On Sunday about forty people turned up to an event I organised at a wet and windy Studland Bay and proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. My latest novel, Another You, is set in Studland but that was just the catalyst for Dive into D-Day, run in conjunction with the National Trust.
A number of writer friends have asked in awe how I ‘got in with’ the National Trust. Meaning, I guess, how come they are selling Another You in their shops. Well, to be precise it’s just one shop and therein lies the answer – go local. And write a book they love and so will want to sell.
Towards the end of writing the book, which although a contemporary romance harks back to World War 2, I felt it lacked the colour of what it really would have been like to live in the village in the 1940s. Through Studland History Group I was put in touch with local National Trust ranger Stewart Rainbird who had collected an oral history of the era. A morning spent with him paid huge dividends and when the book was published I send him a copy as a thank you.
In turn he passed the book to the manager of the local NT shop who loved it so contacted me and asked if they could stock it, and would I like to do a signing or some sort of launch event. We met and he commented that the film Dunkirk meant that there was a great deal of interest in WW2, something he’d like to capitalise on given that Studland played a huge part in the preparations for D-Day with Exercise Smash.
Another You opens on the sixtieth anniversary of the first day of Exercise Smash when six men died when their amphibious tanks launched too far out to sea and were lost in the bay. For my main character, Marie, it was the start of everything but for these young men it was the end of their too short lives. Being wartime the whole thing was top secret and for a long while it remained that way – even their families were told nothing about what happened. It was only down to amateur WW2 historian and tank restorer John Pearson that there is a memorial at all.
John had also helped with my research and if there was to be some sort of history day (the event was growing like topsy), he was first on my wish list of speakers. Although he professed to nerves he jumped at the opportunity. As did Stewart Rainbird who volunteered to lead a guided walk – and mentioned that Purbeck Sub Aqua Club were diving the remains of the tanks in preparation for the 75th anniversary of Smash in 2019. When they agreed to put on a photographic display of their finds and talk about their first dive season the day had a definite shape – and a name.
With speakers lined up the National Trust did everything they could to promote it through leaflets, a Facebook promotion and a press release. The media uptake was really good – I’m sure the NT’s name on it helped – but the story of Exercise Smash is so compelling two of the tabloids picked it up. I was in part frustrated and in part amused to see that they ‘improved’ on the story by embellishing facts in a way they had been told wasn’t true, but I guess that’s the way of their world.
But the day itself was amazing. Forty people braved the elements to discover more about Studland’s wartime history and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The National Trust were so pleased they want to do it again. And I sold half a dozen books, which although it wasn’t the point, was still something of a result.
In this year when our political relationship with the continent has been so hotly debated, the National Trust have put together a selection of objects from their vast collections that help examine our nation’s rich and ancient cultural connections to our neighbours. This is a fascinating digital diary, and we’ve included a couple of excerpts here. It is a great idea to check in each weekday to find out what stories our objects have to tell. But here are a couple to be getting on with.
Day 35. Campi phlegræi. Observations on the volcanoes of the Two Sicilies as they have been communicated to the Royal Society by Sir William Hamilton … Date 1776 Place of origin Italy. On show at Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, East of England, National Trust.
Not sure that I’d hang about as a live volcano does what it likes to do, but Lady Emma Hamiliton’s husband, Sir William Hamilton was made of sterner stuff. Campi Phlegraei or ‘Flaming Fields’ is a first-hand report of the spectacular eruptions of Mount Vesuvius written by Sir William Hamilton, the British envoy to the Neapolitan royal court and expert volcanologist. Perhaps he saw it as a metaphor for his wife’s raging affair with Lord Nelson which was burning strongly at the time? As a diplomat, Hamilton entertained many visitors and frequently accompanied them on the perilous ascent of the live volcano without a hard hat or flame-proof jacket in sight. The area’s history of volcanic activity, including the recently excavated nearby classical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, made it a popular tourist destination for wealthy travellers making the Grand Tour. Hamilton’s text is a wonderful example of a beautifully illustrated treatise from the Age of Enlightenment – when science clearly came before health and safety.
Day 8 Harp. Sebastion Erard 1732 – 1851 On show at Lyme Park, Cheshire.
The maker of this particular harp was the Frenchman, Sébastien Erard. Prior to establishing his firm in London, Erard was closely associated with the Bourbon court including the harp-playing Marie Antoinette, whose arrival to Versailles in 1770 fuelled the rage for the instrument amongst the French elite. But by the early 1790s, with many of his clients facing certain death by guillotine, Erard fled France for London where he established a shop on Great Marlborough Street. There he honed his craft to such a degree that by 1794 he took out the first British patent for the harp to protect his innovations. In 1800, the Princess of Wales bought one of his harps and the success of his firm was ensured; by 1810 he had sold nearly 1400 of his stringed instruments from his London outlet alone.
