It’s well known that coronavirus manifested itself in London in the 1960s. The first case was seen in Hammersmith but it quickly spread through the capital.
The outbreak particularly affected children and in those days not a lot was known about Daleks as the virus was called. Doctors advised hiding behind the sofa; this simple treatment proved remarkably efficacious in preventing tears before bedtime. Daleks did not exterminate the population but their invasion is still remembered at the Riverside Studios.
I would be reluctant to show the Queen around the Riverside Studios. I’d show her these folding doors and tell her that the little dots that look like Braille say “Exterminate”. Her Majesty, often of a curious disposition, would ask how on earth those dots do that. I’d be flummoxed and be on the receiving end of a pained expression. This is not a flight of fancy. A friend showed the Queen a sundial that could tell the time in different continents. She was not pleased when he had no idea how it could do that. He partially salvaged his reputation by presenting its creator to her and left the explaining to him, while my friend thought he’d stay on firmer ground for the rest of her visit.
The Church of England has a few bastions still standing and could withstand more assaults if it wasn’t being attacked from within. St Peter’s in Fulham put up this poster to attract graffiti and succeeded. Meanwhile the best scientific advice in the UK is that we can live in bubbles – bring on the Bollinger and sup it behind the sofa.