Last month, Collins Dictionary unveiled its word of the year: “lockdown”, defined as “the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interaction and access to public spaces”. As Collins…

The Christmas season is upon us, and in this year of all years, it feels needful. The festive season may promote a range of responses, from cynicism to cheer, but this year we need all the light and…

No one needs a newsflash to be aware that times are unconventional. To say everything is different is an understatement. The phrase ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’ takes on new meaning…

Most schools and many institutions lay claim to a set of values. At their worst, these can be absurd: well-meaning or virtue-signalling boasts that bear no apparent relation to the actual business in…

Last weekend, as news networks declared that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden had won the US 2020 election, I reflected on why his win was historic. Not only did he garner more votes than…