My walking route to Trafalgar Square is down CHARING CROSS ROAD. When I reach the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, I glance over to a large granite monument in the middle of the intersection. I really haven’t paid much attention to it before, but last evening, while I was on my way to a concert at St. Martin in-the-field, I stopped and read the inscription on the base of the monumnet.
The inscription says: PATRIOTISM IS NOT ENOUGH. I MUST HAVE NO HATRED OR BITTERNESS FOR ANYONE. These words really hit me. In the troubled times we live, EDITH CAVELL’s statement deserves our attention.
EDITH CAVELL was an English nurse in German-occupied Belgium during World War I. She was instrumental in getting hundreds of soldiers to freedom for which she was discovered and executed by the Germans on 12 October, 1915.
During the intermission of the St. Martin’s concert, I walked over to the monument again and took ths photograph. I hope you enjoy this post. CAVELL’s 1915 words have great meaning for us today. There it is, right in the middle of one of the busiest intersections of London.
Worth pondering.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
ST. MARTIN IN-THE-FIELDS on Trafalgar Square was designed by James Gibbs in 1721. The clock at the base of the steeple was installed in 1756 and has been running ever since. The steeple is an elegant structure and is one of London’s most familiar “faces.” I am attaching a picture of the magnificent church and a beautiful image of the interior. STEEPLE #1 is a perfect way to get excited about the next steeple on your WALK WITH A PURPOSE.
ST. MARY-LE-BOW was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and the famous steeple has a copper dragon on top. It was built in 1671. A true cockney is born within earshot of the sound of the Church’s bells. Beautiful–right in the heart of the City of London. STEEPLE #2 IS A MUST VISIT.
ST. BRIDE’S – has Sir Christopher Wren’s tallest steeple–4 octagonal tiers built in 1672. The steeple of this church on Fleet Street is reputed to be the inspiration of the tiered wedding cake. And BRIDES……. The church was greatly damaged during World War II from German bombers. I love this steeple. After the City is quiet at night, I enjoy walkig around St. Bride’s Church; it is truly beautiful. STEEPLE #3 – A SUCCESSFUL VISIT.
ST. GEORGE’S BLOOMSBURY by Nicholas Hawksmoor has a steeple which has a checkered history. The figure at the top is KingGeorge I in a Roman toga, and the heraldic figures of Lions and Unicorns symbolize the struggle of the Hanoverian kings coming to England after the death of Queen Anne. The dramatic steeple with its many steps was altered by the Victorians who felt its theme was too profrane for a religious structure–so the beasts were removed. The tower has now been restored to its former glory. This is a stunning STEEPLE. Have a look; you will enjoy it. STEEPLE #4
WHAT A WALK WITH A PURPOSE: LONDON’S RICHLY DECORATED CHURCH STEEPLES.
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791) lived in London from 23 April 1764 until 30 July 1765 while he wrote his first two symphonies and regularly performed before admiring audiences.
Here on 29 June 1764 Mozart performed his compositions on the harpsichord and organ at a benefit concert in aid of a newly established maternity hospital. The entrance fee was five shillings.
In order to occupy himself Mozart composed his first two symphonies, K16 and K19. His sister sat by his side reminding Mozart to give the horn something worthwhile to do.
WALKIG NORTH-EAST TO…
Leopold published Mozart’s SIX SONATAS FOR THE HARPSICHORD AND VIOLIN at this time, dedicating them to Queen Caroline.
Mozart also took singing lessons here from Giovanni Manzuoli, a resident singer and one of the most famous male sopranos of the time. In 1771 Manzuoli came out of retirement to create the title role in Mozart’s ASCANIO IN ALBA, in Milan, which Mozart composed when he was only fifteen.
Thanks,
A perfect Sunday afternoon can be spent in WINDSOR GREAT PARK. If you are coming from London by car, take the M4 to Windsor, but turn off at Datchet and proceed on to Old Windsor. If you are coming by train, the train will bring you right into the heart of the town of Windsor. Whichever way you come, you will want to start your walk at the King George IV Gate on the south side of the Castle. There you will find the beginning of the LONG WALK which is three miles long, all the way to SNOW HILL and the equestrian stature of KING GEORGE III
The parkland is a popular recreation area for visitors and owned by the CROWN ESTATES. THE LONG WALK was laid out by Charles II in the 1660′s, and the trees were planted by William of Orange in the 1680′s. The entire park was put under cultivation during World War II.
THE EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF GEORGE III as a Roman General was placed atop SNOW HILL about 1830 and is truly beautiful from many views. I remember when I was a school boy and on a student tour to England with my classmates, our group went to Windsor via Old Windsor. The guide told all of us to have our cameras ready as we crossed the LONG WALK because the best views of the Castle and of SNOW HILL would be coming up shortly. My first impressions were WOW. My impressions to this day are still WOW!
The entire park is a peaceful retreat, close to Windsor, yet far enough away to give the feeling that you are deep in the English countryside, miles and miles from London. On Royal Ascot Day, the Royal Family and their guests will ride from Windsor Castle along the LONG WALK to Ascot for the most glamorous day of the London social calendar. But those who just want to enjoy an aftermoon, this is a fabulous option for a wonderful afternoon walk.
Queen Elizabeth II called him GRANDPA ENGLAND. Georgina Battiscombe called him the SAILER KING. The King’s equerry called him A GRAND OLD KING. At the time of the King’s Silver Jubilee in 1925, the King was stunned by the crowd’s affection at the Jubilee Parade; he said I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT, AFTER ALL I AM ONLY A VERY ORDINARY SORT OF FELLOW. Well, his subjects didn’t see him this way. In fact, George V was the epitome of a Constitutional Monarch who did his duty well. Let’s talk about this grand man with a very “rough” voice.
