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Harold Bishop

Harold Wayne Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Smith. The character was loosely based on the UK’s Jon, and to a lesser extent his younger brother, Jim White. Smith was offered the role by the show's creator and executive producer Reg Watson. Smith made his first screen appearance as Harold during the episode broadcast on 30 January 1987. He departed in September 1991, but returned five years later in October 1996. Harold remained on screen for over twelve years, making him one of the longest-running characters in the show's history.

Smith announced his departure from Neighbours in August 2008. Following a cancer storyline, Harold made his final appearance on 27 February 2009. In December 2010, Smith revealed that he would be reprising his role and Harold returned on 9 May 2011. During his brief return stint, Harold married Carolyn Johnstone (Paula Duncan), a storyline that was suggested by Smith. The character of Harold has been well received by critics and Smith earned various award nominations for his performance, including the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Logie Award. Harold returned again in February 2015, ahead of the show's 30th anniversary. Smith reprised his role for the show's finale and began filming in February 2022. Harold returned to the role for a guest arc as part of the series' continuation, via Amazon Freevee. On 18 September 2023, Harold returned in episode 8904, and departed again on 10 October 2023. He returned to the show on a permanent basis on 28 May 2024.

Casting
The show's creator and then executive producer Reg Watson offered Ian Smith the role of Harold, following the end of his television drama Prisoner, with which Smith had been a script editor and associate producer. After agreeing to the role, Smith also asked if he could write for the show too. Smith was only supposed to be in Neighbours for five weeks, but a couple of weeks after he had finished filming, Smith was asked back. Smith admitted that he was not prepared for how popular the show would become, saying "I naively thought I was signing on for a frothy little soap that would come and go as most of them do. I had no inkling of the international success that lay in store for Neighbours." Comedian Peter Moon revealed in 2009 that he had originally auditioned for the role of Harold. Moon said "Ian Smith beat me to it, so it is kind of weird thinking about the life I could have had. When I auditioned, I went into wardrobe and they gave me a pair of shoes to wear that had Harold written on them". Moon was eventually given a role with the soap twenty years later.

Characterisation
In his fictional backstory, Harold was a stock and station agent, who married a woman called Mavis. The couple had two children, David (Kevin Harrington) and Kerry (Linda Hartley-Clark). After Mavis's death, Harold was left to cope with his teenage children alone. He had a close relationship with David, but Kerry rebelled against Harold's conservative ways and she left to travel the world. David later moved to Adelaide.

Harold is described as being "indecisive, considerate, stuffy and reserved." Harold is a Christian and never misses church on Sunday, he was also once an "enthusiastic" Scout leader. Due to his ways, Harold would not live with Madge Ramsay (Anne Charleston) until they were married. Virgin Media said Harold is "prim and proper" and "an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy." They also state he is the complete opposite of Madge and add he is "famed for his vegetarian ways, tee-total habits and fastidiousness and moralising" Harold's hobbies include playing the tuba, giving his time to the Salvation Army and birdwatching. Smith hated playing the tuba and wished the producers would have given Harold a mouth organ instead. He said "I think they thought, 'Here's a big fat actor, let's give him a big fat instrument. That'll be funny!'." Harold also briefly has a comedic alter ego named "Afro Harold." Smith told Inside Soap in 1999 that Harold's "pessimism and pontificating" really got to him, but he agreed with Harold's moral outlook on life.

In 2003, Harold had a stroke and his personality changed. He left the Salvation Army, became a "peeping tom", started drinking alcohol and he pinched Izzy Hoyland's (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) bottom. Smith researched strokes and how they affect a person's psyche after becoming concerned that Harold's behaviour would stretch his character's credibility too much. Harold later recovered and returned to his previous ways. Network Ten dubbed Harold the "undisputed patriarch of Erinsborough" and the heart and soul of the community.

Friendship with Lou Carpenter
Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) was initially Harold's "nemesis" and rival for Madge's affections. They had both fallen for Madge while they were all at school together. Lou arrives in Ramsay Street to steal Madge from Harold before she marries him, but he cannot stop the wedding and he leaves. Lou later returns and becomes friends with Harold. Oliver said that some reviewers had likened Lou and Harold's relationship to Laurel and Hardy and The Odd Couple. The Courier-Mail said Harold and Lou's friendship was one of their favourite "bromances" on television. They said their most bromantic moment was "When Harold returned to Erinsborough, after being feared drowned for many years, he had no memory of his old life. But when Lou served him jelly one night Harold suddenly remembered how Lou used to tease him at school by calling him "Jelly Belly" and, presto, his memory was restored." Harold is imprisoned after a case of mistaken identity and Lou raises the money for his bail.

Harold later donates a kidney to Lou and they go into business together, founding the General Store. Harold and Lou both fall for Rosie Hoyland (Maggie Millar), which leads to some arguments and Harold destroying a love letter from Lou to Rosie. When Gino Esposito (Shane McNamara) moves in with Harold, the writers decided to tweak the "standard love triangle story" with Lou becoming jealous of the Gino and Harold's friendship. Harold and Gino get along very well and share a love of Broadway musical DVDs. Of this, Peter Mattessi of The Age said "The tension this created between Lou and Harold ("same-sex platonic life-partners", according to Toadie) was a wonderful storytelling twist, and the innuendo made Gino's sexuality clear to those in the know, yet avoided the questions from younger viewers which would jeopardise the G rating." After Smith announced his departure in 2008, Oliver was asked if Lou would be sad about his best friend's exit and he said "Oh yes, definitely, but the old rascals keep in touch all the time. It was a sad farewell. Not just in character, but for me and Ian [Smith] too".

Departure (1991)
Smith was written out in 1991. He told Inside Soap's Mary Fletcher: "I would love the luxury of saying it was my decision to leave, but it wasn't." His departure occurred amidst a ratings decline. Network Ten's executive John Holmes took control of a cast revamp; he introduced new characters and helped to write out Harold and seven other characters. Holmes believed the show had become "tired" and that introducing more "young and spunky" characters would improve the show's future. Smith later explained that he was offered a new contract with a significant cut in salary, but he was not prepared to accept it. When he returned from a short holiday, he learned that Harold would be washed off a rock and presumed dead. Smith told Fletcher that he had been "pretty restless" for over a year, so he was not shocked by the development, and instead saw it as an opportunity to pursue other work. Harold's exit storyline saw him swept out to sea while he and Madge are visiting the coast. One minute he is standing on a rock, looking out over the sea, and the next he is gone. The character's exit was left "deliberately ambiguous", so Smith could return to the show if he wanted to. Smith said "Harold's body may have been washed out to sea long ago. On the other hand, he may be living happily under a false name somewhere else in Australia. Only time will tell."

Reintroduction (1996)
Smith returned to the role in 1996. He was initially asked to reprise the role for a three-month guest appearance. When the character's return proved popular with viewers, Smith was invited to re-join the regular cast along with Charleston. Smith admitted that he had a feeling he and Charleston would be asked back, explaining "The producers were already talking about new storylines for Harold and Madge – and they don't waste time with things like that unless there's a reason behind it!" Harold initially returns to Erinsborough alone to audition to become a tuba player in the Salvation Army band, but it soon becomes apparent that there is another reason for his return. Smith said "he feels that Madge has to get away from Brisbane, where they're living at the moment. The reason why is a really human one, and one I think most of the viewers will agree with."

Harold became the second longest-running character in the show's history. Smith decided to go part-time on the show in 2007. He had been ready to depart Neighbours for good, but the producers did not want him to leave. They then offered him a compromise, which would see Smith film for six weeks and then have a four-month break. Smith said that he was "awfully glad" that the producers talked him into coming back and explained, "I'm not retiring, but I am walking away from having to work 13-hour days, day after day." Smith began appearing intermittently during 2008 and this forced the writers to take Harold in a new direction. Harold's first departure saw him leave Ramsay Street for a tour around Australia.

Prostate cancer and departure (2008–09)
In August 2008, it was announced that Smith had quit Neighbours. Paula Lucarelli of Network Ten said "When the discussions were made about his decision to go part-time last year, he said it was only going to be for a short time and then he would let us know. Production was aware that it would be coming." Smith began filming his final scenes in October of that year for a departure in February 2009. Smith revealed that he quit Neighbours, so he could travel more and because he was getting "ongoing abuse" from local people.

Chris Irvine from The Daily Telegraph reported that Harold would leave Erinsborough after winning a fight with prostate cancer. After Harold returned from a road trip, he accompanied Lou to see Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Karl suggested Harold should have a check-up and Harold was later diagnosed with prostate cancer, which needed immediate medical attention. Due to Harold's Christian beliefs and the loss of Madge to cancer, he believed that the diagnosis was "fate trying to reunite them" and he refused treatment. Fletcher said "Harold obviously has a lot of things to think about. He had to weigh up his belief that he'll be reunited with Madge against the love he feels for his friends and family who are still alive. It's a very difficult situation to be in." Harold shut everyone out of his life as he tried to cope with the news. After speaking to neighbour and fellow cancer sufferer, Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner), Harold eventually agreed to have surgery and underwent chemotherapy treatment.

