DANIEL NAPPER's 1 ST Birthday
Sunday, 6 October 2019
Saturday, 5 October 2019
Wales National Anthem
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
Lyrics:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Translation:
The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood.
Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.
While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land,
O may the old language endure.
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", is, by tradition, the national anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.
Lyrics:
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
Translation:
The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood.
Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.
While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land,
O may the old language endure.
Friday, 4 October 2019
Wisley Gardens
RHS Garden Wisley lies between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey, off the main London to Portsmouth road (A3) south of Junction 10 of the M25. Follow the brown tourist flower signs on the A3 and M25 to the RHS Garden. Car parking is free. For SatNav users the address is: RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB.
18 March 2019 – 20 October 2019 -Monday – Friday- 10am – 6pm
Family 2+2 - 2 adults + 2 children - £37
Monday, 30 September 2019
Churchill War Rooms-
Step back in time - Opening Times-9.30am to 6pm, last admission 5pm
Address:- Clive Steps, King Charles Street ,London
SW1A 2AQ -Nearest Tube stations :-St James's Park, Westminster
SW1A 2AQ -Nearest Tube stations :-St James's Park, Westminster
| Concessions :-Senior 60+ | Standard £17.60 |
During WW2 the government was forced underground when Nazi air raids threatened every building in central London. These huge underground fortresses were constructed beneath important government buildings and were used to plan the war effort. Known as the Churchill War Rooms, the secret underground maze still exists today and is now a museum to the war effort and the great war time leader himself.
The War Rooms have been faithfully reconstructed with original war time objects so you can experience what life may have been like for those working to defeat fascism whilst being bombed constantly from above.
Getting there
The War Rooms are very centrally located, just 10 minutes from either Westminster Station or St James’s Park station. The entrance is small but don’t let this deceive you, the museum itself is massive!
The War Rooms
I arrived just before the museum opened at 9:30am and there was already a small group of people waiting to enter. These were mostly tourists, perhaps enamoured by Netflix’s recent British Drama The Crown, which features Winston Churchill heavily. In any case, this is one of London’s most popular paid museum and it’s not hard to see why.
As you enter you’ll immediately begin your decent underground, just a few short flights of stairs. You can either purchase a ticket at the desk or show your pre-booked ticket. You can then make your way into the War Rooms and begin exploring the underground cavern.
You’ll be provided with an audio guide (available in many languages), which will provide you with information about the rooms, what happened in them during the war and other interesting factoids. I usually hate audio guides, I prefer to explore at my own leisure, but I gave this one a go and it was actually very interesting. If you don’t use the guides you may miss out on some interesting features that you will likely otherwise miss.
The first room I came across was the Cabinet War Room; this is where Churchill would meet with his cabinet in times when doing so above ground proved too dangerous. The room is faithfully recreated with the actual objects used during the war. Some very important decisions the affected the world for decades were made in these rooms and its fascinating to see them in person; then again I am a bit of a history geek, so maybe it’s just me.
You’ll find yourself walking through corridors and hallways attached to rooms hidden behind barriers. You can’t actually enter the rooms for fear people may disturb the artefacts, however you do get a real sensation that this is what it would have looked like. The whole place feels very authentic and militaristic.
Some of the more fascinating rooms are the quarters of some high profile government officials. These are the rooms the leaders of the country would have lived in whilst working in the underground bunkers. They appear to be little more than prison cells with a bed, desk and basic amenities. Even Churchill was reduced to a small square hole in the wall room, but then again he did get his own private bathroom.
After about 20 minutes of exploring various hallways and corridors you’ll be directed to the Churchill Museum, which I guess is a museum within a museum! This huge room is dedicated to the live of Winston Churchill from birth till death. The sheer size of the room is daunting and a testament to the extraordinary life Churchill led.
The museum features videos, interactive screens, artifacts from his life and recordings of his most famous speeches. I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting and enthralling this exhibition was; I must have spend 45 minutes exploring the life of this one man.
After you’ve had your fill of Mr Churchill you can return to exploring the underground War Rooms. You’ll see the various map rooms where battles were planned and plotted.
I found these to be the most interesting part of the exhibit as they are filled will real documents pertaining to the war effort and how the government utilised the country’s resources to win the war.
