Merseyside - Port Sunlight War Memorial

May 2015 has some significant war anniversaries:

• 70th  - 8 May 1945 - VE Day - Victory in Europe
• 70th - 9 May 1945 - World War II - Channel Islands are liberated.
• 75th - 10 May 1940 - World War II - The first German bombs land in Kent.
• 75th - 10 May 1940 - World War II - Winston Churchill replaces Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister. 
• 75th - 13 May 1940 - Winston Churchill gives his famous "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" speech in the House of Commons.

It was a hard won war and the cost in human life was tragic.    I'm always moved when I see war memorials. Nearly every town and village in Britain has a memorial to the fallen of World War One or World War Two, but Port Sunlight's Memorial is different.

Port Sunlight is a model community built by Lord Leverhulme - the founder of Sunlight Soap.   This community is well worth a visit if you get a chance to pass by that way.  A nice heritage centre, a stunning art gallery, and...the reason for this post... a moving war memorial.

Port Sunlight War Memorial

You  have your usual heroic military figures, but I love how the whole thing is interwoven with family and children.

Freedom often comes at an horrific price, but when it is in defense of freedom, our peace, our wives, and our children then there is a clarity behind the struggle.   No more words... why not take a look yourself:

Thank you Port Sunlight.

For a tour app of this model town visit www.obelisktours.co.uk

Why I love the monarchy

Three years ago on 29 April, 2011 Prince William married Catherine Middleton.   I, like millions of others, watched the royal wedding ...and loved it.   However, a few days later I felt compelled to write the following article which I re post now:

Why I love the monarchy

Amidst all the celebration there have been dissenting voices from friends, blogs, comments, newspaper articles, radio shows etc. complaining about the cost, the monarchy’s role, and the wasted manpower.  I feel quite passionate in favour of our monarchy, so I need to share my thoughts on why I think they deserve our support.

  

Common Sense

In 1776 Englishman Thomas Paine (1737-1809) wrote a political pamphlet called Common Sense which changed the world.  Paine brilliantly wrote about the tyranny of British power in America and the urgent need for the colonies to unite against their king.  His arguments were powerful.  This power came from the fact that he was highlighting an abusive and unjust  system - the Monarchy and government of Great Britain.

  

He called for Americans to “oppose not just the tyranny but the tyrant”,  and that is exactly what America did.  In that first year Common sense went through 25 editions; soon there was a copy for one in every five people in the American colonies.   They began to believe Paine’s words that 

...we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest, purest constitution on the face of the earth.  We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

If I had been living in 1776 I would have raised my voice alongside Paine’s.   What he wrote was common sense.   If you read our British history it does not take long to equate British monarchs with oppression, cruelty, inequality, tyranny, civil wars and rebellion. 

Whoooaaa there nelly.   

Did I not say I was in favour of the monarchy?  So far it sounds like I’d be more suited to teaming up with Guy Fawkes or enlisting in Cromwell’s model army!    Am I stuck with my inbred ‘royalist’ blinkers or, as Paine put it:

The prejudice of Englishmen, in favour of their own government by king, lords, and commons, arises as much or more from national pride than reason.  

Common Sense Revisited 

I do not deny our Monarchy has a colourful past.  

I do not deny that our current Monarch has amassed a great fortune and incredible privileges from the blood and sweat of my forefathers.

I do not deny that modern royals have made mistakes. 

Recent case in point: how on earth did Princess Eugene and Princess Beatrice get it into their heads that their wedding outfits were suitable?   In fact...suitable is not the word.   Wearable is a better choice. Did Will and Kate play a practical joke on them and tell them it was fancy dress?  What on earth was that pipe cleaner creation on her head?

And someone should have had the foresight to seat them anywhere else but right behind the Queen.  Every shot of our Monarch included a shot of the two ugly sisters behind her.  (In fairness....they are not ugly, but their costumes were hideously so.)

In double fairness, Royals were not the only ones to commit scary fashion statements.  Even with my limited fashion sense I was surprised at some of  the ‘things’ women choose to put on their heads.  Are they trying to provide comic relief?   Some of them looked like misplaced satellite dishes or failed junior school art creations.   