While cheering up Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie) at the General Store, Harold had a heart attack, which left him fighting for his life. His friends and neighbours held a 24-hour vigil at the hospital hoping he would pull through. Harold later flat-lined and Karl, despite knowing it could get him into trouble with the hospital authorities, went against Harold's wish to not be resuscitated. Fletcher commented "Harold's heart stops beating, so Karl chooses to override his wishes and bring him back to life. As he fears, Harold is furious with him when he regains consciousness, insisting that he wanted to be reunited with his beloved wife, Madge, who died of cancer. Because of Karl's actions, Harold feels as though Madge has been taken away from him twice." Harold forgave Karl for saving him, but made it clear that he no longer wanted to live. Harold eventually recovered and he decided to leave Erinsborough to go and live with his granddaughter. Smith's final scenes as Harold were broadcast on 27 February 2009 in Australia. During an interview with Digital Spy, executive producer Susan Bower said she regretted choosing not to kill Harold during the cancer storyline due to the attention his impending exit had garnered, but she remained pleased that the character was still alive. She added "we've got a lovely photograph of him in the store and we named the store after Harold, at least means that his spirit will always live on."

Guest returns (2011–2023)
In December 2010, cast member Ryan Moloney revealed to TV Week that Smith would be returning to Neighbours in 2011. Moloney said Smith would appear "for a little bit" and it was later reported by the Herald Sun that Smith would return for six weeks. Smith began filming his comeback scenes in February 2011. He told Holy Soap that he was surprised when he was asked to return to Neighbours and after talking with his wife, they agreed that he should go back for a brief stint. Smith later revealed that he was returning to work because he had suffered during the recession and wanted to earn some money. He also said that the chance to play Harold again was "appealing" and that he did not get a chance to say a proper goodbye to him. Smith vowed that it would be his last return to the show, as he and his wife have plans to travel through central Australia.

Harold returned on 9 May 2011. His return storyline saw him come back to Ramsay Street to help a friend. Smith said that viewers will think they know who it is, but they would be wrong. Smith said "And of course there's human pathos, there's laughs – lots of laughs – [and] a little bit of romance, but I'm not saying who for, because I don't think she/he would like me to let it out. Look, there's a little bit of everything, but the thing is it's all a happy ending and it couldn't be better, and I loved it." Smith pitched one idea for Harold's return and he said that it would be interesting to revisit the character once more. A few months later it was revealed that Harold comes back to Erinsborough after receiving a call for help from Toadfish Rebecchi. Not all of Harold's help is "received as graciously as it's given" and Harold's new relationship with Carolyn Johnstone (Paula Duncan) was not welcomed by some of the neighbours. Smith told Sarah from Inside Soap that when the producers asked him if there was a particular storyline he would like to play, he suggested that Harold should get married and so he returns engaged. Harold's news was not well received by his best friend Lou.

On 16 November 2014, it was announced that Smith had reprised his role for Neighbours' 30th anniversary in 2015. It was also confirmed that Harold would be reunited with his deceased wife Madge, who was thought to appear as a ghost. Smith initially had some doubts about returning to Neighbours again, as he was unsure if he remembered what to do. He said "I worried about remembering the words for starters, and the first scene I remembered the words but I forgot to act. But it's like falling off the horse. The old horse remembered me and I remembered it and we were fine." Smith also said he was sceptical about the storyline with Madge, believing that it would be "one of those American arising from the dead" plots, but after it was explained to him, he thought it had been "cleverly handled" and revealed that it had been dreamt up by Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy).

Harold made his on-screen return during the episode broadcast on 17 February 2015. Harold was reunited with his old friends, Toadie and Lou. When Toadie notices that Harold is quick to change the subject whenever Carolyn is brought up and that he is carrying around a picture of Madge in his wallet, Toadie suspects Harold is hiding something. After calling Carolyn, Toadie learns that she and Harold have broken up. Harold admits that he and Carolyn were not quite the soul mates he has thought they were. He also tells Lou that he was embarrassed as his life was not perfect. Harold gives Madge's grandson Daniel (Tim Phillipps) advice about his future wedding to Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow), as he wants Daniel to have realistic expectations about marriage.

In February 2022, Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap reported that Smith would be reprising his role to play a part in the show's finale, and that he had already started filming. A week later, Smith's co-star Alan Fletcher confirmed Harold's return, as he spoke about show's final episodes on This Morning. On 7 May, Smith spoke about reprising his role for the final episodes airing later that year, saying: "It's an absolute pleasure to be back. I'm the biggest sook under the sun. I'm going to be shocking on the last night that Neighbours airs. It really will be an end of an era and I am so proud to have been a part of it." Harold returned on 18 July in Australia and on 6 July in the UK. He makes a "surprise arrival" in Erinsborough, where he befriends Zara Selwyn (Freya Van Dyke) who shares his concerns about her mother Amy Greenwood (Jacinta Stapleton), and Toadie and Melanie Pearson's (Lucinda Cowden) engagement. Harold also helps counsel a grieving Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) by opening up about his own experiences with grief.

In February 2023, Variety announced Smith's return to the series in a guest capacity.

Permanent return (2024)
On 8 April 2024, it was announced that Smith would return to the series on a permanent basis. Joe Anderton of Digital Spy expressed surprise at the announcement, as Smith had stated his desire to retire the previous year. Smith later clarified that he had agreed to work on the series one day per week. Harold will return to the series on 28 May. On-screen, Harold returns to Erinsborough to live at the Eirini Rising retirement complex. Smith ascribed Harold's move to sentimentality, noting that he feels closer to Madge when in Erinsborough.

1987–1991
Madge's daughter, Charlene (Kylie Minogue), calls Harold and invites him to Erinsborough to see Madge. Harold surprises Madge when he arrives on her doorstep and he is keen to rekindle their romance. Harold decides to settle in the area and he opens a health food shop and moves in with Nell Mangel (Vivean Gray), who secretly admires Harold, as he is a churchgoer like she is. Harold proposes to Madge, but he calls off the wedding when Charlene wants to move in with Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) out of wedlock, and Madge throws her ring in Lassiter's Lake. Harold takes over the Coffee Shop when Daphne Clarke (Elaine Smith) goes on maternity leave. Daphne dies and Harold stays on as permanent manager; he also writes for the Erinsborough News.

Eileen Clarke (Myra De Groot) spreads rumours that Harold is a lady-killer and when Harold discovers that people are talking about him, he tries to leave town. Charlene tells Harold that she has not finished working on his brakes, but he does not listen and crashes his car. Harold breaks both arms and Madge realises that she loves Harold and they resume their engagement. Lou Carpenter arrives in town and declares his love for Madge, Harold punches him during a fight. Madge chooses Harold and they marry. Harold saves Des Clarke's (Paul Keane) life and Des offers him a partnership in the Coffee Shop. Harold and Madge later buy Des out.

Kerry shows up and Harold is shocked to find out that she had had a child out of wedlock, but he is delighted to be a grandfather to Sky (Miranda Fryer). Harold invites Kerry to move in with him and Madge. Harold is initially against Kerry's relationship with Joe Mangel (Mark Little), but he sees how much Joe loves her and Sky and gives their relationship his blessing. Joe and Kerry marry and Joe's son, Toby (Finn Greentree-Keane) calls Harold "grandad". Harold and Madge win the lottery and take a trip around the world, they meet Eddie Buckingham (Bob La Castra) in England and he comes home with them. Kerry is shot and killed by a duck hunter, which devastates Harold. He develops a stronger bond with Joe as a result. Harold has a heart attack when he discovers that Madge has invited Lou to stay. Harold and Madge decide to go on holiday. During a walk on a coastal path, Madge stops to talk to a painter and when she looks around, Harold is nowhere to be seen. Madge finds Harold's glasses at the edge of a cliff and his body is not found.

1996–2015
Five years later, it is revealed that Harold was swept out to sea and picked up by a trawler. He has amnesia and calls himself Ted. He works for the Salvation Army after they helped him start a new life. Harold turns up in Ramsay Street to collect some boxes from Marlene Kratz (Moya O'Sullivan). As Harold leaves, he bumps into Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) who is shocked to see him. She tries to track him down and leaves her number for Harold at the Salvation Army shop. Harold calls Helen and comes to see her, but he becomes frustrated as he does not remember the things she tells him and leaves. Helen calls Madge, who had moved away, to tell her that Harold is alive and Madge flies to Erinsborough. Marlene invites Harold to join her for lunch at the Coffee Shop, where Helen, Lou and Madge are waiting. Harold recognises Madge, but he has no idea that she is his wife until she tells him everything. Harold starts counselling and his memory returns. Harold and Madge renew their wedding vows and they move to Queensland. Harold returns to Erinsborough to play the tuba in a Salvation Army concert and he rents his old house. He and Madge eventually move back and they buy the Coffee Shop. Harold befriends Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer) and he and Madge foster him. They later foster Paul's friend, Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) too. Harold and Madge decide to take over the running of Grease Monkeys, but they later sell the business.

