Lunch at Stoke Park

Sunday lunch at the magnificent Stoke Park was under the auspices of the local Conservative Association. After lunch their MP, Dominic Grieve, spoke and I was fortunate to get in a question which I’d like to expand into a statement.

Published
Categorised as Politics

A Few Stiffies

If I can’t remember what I’ve written I certainly don’t expect you to remember what you have read here. In January 2016, in Democratic Principles, Michael Stiff of Stiff + Trevillion made a brief appearance. His practice flourishes; one of his recent commissions is to design Damien Hirst’s new HQ in Beak Street.

Milkman or Jeeves?

Anna Burns’ novel, Milkman, won the Man Booker prize this year. It follows an 18-year-old girl growing up in Belfast in the Troubles. Worth reading? Maybe another Angela’s Ashes?

More Tales from the Riverbank

The application (see Wind in the Willows) by developer, St George, to fell the willow tree in front of their flats at Fulham Reach was withdrawn. There was much opposition including a well-reasoned submission by a reader here, who knows more about trees than I do.

Piccadilly Circus

A visit to Piccadilly Circus tube station is not something to look forward to. I have always been aware of its iconic 1920s architecture but until now had not taken time to admire it.

Denis, Margaret & Munnings

After Choral Matins at the Royal Hospital we walked in the rain to pay our respects to Sir Denis and Lady Thatcher, both of whom have memorials outside the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, where their ashes are buried.

Published
Categorised as Art

Pinter at the Pinter

    Jamie Lloyd has an ambitious undertaking at the Harold Pinter Theatre. He is putting on a six month season of Pinter’s one act plays. On Saturday afternoon I was taken to two of them: The Lover (1961) and The Collection (1962).

Published
Categorised as Theatre

A Royal Baby

A royal baby was born 199 years ago at Kensington Palace. Her father was the fourth son of George III, the Duke of Kent, her mother was Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

Published
Categorised as History

Church Parade

Choral Matins yesterday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Members of the Corps of Royal Engineers were present ensuring a full house.

Published
Categorised as Religion

Wodehouse at Westminster Abbey

The Times yesterday devoted a Leader to PG Wodehouse, headlined “Comedy and Errors, PG Wodehouse is rightly to be honoured in Westminster Abbey”.