As young people pass by this statue, they have no idea of this King’s service to his country. Well, let me introduce you to George Frederick Ernest Albert, HM King George V, the last king of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the first KING OF THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR. He was the last Emperor of India who loved stamp collecting, conventionality, game shooting, a very private life–what most people would call A DULL LIFE. He was not much interested in SOCIETY–he left all that to his very social son EDWARD, later Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor. One can probably say he was at war with the 20th century. His values were Victorian, and he was as reliable and steady as gold itself.
King George V never wanted to be king. He wanted to be in the Royal Navy, smoke cigarettes and cigars,and sail his yacht. But there was a change of events which certainly altered the course of history. Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, was George’s older brother. He was engaged to Princess Mary of Teck who had been hand-picked by Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra–mostly to keep the wayward Prince in line. Six months after the engagement was announced, Prince Albert died of pneumonia, leaving George second in line to the throne and likely to succeed after his father, Edward VII. Queen Victoria still felt that Princess Mary was a suitable consort and encouraged her second grandson, George, to propose to Mary. After a suitable period of mouring, the engagement was announced and theY were married on 6 July, 1892 in CHAPEL ROYAL in St. James’s Palace, London. They were an inhibited yet loving couple that expressed their affection through notes and loving letters–THEY DID HAVE SIX CHILDREN. Princess Mary eventually became QUEEN MARY who was the “soutiens George” who helped her husband face the difficult challenges of World War I, the murder of his beloved cousin Tsar Nicholas II, the Delhi Durbar, Ireland Home Rule, the dropping of German titles and the renaming of the Royal House, the death of his son Prince John, the AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE BRITISH EMPIRE, the world-wide DEPRESSION, and the rise of the NAZI party in Germany. KING GEORGE’s reign was one of the most difficult periods in British history, and his beloved Consort, Queen Mary, was his unfailing consort.
Several years ago, I met a Canadian gentleman who offered our family KING GEORGE V’s sword which the King carried when he was at the Front in France during World War I. The King was thrown off his horse and broke his hip. His equerry apparently retrieved the sword and brought it to Canada where it had been for nearly fifty years before being offered to our family. This was a great old King, and I am honored to own a piece of his history. The problem is WHERE DOES IT BELONG WHEN I AM GONE? A museum? A grandson? Big decision here.
The King’s one great regret was the handling of his Russian cousins. Tsar Nicholas II was the King’s cousin. They had been close all their lives. Their mothers Queen Alexandra and the Tsarina Maria Feodorovna were sisters. When the Tsar was overthrown in the Russian Revolution in 1917, the British Government offered asylum to the Tsar and his family, but worsening conditions for the British people, and fears that revolution might come to the British Isles, led King George to think that the presence of the Russian Imperial Family might seem inappropriate under the circumstances. The Tsar and his immediate family remained in Russia and were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The King never forgave himself. But, the following year, Nicholas’s mother, Maria Feodorovna and other members of the extended Russian Imperial Family were rescued from the Crimea by British war ships. Can you imagine how relieved the King’s mother, Queen Alexandra, was to hear that at least her sister had been rescued. The two dowager consorts lived together for the rest of their lives in Marlborough House , London, and in a home they owned together in their native Denmark.
For all visitors to London, TRAFALGAR SQUARE is the center of everything. NELSON’S COLUMN causes one to pause and then look up toward heaven in pure gratitude for the HERO OF TRAFALGAR. After your pause, carry on with your walk toward St. Paul’s Cathedral. With Lord Nelson on your mind, when you arrive at the the great cathedral you will immediately be drawn to the great memorial to Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte. Again using the words of Rupert Friend: WHAT A GREAT MAN HE MUST HAVE BEEN TO HAVE SUCH A MEMORIAL IN HIS MEMORY.
Lord Nelson was born into a moderately prosperous Norfolk family and joined the navy through the influence of his uncle. He rose quickly through the ranks and served with leading naval commanders of the period before obtaining his own command in 1778. He developed a reputation in the service through his personal valor and firm grasp of tactics but suffered periods of illness and unemployment after the end of the American War of Independence. The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars allowed Nelson to return to service where he was particularly active in the Mediterranean. He fought in several minor engagements off Toulon and was important in the capture of Corsica and subsequent diplomatic duties with the Italian States. In 1797, he distinguished himself while in command of HMS CAPTAIN at the Battle of St Vincent. Then came the BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE where he lost his right arm and returned to England.
Lord Nelson was noted for his ability to inspire and bring out the best in his men: THE NELSON TOUCH. He was elegant, vain, and sought recognition, but he was patriotic, dutiful, and courageous as noted in contemporary newspapers.
The Admiral was wounded several times in combat, losing one arm and the sight in one eye. His death at Trafalgar secured his position as one of England’s most heroic figures.
When you are in St. Paul’s taking in all the splendor, stand by the memorial to Lord Nelson and drop your head for a moment in gratitude . You are in the presence of a great man. Imagine having the major SQUARE in one of the greatest cities in the world named after your achievement and a column placed in the center carrying your name.
As we mentioned in an earlier blog, even Adolf Hitler admired this great Admiral. It was Hitler’s plan to defeat Britain in World War II and then remove NELSON’S COLUMN to Berlin. WELL, THE BRITISH WERE HAVING NONE OF THAT –FOR SURE. My father told me that when World War II in Europe was over, the crowds went wild in TRAFALGAR SQUARE. I think Lord Nelson would have loved that very much. HOW FITTING.
What a wonderful memorial and a tomb in the vaults with the great DUKE OF WELLINGTON – the Iron Duke. I am attaching NELSON’s flags signifying EVERY MAN MUST DO HIS DUTY.