Madge is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given six months to live, which devastates Harold. Madge develops septicaemia and Karl tells Harold that Madge only has a short time left. Madge dies in Harold's arms. Both Paul and Tad leave and Lou moves in. Rosie Hoyland (Maggie Millar) arrives and Harold and Lou become rivals for her love, but she tells Harold that she just wants to be friends. Harold then finds himself rejecting Valda Sheergold's (Joan Sydney) advances. Harold tries a dating agency and starts dating Ruby Dwyer (Maureen Edwards), though she is just using him for money. Harold donates a kidney to Lou and when he is released from hospital, he discovers that his house has been burgled. He discovers that it was Ruby, but he tries to help her gambling problem and she later leaves to see her son.

Sky returns to see Harold and he is shocked to find that she is now a rebellious teenager with black and blue hair. Harold offers to tell her more about Kerry and he introduces her to Boyd Hoyland (Kyal Marsh). David, his wife, Liljana (Marcella Russo) and their daughter, Serena (Lara Sacher) also come to town. Harold is unhappy at David's behaviour, the way Liljana takes over his kitchen and how Serena is spoilt. Harold and David make up and Harold invites him to move in with him and Sky. Harold has a stroke and his personality changes. Harold becomes rude and selfish, he starts eating meat and drinking and he leaves the Salvation Army. Harold later recovers and goes back to normal. A fire sweeps through the Lassiter's Complex and burns the Coffee Shop to the ground. He sets up a temporary Coffee Shop at the Community Hall with Paul Robinson's (Stefan Dennis) help. Harold goes into business with Lou and they open the General Store. Joe returns and stays with Harold.

Sky, David, Liljana and Serena are involved in a plane crash. Sky is found and days later David's body is recovered. Liljana and Serena are never found. Harold goes into denial and punches Joe, Sky tells him that she needs him and he snaps out of it. Harold blames Paul Robinson for David, Liljana and Serena's deaths and he strangles Paul from behind. Paul survives and Harold later confesses to Paul, who does not press charges. Harold leaves town for a little while and on his return, he discovers that Sky is pregnant. Harold has a brief romance with Loris Timmins (Kate Fitzpatrick) and Sky gives birth to a daughter, Kerry (Claudine Henningsen). Sky moves away to be with Kerry's father and Harold throws himself into work at the General Store. He later decides to pack up and travel around the country. Harold meets Kate Newton (Briony Behets) and they briefly stop over in Erinsborough, before leaving together.

Harold returns for Christmas and goes for a checkup. He is shocked when Karl tells him that he has prostate cancer and needs urgent treatment. Harold does not take the news well, but Karl eventually convinces him to fight. Harold has an operation and begins chemotherapy after speaking to Stephanie Scully. Harold later has a heart attack and Karl ignores his wishes not to be resuscitated. Harold's cancer goes into remission and he decides to go and be with Sky. He gives his home to the Salvation Army and says goodbye to Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) when she sees him taking photos of Ramsay Street. The next day he says goodbye to everyone else and drives out of town. When he stops for tea, he discovers that Lou has been hiding in his camper van and they continue the journey together.

Two years later, Harold returns to Ramsay Street after receiving a call for help from Toadie, who is dealing with the news that his girlfriend Sonya Mitchell (Eve Morey) is the mother of his adopted son, Callum (Morgan Baker). Harold advises Toadie to be more forgiving and speak with Sonya. Harold meets Troy Miller (Dieter Brummer), but fails to pass his number onto Toadie as he thinks he has enough to deal with. After taking some secret calls, Harold tells Toadie that he is engaged to Carolyn Johnstone, a businesswoman. Harold witnesses a kiss between Sonya and Troy. Carolyn arrives and she and Harold confront Troy together. She also suggests that she and Harold get married in Erinsborough. Lou returns to town and is reunited with Harold. Lou does not get along with Carolyn and thinks she is stuck up. After they argue about Harold's bucks night, Harold gets Lou and Carolyn to compromise on a joint party at Charlie's. Troy physically threatens Harold, who tells Toadie.

On his wedding day, Harold visits Madge's grave to get her blessing. He and Carolyn then get married. Harold and Carolyn later return for their honeymoon and tell Lou that he has taken on too much at the car yard and that he needs to slow down. Lou does not listen to them and he later collapses. Harold tells Lou to start taking his health seriously and Lou announces his intentions to sell the car yard. Shortly before they leave, Callum asks Harold and Carolyn for their help in getting Sonya to move back in. Harold talks to Toadie, who thinks it might be too soon. After saying their goodbyes to Lou, Harold and Carolyn are informed that Toadie and Sonya are moving back in together. Toadie thanks Harold and he and Carolyn leave.

Harold returns to Ramsay Street for Daniel Robinson's wedding and the Erinsborough Festival. Harold catches up with Toadie and Lou. He tells them Carolyn could not accompany him as she is working, but then changes the subject when she is brought up again. Harold later makes a phone call to Carolyn and tells her he will send on her things. Harold asks Toadie to help him change his will and after Toadie calls Carolyn, he learns that she and Harold have split up. Harold tells Toadie that he and Carolyn drifted apart after realising that they were not soulmates after all. Harold befriends Sheila Canning (Colette Mann), who flirts with him. Harold begins thinking about Madge and starts to hear her voice. He becomes distracted while driving and crashes through the Erinsborough Festival. When he wakes, he sees Madge sitting beside him. She appears to him again and they converse about all the events Madge has missed and Daniel's wedding.

Madge disapproves of Daniel's fiancée and believes he is better suited to Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan). Harold then tells Daniel that marrying Amber would be a mistake and Daniel bans him from coming to the wedding. Madge encourages Harold to go on a date with Sheila and they bond over their families. But Harold later tells Madge that she is the only one for him. Harold tells Susan about Madge and she advises him to live in the present. Sky asks Harold to give up his nomadic lifestyle and move to Port Douglas to help out with her children. He agrees after Sky mentions Madge came to her in a dream, believing it to be a good idea. Harold takes a last look at Number 24 with Madge, who tells him she will not be coming with him. He leaves after saying goodbye to his friends.

2022–present
Seven years later, Harold makes a surprise visit to the Kennedys, where he meets Mackenzie Hargreaves and expresses his sorrow for the loss of her husband, Hendrix Greyson (Ben Turland). Karl and Susan invite Harold to stay with them, before he visits the café and meets Jane Harris (Annie Jones) and her children Nicolette Stone (Charlotte Chimes) and Byron Stone (Joe Klocek). Harold visits Toadie's house and enters just as Zara Selwyn is questioning her mother Amy Greenwood about whether she has feelings for Toadie. Karl and Susan soon turn up and Toadie returns to announce that he and Melanie Pearson are engaged. Zara notices Harold does not look happy with the news and he admits that he has concerns. Zara is convinced that Toadie and Amy would make a better couple, and tells Harold that if he really cares about Toadie, he will help her break Toadie and Melanie up. Harold asks Amy's opinion of Melanie and her relationship with Toadie's children, but she assures him that Melanie is great with them.

Harold admits to Mackenzie that in addition to seeing Karl, Susan and Toadie, he came to Erinsborough for her. He talks to her about keeping hold of the memories she has of Hendrix and tells her about the visions he had of Madge. He encourages her to talk to Hendrix and reckons he and Madge would get on well. Zara later tells Harold about Melanie's issues with Sonya's presence around the house and her initial rejection of Toadie's proposal. When Harold says that he will not act as a matchmaker for Amy and Toadie, Zara asks whether he can stand back and do nothing. Melanie asks Harold if he is avoiding her and then asks him to make a toast at her wedding, but he makes an excuse not to. He tells Melanie that he has his reservations about the wedding and is worried about Toadie's children, as she hurt his grandchildren deeply when she left Joe. Harold privately tells Melanie that he is worried that she will treat Toadie's children the same as Joe's children and Melanie spends the engagement party staying away from him, before she tells Toadie what he said. Harold is then kicked out of the party. Harold calls Joe and he admits that he stretched the truth at the time and that his kids missed Melanie once she left. Harold explains to Toadie and Melanie, and the three make up. Harold also admits that he knew that Amy liked Toadie once the truth about her crush is revealed. Harold is left devastated when the Ramsay Street history book is destroyed, but is surprised when Levi Canning (Richie Morris) and Freya Wozniak (Phoebe Roberts) offer him the first entry in the new history book they have made. Harold goes to Toadie and Melanie's wedding and their reception on Ramsay Street, where he sees Scott and Charlene have returned, and Harold parties with the street's residents.