After another 20 minutes of exploring you’ll come to the end of the rooms and through the gift shop. For once I was actually tempted to buy a Churchill Mug or t-shirt, but I resisted! The exit brings you back to the same street as the entrance and you can continue exploring central London withe the knowledge that it’s all still here largely thanks to the efforts of the people who worked in those War Rooms.
Time needed to visit the War Rooms-As for how long you should give to visit the Churchill War Rooms, I suggest allowing at least an hour, possibly an hour and a half if you want to really explore every corner of the museum. The War Rooms are located within walking distance of other major London landmarks and two tube stations.
Verdict
There are a lot of free museum in London, this isn’t one of them, however worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms is as close to stopping back in time as you can get, and I think its very important to step back to a time when the country (and the world) was in its darkest hour.So authentic, so faithfully recreated, I can’t think of a negative thing to say about the War Rooms! It does what it sets out to achieve. Perhaps one suggestion would be to include interactive screens throughout the museum so provide a more immersive experience.
If you couldn’t care less about history, the war, or Britain’s role in it, then this isn’t the place for you. If you want to experience a taste of life during the greatest struggle this country has ever seen, and how we overcame it, then the Churchill War Rooms is the place to go.
Sunday, 29 September 2019
Kew - Gardens
Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park in Middlesex, England, its living collections include more than 30,000 different kinds of plants, while the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over seven million preserved plant specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London's top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.Kew Gardens, together with the botanic gardens at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an internationally important botanical research and education institution that employs 750 staff and is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Kew site, which has been dated as formally starting in 1759, though it can be traced back to the exotic garden at Kew Park, formed by Lord Henry Capell of Tewkesbury, consists of 132 hectares (330 acres) of gardens and botanical glasshouses, four Grade I listed buildings, and 36 Grade II listed structures, all set in an internationally significant landscape. It is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Kew Gardens has its own police force, Kew Constabulary, which has been in operation since 1847.
Friday, 27 September 2019
Brooklands Museum
From the M25 -When leaving the M25, take the A3 towards London for approx. half a mile and leave by the Painshill junction, taking the A245 towards Byfleet. Follow the brown ‘Brooklands Museum’ signs until you reach the en-trance to Mercedes-Benz World, marked by our Con-corde Gate Guardian. The main visitor entrance of the Museum is reached via Brooklands Drive - follow the road round the back of the Mercedes-Benz World building until you reach the Museum car park.Summer opening hours start from 1st March and end when the clocks change in October.
SUMMER WINTER
10am - 5pm 10am - 4pm
Last admission is one hour before closing. Opening Times may be extended on event days!
Senior (60+) (£13.50)
Brooklands Aircraft Factory - Inside the Bellman Hangar an ‘Aircraft Factory’ environment has been created, harking back to the Hangar’s original use as a manufacturing building. Exhibitions explore the history of aircraft manufacture - from the pioneering early aircraft of wood and fabric, to the supersonic airliner and the technologies of the future.
The Factory Floor is designed to evoke an authentic factory atmosphere and is packed full of activities, enabling visitors to try out aircraft-building skills for themselves, drawing on the Brooklands spirit of experimentation and creating an unique learning experience. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the Loch Ness Wellington, with additional areas focussing on the factory floor in early and later years, life for the factory employees away from work, and displays on the development of Wings, Fuselages and Propulsion.
Access to the Brooklands Aircraft Factory is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
Stratosphere Chamber -The Barnes Wallis-designed “Stratosphere Chamber” was built in 1946 to investigate high-speed flight at very high altitudes. It was restored and re-interpreted using a grant of £120,000 from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Biffa Award Scheme, with a new exhibition highlighting Wallis’ research work for the Vickers aircraft company after 1946. Access to the Brooklands Aircraft Factory is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
For many years the Chamber was only able to be viewed in a limited way and much of its operating machinery was disposed of or moved to make way for other developments. However, all the areas surrounding the chamber, including the elevated Control Room and the refrigeration/vacuum plant room, have now been made accessible, giving a ‘backstage’ view of this extraordinary area of industrial heritage.
Also on display in the Stratosphere Chamber building is the Museum’s collection of aero engines ranging from the simplest early piston engines up to advanced turbofan jet engines and, in the Chamber itself, the forward section of a Vickers Vanguard airliner just as it could have been seen on test in the 1950s. Next to the Control Room, the Brooklands Radio Display can be found - see www.brooklandswireless.com for more information.