To get back on track.   

I believe that those who slander our current Monarchy do not understand how it works or what its worth is to our nation.  I work as a professional tourist guide and witness its pulling power on the front lines. We are not dealing with the same monarchy that Thomas Paine was fighting against.   Same lineage, but a dramatically different package.  Whereas I would have gladly joined ranks with Paine in 1776, I would object whole heartedly to such remarks in 2011.   

But still I hear those dissenting voices asking how can I justify the cost of the wedding and the cost of the Monarchy’s existence?

How Much???!!!!

Anyone can tell that the dress, the flowers, the invites, the receptions, the army, the security, etc. etc.  would have cost millions.  I’ve already told my daughters not to expect their weddings to be on such a grand scale.  We probably won’t have as many horses.

Lots of statistics have been thrown about.  On the con side of things there have been protests about the cost of the wedding and the lost revenue due to a national holiday.    On the pro side there are arguments that things like increased tourism, and extensive merchandising have benefited.

Many arguments against the Monarchy show a lack of understanding of how the Monarchy is funded.  Consider this:

The Crown Estate

Since 1760 the monarchy gave most of its traditional revenues to Parliament.   This is the Crown Estate made up of properties, land, forest and foreshore worth over £6 billion.   The annual revenue (around £230 million) from this goes into the Treasury.   This income does NOT belong to the Sovereign.  In return parliament pay £7.9 milllion for the civil list which covers the Royal Household expenses (70% on staff salaries).   This helps cover the cost of garden parties, receptions, official entertainment during State Visits.  The Queen entertains around 50,000 people each year!!   The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are the only Royals who receive payment from this.

Privy Purse.  

The Queen does own the Duchy of Lancaster which is the personal, inherited property of the monarch worth £300 + million, and providing an annual surplus of about £10 million.  And yes, the Queen pays tax on this.  This income is used primarily to meet the expenses of other Royals.

The Prince of Wales has a similar income from the Duchy of Cornwall estates.  The Duchy is tax exempt, but the Prince of Wales voluntarily pays income tax (about 40%) on his taxable income.

Last year (2010) the Palace determined that the Queen and the Royal family cost each taxpayer a grand sum of 62p a year.   Yes....62p.    An investment I am more than happy to pay, and which can hardly be called a great burden on any British family.

(Full reports on Royal finances can be viewed on the official website of the British Monarchy at www.royal.gov.uk  )

How much did the Queen pay for the wedding?  How much did the Prince of Wales put in?  And how about the Middletons?  And what came from the taxpayer’s pocket?  You know what.... I don’t care.  That must sound totally irresponsible of me.  Granted, if an official breakdown was released I’d be one of the first wanting to read it, but in the big scheme of things I understand that whatever the cost the return to us as a nation far outrides that cost. 

And in return...

So what do I get for my 62p investment?

• A Royal family that is involved with over 3,000 organisations either as patron or president.
• The Queen has over 600 patronages.
• The Duke of Edinburgh has over 700 patronages.
• The Prince’s Charities - a group of not-for-profit organisations of which the Prince of Wales is President.  18 of the 20 Charities were founded by The Prince.
• Fantastic Royal Palaces that are not only beautifully maintained and preserved, but are still lived in by Royalty.  Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Holyroodhouse, Balmoral Castle, Sandringham House, 
• The Queen also owns a set of former Royal residences and are run by an independent charity known as Historical Royal Palaces:  The Tower of London, Hampton court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.  These are stunning historical properties which draw in millions of visitors.
• The Royal Collection is a stunning collection of art and artefacts many of which are on public display around the country.
• Two young princes who not only take pride in serving in the armed forces, but are quite prepared to be put on the front line like any of their colleagues.
• A family who are constantly on the go making our country a better place to live in.  They are at the forefront of encouraging, hosting and administering. 
• They delight and entertain politicians and ambassadors from around the world.  Other countries have to create Ambassadors of goodwill and hospitality whereas we have ours all included in the price. 
• In and of themselves they are the biggest tourist attraction in our country.  Even though tourists rarely see a royal at any of the palaces or the Changing of the Guard their presence holds a deep fascination and pull. 
• A wedding service yesterday that was faith promoting and enthralling. 
• A national treasure that appeals to old and young.  