Two years later, Harold is once again visiting Ramsay Street for Toadie's wedding to Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou), and staying with Karl and Susan. He begins to experience lapses in memory and moments of confusion, leading Karl to fear he is suffering from dementia. However, it is eventually discovered that his symptoms are being caused by a change in his medication. Harold departs to take a rail trip with Karl. The following year, Terese establishes the Eirini Rising retirement complex in Erinsborough, and Harold decides to purchase a unit and return to the area. After several incidents occur within the Eirini Rising complex, including his very own tuba being stolen, Harold's granddaughter, Sky, flies down from Port Douglas wanting to take Harold back up north where he is safe. However, Harold refuses to do so as he simply wishes to remain in Erinsborough, given the connections he has with the community. Harold is then voted by the Eirini Rising residents as president, despite not campaigning for the election. Terese and Susan reveal to him that he is a popular, well-respected person amongst the residents.

Reception
Smith has earned various award nominations for his role as Harold. At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, he was nominated for "Funniest Performance". The following year saw Smith nominated for "Funniest Performance" again and "Best Actor". In 2009, Smith was once again nominated for "Funniest Performance" and "Best Storyline" for Harold's cancer. That same year he was nominated for the "Most Popular Personality" and "Most Popular Actor" Logie Awards.

Television critic Charlie Brooker praised the character of Harold in 2005, saying "Thank God then, for Harold Bishop, who looks precisely the same as he always did – just slightly more so. His is probably the friendliest face on television – a cross between 10 Toytown mayors and a baby". Virgin Media included Harold in their top ten favourite soap characters poll in 2007. They also express that he's become "one of the most popular Ramsey Street residents." After listing his many storylines, Paul Kalina of The Age asked whether there were any plot devices left for the writers to give Harold. He went on to say that Harold's 2008 exit was "a criminally low-key send-off for Neighbours' most colourful and longest-standing cast member. For the best part of two decades, Harold was the moral compass of Ramsay Street, a paragon of the decent-in-a-sliced-white-bread-kind-of-way and nostalgic ideals that distinguishes the squeaky clean Neighbours from a legion of more temperate television soaps." Kalina added that the writers had "better be working up something damned good for when Harold returns." Tony Squires from The Sydney Morning Herald branded Harold a "classically over-the-top character". Ethan Sills of The Spin Off called Harold "the show's God-fearing, tuba-playing version of Alf Stewart".

Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture expressed her sadness over Harold's cancer storyline saying, "Poor Jellybelly. There might have been a little bit of tear-shedding this week at his cancer diagnosis and trip to Madge's grave. We love you Hazza! The current web campaigns to get Ian Smith a golden logie after 20 years on Neighbours also have our support, in a very nominal kind of way." Of his 2009 departure, Deller said "Actor Ian Smith is retiring, which is the kind of behaviour we expect from normal people, not soap stars. He and his wife are going to be 'grey nomads' – the term for Australians who spend their retirement travelling the country in trailer homes. And in a case of art imitating life, that's exactly what Hazza will be doing. [..] To be fair, although I'm sad to see old Jelly Belly depart, it's a nice way to go: much better than him having a second screen death, or moving to live with the whiny Sky. Considering that Harold has had one of the most tragic lives of any Ramsay Street resident (two dead wives, two dead children, a dead grandchild, a dead daughter in law, being missing presumed dead for several years, watching Sky turn from fierce funky teen to moaning nymphomaniac, becoming insane and murderous, being conned by a variety of unscrupulous women and so on), giving him a happy ending is even sweeter." Sarah Megginson of SheKnows placed Harold's departure on her "8 Most Memorable Neighbours Moments".

In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, British Sky Broadcasting profiled twenty-five characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series' history. Harold was included in the list and they describe him as having no luck in life, they added "Harold Bishop is proof that bad things happen to good people. Harold made Helen Daniels look like a manipulative harpy, and yet the universe still conspired to sweep him out to sea, give him amnesia for several years, and to give his wife Madge terminal cancer. This is all tear-jerking stuff, but the death of his son David's family in a plane crash and Harold subsequently putting a brave face on the situation turned the end of three unloved characters into one of the soap's saddest storylines in years." In April 2012, Harold was immortalised in wax for the Madame Tussauds attraction in Darling Harbour.

Harold was placed at number four on the Huffpost's "35 greatest Neighbours characters of all time" feature. Journalist Adam Beresford described him "a tuba-playing Salvation Army volunteer" and a "prim and proper [...] old-fashioned fusspot who became the heart and soul of Neighbours." They branded Harold's marriage to Madge and friendship with Lou a "classic partnerships". Beresford branded Harold's return from the dead the "best soap resurrection since Bobby Ewing" from Dallas. He concluded that "we still miss old Jelly Belly." In 2021, Harold was placed ninth in a poll ran via soap fansite "Back To The Bay", which asked readers to determine the top ten most popular Neighbours characters. In 2022, Kate Randall from Heat included Harold and Madge in the magazine's top ten Neighbours characters of all time feature. Randall profiled the duo stating "love's old dream, these two were everything we adored about Neighbours." She added that she was "thankful" he returned from the dead "along with his tuba". In a feature profiling the "top 12 iconic Neighbours characters", critic Sheena McGinley of the Irish Independent placed Harold and Madge as joint tenth place. Lorna White from Yours profiled the magazine's "favourite Neighbours characters of all time" which featured Harold on the list. A reporter from The Scotsman included Harold's return from the dead as one of the show's top five moments in its entire history. Sam Strutt of The Guardian compiled a feature counting down the top ten most memorable moments from Neighbours. Strutt listed Harold's disappearance at sea as the second most memorable. A Herald Sun reporter included Harold being widowed and his 2015 return in their "Neighbours' 30 most memorable moments" feature. They also included his 1991 lost at sea departure, of which they opined "to this day, the most talked about exit on Neighbours."

title: Harold Bishop


text:
Craster

Craster is a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast of England, 8 mile from Alnwick. The next village to the north is Embleton. It is within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Geography
The walk along the coast to the south passes by Cullernose Point, an example of the basaltic cliffs which are a significant feature of the local landscape, and are part of the Whin Sill. The walk along the rocky shore to the north along leads to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

History
The remains of a tower on the end of the harbour are all that can be seen now of the much taller building which was part of the overhead equipment which used to convey the local stone from where it was quarried to boats in the harbour. The disused quarry is now a car park.

A mile to the west, Dunstan Hall is a mansion incorporating a medieval pele tower, now used as holiday accommodation.

A small distance inland lies Craster Tower, the home of the Craster family who were the local lords of the manor. A memorial on the harbour wall commemorates Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster, who was killed in Tibet on 28 June 1904.

For many years, the village has had a herring-curing business: Craster kippers are well known around the world.

During the Second World War, the Heughs, north of Craster, were home to a Coastal Defence/Chain Home radar station.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Craster


text:
Talk:Prime minister of the Netherlands

Data merged into Politics of the Netherlands

Both entries contained table of cabinets since 1945. New table combines details from both entries. Small introductory text also added there. Erik Zachte

Move discussion in progress
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title: Talk:Prime minister of the Netherlands


text:
Talk:Isaac D'Israeli

Untitled

 * You're right, Isis ("I know I'm right," I hear you say), he did write a book on history - although his doctorate was in Civil Law. However, he is only now remembered for the snappy quotations from his collections of anecdotes, and I do feel that his interest in Commines was as a literary figure, not as a historian - which of course Commines was not. Deb

Your graciousness in posting this message is awesome. I've become interested in D'Israeli only within the past year, and just bought my copy of Curiosities this summer, and the fact that his son's glory has so overshadowed his accomplishments has me more than a little miffed (although I've long been a fan of his son, too). As the unsigned biography of him in that book points out, the reason Curiosities was so popular when it was written was: "It was the first revelation to the English people that they possessed materials for historical and critical investigations hardly inferior in value to the celebrated Memoirs of the French." I had not realized until I read the book that his so-called "anecdotes" were not fictional but actually mini-essays in history, footnoted and identifying the source documents D'Israeli consulted and, in many cases, refuting what other "historians" had said on the subject by identifying the documents that contradict their conclusions. (And, yes, his doctorate was in law, which honorary degrees usually are, but it was awarded to him for his biographical works on the Stuarts, on whom he was a recognized expert, not for his popular writings.) So when you refused to hear him called a "historian" while other authors (like Thomas B. Costain and Antonia Fraser) of both popular fiction and history are still called "historians" all the time, it did have me thinking unkind thoughts of you. So will you at least allow him to be called what one biographer said he was, a "literary historian," if you won't go for "author and historian"? -- isis 03:41 Oct 20, 2002 (UTC)

 * What IS interesting is that none of the British books I referred to contained any mention of him having written a book on history. It was only in an American book that I found the information - what does that tell us, I wonder?  I'm aware that, by most people's definition, this makes him a "historian".  It also makes Alison Weir one.  It even makes me one, and I reject it as a description of myself.  What I really want to know, though, is what D'Israeli's source was for the Commines story. -- Deb
 * Sorry for jumping in a couple years late, but Robert Blake's biography of Benjamin mentions Isaac's history of Charles I, and suggests that it was well-received at the time. Mackensen (talk) 13:31, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

All I have is Curiosities itself (which, by the way, I bought on eBay from someone in England), so I may be quoting what you already know: He says Commines's "violent enmity to the Duke of Burgundy" is clear from Commines's Memoirs; he doesn't specify the source documents for the boot-throwing: "has been traced by the minute researchers of anecdotes" is all he says in the article (but it may be referred to somewhere else in the book-- the fool thing has no organization at all, and the index is not very comprehensive), which I take to mean it is not a story Commines told on himself, although the bit about "wrote off his bile" about it in the Memoirs might mean he alluded to the incident. I'm guessing the source was the French "literature" D'Israeli immersed himself in when he went to Paris in 1786 to study the memoirs of all the old French writers, which seems to be what put him in mind to look at all the old English writings he could find, too.

