A rainy evening in 1960s London, the pavement glistens with the reflection of the lights on Park Lane as Harry Palmer skirts round the back of the Dorchester Hotel. Quickly checking he’s not been followed he crosses into Tilney Street, pausing at its corner he waits, collar pulled up against the rain and keeps watch… Continue reading When truth becomes stranger than fiction
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Flour and Dough and a DSO
I’d never come across the sculptor Phillip Lindsay-Clark before, not until I found his signature on a great piece of public art. This piece differs from his usual creations, which tended to be mainly ecclesiastical or memorials. Lindsay-Clark was a Londoner born in 1889, his Father, Robert was also a sculptor. Phillip studied at the… Continue reading Flour and Dough and a DSO
A baby, but no bath water
Whilst rooting about in A Survey Of The Cities Of London and Westminster written by John Strype in the 1720s for some information, I came across a story by accident that is too good not to tell. The story is set near to the Tower of London and centres around the Churchyard of All Hallows-by-the-Tower,… Continue reading A baby, but no bath water
A bone to the dog is not charity
The title of this piece comes from one of my favourite 20th century authors, Jack London. The whole quote is “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.“ Now this piece is not about bones, dogs or American… Continue reading A bone to the dog is not charity
The Vile Adulterator Windy Miller
Aficionados of Camberwick Green will all know that Windy Miller was definitely a single guy about town and I have long suspected that he knows more that he lets on about Mrs Honeyman’s baby (there’s never a mention of a Mr Honeyman). I believe that he is also familiar with some of the Green’s married… Continue reading The Vile Adulterator Windy Miller
My Hero
“Oh yes she/he is one of my Heroines/Heroes” people say, but are they actually heroes or just bound up in the cult of celebrity? I made a list of mine the other day. Mine sort of sit in the fantasy dinner party thing, people that you would like to sit around your table and hold… Continue reading My Hero
Burye, Berry, Bury. A revision.
I’ve been writing and publishing self guided audio tours for four years this month, not sure where all that time’s gone! Before that I used to host tours in person. I really enjoyed meeting the people who came on the walks, but it did have it’s downside. The main object is to get the story… Continue reading Burye, Berry, Bury. A revision.
What’s Behind The Green Door?
If the title of this piece brings back memories of double denim, chunky knits, a cheeky welsh grin and a frankly ludicrous dance then I appologise, it’s wasn’t my intention to spoil your day. As you’ll see as this unfolds I couldn’t really have come up with another title, and of course that conjures up… Continue reading What’s Behind The Green Door?
The Wheel Turns Full Circle
The London Eye has dominated the skyline of Lambeth for over twenty years. This 135 metres (443 ft) tall wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel until it was surpassed by the 160-metre (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, and has subsequently been… Continue reading The Wheel Turns Full Circle
My Dog’s Got No Nose……*
When it comes to the smell of London history there is a great repository of facts which relate mostly to the awful odours that were prevalent in the city until recently modern times. Luckily for everyone who visits, these have been eliminated and London is quite a clean city. I for one never want to… Continue reading My Dog’s Got No Nose……*
A LONDON MISCELLANY 