I have passed by this memorial, just off the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square and across the road from the National Portrait Gallery, many times without even noticing it much less pausing to see that it is in memory of Edith Louisa Cavell, a British civilian nurse in World War I, who was executed by a German firing squad for helping Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium. Continue reading “Edith Cavell – A ‘Glorious Specimen Of Womanhood’”
‘A Conversation With Oscar Wilde’
This rather unorthodox memorial and tribute to a rather unorthodox man was unveiled on 30 November 1998 by Stephen Fry, who played Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film “Wilde”.
Entitled ‘A Conversation with Oscar Wilde’ the memorial, in the form of a green granite sarcophagus and designed as a seat, depicts Oscar Wilde, one of the most brilliant and flamboyant literary figures in late Victoria London, emerging from his afterlife, cigarette (when it has not been stolen) in hand, ready to share his renowned wit and views on anything and everything with whoever cares to sit down and have a chat. Continue reading “‘A Conversation With Oscar Wilde’”
Goodwin’s Court – ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’
Wandering through gas-lit Goodwin’s Court, a delightful 17th century alley-way connecting St Martins Lane (No 55-56) and Bedfordbury (No 23-24) I could easily imagine it shrouded in one of London’s famous fogs and my steps being traced by a deerstalker-clad detective from the pages of Conan Doyle. Continue reading “Goodwin’s Court – ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’”
Agatha Christie Memorial
I think anyone would be hard pressed to think of a better candidate to be memorialised in Theatreland than Agatha Christie. Of course, her enduring association with Theatreland is her murder mystery play, The Mousetrap, which has been running here continuously for 65 years (2017), or 60 years and 25,000 performances of the play when this memorial was dedicated in 2012. Continue reading “Agatha Christie Memorial”
Where Does One Hang Ones Cape?
It is amazing, in some many ways, to think that in a city the size of London with so many things to see and do that I would actively seek out and write a review on a coat hook. Well I did and here it is! Continue reading “Where Does One Hang Ones Cape?”
The Great London Beer Flood
My review on the Great Dangaroo Flood introduced my reader to a memorial plaque in Old Compton Street, Soho commemorating a totally fictional flood. This review covers another great London flood which, while sounding equally fanciful, was a real event. I refer to the Great London Beer Flood.
At around 6pm on 17 October 1814 a 15 feet high tsunami of around 1.5million litres of beer unleashed itself from the Horse Shoe Brewery (depicted above in the mid 1800s), owned by Messrs Henry Meux and Co, in the St Giles district of London – the present day site of the Dominion Theatre. Continue reading “The Great London Beer Flood”
The Great Dangaroo Flood
While probing the east end of Old Compton Street in search of evidence of the former Little Compton Street I happened to look up and spy a brass plaque, attached about 4 metres from the ground, on Number 7.
Squinting my eyes somewhat I was able to ascertain that the plaque marked the high water mark in the Great Dangaroo Flood, an event that heretofore I had never heard of. The plaque left me somewhat mesmerised and further investigation ensued. Continue reading “The Great Dangaroo Flood”
Where Has Little Compton Street Gone?
Two signs in a utility tunnel under Charing Cross Road are the only visible evidence of the existence of the former Little Compton Street. To see the signs you need to look down through the metal grating on the traffic island at the intersection of Old Compton Road and Charing Cross Road. Continue reading “Where Has Little Compton Street Gone?”
NextThere – A Must Have App
If you have an Iphone or an Ipad and plan on using public transport in Sydney (and various other Australian and a few US cities – though I have only tested it in Sydney) you absolutely must download this app and use it (along with the other must have – an Opal Card – (see my separate review)). Continue reading “NextThere – A Must Have App”
Sydney Light Rail
This is the simplest form of Sydney public transport to tell you about as there is only one line, though as I write (December 2017) construction of an extremely controversial line connecting Central Station and Circular Quay via a track down George Street is underway. It will be the world’s most expensive light rail system on a per kilometre basis – if that’s any claim to fame. And that’s before the budget blow-outs occur.
I have digressed. Continue reading “Sydney Light Rail”
The Rambling Wombat 