After our visit to St. Denis, I very much wanted to go back to Père Lachaise but the rain persisted and a visit was abandoned.

Being an incurable romantic, it was the story of Héloïse and Abèlard which first took me to the cemetery of Pére Lachaise over two decades ago. Peter Abèlard was a philosopher and teacher and lover of Héloïse. She was the niece of Bishop Fulbert who had hoped to place her in an advantageous marriage. However her relationship with Abelard made her soiled goods which he could no longer trade. Héloise bore Abelard a son called Astrolabe and though the couple did marry a terrible revenge was exacted on Abelard.

It isn’t known if it was the work of Fulbert or the family of Héloïse but Abèlard was castrated. After that, and feeling that he was ‘only half a man’ they lived the religious life separately.  They corresponded for the rest of their lives mainly about religious and philosophical subjects.  Abèlard apparently expressed a desire that after his death he should rest eternally with Héloïse and it was only many centuries after their deaths that their remains were brought together to a magnificent tomb in Pére Lachaise although even this is disputed – some saying that the remains of Héloïse are elsewhere. However whether their mortal remains are there or not, the tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for lovers. Railings had to be erected around the monument to preserve it from souvenir hunters. Each time I’ve been to the memorial there have been single red roses and bouquets thrown over the railings by lovers. (Sadly, nothing further is known about their son)

The Tomb of Abélard and Héloïse in the cemetery of Père Lachaise.
 

BASILICA ST. DENIS

Friday morning – and the heavens opened. Last December when I intended taking photos at Père Lachaise it poured with rain and once again the elements beat me.

We had to fill in five hours and keep out of the rain so I suggested a visit to the Basilica St. Denis – the Necropolis of the Kings of France. I went there last year at the suggestion of my dear friends Owen and Mireille and was absolutely overwhelmed. Although the revolutionaries took the mortal remains of the Kings and Queens from their tombs and threw them into a communal pit, the tombs themselves were saved for posterity.

I couldn’t begin to relate the complete history of this famous edifice and the magnificent tombs but I’ll give you a very potted version. It houses a collection of over 70 recumbent statues and tombs and sarcophagi, and an Ossuary in which were interred the remains cast aside by the revolutionaries. There are Kings and Queens of France right back to the time of King Dagobert who was buried here in 639 to the right of the remains of St. Denis – the Patron Saint of Paris.

Among others, the Crypt contains a very interesting section of six large black marble slabs – on two of which are the names of Marie Antoinette and her husband Louis XVI. The Ossuary is in the crypt with panels notating the names of the Kings and Queens whose bones may be interred in the Ossuary.

I was particularly interested in the stone sarcophagus of Queen Arégonde, wife of King Clotaire who died between 580 – 590 and was the first Queen to be buried in the crypt. On opening her sarcophagus they found the remains covered in a purple silk gown and adorned with many jewels now housed in the Louvre – though you can see a photographic reproduction of a few of the pieces found there.

There are several small chapels in the Crypt – one of which is that of Bishop Suger. Suger was a great benefactor of St. Denis.

The magnificent tomb of Francois 1er (1494 - 1547) and his first wife Claude of France with three of their children

If you’ve only got one evening in Paris, I think it is obligatory to go to Montmartre. Yes, it is touristy but it is also romantic, artistic and delightful. Ian Reed and I were staying on in Paris in order to take some still shots in Père Lachaise and Montparnasse before heading home on the Friday afternoon Eurostar.

It was a balmy evening and not too full of people. We sat outside the Café ‘La Cremaillere’ and quaffed a couple of glasses of vino as we watched the world (and very interesting too) go by.

Then we heard singing come from the interior of the Café – and there was the delightful Jean Jacques de Launay crooning some lovely old numbers. Ian asked him to sing the Charles Trenet number ‘Que reste-t-il de nos amours’ which plays at the York Museum as background music. (Two and a half thousand Frenchmen were stationed at Elvington during the war – the attrition rate being one out of every two who gave his life for freedom). Jean Jacques sang it in English for us but it is actually better in French. Any of you old enough will know the song as soon as you hear it – although I didn’t recognize the title.

Anyway many thanks to Jean Jacques – he contributed handsomely to a lovely evening. Didn’t have my camera with me so took a photo on my mobile but still have to learn how to ‘get it off’ the phone. I really am hopeless with technology.
 

RENÉ MOUCHOTTE

Just a recap of the story if you haven’t tuned in before or are not aware of my on-going researches into the René Mouchotte story.

