charlesdickenslondon
Queen's Jubilee Celebrations
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 15 July 2012 08:37
 This major event, in November, will bring children together to celebrate Charles Dickens huge influence on legal reform, education and hospitals. There will be Dickensian music performed by schools and individuals, Edwardian craft, displays and exhibits, and a series of fun talks, cartoons and films, all about Charles Dickens and his London. You may know
 that Dickens played a great part in helping Great Ormond Street Hospital to grow and thrive- all money raised will be donated to this great hospital.Anyone interested in this exciting event, whether teachers, performers, exhibitors, sponsors, donors, please do get in touch on chriswand co@yahoo.co.uk. |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 03 July 2012 09:14
 Last minute tickets are still available, so come along
and pay on arrival. The Talk is ideal for those who
haven't yet heard enough about the life of
Charles Dickens and his huge influence on literature
and social reform- he was also the most sought after
speaker of his time and was a great entertainer.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 01 July 2012 10:49
The Embankment was created
during the 1860's, prior to which,
most of it was just part of the
River Thames. This film shows
the Embankment Gardens at
Temple, and the statue of William
Forster, the liberal reformer who
introduced elementary education
for all children, following in good
Dickensian tradition.It is also close
to the internationally famous
barristers headquarters recently
featured in the television series 'Silk'.
 This fine print shows early construction
work on London's Embankment, the earlier triumph of Joseph Bazalgette, prior to his engineering brilliance in building London's sewers, still in
service today.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 29 June 2012 08:56
 The Strand looked so different, of course, in Charles Dickens time.  The sound of the horses hooves and the huge number of street vendors shouting for business made it almost deafening at times, not to forget
the smells of smoke and of rotting rubbish and worse. This is the London
that so inspired Charles Dickens to become the great writer, reformer and
entertainer. Tickets still available from The George In The Strand or on the
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 26 June 2012 11:36
 This splendid Chinese Junk will be here in St Katharine Docks until at least after the Olympics. Hua Shan is the main brains behind this whole venture, bringing the first Chinese vessel up the Thames for many, many years. The boat was shipped from Hong Kong to Tilbury
 (costing megabucks), but was apparently delayed in a queue at Suez, so, just missing its pride of place in the Royal Pageant celebrations. He is the father of Alexander Hua Tian, the young Chinese event
equestrian, and husband of British wife Sarah Noble.
 Hua Shan has told me that they will be entertaining many of the Chinese Olympics team; with his son's strong links with horse eventing, who knows who some of the English guests may be? |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 24 June 2012 06:16
 This is St Mary le Strand, the fine church where Charles Dickens parents were
married, just along from The George,
where my Talk will be held.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 21 June 2012 07:00
 Charles Dickens mentions tea and tea shop(pe)s numerously throughout his writings; he famously quotes from the 18th century nursery rhyme 'Polly put the kettle on' in Barnaby Rudge. In Oliver Twist, Dickens uses the precise teamaking ceremony of Mrs
Corney, the matron of workhouse, to display her self-satisfaction, and
she is wooed over a cup of tea by the grasping, tyrannical beadle, Mr
Bumble, who, after her leaving the room, inspects her tea-making
implements to check that it is 'genuine silver'. Most famous among tea suppliers is, of course, Twinings. Their delightful shop and museum is next to my venue, The George In The Strand. They describe themselves as follows: 'Thomas Twining bought Tom's Coffee
House on London's Strand in 1706. The location of the shop
was perfect as it straddled the border between Westminster and the
City of London, an area that was newly populated with the
aristocracy displaced by the Great Fire of London'. - You can also taste, free of charge (and so refreshing).
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 17 June 2012 10:49
 If you aren't yet too
familiar about the
details of Charles Dickens life, this will recap the
important facts and we will
also discuss Dickensian
 London, with emphasis on
nearby Covent Garden,
Fleet Street, Strand and
The Old Bailey. This
delightful painting is of The
 Strand in Dickensian time.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 15 June 2012 18:32
 The Phoenicia is a fascinating replica of
sailing vessels dating back to 600 BC,
when the Phoenicians were the World's
first great maritime traders.
St Katharine Docks witnessed the heights
of GB as the latest great sea power, so
how splendid for us to see so far back
 into maritime history. Captain Phillip Beale
is totally dedicated and immersed in this
project, and an early visit may be a shrewd
idea, because it is obviously going to be a
great attraction, open until September;
very informative, with all kinds of important
historical information. Do visit, you'll love it!
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 06 June 2012 08:07
 What a wonderful Queen! And husband, Prince Phillip.
