Clubland

White’s was founded in 1693, a year before the Bank of England. London’s clubland provides a rich seam of anecdotes and unusual information some of which may be new to you.

Appointment at the Dentist

My first office in the City was in Mark Lane – I was there for sixteen years. Now I re-visit to see my dentist. On Monday when she’d finished with me I visited St Olave’s – where Samuel Pepys worshipped and is buried.

Black Mischief

I am re-reading Black Mischief. It is laugh-out-loud funny. Cyril Connolly was not best pleased to be depicted as the drunk General Connolly with a Negress wife called Black Bitch, although later she is elevated to Duchess and is delighted.

Bridges

There are now three crossings on the Forth. The new Queensferry bridge is on the right. But we don’t do new here, so let’s turn to an older bridge.

Bees’ Knees

The transformation scene in Richard Strauss’s Daphne, mentioned yesterday, is being played out in reality in my life.

Liguria

The shift from summer to autumn is marked by the Proms drawing to a close. I was at my penultimate concert on Wednesday.

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Categorised as Music

George Basevi

Wednesday’s post was mostly about the Grosvenors. The architect for Belgrave Square and the classical terraces surrounding it is George Basevi. He gets a mention on the plinth of Robert Grosvenor’s bronze.

News from Home & Abroad

Tuesday morning was deliciously quiet. Why, as I get deafer, should I notice and bask in quietness? Perhaps I should move to the country?

Dukes & Dogs

There are twenty-nine non royal extant dukedoms in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Duke of Norfolk, 1483, is the oldest and The Duke of Fife, 1900, the newest creation.

Two Bronzes

If you drive into London from the west it is hard to miss the Hogarth roundabout with its distinctive narrow, one-way flyover. It gets its name from painter and engraver William Hogarth whose house is hard by. It tends to get overlooked because of the proximity of the more spectacular Chiswick House.