Tony McMahon – who am I?
In 2010, Aurum Press/Quarto published my book ‘No Place To Hide’, the hard hitting biography of 1980s boxer Errol Christie. This book was short-listed for the 2011 British Sports Book award and long-listed for the William Hill sports book prize. It was also recommended by The Guardian as a 2010 Christmas read and Errol was the subject of interviews in the national press as well as Sky News and the BBC.
2010 also saw the paperback edition of my biography of Neville Staple – front man in ska band The Specials. ’Original Rude Boy’ was reviewed in the Huffington Post, read the review here.
My day job is Strategy and Development Director for CTN Communications – the leading online video, social media and digital communications service. I produce video content for The Economist, Wall Street Journal in Europe and various large companies. You can see me presenting The Economist’s Global Forecast programme on the Economist Intelligence Unit website and other sites.
My previous lives include being a producer at the BBC for five years and a reporter at Sky News. I have been a Labour (local council) candidate twice though the good people of Ravenscourt Park decided they preferred the Conservative on both occasions.
I have freelanced for most of the UK’s national newspapers – mainly back in the 1990s – including a front page story in the Daily Mail and more features than I care to remember for the Daily Telegraph. My own preferred newspaper is The Guardian but they don’t pay enough to write for.
I’m a complete history geek of epic proportions and obsessed with the history of London – my home town. It’s a mess of a place with centuries of buildings layered on top of each other but not a month passes when I don’t discover something new about the place. Tired of London - tired of life, as somebody once said.
Just a quick not to say just how intresting i find your templar articles
Thank you kindly – I’ll try and keep the interest going!
Tony,
What do you do when you find an ancient Templar artifact in amazing conditionwith huge significance, and when all the age, and symbol testing comes back positive?
Well, that sounds interesting – tell me more! If what you have has been valued by reputable experts, then the choice is always to sell it through an auction house or dealership or approach a museum or hold on to it. How you found it and the laws of your country of residence on ‘treasure trove’ should be borne in mind.
I must agree, and was also amused by our similar choice of layout! As Patrick Lambke is a full contact jouster knight known as the black knight! Did you catch him on Nat Geo Knights of Mayhem tv series? thank you for the follow!
I see what you mean about the layout! I’ve got rather attached to it now. I didn’t see Patrick Lambke but will seek it out – thanks!
Hi,
I am wrote a series of Knights Templar stories for Electric Scotland in 1999 and 2000. Many authors have used my research with and without my permission. Dan Brown being one who never gave myself or ES credit but did ask permission. I have to question your motives and research? The Knights Templar bloodlines have dispersed all over the world. Everyone wants to ride Dan Browns’ wave.
Hi Kelly – no, I don’t want to be Dan Brown. In fact my agent was adamant that I don’t go down that route. I’m not actually even looking at the Templars in the Holy Land/outremer but primarily in western Europe. As regards motivation, I’ve been a history geek all my life and in professional terms, I’m a journalist – so curiosity and thorough research comes naturally. Sorry to hear you were plagiarised, I credit my sources on this blog and I’m happy to big up other people’s work. In terms of the novel I’m working on, I’ve travelled to all the locations involved and co-operated with staff at several museums and historical organisations. Google and Wikipedia are not what I rely on unlike a certain person we won’t mention here. You sound like you’ve had a bad experience in the past – as a journalist I’ve had my copy appear under other people’s names and realise how frustrating and embittering that can be. Anyway, no Dan Brown! My approach is more of a medieval social realist, brutalist. Tony
I’ve always found templar articles utterly interesting. I even did the templar tour several times in southern France<:) I love McMahon's insight on the matter!
Next stop: 12th century Knights Templar Church in Dover, end of North Downs Way. I’ll keep you posted;)
Did you get to see any Templar ruins on your walks in the North Downs?
Hi Tony, we appear to have much in common: Ancient Rome, Crusades (I covered these at Uni (Royal Holloway)). London History. West Londoners (Brentford, me). Good luck with the book.
Just saw that movie ‘The Eagle’ last night and was almost impressed! Good article in BBC History this month saying that contrary to some media commentary around the movie, there is hardly any evidence the Ninth Legion disappeared in the east and arguably more evidence they got slaughtered in the wild north of Britannia. Anyway….good to here there are shared interests. Hope you are enjoying the blog. I’m on the last draft of the book now with publication due in September but not allowed to say much now else my agent will chop my fingers off. Any suggestions for blog posts welcome. Brentford? Hmmm….
I am at work and cannot stop reading ANYTHING an EVERYTHING you write. I am not sold that you are an atheist. Your writing portrays some deep seeded “faith” even when stating facts. A passion not found in most that have no belief, no faith of any kind. I would love to hold all I read in my mind for further use and reflection but the retention is lite in my mind. I could read for hours and days on end of European history but life has not given me such a blessing of free time.
I am excited to read your book coming out in Autumn of this year.