The intention is that this exhibition will inspire people of all ages, including young people who may be considering careers in science and technology, using the technological achievements of people at Brooklands, both in the days of the motor racing circuit and during the 80 years of aviation on the site. This project will further this aim by sharing the inspirational story of Barnes Wallis, especially now that the extensive archives owned by the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust have been placed on loan with the Museum and will be available for display and research.
Explore the history of the Stratosphere Chamber
Also on display in the Stratosphere Chamber building is the Museum’s collection of aero engines ranging from the simplest early piston engines up to advanced turbofan jet engines and, in the Chamber itself, the forward section of a Vickers Vanguard airliner just as it could have been seen on test in the 1950s. Next to the Control Room, the Brooklands Radio Display can be found - see www.brooklandswireless.com for more information.
The intention is that this exhibition will inspire people of all ages, including young people who may be considering careers in science and technology, using the technological achievements of people at Brooklands, both in the days of the motor racing circuit and during the 80 years of aviation on the site. This project will further this aim by sharing the inspirational story of Barnes Wallis, especially now that the extensive archives owned by the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust have been placed on loan with the Museum and will be available for display and research.
Explore the history of the Stratosphere Chamber
Weapons and Missiles -Having been the hub of Barnes Wallis’ secret weapons production during World War 2, weapons development continued at Brooklands during the Cold War era. Engineers at Brooklands developed a range of guided weapons for a variety of purposes during the 1950s and ‘60s. These included cruise missiles, TV-guided bombs, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Vickers also had a team in Australia conducting trials at Woomera using Canberra and B-29 Washington bomber aircraft. Guided weapon development at Brooklands ended when the department was moved to the English Electric site in Stevenage and combined with their existing operations.
Our Guided Weapons exhibition was housed in the Wellington Hangar, where many of them were designed, before its closure as part of the Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project. The collection returned to the hangar as part of the new exhibition, the display includes: a Red Dean air-to-air missile, Blue Boar 5,000lb air to ground TV-guided gliding bomb, Red Rapier surface to surface radar-guided missile, Vigilant anti-tank weapon, and Rapier low-level anti-aircraft missile.
Engine Collection -Our aero engine collection, mainly housed in the Stratosphere Chamber building, illustrates over 100 years of development in aviation engines. Many of the exhibits are sectioned or motorised to give an insight into the workings of these feats of engineering.
There are examples of a wide range of engines relating to aircraft with Brooklands history, from the 1909 Anzani 25 hp that propelled Louis Blériot over the English Channel in 1909 to the Rolls-Royce Olympus which carried Concorde to Mach 2. Other highlights are the Rolls-Royce Merlin, which powered some of the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War, and the Rolls-Royce Avon, which powered the Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift to World Air Speed records in the 1950s.
Our Concorde
G-BBDG or 'Delta Golf' was the first Concorde to carry 100 passengers at Mach 2. She was used in the early development of Concorde for testing and certification. Delta Golf had a flying life of seven years, from the 13th February 1974 to the 24th December 1981.The Brooklands Concorde was known as a 'production' aircraft, as she was developed from the prototype, and used to complete the majority of certification work specified for airline service. She was never used commercially, but Delta Golf was flown around the World to attract sales from international airlines.
After her final landing on Christmas Eve of 1981, Delta Golf was stored, initially serviceable, in a hangar at Filton. In 1984, British Airways acquired the aircraft, and used her as a source for spare parts for their fleet. Delta Golf was offered to Brooklands in 2003, and, after delivery of major sections of the aircraft in June 2004, a two-year restoration project commenced to recover G-BBDG to her former glory. On the 26th July 2006, Delta Golf was opened to the public at Brooklands Museum by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
Aircraft Collection
Dates in brackets indicate the date the replica was built.
If you are coming to see a specific exhibit, please ring ahead to make sure that it is on display. Call the Museum on 01932 857381
If you are coming to see a specific exhibit, please ring ahead to make sure that it is on display. Call the Museum on 01932 857381
Flight Shed
NEW - The Wellington Walkthrough is now open!