This evening's Talk at 6 pm will share much more
about Her Majesty and we will continue the celebration
by talking about Her links with Charles Dickens, also
with her great grandmother Queen Victoria. We will be
eating together after the Talk finishes, at 7.30 pm.
 The George On The Strand, opposite The Royal Courts
Of Justice. Otherwise, do come along and pay on  arrival, there should be space available.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 05 June 2012 12:55
 Settling down now, towards the
end of this triumphant celebration
of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. A
lovely surprise for me, was to see
Gloriana moored here in the docks.
The million pound row barge,
painstakingly hand built, which took
more than four years by 60 craftsmen,
 was certainly one of
the main attractions in the Thames
Diamond Jubilee Pageant
this weekend, leading more than 1,000 boats to honour the occasion. The first
royal barge to be built in 100 years,
Gloriana was powered on the day by
18 oarsmen, led by Britain's greatest
Olympian, Steve Redgrave. The  organisation here seems to have been
a great success; with bigger crowds than ever before, the management
team should be delighted (and probably exhausted).
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charlesdickenslondon.net: Posted on 05 June 2012 07:57
 What a marvellous weekend of
celebrations. Join us to hear more about
Charles Dickens and Two Great Queens.
There are fascinating letters and
memorabilia at Buckingham Palace,
recording close links to Dickens.
Tickets are still available at The George,
 through Skiddle.com, or my website:
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 04 June 2012 08:46
 The Queen and Prince Phillip obviously enjoyed themselves
enormously, and so did the people.
The atmosphere here was full of joy,
pride, fun and thrills; absolutely
splendid and unique. Thanks and
praise to a most wonderful Monarch.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 03 June 2012 07:53
 The Queen has always used
Twinings Tea for Her own use.
Do visit their fabulous shop
for a free cup of any tea you
choose- it's next door to where I hold my Talks at The George
In The Strand. There will be
plenty more to look at, while
we celebrate Her sixty years
of dutiful service to the Nation.
The Queen's links with Her great
grandmother, Queen Victoria
and Charles Dickens will also be
discussed. We will be eating at The George,
after the Talk, you are warmly invited to join us.
Tickets for the Talk:
'Charles Dickens And Two Great Queens', are still available at Skiddle.com
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 02 June 2012 15:52
gathering
to admire
all the boats
coming into
our docks. |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 01 June 2012 16:10
   Excitement is mounting at our
splendid St Katharine Docks. Everyone already seems to be
in holiday mood, with crowds
gathering to see the fabulous
array of different boats. Many of them will be open to the
public during the weekend.
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 31 May 2012 07:05
 Tickets are still available
for my Talk on the 6th at
The George In The Strand.
Do also join us for a celebration
meal after the Talk at 7.30 pm.
 The George is easy to find,opposite the Royal Courts Of Justice. |
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christopher west: Posted on 29 May 2012 18:25
 This gorgeous young girl is my granddaughter Natasha, the inspiration for Dickens Day. Her life was saved by brilliant surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital- she was only four weeks old when admitted to GOSH, with a cyst in her throat. Days passed as these top world experts observed and tested. The situation became critical, so she was put in intensive care. Days later,
 her condition dramatically worsened and she was operated on as an emergency; we understand that there were seven surgeons involved! The life saving operation was successful- thank you, so much, GOSH. The cyst was eventually identified as benign, and we can now hardly see the scar . Paul was marvellous with the children and coping, Natasha's brother Oskar and his younger sister Lola were so very worried, and behaved splendidly, during this incredibly stressful period for all of us. |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 29 May 2012 11:09
 Ian Jack, well known Royal
correspondent, writes 'Our
attachment to the Queen is perhaps greater than we yet
 realise. The Queen is one of
our last links to a workaday
Britain that has nearly vanished,
a country that Dickens would
still recognise'.This will be
discussed in my next Talk at
The George on the 6th. |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 28 May 2012 18:35
 Excitement is mounting about Queen Elizabeth achieving
60 years on the throne. Charles Dickens adored
Queen Victoria, and though very critical about politicians
and Parliament, I believe he would have enormously
respected our present Queen's sense of dedication and
 duty towards the Nation. Her Majesty is very knowledgeable about Dickens; we'll be looking at this in depth at the George in the Strand, on the 6th June, soon after the Celebration weekend. |
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charlesdickenslondon: Posted on 26 May 2012 10:55
 Queen Elizabeth is well known to have
 admired the work of Charles Dickens,
and this will be extensively discussed at
my next Talk at the George In The Strand on 6th June. We will also be discussing
Dickens relationship with the Queen of his
time, Queen Victoria. There is tremendous
 excitement growing about the Jubilee
celebrations, so do join us for dinner at
The George to celebrate, following the Talk |
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