Yesterday Frost Magazine’s Margaret Graham and Dr Kathleen Thompson had a treat– a look behind the scenes of the Portuguese Embassy in London, as part of the National Trust’s Europe & Us programme. I must declare a particular interest: my uncle and aunt, and their numerous children lived in Lisbon for much of their lives, (something to do with the trams) and some are still there. They love it, even those over here.
The Portuguese Ambassador’s home is situated in Belgrave Square, an area that was bomb damaged in the war. No 12 was no exception, but walking around, as you can all do tomorrow and Saturday, you would never guess. Entering through imposing double doors we were faced with an airy hall into which led graceful marble staircase and a ceiling imported from a church – just like that, as Tommy Cooper would have said. It was impressive, but not too large or ostentatious. What was particularly marked was the silence. Behind these doors the bustle of London was just a memory.
Margaret Graham in the Catherine Room
We were able to look around the Catherine of Braganza room. Catherine was married to Charles II; it is often said that their marriage would lead to Britain becoming the largest empire in history because, as part of Catherine’s dowry, Charles was given the seven islands in Bombay, which he would later rent to the East India Company.Even more importantly, dare I say, Catherine liked her cup of tea, and soon, so did the British. So when any of us next sit down to tea and buns, let’s give a heartfelt vote of thanks to Catherine .
There was to be no toddling up the wooden hill as they say in children’s books, but instead we swanned up the marble staircase, the walls of which were hung tapestries. How on earth were these physically worked? I mean, how did they get to the middle? Something to ask on your own tour.
In all the rooms interesting art hung, and my own love, ancient globes, were in evidence: I love to see how the world has changed.
The tour opened my eyes to the inner sanctums of diplomacy, just as the blurb said it would. The strictly limited openings, as part of Heritage Open days, will indeed allow you insights into how these important government buildings are used to allow envoys to entertain while promoting their countries’ interests to the ‘Court of St James’. Visitors will get to explore these fascinating buildings on guided tours and view the furniture and decorative art that reflects each nation.
National Trust Creative Director Ivo Dawnay comments, In this year when our relationship with Europe has been front and centre of our thoughts, the National Trust is running a programme, dubbed ‘Europe & Us’, that seeks to gain insights into our long relationship with the continent.
Hurry. Make sure you visit one of these Embassies. It really is fascinating. To be honest, I could live in the Portuguese Embassy: it managed to be a home, as well as a showpiece. Sadly, this is unlikely but so glad I managed to get behind the double doors.
For security reasons applicants will be asked to apply with their full names, addresses and contact details and will be admitted only with photo ID.
Royalist or not this weekend marks a four day weekend. If that is not something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Here are our Jubilee picks.
With the Diamond Jubilee imminent, a national group of country pubs has launched a cake to celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone – with the help of celeb baker Paul Hollywood.
Chefs for Vintage Inns have created the Vintage Summer Cake, a triple-decker sponge cake with raspberries and blackcurrants, summer fruit syrup, cream and blueberry fruit, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
The patriotic puddings will feature exclusively on the Vintage Inns menu until the end of August and for every £3.95 slice Vintage Inns will donate 15p to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Paul, a judge on smash hit BBC TV show The Great British Bake-off, helped Vintage Inns launch the cake
He said: “As a nation of food lovers, we always rise to the challenge of producing something delicious for a momentous occasion.
“The Victoria Sponge was created in honour of Queen Victoria’s reign so it’s only right we commemorate Elizabeth II with something special and traditionally British.”
BEN FOGLE REVEALS HIS INSIDE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO HOST A JUBILEE TEA PARTY FIT FOR THE QUEEN
JANE TROZZO GETS SET FOR THE ‘MOTHER OF ALL PARTIES!”…WITH AN UNSUAL TWIST!
New range of exclusive indoor/outdoor table decor prove just the tonic for a season of summer shindigs
Designer Jane Trozzo of quirky home and garden accessories website JaneTrozzo.com (http://www.janetrozzo.com/) has released an exclusive range of personally-designed table dining sets as Brits get set for the “Mother of All Parties”.
