Sign in

John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈

@johnbarnes.org
5.4K followers 2.5K following 186 posts

Freelance who reads the news on BBC Radio 5 Live & 40 BBC local radio stations from MediaCityUK in sunny Salford. Bewhiskered historian, folkie & geek. Bellman of the City of Preston. Husband of @davespenceruk.bsky.social. Director of @baysar.bsky.social

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈
Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Saying isn't doing. But Burnham lifted the omertà on: Electoral reform Wide-scale nationalisation Triple lock pension Brexit So now they're all in play. And that's all positive
2368276
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.
0311
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 27/09/2026
Much love to you Joe.
121
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 27/09/2026
That’s the vibe I was aiming for 😀
030
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.
626334
Reposted by John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈
Dave Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @davespenceruk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Paddington says hello.
3353
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.
0312
Reposted by John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Cowardice versus Courage Cruelty versus Compassion Fascists versus RNLI volunteers podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
They terrorised lifeboat volunteers for saving lives
Podcast Episode · James O'Brien Daily · 18 September · 1hr 3min
59561177
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.
2615
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.
0326
Reposted by John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈
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.
4895
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.”
1323
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 08/09/2026
Hello from Dublin. It’s always good to be back in the city.
0254
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.
1281
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
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
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 31/08/2026
Today is the 29th anniversary of the greatest apology in the history of journalism.
212135
Reposted by John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈
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
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
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
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
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 12/08/2026
The Jubilee Tower is just a couple of miles up the road from our place.
110
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 11/08/2026
It was a little unusual after such a long time, but I have read regular national network bulletins on the station from elsewhere.
020
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
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
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
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 03/08/2026
Yes it is. My official title is Town Crier and Bellman.
020
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 03/08/2026
Dave has done an amazing job with our hanging baskets this year.
0591
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 02/08/2026
Greetings from Preston Town Hall, from the new City Bellman.
2421
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
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 31/07/2026
How marvellous 😀
020
John Angus Spencer-Barnes 🏳️‍🌈 @johnbarnes.org · 31/07/2026
A great compliment. Thank you!
120
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
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
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
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.
12611126
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
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
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