The new two-storey ‘Flight Shed’ has been constructed next to the site of the relocated Bellman Hangar. It is accessed via a footbridge from the upper level inside the Aircraft Factory. The centre piece inside the Flight Shed is the Museum's Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIA which was built in 1940. Other completed aircraft on display include the Hawker Fury, Hunter and Harrier, Sopwith Camel and a virtual Vickers Wellington walkthrough exhibit. A more detailed history of the Hurricane can be found here. Smaller exhibits will tell the stories of the pilots and navigators who flew these aircraft and some of the technological developments that helped them do so. With level access onto the Finishing Straight, these live aircraft will be moved out of the Flight Shed for engine runs and taxying displays.Entry to the Flight Shed is included in general Museum admission. The exhibition is part of the Re-Engineering Brooklands Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project.
Engines
de Havilland Gipsy I 1926 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800 1937 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
Rolls-Royce Nene 1944 On long term display Stratosphere Chamber
World War Two
Bellman Hangars
Besides being supplied to numerous Royal Air Force airfields in Britain and overseas, Bellman hangars were also supplied by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to aircraft factories including Hawker Aircraft Ltd and Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd at Brooklands. Here they provided valuable extra floor space for the hard-pressed aircraft industry and, most important in wartime, they could also be erected and camouflaged at dispersed locations away from the main factory sites.Click the link to find out more about the construction and use of the Brooklands Bellman Hangars.
WW2 Defence Structures
As a major centre of aircraft production, Brooklands was a clear potential target for enemy attack. To defend against such an event, a series of defences were built around the site which are still visible today.
The largest air raid shelter provision for Vickers workers was in the ‘Sand Pit Shelters’ on the opposite side of Brooklands Road. These shelters were capable of housing over 5,000 people in the event of an attack and were in use throughout the Second World War.
Pillbox -
To defend against a potential attack by enemy paratroopers intent on sabotaging the factory, a pillbox was erected close to the bridge across the River Wey which was used to move aircraft from the factory to the airfield. This is believed to be a unique design with loopholes on the corners and a mounting for a machine gun on the roof.Anti-Aircraft Tower
To defend against attack by enemy aircraft, a series of concrete towers were erected on which 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns were mounted. Whilst these guns were unlikely to shoot an enemy aircraft down, they were intended to prevent attacking aircraft from having a clear bombing run.Shelters
The threat of attack by enemy bombers led to the construction of a series of shelters around the Vickers aircraft factory. These include the small shelters at either end of the original location of the Museum’s Bellman Hangar and the small brick structures at the base of the Members Banking, once the site of another Bellman Hangar.The largest air raid shelter provision for Vickers workers was in the ‘Sand Pit Shelters’ on the opposite side of Brooklands Road. These shelters were capable of housing over 5,000 people in the event of an attack and were in use throughout the Second World War.
The Wellington Bomber
Thursday, 26 September 2019
Croydon Market and Croydon Library
Surrey Street Market
Located on Surrey Street in Croydon Town Centre, the historic Surrey Street Market is one of the oldest markets in Britain, trading since 1276. It operates 7 days a week, selling a range of items, including fresh produce, fruit and vegetables Monday to Saturday as well as an alternative artisan market on Sundays. See the Surrey Street Sundays programme for details of upcoming events and information about the Sunday market.
Surrey Street has a great atmosphere and is bursting with independent traders, street food, homemade and artisan produce, arts and crafts. The market has recently been refurbished to help create a vibrant, pedestrian friendly zone, making it a great destination for shopping and relaxing in the heart of Croydon.
Croydon Central Library
is Croydon's main public library located inside the Croydon Clocktower in Croydon, south London. It is owned by the London Borough of Croydon on behalf of Croydon Council. The library is located on four floors inside the Clocktower. On Level 0 there is the customer service desk and the level includes a large children's library.
It was the third-most-used in the UK in 2010.
Croydon Central Library offers a wide range of books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs and videos for reference and loan, the largest range of these in any Croydon Library. It also includes a wide range of free-to-access PCs which includes internet connection. Other features include a Wordwise collection of books for children who suffer from dyslexia. A local studies library and extensive archives, that are also present in the Museum of Croydon. An enquiry service is available. The Clocktower Café is situated just outside the library, and is very popular. A large and extensive gay and lesbian collection is available in the library, the largest range in London. Books are available in most of the languages spoken in the borough. There is a large newspaper archive on the top floor of the library which includes all the major newspapers dating back to the 1990s. Other features include community information, homework help clubs and reading groups.
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