Runnymede take 2 - 23 August 2015

Back to Runnymede on a much cooler Sunday.

As I mentioned in my previous post it is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta by King John which took place in 1215 - 800 years ago! Hard to imagine a such a concept being developed such a very long time ago in a time of serfs and royalty. Time to brush up on my history I think.

Besides The Jurors which I saw in my last visit, there are three other memorials in the vicinity which commemorate democracy - the Magna Carta Memorial designed by Sir Edward Maufe and erected in 1957.

 

I'm surprised at the age of this memorial - it has such clean, unfussy, modern lines.

 

Just a little bit further on is the Kennedy Memorial. After the assassination of JF Kennedy, in 1965 an acre of ground was given by Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of the USA in commemoration of his life. A stone path winds up a hill towards a grove of trees with a 7 ton block of Portland stone on a plinth inscribed with words from his inaugural speech.

 

 

It's a very peaceful, contemplative place.

 

Then a stroll up through the woods to the top of the hill brings you to the Air Forces Memorial which commemorates the men and women from all over the Commonwealth who died during the Second World War - some 20 000 who have no known graves. Their names are engraved on the walls.

 





 

Perhaps because there weren't many people around, it's also a calm soothing place with wonderful light even on an overcast day. It's obviously a place which is still visited by many with flowers and poems and photographs. Rosemary for remembrance.

 

 

 

 

 

From the rooftop there are views over the Thames.

And another spiral staircase - I seem to be collecting them.



There's lots more to see here and experience around Runnymede - this is just history lite. I hope you all enjoy hanging out with me in these places.

Runnymede & Windsor Great Park 16 August 2015

On this Sunday I met up with the Windsor branch of Ramblers for a walk through Runnymede and the Windsor Great Park. The median age of the group was probably around 70 but they were pretty fit and very welcoming. We walked down through the forest and out on to the river plains. Runnymede is where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 and is on the Thames river bank. It's a National Trust Site with a good tea room - actually all the National Trust sites have good tea rooms. That's my idea of a good walk - tea and scones at the end or in the middle of a walk, which was the case today. They have their priorities straight!

Down on the river plain is a fascinating art work  called The Jurors. The artist is Hew Lock and the work consists of 12 bronze chairs in the middle of a field, decorated with symbols and images "relating to past and ongoing struggles for freedom, rule of law and equal rights".

 

 

Each chair is embellished with symbols and pictures and invites you to sit down and join the conversation. 

 

 

 

There are some more monuments in the area, but that wasn't on the planned route.  I came back a week or so later so watch out for that post. In the meantime, tea and cake was on the menu.

 

Back to the Thames path.

 

 

 

The steamboat was apparently specially built for the Tarzan Greystoke movie, this according to the walk leader who is an absolute fountain of knowledge, but I can't find any reference to this anywhere else. The only movie I can find relating to this is Three Men in a Boat. Anyone seen it?

 

Onwards through a church yard with a redwood tree! That was a bit surprising. It isn't as big as the Californian trees or the redwoods in Grootvadersbosch but big enough.

 

 

Through Old Windsor and out into fields where we saw some incredibly happy and healthy looking cows. According to Pete, they belong to Prince Charles. Who knows? But they are in the right area.

 

 

And into Windsor Great Park. What a wonderful place.

 

 

As this was the tail end of an 8 mile walk, we didn't do much exploring. But we did run into a huge herd of deer who were mainly unperturbed by our presence. We got to within 20 meters of them.

 

 

 

 

My "Have to go back" list is getting longer by the week.







London 15 August 2015

During the summer there are often open air art trails in London. This summer it's Cancer Research UK's - What's in your DNA - with sculptures inspired by the DNA double helix sprinkled around London. Besides the treasure trail to follow, it takes you to iconic locations around the city. The exhibition closes on 6 September so I thought I'd make a day of it. I caught the train and started off from Paddington station. Down through Hyde Park - who would believe that you are in the middle of one of the capitals of the world - it looks like the countryside.

That is until you get closer to the Serpentine - lots of people around there - some even swimming, water looks a bit dodgy to me. I like the swan sculpture though.

The Princess of Wales Memorial Walk - some other time I think.

Down past the garish Prince Albert Memorial and on to the Royal Albert Hall where the first helix is.

Another beautiful day! It eventually got up to about 30 degrees.

Onwards, down past the Natural History Museum - also a trip for another day.

 

The next helix was in the window on Christies's Auctioneers in Old Brompton Road. Not the best time of day to be taking a photo though - the best I could do is more about me than the helix...

 

 



Carrying on to South Kensington Station - you will see that a fair amount of walking is involved here.

And so it was time for refreshments.

Refreshed and on to helix no. 4 on Dovehouse Green in Kings Road.

 

Yay! Lots of buses on Kings Road and an Oyster card - good combination.  Helix no. 5 in Duke of York Square in Kings Road.

Hop and and hop off another bus at Victoria Station for helix no. 6

Outside the station another wishfully iconic building is taking shape. What do you think, will it be an interesting part of the London skyline? Or is too reminiscent of the Shard?

Strand Street and helix no. 7. Also indoors but the skies had clouded over so the picture is better. I like this one.

It's such fun exploring London but I probably should have checked what else was happening that day because as I headed towards Westminster, the roads were being blocked off by hoards of police and pedestrians were being channelled - VJ day - celebrating the end of the war with Japan!  I could only see the next helix from a distance. Once you're in one channel, it's virtually impossible to divert anywhere else.

So that was it with sculptures. There was no point even trying to get across the river.

I found a spot and watched the parade.

This is an innovation solution when you are a short professional photographer. Make yourself tall!

Looks like all the statesmen are also watching the parade. But I would rather join the pelican party - hehe

With more walking to do I headed up the Mall which had been closed to traffic and on to Trafalgar Square. There were apparently 2 more helixes in the square but there was so many people there I couldn't see them.

Eight hours later it was time to head home. My feet were sore and I had only seen half of the exhibition. Oh well, next time ...

Ramblers Walk - Dorney Lake and Thames path - 9.8.2015

Seeing I left all my walking friends behind on the mountain, I decided to join Ramblers here. It's an incredibly well established organisation with groups everywhere and who are some of the most welcoming people I've ever met. You belong to a group close to where you live but can walk with any of the other groups - just look up the walks on the website and pitch up.

This group is the South East Berkshire Group and the walk was around Dorney Lake and along the Thames. Dorney Lake is a purpose built lake owned by Eton College and was the venue of the rowing and kayaking events for the last Olympics and Paralympics. On the day we were walking there was a paratriathlon event for disabled athletes.

Lots of athletes but not a lot of spectators. They were amazing to watch. 

There is also a lot of birdlife around. Mum and teenage cygnet.

Once we'd walked around the lake we joined the Thames path and got to see how the other 10% live. It was a beautiful day so everything looked idyllic but I wonder what it's like in winter?

I do like the Thames path though, it's a National Trail and apparently 184 miles long from the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier.

This beautiful Tudor mansion is a hotel called Dorney Court.

Interesting signposting!