Subversive Ambient Media on the streets of London

Just seen on the South Bank. Pure pleasure!

Sir Keith Park, Defender of London

Today is 15^th September, Battle of Britain Day, and sees the unveiling of a new statue in London. It’s a memorial to Air Chief Marshall Sir Keith Park. In 1940, Park was the commander of No. 11 Group RAF which was responsible for the fighter defence of London and the South East of England. Although a senior commander he had a great “hands on” understanding of the tactics and issues faced by his Spitfire and Hurricane pilots. He kept in close touch with the front line aircrew by flying in to visit them at their airfields in his own personal Hurricane. His leadership and tactics were crucial in winning the Battle of Britain and he earned the nickname “Defender of London.”

Later, in 1942 he again played a crucial role in North Africa and the Mediterranean, including the air defence of Malta. From Malta his squadrons were able to take part in operations such as the invasion of Sicily.

Sir Keith Park was already a veteran of the First World War. A New Zealander, he joined the artillery on the outbreak of war and fought in the landings and trench warfare at Gallipoli, transferring to the British Army in 1915. He then fought at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and having been wounded by a German shell he was certified unfit for military service. By the end of 1916 however he had recovered enough to join the Royal Flying Corps, going to France as a pilot in 1917 where over the next year or so he won the Military Cross (twice), Distinguished Flying Cross and Croix de Guerre. After the Armistice he stayed in the Royal Air Force (as the RFC had become in April 1918) and steadily rose to the position which saw him defending London in 1940.

The unveiling of his statue in London’s Waterloo Place today was attended by surviving NZ Battle of Britain pilots, many military and civilian officials. The whole show kicked off with a fly past by a Spitfire swooping low over Waterloo Place. A stirring site, and a fitting salute for this great man to whom we Londoners owe so much.

Next to me in the crowd stood a guy holding a New Zealand flag high above his head. He held it up all through the ceremony, and I thought that this was also a salute the great man would have appreciated.

What goes around...

What a pleasure the London Underground strike is! Why? Because it gave me a nudge to get my folding bike out of the shed and lug it up to Town on the train. So many little London back streets I have discovered or rediscovered this week, little corners of London that largely go unnoticed unless you happen to work there. Somewhere at home I have a London cycle map which came with love and kisses from the Mayor, Ken not Boris so I suppose I need to send off for a new one now. After all bike-friendly Boris has just launched all those new cycle routes and of course the hire bikes which have had lots of use today. Spurred on by the lack of tube trains there have been more bikes on London’s roads than I have ever seen before, and while I would admit to a bit of saddle-sore, I am enjoying being a part of it all. I often feel though that I am the slowest cyclist on the road. People on bikes with large wheels go the fastest of course, and next to whiz past me are the folk with the expensive folding bikes such as Bromptons. These have little wheels just like mine but must have better gears because they leave me standing. A “friend” suggested it might just be my lack of fitness but I feel this is a trifle harsh. Anyway I don’t mind. I’m cycling at an easy pace which means it’s relaxing, I see more of London, and I don’t have to arrive at the office all sweaty and red in the face. I recently got a very clever clamp for mounting my video camera on the handlebars so will be able to start posting a rather different view of London on here. I’m enjoying the London cycling experience so much that I think I will keep it up even when the tube strike is over. So far I have been lucky with the weather, but any day now I will doubtless get caught in a good old London downpour and soggy cycling is a pretty miserable experience so I suppose then I’ll be back on the Tube until the rainy season has passed.

London Shopping at Selfridges

A wet Wednesday in the West End of London. Now I am not one of those people for whom shopping is a pleasure or a leisure activity. However, there was a good heavy downpour of London rain that day and I had to shop simply because there was stuff I needed urgently. Under the circumstances I decided to head for Selfridges. They have never let me down yet when I have dashed in there for a last minute present for somebody, or even an impulsive luxury for myself. It is probably the one department store in London where even a reluctant shopper like me can enjoy the retail experience. And it wasn’t raining inside.

Selfridges was opened in 1909 by an American, Henry Gordon Selfridge, who brought amazing innovations to London shopping after having done the same in Chicago (but there he was working for somebody else). He said that Selfridges would sell anything “from an aeroplane to a cigar” and who knows, that may still be true. I only went in for some Turkish delight. There is a superb confectionary department just next to the food hall.

London’s weather permitting, the outside of the Selfridges is as delightful as the inside. Look out for the lovely Art Deco clock and statue affair on the front of the building over the main entrance.