 1937.

3453

Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @davespenceruk.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

We’ve been hanging out with East Kilbride Women’s Rugby at Glasgow Pride. The club is nicknamed the Queen Bees, hence the rather adorable mascot.

0402

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 17/07/2026

The very essence of the spirit of Scotland in one image.

1475

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 16/07/2026

It’s good to get in some kilt time in the sunshine at Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast. The house served as the exterior location for Lord Summerisle’s mansion in the 1973 cult horror classic “The Wicker Man”.

3539

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 15/07/2026

The harbour and town at beautiful Portpatrick, on the Rhins of Galloway peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway, on the far south-west coast of Scotland. Turn around and you can see the coast of Northern Ireland, which has me salivating at the thought of Tayto crisps and Club Rock Shandy.

0232

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 14/07/2026

We’re in Thurso for our epic return journey from Scotland’s northernmost railway station to its southernmost, at Stranraer. We have changes at Inverness, Perth, Glasgow, and Kilmarnock. It should take almost exactly twelve hours-if it all goes to plan.

1351

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 13/07/2026

The MV Hamnavoe docked in Stromness Harbour on the Orkney Islands, ready to take us across the Pentland Firth to Scrabster on the Scottish mainland. I’ve always loved NorthLink Ferries’ brand identity, featuring “Magnus the Viking” with his outstretched hand.

1161

Reposted by Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 12/07/2026

The interior of St Magnus Cathedral at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands is a stunning example of Romanesque architecture. It’s the UK’s most northerly cathedral and was founded in 1137 by the Viking Earl Rognvald in honor of his uncle, Saint Magnus.

523128