But more than all of the above... the Royal family provide 

• A pride in my Britishness.
• A connection to my heart.
• A stirring in my soul.
• A smile on my face

That is 62p well spent.

Yesterday's wedding celebration was not mass hysteria or media hype?  

This was a national day of rejoicing.  And if you don’t get it... well, I feel sorry for you. 

 “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”

St. Catherine of Siena

quoted by the Bishop of London in the Wedding service.

Sources:

Liell, Scott.  46 Pages.  Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence.   MJF Books, New York, 2003. 

Paine, Thomas.   Common Sense. 1776.

www.royal.gov.uk

London - William and Mary

King William III and Queen Mary were reigning (1689-1702) while this part of St Paul's Cathedral was being constructed, and had their initials carved around the east window. 

Mary died in 1694 and William in 1702.  They were succeeded by Queen Anne who reigned until 1714.  This meant she was still Queen when the cathedral was finished which is why she gets a nice big statue at the front, and they get a few window carvings up the back. 

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour St Paul's Precincts found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

London - St Paul's Cross

An outdoor pulpit, called St Paul’s Cross, stood here from at least 1241 until it was torn down in 1643.  But this was much more than just a pulpit.  Royal or Religious proclamations could be made, religious sermons delivered, politics debated, trials held and heretics embarrassed.  In 1527 copies of William Tyndale’s English translation of the Bible were burnt here.

John Rogers (1500-1555) was a supporter of William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale in getting the Bible translated into English.  He delivered a very anti-Catholic sermon from here and preached against “pestilent popery, idolatry and superstition.”  When Queen Mary came to the throne he was an obvious target and he was burned at the stake in Smithfield making him the first English Protestant martyr under Mary’s reign.    He said, “That which I have preached I will seal with my blood.”  

Today’s column was constructed in 1910 with a drinking fountain basin.  The actual site of the original St Paul’s cross is marked in the pavement nearby.  

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour St Paul's Precincts found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

Preston - The Cenotaph

The northern edge of the Flag Market is dominated by Preston's Cenotaph built to honour the dead of World War One, and unveiled in 1926 by the English Admiral Earl Jellicoe (1859-1935).   A tribute to the dead from World War Two has also since been included.  

'Cenotaph' derives from two Greek words meaning "empty tomb"  indicating the monument is honouring people whose remains are elsewhere.    The top of the monument is made to look like an empty coffin. 

The memorial was designed by the English architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960), who also designed the famous, red Jubilee telephone boxes which have become an icon of Britain.  If you look down the street to the left of the memorial you will see a whole line of his phone boxes - almost like a tribute to his talent.  

Other famous creations of his include Battersea Power Station (London), Waterloo Bridge (London) and Liverpool Anglican cathedral.  His very rectangular style is present in much of his work.

The central sculpture of “Victory” is by Henry Alfred Pegram (1862-1937).  His sculptures can be found in London, Norwich, New Zealand,  Birmingham, Cape Town, Cardiff, Liverpool and Shanghai. 

Restoration work on the memorial was carried out between 2013 and 2014 in preparation for the centenary of World War one in 2014.

Incidentally it was Scott's grandfather Sir George Gilbert Scott who designed the glorious Town Hall which once stood on the south side of this market square.

This northern edge of the square once stood beneath a row of houses, and the entrance to Friargate was a lot narrower - making the square a fair bit smaller than it appears today.

Previously on this spot stood a different war memorial.  This was built in memory to the fallen of the Boer War.  The monument was moved to Avenham Park where it still stands.

Preston's recognition of its war dead does not stop here.  Inside the Harris Museum carved in stone are the names of around 2,000 casualties of the first world war.  It is a sobering experience to stand on the stairs in the foyer of the Harris and look at the names of so many snatched away by a horrific war.  

this is an extract from the FREE tour of Preston Flag Market found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

London - St Paul's Choristers School

A school for St Paul’s choristers was formed in 1123 for eight boys, and for centuries the boys’ education and singing practise co-existed.  Then the Grammar school side was more formally pursued in 1511 when John Colet (1466-1519) founded the St Paul’s School for 153 boys.  The school buildings stood to the north of the cathedral.  Colet was a bold and inspirational minister and deeply influenced men like Erasmus and Thomas More.  That school eventually moved to Hammersmith in 1884.   

