Sarah Elizabeth Cox

@oispooky

🥊 1880s boxing+wrestling historian 📕 THE DEVILS' DANCE FLOOR (Duckworth '27) ✍🏻 Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson, Wannop, Smith, Ball &c. 👊🏻 Write fight books raise dinosaur child 👩🏻‍💻 Science charity PR boss 🏖️ Clacton 💚 www.grapplingwithhistory.com

827 Siguiendo6310 Seguidores5958 Publicaciones

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Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 25d

But, Sarah! I've never seen you and Joan Collins in a room together?! AH. Well. Sorry. Don't tell my kid.

Sarah in a black fedora (??? no, what are they called? a wide-brimmed goth hat), black coat and yellow sweater poses with Joan Collins after queueing in Selfridges' book shop basement alongisde loads of fabulous gay lads to meet her in 2018. Joan is divine. She complimented me on my lipstick, which funnily enough was Lady Joan from the Joan Collins range. God I love Joan Collins.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 26d

For the second time in his short life, my son has observed this Joan Collins record I keep in the hallway for motivational purposes and said "Look, it's mama!". I didn't correct him 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

Sarah with medium brown straight hair, brown top, holds a photo of Joan Collins. She looks nothing like Joan Collins. God she wishes she looked like Joan Collins.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 26d

Hmmm. Abstract. I'm not really sure my son's artwork is improving 🤭😂

A white piece of paper with three small black strips glued to it wonkily. I've been informed that it is a piano. It is held next to a piano in this photograph so you can judge it's accuracy for yourself.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 27d

No takers for this post? 🥲

Photo of a photo of Ceri Hughes, an early 1990s football player who was very pretty!!!

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 27d

Stop talking about Nigel Farage and start talking about the fact people in Clacton used to be called Ameriah Ogles, Hacker Westbroom, Belzorah Feedham and Taster Bagley 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Display in Clacton museum at West Clacton library, a caption card reads: Ameriah Ogles, Hacker Westbroom and Belzorah Feedham were buried in St Johns Churchyard and also Taster Bagley, who in the 1860s was landlord of the Ship Inn. Courtesy of Clacton Local History Society.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· 28d

Call me a historian who lives in Clacton, or whatever, but I'd like everyone to stop talking about Nigel Farage and instead focus on THE GREAT 1700S CLACTON 7ft 4 SMUGGLER CEMETERY GIANT 🙏🏻

Photo of a text caption from the Clacton Museum in Clacton West Library, describing John Bantoft a 7ft 4 man who lived behind Clacton Post Office in the 1700s and was known to smuggle silk, tea and tobacco and hide them in the cemetery. After he died in 1807, three villagers were arrested for damaging gravestones, probably because they were looking for his last load of goods. Great story!! Courtesy of Clacton Local History Society.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 13

"Look, a 'docus!" 🦕 Dinosaur Child managed to find a long-necked friend hanging out in beautiful coastal Essex yesterday. Didn't have the heart to tell him. Or that the white lifebuoy was not, in fact, a "giant no-nut" 😆🍩

Blond two and a half year old in blue striped jumpsuit and grey trainers sits on decking pointing out to water and greenery. A large piece of wood for mooring small boats pokes out the ground, appearing (to a two and a half year old) like the head and neck of a diplodocus.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 11

I'd be rattled too if a toddler had just shouted BAD GUY GREEN GOBLIN at me outside a pub 🤷🏻‍♀️😄

Screenshot of a guardian article. A local who saw Farage do his quick photo op in Frinton during the week describes him as looking "rather rattled"

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 11

Big bin fans in Walton-on-the-Naze!

Vote Binface Not Frogface written in chalk on seafront wall

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 11

And now in Walton... 😂🗑️🤞🏻 @countbinface.bsky.social

Vote Bin Face in pink and blue chalk on floor

Vote Bin Face in white chalk on wall, Walton Pier in background

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 10

Just been interviewed by Unherd while out on my lunch break. Told them I want to talk about CLACTON, not about Nigel Farage. Let's see if my paraphrased quotes make the cut!

Screen grab of poster in London with Farage face and caption I WAS GIVEN £5M AND DIDNT DECLARE IT. I've blocked out his face with a Clacton on Sea location sign.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 10

Spotted last night on hoarding around a partially-demolished abandoned former hotel on the seafront in Clacton 🗑️

black pen capital letters on white building site hoarding - IT'S TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH... VOTE BINFACE

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 8

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Jack Cox Newland, 2yrs 7 months, after he shouted "Bad guy! Bad guy Green Goblin!" and rawwrred like a T.rex at Nigel Farage on the high street, Frinton, at approximately 12:30 Wednesday 8 July 2026. Updates to come 😜

The joke candidate for Clacton MP outside the pub on Connaught Av. Frinton, speaking to posh supporters in bad hats. His usual tattooed minder stands in the foreground, not seeing the funny side of a toddler's banter.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 5

Went to a pub today. The garden had a... Titanic inflatable climb n' slide? I have thoughts. Here are the thoughts: Very Serious Historian: 'Oh. No. No, I am apalled! Ethics! Living memory! Very bad!' Tired toddler mum who wants a wine and a f***ing sit down: 'Yeah crack on' 🤷🏻‍♀️ The kids loved it 😭

Small blond boy in delightful Next sale blue romper suit having the time of his life sliding down a large inflatable TITANIC (yes, the big boat loads of people died on / near).