Your not finding mention of his "serious" writings is just what I've been bitching about: His Portraiture of Judaism is said to have been a masterpiece of Jewish history and philosophy, and his book on Charles I was so good it got him the D.C.L. from Oxford, but even in his own time, all the public cared about was his Curiosities, which to him was just a collection of interesting historical facts he had picked up during years of reading. So if you start a fan club for him, please put me down as a charter member. -- isis 12:59 Oct 20, 2002 (UTC)

Money
It is often said that Isaac quarrelled with the Synagogue over money.

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Cartmel Priory

Cartmel Priory church serves as the parish church of Cartmel, Cumbria, England (formerly in Lancashire).

Foundation
The priory was founded in 1190 by William Marshal, created 1st Earl of Pembroke, intended for a community of the Augustinian Canons regular and was dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Michael.

To support the new house, William granted it the whole fief of the district of Cartmel. It was first colonised by a prior and twelve canons sent from Bradenstoke Priory in Wiltshire.

14th century
Between 1327 and 1347 a chapel with four traceried windows was provided by John Harington, 1st Baron Harington in the south choir aisle; his tomb, also containing his second wife, is in the building. The stonework on the tomb contains the Harrington coat of arms with the Harrington knot as well as the Dacre coat of arms with the scallop shells. The gatehouse, which apart from the church itself is the only surviving structure of the medieval priory, was built between 1330 and 1340.

15th and 16th centuries
In the 15th century extensive work was undertaken, in part due to damage (believed to be from subsidence) in the southern part of the complex. The original cloister was demolished and a new one built to the north of the priory church. In the east end of the church, the early lancet windows were replaced by one huge window of stained glass, misericords were installed in the choir, and the tower was extended. Unusually, the extension to the tower sits at a 45-degree angle to the base on which it rests, a feature believed to be unique in England. Work on the building continued intermittently into the 16th century, when the choir screen was constructed.

The 25 misericords date from 1440, and are of an exceptional quality. They include representation of the Green man, which with its three heads sprouting foliage is said to symbolize the devil.

Dissolution
The priory was surrendered by its then community of ten canons at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. An effect of the Pilgrimage of Grace was that the community was reinstated, one of perhaps 16 such cases. The prior, Richard Preston, had not thrown in his lot with resistance, but had fled to the Crown forces under Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby. He was to secure a parochial living to supplement his Crown pension. Others had a different fate. With the failure of the rising, as in other similar cases there came a brutal end for some, the subprior and several of the canons being hanged, along with ten villagers who had supported them.

The priory's ancient responsibility for providing a Guide over Cartmel Sands was transferred to the Duchy of Lancaster. Thomas Hogeson was appointed by the Duchy as the first official guide to the sands on 29 January 1548.

Parish Church
The Dissolution commissioners had instructions to "pull down to the ground all the walls of the churches, stepulls, cloysters, fraterys, dorters, chapter howsys" and all the rest. The materials were then to be sold for the profit of the Crown. These habitual procedures would have meant Cartmel Priory's church being demolished along with the rest of its buildings. However, in this case the founder William Marshal had given an altar within the church to the village, and provided a priest along with it. The villagers petitioned to be allowed to keep the church as it was their only place of worship, and this was granted.

17th century
Despite the villagers' being allowed to keep the church, the lead was stripped from the nave, and until 1618 when George Preston, a landowner at nearby Holker Hall, provided considerable finances to allow the roof to be reinstated, the villagers actually worshipped in the choir, rather than the nave of the church. In 1643 some Roundhead troops stayed in the village, stabling their horses in the church. Bullet holes from this time are still visible in the southwest door of the nave.

The nave was used after the Dissolution as a prison and later between 1624 and 1790 as a grammar school.

19th and 20th centuries
By 1830 the church was in need of repair again, and underwent a restoration, which has been described in the Edge Guide as "more enthusiastic than sympathetic". In 1850 a new panelled ceiling was inserted in the central part of the church, forming the belfry floor.

A further restoration was carried out in 1867 by E. G. Paley. The restoration was described in the Westmorland Gazette of 28 September 1867 "The old seats and galleries have been removed from the nave and transepts, which have been reseated with new benches of oak. The plaster and whitewash of succeeding centuries has been entirely taken off and cleaned from the walls, pillars, and arches of the church. The ancient massive open timbered roof of oak, which for centuries has been hid behind a plastered ceiling, has been uncovered and restored. The whole of the windows have been reglazed with Hartley’s cathedral glass. A new font, pulpit and reading-desk of stone have been added to the church. The font is square with moulded panels, carved and drapered work, and marble shaft. The pulpit is of octagonal design, supported by marble shafts, on three sides are moulded panels containing carved heads representing our Saviour, St. Peter, and St. Paul. A new organ has been erected in the town choir."

In 1923, the gatehouse became a museum, and was used for exhibitions, and meetings, before being presented in 1946  to the National Trust who continue to operate it as the "Cartmel Priory Gatehouse".

The church is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with those of St Mary, Allithwiate, St Peter, Field Broughton, St John the Baptist, Flookburgh, St Paul, Grange-over-Sands, Grange Fell Church, Grange-Over-Sands, and St Paul, Lindale, to form the benefice of Cartmel Peninsula. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

Organ
The pipe organ was installed in 1867 by F. Jardine of Manchester. The inauguration was recorded in the Westmorland Gazette of 28 September 1867: "The organ which has been built by Mr. Jardine of Manchester, had its capabilities tested by Mr. Stevens of Holy Trinity Church, Manchester. It had been intended where the rubric leaves it optional, whether any part shall be “said or sung” to have our beautiful church service sung by one of the finest choirs of Manchester, and the organ presided at by one of the most accomplished amateur players in the North of England. Arrangements having been made by Mr. Jardine for the attendance of Mr. Joule and his choir of St. Peter’s; but the Bishop has so strong an objection to musical services, and such strong fears of its effects on worshippers, that out of deference to his opinion the people of Cartmel were deprived of what would certainly have been, and what they had long been anticipating as a good treat."

The organ was rebuilt in 1969 by Rushworth and Dreaper of Liverpool and in 2005 by Principal Pipe Organs. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Bells
The church tower contains a ring of 6 bells. Four are new, dating from 1987 by Eijsbouts, with an old set of 4 bells (2 from 1661 and then 1726 and 1729) making an old 6 when combined with the 2 smaller bells of 1932 by John Taylor and Co.

Burials in the priory

 * John Harington, 1st Baron Harington
 * John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington

title: Cartmel Priory


text:
Malmesbury Abbey

Malmesbury Abbey, at Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England, is a former Benedictine abbey dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It was one of the few English religious houses with a continuous history from the 7th century through to the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Monastic history
In the later seventh century, the site of the Abbey was chosen by Máel Dub, an Irish monk who established a hermitage, teaching local children. Towards the end of his life, in the late seventh century, the area was conquered by the Saxons. Malmesbury Abbey was founded as a Benedictine monastery around 676 by the scholar-poet Aldhelm, a nephew of King Ine of Wessex. The town of Malmesbury grew up around the expanding Abbey and under Alfred the Great was made a burh, with an assessment of 12 hides.

In October 939 Æthelstan, king of Wessex and of the English, died in Gloucester, and in the year 941 his remains were buried in the Abbey. The choice of Malmesbury over the New Minster in Winchester indicated that the king remained an outsider to the West Saxon court. A mint was founded at the Abbey around this time.

The Abbey developed an illustrious reputation for academic learning under the rule of abbots such as Aldhelm, John Scotus Eriugena, Alfred of Malmesbury and Aelfric of Eynsham.

The Abbey was the site of an early attempt at human flight when, during the early 11th century, the monk Eilmer of Malmesbury attached wings to his body and flew from a tower. Eilmer flew over 200 yards (200 m) before landing, breaking both legs. He later remarked that the only reason he did not fly further was the lack of a tail on his glider.