Isn’t it something how this man calling himself a Knight of Templar has brought about a renewed interest in the history in the Templar. Society today is starving for some kind any kind of hero that we will bring from the dead the Templar. I am sure in some other life if it true they exists I would have wanted to experience all that has brought us to where we are today. I enjoy this blog and quite certainly would not have found it if not for the recent tragedy in Norway. Please keep me informed as to when your book is available. kjchris@aol.com
Waterford, Michigan
United States
Hi – Kind words and I suppose I am an atheist with a strong obsession with religion. I am very passionate on the subject and was brought up a Catholic – well, I am half Irish and half Portuguese. If you enjoy this blog, then I assure you the book will keep you up for nights on end. I have researched it heavily. To me, the three main characters are very real. The events are largely based on fact with some artistic licence of course. It’s not a Dan Brown. I’ve based it entirely in the twelfth century and the staff at the British Museum, Museum of London and European research bodies have very kindly assisted me in getting things correct. I will keep you posted and look forward to enthralling you with a good read. All the best, Tony
“I have definite views on the Templars but I can be convinced to change them – give me a try!”
I think I have something that might change your views, but be warned: the Templar hole just gets deeper and deeper.
http://www.thestcroixark.com or http://www.theytrustednoone.com
Enjoy!
JP Noel
Looks like fun!!
Thank you,
The story was released on Easter this year, but only on St. Croix Island. If you have ever been to St. Croix, you would certainly question why I decided to launch the book there considering the extremely high illiteracy rate. However, in a sense, I felt it was their story to begin with, and they should be able to have first dibs on a story about their home. Fortunately, the book/story was embraced, the entire island was a buzz with the possibility of my story/theory being plausible.
It’s now ready for the masses and larger markets.
As for the research and writing of The St. Croix Ark . . . It was fun, and yet at times, relying on other researchers who have special access to archives can be a “trying” experience. I also spent two years creating 99% of the art and images in the book. The book is very unique, the best description I can think of is: coffee table book meets National Geographic magazine.
You know, once all of the worlds famous archives become scanned & digitized, especially the “no-access to the public” documents, many new revelations will shake the pillars of our collective history.
Example: until 2003, 90% of our knowledge of Christopher Columbus was locked away in a private collection. Ever wonder why, when you think about him your stuck with some old school house jingle “in 1492 he sailed the ocean blue” and not much more? Google “Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book Collection” and start really learning about the man who came to the early Americas.
He didn’t even set foot in America – until 1917! The year America purchased St. Croix Island. In fact, the exact spot where he first landed in America (posthumously), is ground zero for The St. Croix Ark.
In the book, I expose three revelations that should blow the readers’ minds. I did test reads with a few very high (32 degree) ranking American Freemasons, they read the book, front to back, in just one day. They too agreed with nearly all the research, right down to the plausibility of the Ark of the Covenant on St.Croix Island.
Regards,
JP Noel
http://www.thestcroixark.com
http://www.theytrustednoone.com
By the way, nice website!
Coming from one who creates, SEO codes and markets them.
Someday I’m going to step outside my little sandbox and explore WordPress.
And to think, I once scoffed at them!
JP Noel
Hey thanks for following my blog. This seems like an interesting blog. The Knights Templar are a very interesting subject, and a controversial one. It will be interesting to read what you have discovered about them. I had disliked Medieval history, but after taking a few classes that involved study on the era I have grown fond of it. Anyways, thanks again for following.
Like you, I used to think the medieval period was a kind of long, unchanging, church-ridden phase of history that extended from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance – and it was taught like that at school. Truth is – the more you delve, the more you find what a turbulent and very dynamic period it was. The 11th century was very different from the 14th century. The Knights Templar are just fascinating – warriors, monks (sort of), bankers and farmers. And then all the mysterious stuff. I try to convey some interesting things about the time without repeating what everybody knows already and I hope you enjoy!
I am a Mason. While stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army I was initiated into York Rite (Knight Templar) and accordingly tend to be very interested in articles, books and other sources regarding the subject. Overall, the Templars managed to do considerable good in very turbulent and dangerous times, as Masonry also is dedicated to doing in modern times.
It’s an honor to have you following this blog and please contribute your views. As you say, the Templars are an incredibly interesting subject and if you feel there’s something not being covered here, please tell me. I’m very open to researching whatever users want to hear about. All the best!
Hi, just wanted to say thanks for stopping by my blog today on gracism
Thanks for following my blog!
Tony, thank you for following my blog at http://www.boyerwrites.wordpress.com Please feel free to pass it on to anyone you think may enjoy it.
I am eager to read some of your writings as I also love history and find other view points and experiences most interesting. My husband and spent some time in England last year. We loved seeing all the old things. So much of the USA is new in comparison with Europe. We also find the traditions of the English people and the beautiful cathedrals inspiring.
Blessings to you at this Easter season. Nancy Boyer
I hope you enjoy the blog – all criticism welcomed. And I look forward to reading yours in return. A very happy Easter to you as well. Tony
Thanks for checking out citygirl – what an interesting blog you have!
Thank you for visiting!
What’s up Tony! I appreciate the follow and wish you the best in all of your endeavors. God bless.