COOL BRITANNIA
The stunning New Infinite Rose Cube by OnlyRoses
Show your patriotism this year with OnlyRoses stunning red, white and blue Infinite Rose ‘Cool Britannia’ Cube. The Cool Britannia Infinite Rose Cube is priced at £150
Event: ‘What The Butler Saw…Queens, Kings and all Inbetweens’
· Date: 3rd of June 2012 only – Time: 21:00- 03:00 (last admission at 1:00)
· Place: 66 West Smithfield, London, EC1N 9DY
· Artists: Frank and Nancy Sanazi, Beau Rocks, The Tootsie Rollers, Marnie Scarlett, Jonny Anglais, Living Cake Doll, Nikkita Sablier, Ghoulias Peculiars
DJs: Neoblade (C & D), The Secretary (TG)
· Full details: www.corsetanddiamonds.com and www.whatthebutlersaw.info
· Price: £25 in advance, £35 on the door
Philip Mould & Co’s upcoming exhibition entitled – “From the House of Tudor to British Regency” – a celebration of Royal Portraiture to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Highlights include a painting of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger, as well as a selection of intimate portrait miniatures, which were often secretly exchanged or presented as diplomatic gifts and tell the story of a monarch from a new perspective.
This exhibition runs from 29th June to 6th July, at Philip Mould & Co, 29 Dover Street, London, W1S 4NA.
– Brits to celebrate Jubilee with 200,000 cups of tea, 30,000 scones and enough picnic rugs to cover six football pitches –
As the Union Jack begins to line our streets, the National Trust is busy preparing for the Diamond Jubilee Weekend in the most British of ways – with almost 200,000 cups of tea.
Based on previous Bank Holiday figures the National Trust is making provisions for its Summer of Celebration with over 70 tea parties planned across the country where they expect almost 40,000 litres of tea to be drunk, and over 30,000 scones to be scoffed. The nation is also likely to put away around 85,000 cream teas and more than 11,000 sandwiches as the country celebrates in true British style.
The National Trust – the perfect location for Brits to come together and celebrate all that Great Britain has to offer – will be proudly displaying 7.3km of bunting (more than 4.5 miles) across the Jubilee weekend – enough to wrap around Buckingham Palace 16 times.
More than 23,000* picnic rugs are expected to be sold over the weekend of celebrations – which would cover an area of 41,812 square meters, the equivalent of six Wembley football pitches.
To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Britain’s first budget hotel chain, Travelodge is offering a free UK weekend break to all couples who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this year.
Couples who got married in 1952, the year the Queen came to the throne can enjoy a complementary two night break including a traditional English breakfast* at any one of Travelodge’s 491 UK based hotels.
To qualify for the free diamond anniversary room offer couples need to register their details at: diamondoffer@travelodge.co.uk. They will be asked to send proof that they have been married for 60 years. Upon receipt of the requested information a free weekend break will be booked for the couple at a Travelodge hotel of their choice.
Inspired by the Queen’s enduring trimness, and in preparation for the demands of the Jubilee weekend, Harpers Fitness has put together a few tips on how people across the land can get one’s leg, arms and buttocks into Buckingham palace shape.
* Harpers Fitness, which runs over 70 gyms and leisure centre facilities across the country, has used its industry expertise to come up with three specific exercises that would ensure the Queen is in tip-top shape for the exertions of a very special weekend
* With the excitement of the nation building, who knows – she might already be doing them
* The recommended exercises are:
* The Wave: Hold one’s arm to the side of one’s body and raise, so that the arm is held out in front of the body and the elbow is bent at a right angle. With fingers loosely together and a slightly cupped palm, slowly rotate one’s wrist. Repeat with other arm. Aim to do three sets of 20 repetitions
* The Royal Squat: Stand up straight, then lower one’s posterior (crown jewels?) into a sitting position and maintaining a straight back, before slowly returning to the standing position. Repeat in sets of five – remembering to keep the expression on your face regal at all times. To ensure your back remains in the perfect ‘neutral’ position you should consider balancing a crown on one’s head and ensure it doesn’t fall off
* The Downward Corgi: Get on to one’s hands and knees. Pressing one’s hands into the floor/mat, slowly raise one’s hips, while learning back until one’s head, shoulders and spine are all aligned. This should lift one’s knees and make your body form a triangle with the floor/mat. Legs can be straight, although beginners may want to bend their legs slightly for a slightly less intense core workout
For an alternative to Pimms try Stone’s Ginger Lemonade Cup. This alternative cocktail from Stone’s Ginger Wine will put a fresh spin on any street party and is featured exclusively on the back of the limited edition label. Simply pour one measure (50ml) of Stone’s Ginger Wine, per person, into a jug, top with lemonade and add lots of ice. Pop in a few slices of cucumber and your favourite ripe fruits, add mint to garnish and you’ll have the perfect refreshing summer treat.