The Domesday Book of 1086 says of the Abbey:
 * In Wiltshire: Highway (11 hides), Dauntsey (10 hides), Somerford Keynes (5 hides), Brinkworth (5 hides), Norton, near Malmesbury (5 hides), Brokenborough with Corston (50 hides), Kemble (30 hides—now in Glos.), Long Newnton (30 hides), Charlton (20 hides), Garsdon (3 hides), Crudwell (40 hides), Bremhill (38 hides), Purton (35 hides); (fn. 127) in Gloucestershire: Littleton - upon - Severn (5 hides); (fn. 128) and in Warwickshire: Newbold Pacey (3 hides). These lands were valued at £188 14s. in all and were assessed as 3 knights' fees.

The 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury was a monk at the Abbey.

Construction and structural collapse
The current Abbey was substantially completed by 1180. The 431 feet (131 m) tall spire, and the tower it was built upon, collapsed in a storm around 1500 destroying much of the church, including two-thirds of the nave and the transept.

Parish church
The abbey, which owned 23,000 acre in the twenty parishes that constituted the Malmesbury Hundred, was closed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII and was sold, with all its lands, to William Stumpe, a rich merchant. He returned the abbey church to the town for continuing use as a parish church, and filled the abbey buildings with up to 20 looms for his cloth-weaving enterprise.

The west tower fell around 1550, demolishing the three westernmost bays of the nave. As a result of these two collapses, less than half of the original building stands today. During the English Civil War, Malmesbury suffered extensive damage evidenced by hundreds of pock-marks left by bullets and shot which can still be seen on the south, west and east sides of the building.

In 1949, the church was designated as a Grade I listed building. Historic England added it to their Heritage at Risk Register in 2022, stating that the roofs of the nave and aisles were leaking and in need of repair.

Today Malmesbury Abbey is in full use as the parish church of Malmesbury, in the Diocese of Bristol. The remains still contain a fine parvise (a room over the porch) which holds some examples of books from the abbey library. The Anglo-Saxon charters of Malmesbury, though extended by forgeries and improvements executed in the abbey's scriptorium, provide source material today for the history of Wessex and the West Saxon church from the seventh century.

Vicars of St Paul's and the Abbey Church, Malmesbury
From 1301 until the mid-16th century, the parish church of Malmesbury was St. Paul's. This stood in what is now Birdcage Walk (its tower and steeple remains, and is now the Abbey belltower). In 1539 Malmesbury Abbey ceased to exist as a monastic community and in August 1541 Thomas Cranmer licensed the abbey church to replace St Paul's as the parish church of Malmesbury. In 1837 the ancient chapelries of Corston and Rodbourne were made into a separate parish, called St Paul Malmesbury Without, and St Mary Westport was united to the abbey church. • 1301 Reginald de Souple

• 1312 Roger Snell to Alynton

• 1332 Walter Drueys

• 1336 John de Ashebi

• 1348 Stephen de Tettebury

• 1353 Walter le Walker

• 1369 Richard de Lokenham

• 1379 John Oseborn

• 1387 Thomas Wibbe

• 1394 John Comeleygh

• 1428 William Butte

• 1439 Hugh Thomas

• 1462 William Sherewode

• 1497 Richard Chaunceller

• 1503 Thomas Long

• 1519 William Barlow

• 1535 Richard Turner

• 1544 John Aprice

• 1564 John Skinner

• 1565 James Procter

• 1566 Thomas Trinder

• 1567 John Sarney

• 1611 Matthew Watts

• 1616 Anthony Watson

• 1618 William Noble

• 1633 William Latimer

• 1649 Robert Harpur

• 1659 Simon Gawer

• 1664 John Hodges

• 1667 Nicholas Adee

• 1669 John Clarke

• 1676 John Binion

• 1701 Christopher Hanley

• 1705 Thomas Earle

• 1749 John Copson

• 1786 Henry Strong

• 1793 George Bisset

• 1829 Charles Pitt

• 1874 George Windsor Tucker

• 1920 Charles Paterson

• 1925 James Deade

• 1944 Arthur Beaghen

• 1975 Peter Barton

• 1994 David Littlefair

• 2004 Neill Archer

• 2018 Oliver Ross

Organ
The earliest organ was obtained in 1846 and had formerly stood in the church of St Benet Fink, Threadneedle Street, London; it had been manufactured in 1714 by Abraham Jordan. In 1938 a new organ was provided by Henry Willis, which had formerly been owned by Sir George Alfred Wills, Baronet of Bristol. Eventually it too was replaced.

The current organ dates from 1984 and was built by E.J. Johnson of Cambridge at a cost of £71,000. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Notable burials

 * Máel Dub, who founded the first monastic community in Malmesbury and gave his name to the town. His bones were cast out of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul by the Norman abbot Warin of Lyre, and relegated to a far corner of St. Michael's Church.
 * Aldhelm, first Bishop of Sherborne and saint
 * Æthelwine and Ælfwine, sons of Æthelweard (son of Alfred)
 * Æthelstan, regarded as the first king of England. He was buried in the tower, under the altar of St. Mary. According to William of Malmesbury, Æthelstan's body was disinterred in the 11th century and reburied in the abbot's garden (now Abbey House Gardens) to avoid Norman desecration. He is commemorated by an empty 15th-century tomb in the north aisle.
 * Daniel, Bishop of Winchester
 * Hannah Twynnoy, supposedly the first person to be killed by a tiger in England, is buried in the churchyard, her gravestone inscribed with a poem. She was killed on 23 October 1703 after teasing a tiger in a menagerie stabled in the White Lion public house where she worked.
 * Sir Roger Scruton, a writer and philosopher who lived near Malmesbury, was buried in the churchyard in 2020.

Legacy
In 2009, historian Michael Wood speculated that Malmesbury Abbey was the site of transcription of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf.

title: Malmesbury Abbey


text:
Pershore Abbey

Pershore Abbey, at Pershore in Worcestershire, was a Benedictine abbey with Anglo-Saxon origins and is now an Anglican parish church, the Church of the Holy Cross.

Foundation
The foundation of the minster at Pershore is alluded to in a spurious charter of King Æthelred of Mercia (r. 675–704). It purports to be the charter by which Æthelred granted 300 hides (about 36,000 acres) at Gloucester to King Osric of the Hwicce, and another 300 at Pershore to Osric's brother Oswald. It is preserved only as a copy in a 14th-century register of Gloucester, where it is followed by two charters listing the endowments made to the abbey until the reign of King Burgred (852-874). The 300 hides mentioned here are unlikely to be a contemporary detail, as they were intended to represent the triple hundred which later made up the area of Worcestershire. Historian H. P. R. Finberg suggests that the foundation charter may have been drafted in the 9th century, based on some authentic material. Oswald's foundation of a monastery at Pershore is not stated explicitly in the charter, but the Worcester chronicle Cronica de Anglia, written c. 1150, reports it under the annal for 683, and John Leland, consulting the now lost Annals of Pershore, places the event around 689. Patrick Sims-Williams suggests that the foundation by Oswald may also represent an oral tradition at Pershore, as its archives were probably destroyed in fires of 1002 and again in 1223.

In the 9th century, Pershore comes to light again as a minster under the patronage of Mercian kings. In other charters contained in the Gloucester register, Coenwulf (r. 796–821) and Burgred are recorded as having been patrons of Pershore. A charter of King Edgar refers back to a grant of privileges by Coenwulf at the request of his ealdorman (dux) Beornnoth.

Refoundation
In the reign of King Edgar (959-975), Pershore reappears as one of the abbeys to be re-established (or restored) under the programme of Benedictine reform. Writing c. 1000, the Ramsey monk Byrhtferth relates that under the auspices of Oswald, bishop of Worcester, seven monasteries were founded in his diocese, notably including Pershore. The first abbot was one Foldbriht, whose name is sufficiently rare to suggest that he may be the same Foldbriht whom Bishop Æthelwold previously installed at Abingdon and used to be a monk of Glastonbury before that time.

The refoundation is what lies behind an exceptionally elaborate charter for Pershore, dated 972, in which King Edgar is presented as granting new lands and privileges as well as confirming old ones, such as the one granted by Coenwulf. The authenticity of this document, however, has been questioned. Simon Keynes in 1980 showed that it belongs to the so-called Orthodoxorum group of charters, so named after the initial word of their proem, which he concluded were forgeries based on a charter of Æthelred II's reign. Since then, Susan Kelly and John Hudson have vindicated the status of some of these charters, including the one for Pershore, which is written in square minuscule characteristic of some of Edgar's charters. More recently, Peter Stokes has brought to light a variant copy of the charter and suggests that two different versions may have been produced around the same time, somewhere between 972 and 1066. A possible scenario is that they were produced to make up for the loss of the original charter(s), perhaps shortly after the fire which is reported to have destroyed the abbey in c. 1002 (see below).

