The May Fayre Samuel Pepys first saw Mr Punch in England on 9 May 1662, recording the event in his diary. Consequently 9th May is taken as Punch’s birthday and is celebrated with a birthday toast to Mr Punch at the May Fayre. 40th anniversary The annual Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival takes place on the… More COVENT GARDEN MAY FAYRE AND PUPPET FESTIVAL
The general election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2015 As the country goes to the polls here’s a blast from the past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i4EnjRKVQw
London full of runners April 26th 2015 sees London full of runners as the Virgin Money London Marathon takes to the streets. The London Marathon began back in 1981 with 6255 runners. Since then the event has grown in size, stature and popularity and is shown on television around the world. Fun runners use the race to… More The London Marathon
April 23 The patron saint of England is Saint George. Saint George’s Day is celebrated on April 23, the anniversary of his death. It is not a public holiday in England, although there are groups that feel it ought to be. Taken from St Georges Day.com website “The History of St George’s Day In 1222 the… More St George’s Day
Here is Monty Python from 1970 parodying TV coverage of the general election Wikipedia notes “In the 1981 Crosby by-election, candidate John Desmond Dougrez-Lewis, a 22-year-old student from Hayes in Greater London, changed his name by deed poll to Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F’tang-F’tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel. Thus the name was printed on the ballot paper, although the Returning Officer… More General Election Special
A fun way to uncover political history With the general election taking place, it’s time for an Election Special Treasure Hunt. This April, in the run up to May’s elections, follow in the footsteps of great (and not so great) leaders, politicians and reformers as you explore political history. This informative scavenger hunt around Westminster is put together by Treasure Hunts… More Election Special Street Game
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race The annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is also known as the BNY Mellon Boat Race. It is contested by two male rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities. It covers a four-and-a-quarter mile course, known as the Championship Course, along the River Thames. The route stretches from Putney to Mortlake, starting downstream of Putney… More Sporting history will be made on Saturday April 11th 2015
a Spring Themed Treasure Hunt at Trafalgar Square. A cultural public space The Trafalgar Square area used to be used for stables for Whitehall Palace. It was redeveloped by John Nash in 1812 to be a cultural public space. The square itself was designed by Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845. It was originally to… More Hunting for Artists, Artisans and Sheep at Easter.
The House of Fabergé was founded in 1842 in St Petersburg, Russia, by Gustav Faberge. His son, Peter Carl Faberge, became jeweller and goldsmith to the great Russian Imperial Court. Peter Carl Faberge created exquisite jewels and objects, including the famous jewel-encrusted Faberge Eggs between 1885 and 1917. After the revolution, the Fabergé family fled Russia… More Fabergé Easter Eggs
Charlotte Brontë was born on 21st April 1816 in Thornton, West Yorkshire. She was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels have become classics of English literature. Charlotte Bronte used the pen name Currer Bell to publish her work, her most famous novel being Jane Eyre published in 1847. Her later works include Villette and Shirley. Charlotte… More Charlotte Bronte – 21/4/1816 to 31/3/1855