Brett Ellis

Brett Ellis is a teacher who lives in London Colney.

Brett Ellis is a teacher who lives in London Colney.

Latest articles from Brett Ellis

Lockdown has proved many footballers are overpaid, underplayed and on the take

At the risk of sounding like a middle-aged cliché, I am a bald, rough as outhouses, expletive-ridden football fan. Although the beautiful game has changed beyond recognition from what it was, and what it should be, it still appeals. The monetised ‘sport’ is undeniably now more about the result and less about the entertainment with each passing season. With recent events, my belief is it is time for a new paint job and, again, ‘football’ has just been given an open goal and has failed mi

Star Wars at the cinema in the 1970s and today

In Hastings, at the back end of the decade of poor taste, the 1970s, a trip to the pictures was a frequent occurrence. It was so much less clinical then: we would park up in a yellow DAF outside the cinema safe in the knowledge the car was not going to get plastered in tickets by a commission-based parking enforcement ‘operative’ who patronisingly insisted on calling you ‘sir’ as you called him anything but. A quick trip into the local discount store, ESK, would culminate in bags of cris

The end of free speech led to Brexit, and this election

Of all the freedoms we supposedly enjoy, freedom of speech is now well and truly dead. Opinion has either been watered down to such an extent that the only way to get a message across is via mob mentality, where protests are undertaken to no one in particular (Extinction Rebellion) or you are quickly demonised as either far left or far right should you dare to avoid splinters from sitting astride the fence. There is no ambiguity anymore and we are branded as ‘extreme’ if we dare to have an o

Ba-ha! Humbug - Norwegian pop star's Christmas album strikes wrong note

Sure as night follows day, it is coming. The goose is getting fat (as if it was svelte by default). Supermarkets are going ballistic, embracing crazy season as they pounce on the potential to improve the bottom line prior to the year end, and we become indebted so little Jay can have the PS4 super slim that he has ‘always’ dreamed of.

The 1980s - when childhood was fun but lethal

My kids are getting bored of the cliched ‘when I was young, we…’ conversation starter. I am at serious risk of developing boringblokeitus as I explain how, even if it wasn’t ‘better’ per se in my day, life was certainly a lot more fun.

Don't you wish you could be as arrogant as Lewis Hamilton or Liam Gallagher?

Lewis Hamilton is oft misjudged. To many, such as me, he is one of the greatest grand prix drivers who has ever pressed pedal to metal. To others he is arrogant, a cocky upstart, splashing his wealth with a smug grin as he pampers his ego and physical being to the nth degree. He looks to be truly in love with one person only and that is himself. I know those who froth at the mouth at the mere mention of his name, yet, objectively, I cannot shake off the feeling that their disdain may be more to

And the greatest song for listening to in the car is...

Despite its tongue in cheek nature, this column attempts to tackle the big questions: how will Parliament overcome the political Brexit impasse, which country will Trump decide to nuke first, and this week’s thought provoking big-hitter: what is the greatest driving song ever?

My daughter's started secondary school, and now I'm not Daddy Cool any more

As I sit down to write this, my daughter, like thousands of others, has just completed her first day at secondary school. It is a pivotal moment for all parents, seeing their baby grow into a lady, and this is one of the major life moments, the gravity of which will see her leave as a fully-grown woman to go off and follow her dreams.

The day a bicycle helmet saved my life

It was as serene a moment as I have enjoyed for some time. Lying on the gravel track, I could hear the birds warbling as the gentle breeze wafted across my body. I thought that now would be an opportune moment for a doze. Coming to a few seconds later, I sat bolt upright before repeating the dozing process. Unceremoniously, I was awoken from my slumber by the soothing sounds of a skidding tyre, before a female Norwegian mountain biker directed me to stay awake as she was going to get some help.