The 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury, who seems unaware of any pre-existing minster, claims that one Æthelweard (Egelwardus), whom he describes as "ealdorman of Dorset", had founded the abbey of Pershore in the time of King Edgar. Similarly, Osbert's Life of Eadburh of Winchester alleges that one Alwardus, who is styled comes and consul, was responsible for the refoundation. Both authors also attribute to him a role in the translation of some of the saint's relics to Pershore. Osbert writes that an abbess of Nunnaminster had sold some relics to Æthelweard (Alwardus), who in turn handed them over for the refoundation of Pershore. Some scholars have identified him with Æthelweard, the well-known chronicler and ealdorman of the western shires.

Whatever high-level patronage the foundation may have received, it was not enough to sustain its fortunes for very long. Precisely what happened to Pershore in the later 10th century is poorly documented, but some sources seem to hint that it went into decline during the succession crisis which emerged in the wake of King Edgar's death. William of Malmesbury says that "it, too, like the others, decayed to a pitiful extent, and was reduced by more than a half". According to Leland, the Annals of Pershore hold an earl called Delfer responsible for depriving the abbey of several of its lands. This Delfer has been interpreted as a misreading for Ælfhere (d. 983), ealdorman of Mercia (whom Leland mentions elsewhere). While himself a patron of Ely and Abingdon, Ælfhere was also charged with despoiling reformed monasteries during Edward the Martyr's brief reign (975-978). The targets included houses refounded by Bishop Oswald or Bishop Æthelwold and considerably enriched under the patronage of Æthelstan Half-King's sons, notably Æthelwine, ealdorman of East Anglia. Evesham Abbey, for instance, as later reported by its own chronicle, also claimed to have lost several of its lands in this way, and Winchcombe was disbanded altogether. Æthelwine, in his turn, was remembered at Ely as a despoiler of its lands. Tensions between Ælfhere and Bishop Oswald, whose authorities overlapped, and between Ælfhere and Æthelwine, with whom Oswald maintained a close relationship, are therefore likely to have been the principal cause of the upheaval. Whether a liberty similar to that of Oswaldslow was an extra cause for concern, compromising Ælfhere's authority as ealdorman, cannot be ascertained from the sources.

"Second" refoundation
Pershore suffered worse misfortune when, according to Leland, it was destroyed by fire and subsequently deserted by the monks, probably in the year 1002. The monastic archives were largely lost in the event, as no original record from before that date survives today. Pershore, however, found a generous patron in the wealthy nobleman Odda of Deerhurst (d. 1056), who restored many of its lands and granted new ones. It has been suggested that he was a kinsman of the ealdorman Æthelweard. The earliest extant record from the archive of Pershore, a charter of 1014 by which King Æthelred granted Mathon (Herefordshire) to ealdorman Leofwine, may testify to Odda's restorations of lands to the house. The monastery was active again by the 1020s, as its abbot Brihtheah was promoted bishop of Worcester in 1033. Odda's brother Ælfric was buried at Pershore in 1053, joined three years later by Odda himself.

In Odda's lifetime the total landed assets of Pershore grew to 300 hides, but after the loss of its benefactor in 1056 about two-thirds were seized and given to Edward the Confessor's new foundation at Westminster. The original single sheet which preserves the fullest version of King Edgar's refoundation charter (though it need not be authentic) is marked by a number of textual alterations and erasures. Some of these changes may suggest a response to the abbey's proprietary struggles.

From the early 12th century there is evidence that Pershore Abbey claimed possession of some of the relics of Saint Eadburh of Winchester, the sainted daughter of King Edward the Elder. Her body was initially buried at Nunnaminster (Winchester), but it was translated in the 960s to a more central spot in Winchester, and again to a shrine in the 970s. Among several possibilities, Susan Ridyard has suggested that the Eadburh whose relics were preserved at Pershore may have been a Mercian saint of that name whose identity had become obscure.

Later Middle Ages
The main building was begun in about 1100. In the fourteenth century it benefited greatly from the generosity of Adam de Harvington, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1327–30, who was a cousin, and eventually  the heir, of the Abbot, William of Harvington. The abbey was dissolved in 1539. A monk of Pershore, named Richard Beerly, was one of those who gave evidence to Thomas Cromwell in 1536 about the misbehaviour of some of his brothers, writing that "Monckes drynk an bowll after collacyon tell ten or xii of the clock, and cum to mattens as dronck as myss, and sume at cardes, sume at dyss." (Monks drink a bowl after collation until ten or twelve o'clock, and come to Matins as drunk as mice, some [playing] at cards, some at dice.)Pershore Abbey church was partly demolished after the reformation when it was surrendered to the King's Commissioners in 1540; only the tower, choir, and south transept remain. The abbey church remained in use as a parish church. When the north transept collapsed in 1686, a wall was built in its place. Further alterations were carried out, including a restoration by George Gilbert Scott in 1862–64. Scott removed the belfry floor and opened up the lantern tower, exposing the internal tracery which he thought the best in England after that at Lincoln Cathedral. The tower pinnacles were added in 1871. In 1913, two western flying buttresses were added to replace the support from the missing portion of the building.

Current structure and features
The church as it now stands represents only a small portion of the original building. It is a Grade I listed building. Repairs in 1994 stabilised the south transept, strengthened its roof and repointed the tower and pinnacles. An underfloor heating system was also installed.

Bells
Pershore Abbey has a ring of eight bells, of which six were cast by the younger Abraham Rudhall in 1729. The treble was cast in 1814 by Thomas Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The cracked 4th (also 1729 by Rudhall) was recast by J. Barwell & Sons of Birmingham with "moderate success" in 1897, the same year they were rehung. The largest bell (the tenor) is estimated to weigh 25½ cwt (2856 lbs.) and sounds the note D.

The ringing room, devised as part of Gilbert Scott's 1862-64 restorations, is a metal 'cage' suspended high above the chancel crossing; it is accessed by means of two stone spiral staircases, a walkway through the roof, a squeeze through a narrow passage and a see-through iron staircase.

The bells have the following inscriptions (in capital letters).
 * 1. (Treble) "Joseph Martin and Thomas Evans churchwardens 1814"
 * 2. "Peace and good neighbourhood"
 * 3. "Abr Rudhall of Gloucester cast all of us"
 * 4. "Barwell Founder Birmingham. Prosperity to the Church of England 1729 Recast 1897"
 * 5. "Prosperity to all our benefactors A R 1729"
 * 6. "Walter Marriott and Edmund Gale churchwardens A R 1729"
 * 7. "Richard Roberts Esq John Yeend and Thomas Ashfield Gent[leme]n trustees A R 1729"
 * 8. (Tenor) "I to the Church the living call: And to the grave do summon all"

Font
In about 1840 the abbey was given a new baptismal font. The original Norman font was removed to the churchyard where it served as a cattle trough, and later as a garden ornament. In 1912 a war memorial was erected on the site of the Victorian font and the old font was re-instated, on a pedestal designed by Harold Brakspear. The font is decorated with an interlacing arcade, in the panels of which are the figures of Christ and his Apostles.

Organ
The earliest record of an organ in Pershore abbey is from the parish magazine for June 1825 which stated that the parishioners had started a voluntary subscription fund for the erection of an organ. This organ was built by Mr. Russell of London and opened by the organist Charles Clarke of Worcester Cathedral on 1 November 1826. This organ is thought to have functioned for 47 years when it was sold to Sedgley Parish Church. In 1864 it is recorded that during a restoration of the church, it was reconstructed by Nicholson of Malvern and moved to the north-east chapel.

A new three manual organ was built by Nicholson of Malvern and opened on 18 April 1873. The Nicholson was restored twice by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd, in 1940 and 1971. This was replaced by a Bradford electronic organ.

A new pipe organ, costing around £850,000, was commissioned from the Fratelli Ruffatti workshop in Italy and installed in 2023.

Past organists and masters of music include Charles Tovey (1832-1868 ), William Hancox (1868 -1869), Charles Henry Ogle (1869-1896), Edred Martin Chaundy (1898–1899, formerly of Enniskillen Parish Church, afterwards Holy Trinity Church, Stroud and Armagh Cathedral), Frank Alfred Charles Mason (1900–1949 ), Peter Bruce Waddington (1949-1951), Rodney Clifford Baldwyn (1951 –1981), Ian Gerrard (1993–2003), Sheila Joynes (2003–2004), Mike Pegg (2004–2005), David Barclay (2005–2007) and Alex Crawford (2007–2008). In 2009, Mike Pegg resumed his former duties.

Grounds
The buried foundations of the other monastic buildings, which lie to the southwest of the church, were identified in an archaeological excavation in 1929.