Graham Norton invites the nation to Party for Parkinson’s for The Queen’s Jubilee
Popular BBC TV Presenter and arguably the nation’s favourite party host, Graham Norton, has issued a rallying cry – urging everyone to Party for Parkinson’s this summer.
Whether it’s a barbecue, street or house party, Parkinson’s UK delete alongside Graham, hopes to encourage people to turn their gatherings into a real cause for celebration by helping to raise funds for the charity.
Though you can turn any event any event into a Party for Parkinson’s, with The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee just weeks away, there is no better time to get the party started.
Graham, whose father lived with Parkinson’s for many years, explains: “Don’t be a party pooper. Get into the party spirit and invite family, friends and neighbours to your very own Party for Parkinson’s for a day to remember.
“Make it happen by hosting your own party, and you will be helping Parkinson’s UK to raise vital funds to improve the lives of the 127,000 in the UK living with the condition.
“Together and with your help, we can find a cure for Parkinson’s,” he added.
To help your party go with a bang, Parkinson’s UK have created some special additions for their free party pack. People really wanting to paint the town blue can also order special downloadable decorations in the charity’s trademark colour.
To find out more or to order your own Party for Parkinson’s pack, please visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or call 0207 963 9319.
Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in style with the help of luxurious British lifestyle brand Scarlet & Argent.
The brand has created a stunning limited edition Jubilee Throw made from beautifully soft 100% Lambswool and inspired by the colours of the Union Flag and the Thames River Pageant. It is available online at www.johnlewis.com and in John Lewis’ Oxford Street store from next week (w/c 14th May).
The Jubilee Throws are reversible and are ideal for throwing over a comfy sofa to watch the Jubilee celebrations on television, adorning a bed or as a patriotic travel rug. Price £160, size 195x120cm, weight 1.1kg.
Each throw is created exclusively by Yorkshire-based Hainsworth which is one of Britain’s most prestigious textile mills and a luxury fabric supplier to the Queen. Its iconic scarlet cloth is worn exclusively by the Queen’s Guards and Prince William even wore it on his wedding day.
The company was awarded the Royal Warrant for supplying Her Majesty the Queen with interior fabrics following the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.
Only the finest natural materials are used in every Jubilee Throw and every piece is impeccably finished. It is this attention to detail that gives the beautiful woollen lifestyle accessories their exceptional quality, their indulgent textures and a special place in any home.
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this summer, including the launch of three fabulous new Jubilee Edition versions of ROBERTS’ bestselling Revival DAB/FM radio, in high gloss red, white and blue.
The “Royal Kew Family Package” gives visitors to London the opportunity to enjoy the stylish accommodation and friendly service of the four-star, deluxe, Chiswick Moran Hotel, whilst experiencing the world’s most famous gardens and exploring their royal connections.
In the run up to, and during, Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Kew Gardens has launched a fascinating “Royal Kew” walking tour. Kew guides will introduce families to the history and importance of Kew and unveil the gardens’ wealth of Royal heritage and connections.
Prices for the “Royal Kew Family Package”, which is available from now until 8 June 2012, start from £280 for a family of four (terms & conditions apply). The price includes a two-night stay in an Executive Family Room on a bed and breakfast basis, a two-course dinner in the hotel’s stylish Napa restaurant on one of the evenings and entry to Kew Gardens.1 The hour-long “Royal Kew” guided tour is available daily at Kew Gardens and is free of charge on entry to the gardens. There is a limit of 15 people per tour and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour starts at midday and visitors are asked to register with the guide 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
Oxford Street launched a Great British Fashion Flag Showcase with 147 union flags – including 10 dedicated fashion flags to celebrate Great British Fashion – ahead of the HM Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
MOËT & CHANDON CELEBRATES THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE WITH EXCLUSIVE COMMEMORATIVE LABEL
Established in 1743, Moët & Chandon has become the definitive champagne of celebration. The most renowned champagne house in the world has held the Royal Warrant since Queen Victoria recognised the quality of the Champagnes in 1893. This recognition was reaffirmed in 1955 when Moët & Chandon was granted the Royal Warrant by HM Queen Elizabeth II, which has been maintained over the last fifty seven years. Now in 2012, Moët & Chandon toasts this relationship by producing an exclusive Diamond Jubilee Cuvee.