Side view of the large inflatable Titanic

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jul 4

Clacton-on-Sea was founded as a seaside resort 155 years ago. This pun has FINALLY arrived. 10/10, no notes, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Photo of a new bubble tea and milkshake (*snort*) shop in Clacton on Sea called Clacton on Tea.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 27

The Clacton Pride vibes. Baby Jack LOVED drag queen Baby Shark 😂🏳️‍🌈🙌🏻🦈

Trans Lives Matter written in green chalk on the seafront path

Clouds, sea, a lovely crowd of people in deckchairs and with rainbow umbrellas watch music acts on a stage

A sweaty two and a half year old boy in his pram wearing shark glasses. He carries an emotional support dinosaur (orang t rex).

Two Pride flags fly from local flats' balconies

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 27

Both! But also Johnny Briggs as a much younger man in the '50s-60s...

Black and white photograph of young Johnny Briggs in smart suit

Johnny with quiff and sheepskin collar leather jacket smoking

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 26

🤷🏻‍♀️

Small blond toddler boy soaking wet with ever present dino toy in hand

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 26

A quick piece I wrote last year on my great uncle, my Lambeth grandad's first-born brother Edward Court (1885-1906) and the top man, London County Councillor John Bannochie, who tried to save him from drowning in the Thames. A printer and a printer's son: grapplingwithhistory.com/other-writing/

Photo of a part of the Thames. Lambeth in the distance. The waters where edward drowned

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 26

Despite our Reform MP (barely...) and the Reform overtake of Essex County Council, who immediately banned LGBTQ+ book displays for Pride month in local libraries... Clacton Town Hall currently has the Pride flag flying over it. #Clacton Pride takes place tomorrow. DRAG QUEEN BABY SHARK it is! 🏳️‍🌈🦈

screengrab from tendring district council insta. pic of pride flag from video. text reads:

The Pride flag is flying above Clacton Town Hall today as we mark Pride Month.
It’s a simple, one-day gesture of recognition and support for residents, staff and visitors who are part of, or connected to, the LGBTQ+ community.
We’re proud to stand alongside everyone who calls Tendring home — and to support the wider celebrations taking place locally, including Clacton Pride’s Family Festival at West Greensward, Marine Parade West, on Saturday, 27 June, from 11am until late. 🏳️‍🌈

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 26

It's @lisagrimm.com!

Sarah and Lisa take a selfie at DAM conference. Lisa has a fabulous pink bob.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 26

Historian! About to give an opening keynote in a big room. Very sweaty and it's not the weather: eek!

Sarah takes a selfie in front of a PowerPoint showing Hezekiah Moscow

Close up of conference ID badge which says Sarah Elizabeth Cox Historian. Also a cup of coffee. Allegedly her third of the day.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 25

Catch-up with my book editor today - a summer of hard work to come on the manuscript but it's all feeling VERY positive! Details to come from Duckworth much later in the year... THE DEVILS' DANCE FLOOR: Hezekiah Moscow and the Fight for Life in Late-Victorian London should be published Feb 2027 🥊

Left; Malachi Kirby, a young Black british actor, poses for a scene in A Thousand Blows in which he plays Hezekiah Moscow, a young Caribbean-born Black or mixed heritage boxer. Sirtless, white tights, fists raised. It is the 1880s. He's against a painted backdrop of palms in a photographer's studio. Right; The real Hezekiah Moscow in the same pose.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 24

How my son's clothes, body, head, inside his ears etc returned from nursery today with no explanation. As long as he had fun 🤷🏻‍♀️😂✨🪩

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 23

🦁🦁🦁

A two year old blond boy in his pram from behind wearing dungarees and a no.10 BELLINGHAM England football shirt. He is holding an emotional support dinosaur in each hand.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 22

Want to see the most beautiful thing you'll ever see in your life? Or, at least, the most beautiful thing you'll ever see next to a bin in an Essex seaside town in 2026?

Gleaming spotless ENORMOUS bright baby blue Cadillac parked next to a bin on Connaught Avenue, Frinton. It looks like it's photoshopped in, but can assure you it is real.

Front view of gleaming spotless ENORMOUS bright baby blue Cadillac parked next to a bin on Connaught Avenue, Frinton.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 21

Podcasting. Sweatily! In my attic! With Canadians! No olde boxing lads today (okay maybe a bit). Let's get back to late-Victorian and early Edwardian English Lady Wrestlers! Especially a 250lb 6ft 2 one! Details to come 🤼‍♀️👍🏻

A 39yr old woman with sweaty hair and a headset takes a selfie in an attic. Not a loft conversion kinda thing. She is literally just sat in her attic.

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 21

The small plastic chicken was exchanged, the deal sealed 🐓

Close up of a small plastic chicken being held by a little toddler arm in a paddling pool

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 21

A favourite photo of my dad, taken in 1994. He had another front page made up for him when he finally left in 2015, after 46 years 😂

Luton News and Dunstable Gazette editor John Buckledee and my dad Geoff Cox in white shirts and ties - dad is holding a mocked up Luton News front page with the headline News Editor in 25-year horror ordeal

Sarah Elizabeth Cox@oispooky· Jun 21

Really is! Love this one 😍 Nana always perfectly turned out too!