At the Dissolution, these buildings and the abbey grounds were acquired by John Richardson. The buildings were demolished and the grounds passed through various owners. Abbey House was later built on the site, sometime in the 1830s. In 1910 its owner, Henry Wise, donated the house to the Anglican Benedictine monks of Caldey Abbey, Pembrokeshire. When these monks converted to Roman Catholicism in 1913, they returned Abbey House to Wise who then provided it for the use of the small remnant of monks from Caldey who had remained Anglican. In 1922 the monks bought the house. They left Pershore for Nashdom Abbey, Buckinghamshire, in 1926, but only sold Abbey House in 1947 when it was demolished and the grounds became housing and parkland.

title: Pershore Abbey


text:
Jean de Joinville

Jean de Joinville (, 1 May 1224 – 24 December 1317) was one of the great chroniclers of medieval France. He is most famous for writing the Life of Saint Louis, a biography of Louis IX of France that chronicled the Seventh Crusade.

Biography
Son of Simon of Joinville and Beatrice d'Auxonne, and brother of Geoffrey de Geneville, Jean belonged to a noble family from Champagne. He received an education befitting a young noble at the court of Theobald IV of Champagne, including reading, writing, and Latin. On the death of his father in 1233, he became lord of Joinville and seneschal of Champagne (and was therefore personally connected to Theobald IV). He was a very pious man and was concerned with the proper administration of the region.

In 1241, he accompanied Theobald to the court of Louis IX of France (the future Saint Louis). In 1244, when Louis organized the Seventh Crusade, Joinville decided to join with the Christian knights just as his father had done 35 years earlier against the Albigensians. At the time of the crusade, Joinville placed himself in the service of the king and became his counsellor and confidant. In 1250, when the king and his troops were captured by the Mameluks in the Battle of Al Mansurah, Joinville, among the captives, participated in the negotiations and the collection of the ransom. Joinville probably brought himself even closer to the king in the difficult times that followed the failure of the crusade (including the death of his brother Robert, Count of Artois). It was Joinville who advised the king to stay in the Holy Land instead of returning immediately to France as the other lords had wanted; the king followed Joinville's advice. During the following four years spent in the Holy Land Joinville was the constant advisor to the king, who knew that he could count on Joinville's frankness and absolute devotion.

In 1270, Louis IX, although very weakened physically, undertook a new crusade with his three sons. Any enthusiasm Joinville had for the previous crusade had been knocked out of him, and he refused to follow Louis, recognizing the uselessness of the enterprise and convinced that the duty of the king was not to leave the kingdom that needed him. In fact, the expedition was a worse disaster than its predecessor and the king died of dysentery outside Tunis on August 25, 1270.

From 1271, the papacy carried out a long inquest on the subject of Louis IX, which ended with his canonization, announced in 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII. As Joinville had been a close friend of the king, his counselor and his confidant, his testimony was invaluable to the inquest, where he appeared as a witness in 1282.

At the request of Jeanne of Navarre, the queen, he began work on the Histoire de Saint Louis, which he completed in 1309. Joinville died on 24 December 1317, at the age of 93, nearly fifty years after the death of Louis.

Commissioning of the work
Jeanne of Navarre, wife of Philip IV of France (and granddaughter of Count Theobald IV), asked Joinville to write Louis' biography. He then put himself to the task of writing livre des saintes paroles et des bons faiz de nostre saint roy Looÿs (as he himself called it), today known as the Life of Saint Louis. Jeanne of Navarre died on 2 April 1305, while the work was not yet completed. Joinville dedicated it in 1309 to her son, Louis, king of Navarre and count of Champagne, the future Louis X of France.

Composition and date
As noted, the book was not completed when Jeanne of Navarre died in 1305. In addition, the oldest existing manuscript ends with this note: " Ce fu escript en l'an de grace mil .CCC. et .IX. [1309], ou moys d'octovre ". This is not precisely the date of the writing of the manuscript, because it was obviously written later. Therefore, it is either the date of the completion of the work by Joinville, or the date of the manuscript which served as the model to the surviving copies. The work was therefore written between 1305 and 1309. By other evidence, one can equally argue that a passage at the very end of the book, relating a dream of Joinville, could not have been written before 1308. Joinville therefore finished his work a short time before giving it to Louis.

Tradition of the text
The surviving manuscripts consist of one old copy of the text and two later copies. The manuscript that was given to Louis has not survived.

The oldest manuscript is obviously very close to the original. It is found in the inventory of 1373 of the library of Charles V of France. Furthermore, according to the illuminations, it can be dated to the years 1330–1340, about 20 years after the original manuscript. This copy remained in the royal library and then passed to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, before reaching Brussels, where it was lost. It was rediscovered only in 1746, when Brussels was taken by French troops. This Brussels manuscript is now located in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. It is one volume of 391 pages in two columns. The first page is decorated with gold and illuminations, and with a painting representing Joinville presenting his book to Louis. The text is divided into paragraphs, each beginning with a gilded letter.

Two editions have been created from one translation of Joinville's text (which does not survive itself), created by Antoine Pierre in 1547 and by Claude Ménard in 1617 respectively. Pierre's text is corrupted from the modifications of the original text and from fanciful additions, while Ménard's is an excellent scholarly work.

Finally, a third copy of the text comes from two manuscripts which appear to date from the second quarter of the 16th century. These are modernized transcriptions with systematic renovation of the language, from one older manuscript and the Brussels manuscript.

General perspectives on the work
Joinville was a knight. He was neither a cleric skilled in composing books, nor a chronicler informed by researching written or oral information. Nevertheless, his writing is sincere and neutral. He wrote about everything he personally experienced during the reign of Saint Louis, essentially the crusade in Egypt and their stay in the Holy Land. His narrative is full of life, anecdotes and even humour. It is more of a personal testimony about the king than a history of his reign. The freshness and precision of his memories are impressive, especially since he wrote his work some decades after the fact. Certain medievalists explain this by supposing that Joinville had often recounted his past orally or that he had previously committed it to writing before beginning his work.

Joinville speaks almost as much about himself as he does about the king, the subject of his book, but he does it in such a natural manner that he never gives the impression that he wants to place himself above the king. Thus we have an incomparable clarity about the ways of thinking of a 13th-century man. For this reason, modern editors have sometimes said the work is more of a memoir than a history or a biography of Saint Louis.

The holy words
The first part of Joinville's work is dedicated to the holy words of the king. Joinville writes about the edifying words of the king and his Christian virtues.

Speeches are very important among Louis' court. His speech is moral and didactic, reflecting the speech of the preachers (Dominicans and Franciscans) who surround him. It transmits a moral and religious teaching and often aims to strengthen the faith of the recipient. An intimacy exists between the king and his followers (his family, confidants, and counselors, among whom are Joinville and Robert de Sorbon) who express themselves particularly in the conversation: the king invites his audience to respond to his questions, often with the aim of instructing them with moral and religious plans. This importance of the royal speech is particularly well rendered by Joinville, who often has his characters speak. He is one of the first memoirists to integrate reconstructed dialogue into a tale. He most often uses a direct style and marks the interventions of his characters with "he said" or "he did." And Joinville never has his characters speak in long monologues: the lessons are always shown from dialogue.

In addition, it is through the words of the king that his profound faith and sanctity are shown. For Joinville, Louis IX embodies the ideal prud'homme - pious, courageous, kind, intelligent and wise, a man who defends the Christian faith by his courage. And in fact, in Joinville's work he shows the king to have an ardent love of God, benevolent to his people, humble, moderate and courteous, wise and just, peaceful, loyal and generous. In some respects Joinville is sometimes not far from writing a hagiography.

Joinville, like his king, was obviously very attached to the Christian religion, to its doctrines, its morality and its practices. For proof of this there is a small work of edification, composed in 1250, titled li romans as ymages des poinz de nostre foi, where Joinville makes a brief commentary on the Credo. But his deep and sincere faith contrasts with the almost exalted Christian heroism of the king. The Christianity of Joinville is closer to that of the common people.

The crusade
Joinville recounts equally the high deeds of Saint Louis, in particular the unfolding of the Seventh Crusade and the following stay in the Holy Land, which occupies most of the book.

Family
Married to Alix de Grandpré, daughter of Henri IV, comte de Grandpré and Dame de Livry Marie de Garlande. Alix was a descendant of Robert I, Count of Dreux, Raoul I, Lord of Coucy, William I, Count of Luxembourg, Edward of Salisbury, Robert Guiscard, Ebles II of Roucy, & Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut. Together they had the following issue:
 * Jean de Joinville, Seigneur de Reynel
 * Geoffroi de Joinville, Seigneur de Briquenay

Married to Alix de Reynel, daughter of Gautier de Reynel and Hélissende de Trainel. Had the following issue:
 * Jean de Joinville, Seigneur de Reynel
 * Geoffroi de Joinville, Seigneur de Briquenay
 * Anseau de Joinville, seigneur de Joinville
 * André de Joinville, Seigneur de Beaupré & de Bonnay
 * Alix de Joinville
 * Gautier de Joinville de Beaupre
 * Marguerite de Joinville

title: Jean de Joinville