Meanwhile the education of chorister’s remained here.  Small and focused.

Today schooling for day students is available from ages 4+, but the main focus is the Choristers (boys only) who are admitted to boarding school from the age of seven.  Applicants have an informal music audition, a formal audition and academic testing to be admitted.  Around 34 choristers are resident at any time, and places are hard to come by often requiring registration of interest four years ahead of time.   

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour St Paul's Precincts found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

Preston - 33 Market Place

As you look at the modern shops fronts on the west side of Preston's Flag Market it immediately becomes apparent that Thomas Yates the Jewellers is a rare gem squeezed between some rather bland, modern buildings.   Built circa 1580, this timber framed  building has the distinction of being the oldest shop in Preston.

For over four centuries this building has watched the market square transformed.  It is a Grade II listed building which started life as a town mansion, and by the 1690’s was the home for the town’s surgeon, Dr. Wortton.  The mansion used to be much larger including numbers 34 and 35, but when Dr. Wortton left it was split into three properties.    So began four hundred years of housing various traders at number 33 Market Place.  These included Straw Hat Manufacturers, Painters & Glaziers, Fruiterers, Drapers, Grocers, Coffee and Wine Dealers, Engravers & Copper Plate Printers, Basket & Skip Manufacturers, Chemists, Fish, Fowl & Poultry Merchant, Linen & Wool Drapers, Tobacconists and finally a Jewellers.

Thomas Yates the Jewellers

Thomas Yates (1811-1892) opened his own watchmaker’s shop on Friargate in 1840, and traded in Preston through most of Queen Victoria’s reign.  Thomas was famous for inventing the slow beat lever in watches in 1846.

The business has continued since then with various locations and owners, and moved into these premises in 1983.   Thus one of the oldest businesses in Preston is now housed in the oldest shop in Preston.

From the FREE tour of Preston Flag Market on www.obelisktours.co.uk

London - St Augustine

The tower of St Augustine is all that remains of the 11^th century church which was destroyed in the 1666 fire, rebuilt by Wren, renovated further in the 1800s and then bombed in 1941.   The surviving tower has been incorporated into the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School.  

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour St Paul's Precincts found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

Preston - bull baiting

Beneath your feet is a little bit of history that often goes unnoticed.  It may look like a poor bodged job of landscaping, but you can see the remnants of an iron ring once used for the cruel sport of baiting.  Many towns and villages would have a baiting ring and it was a popular form of entertainment.   A bull, and sometimes even a bear,  would have a collar placed around its neck and would then be tethered to a stake or iron ring like this one.

Dogs would then be released on the captive animal and attempt to bring it down by grabbing it by the nose which would bring it to the ground.  The struggling, tossing and fighting would often end in death for either the dogs or the bull.   The bull was on its way to the slaughter house anyway, so this was seen not only as a way to have a bit of ‘fun’ and a wager but also as a means of tenderising the meat. 

 This sport was how the Bulldog got his name.  In one aspect they could be ferocious yet they rarely complain and only bark when there is real reason.    A good bulldog would bite on and not let go.  It is no wonder that the Bulldog has been used to symbolise England and Winston Churchill.

A French visitor to England witnessed a bull baiting and reported:

“After a coming Bull-baiting had been advertised, the bull, decorated with flowers or coloured ribbons would be paraded round the streets of the town, and the dog which pulled off the favours in the subsequent baiting would be especially cheered by the spectators.  The parade ended, the bull, with a rope tied round the root of his horns, would be fastened to a stake with an iron ring in it, situated in the centre of the ring.”

The sport was eventually declared illegal by the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835 which protected the rights of bulls, dogs, bears and sheep and prohibited bear baiting and cockfighting.  

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour Preston Flag Market found on www.obelisktours.co.uk

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