René was the first Free French pilot to become a Squadron Leader in the RAF. Among other duties he commanded the FF Squadron Alsaçe. His last tour of duty was at Biggin Hill in Kent from where he made his last flight on 27th August 1943. His plane fell to enemy fire and his body was washed up on the Belgian Coast at Middlekerke on Sept. 3rd. The French had to be careful about the possibility of being captured in German occupied France and many assumed adopted identities. René’s body was incorrectly identified and laid to rest in a grave at Middelkerke.

After the war the British, French and Americans did as much as they could to locate the last resting places of their combattants. René’s body was exhumed and through one piece of clothing with his correct identity his remains were repatriated to Paris. He was given a full military funeral at Les Invalides and then he was laid to rest in the family tomb in the cemetery of Père Lachaise in November 1949.

In 2007 I was a guest at the Battle of Britain Memorial Day at Capel-le-Ferne near Dover in Kent. (I am of French Huguenot descent) I sponsored the name of a French Pilot on the memorial wall (of which there are 13) and was given that of René Mouchotte. I discovered that he had written diaries throughout the war and though they were never meant to be made public, they were published in French in 1949 and in English in 1956. I purchased a copy of ‘Mes Carnets’ and couldn’t put it down. There are many excellent books written by Pilots from WW2 but they were written after the War. René’s diaries were written at the time and he talks openly about fear, fatigue, black outs, frustrations, as well as the lighter moments of the war. He had a great sense of humour which comes across constantly in the way he describes the English, our Food and bureaucracy. He also wrote to Winston Churchill complaining about the inactivity of the Free French pilots and this letter was only shown  in the first unexpurgated version of his diaries published in 2000. I’ve read the Diaries five times and will probably read them again and again for each time I find more about the man – his warmth, devotion to duty and his dilemma at being in England when he knows his mother is suffering badly from his absence – although he hid from her the true nature of his work and she believed him to be working in a cosy desk job for the Free French in London.

From reading the diaries, my ‘search for René’ began in the hope that I could have commissioned a documentary about this heroic, honourable, good man who was so highly regarded by his comrades that many cried at the news of his death.

Over five years I found more and more photos, information etc. and having visited the Family tomb and looking at the Plaques there, I realised that unless she had been laid to rest elsewhere (highly unlikely) René’s sister was still alive. My French is not good enough to have attempted to find her through Military archives etc. so I simply left a letter in the tomb last July – translated into French by a friend. In November, I was contacted by one of her sons in law. She was 101 last December and I hired a cameramen and went to Paris to interview her.

While in Paris I was contacted by Ian Reed the Director of the Yorkshire Air Museum whom I’d contacted a few weeks previously. (Ian has done great work in honouring the French Bomber Crews which were based at Elevington and had a very high attrition rate. He succeeded in getting a memorial to the French Bomber Crews which was installed at York Minster last October) Ian asked if I were still in Paris as Henri Lafont (the last of the thirteen names on the wall) had died on Dec. 2nd and was to have a funeral at Les Invalides on the 7th. Lafont was one of several Frenchmen who, with René, escaped in a ‘stolen’ plane from Oran in North Africa whilst they attempted to make their way to England and continue their fight for their homeland.

At the funeral we made the discovery that neither Mouchotte nor Lafont had received the Battle of Britain Medals to which they were entitled. Ian Reed got to work on this, the papers were filled in and the medals obtained. Ian and I plus the cameraman, David Parker, who I’d taken with me last December, went to Paris on May 10th to present the medals to René’s sister. We also showed her the film which Ian Reed has put together from his researches where he’d found old film of René and Jack Charles who shared the prize for the downing of the 1000th German plane and also of the Ball in London which was thrown to celebrate the event.

René's other medals including his DFC have been donated to the Musée de L'Air at Les Invalides and on his sister's  death, the BOB medals will also be housed there

It was a joy and a privilege to give the medals to René’s sister in the presence of two of her daughters and her sons in law. I will always remember her joy at receiving the medals and also her words when she saw the film – ‘to see my brother alive - c'est magnifique'

I have been attempting for 5 years to get this story made into a documentary and I’ve had several knock-backs but I shall go on trying. Ian was the one who called it ‘Searching for René’ and indeed it has been a search and a very rewarding one.

French school children come over and visit the Capel site and I learned recently that one group are currently undertaking a project on this French hero who died almost 70 years ago.

So please wish me luck or say a prayer that eventually I will get a documentary made to honour this lovely man.  Meanwhile you can follow this link to see a few photos of Réne put together by the Director of the Yorkshire Air Museum.    www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCGWzG5sRrM

Can't put my finger on why they are so good - perhaps it is the psychological aspect to the crimes.  And I greatly appreciate being able to read subtitles so as not to miss anything. So often these days with British productions, the cast speak too quickly and mumble - and my hearing is very good indeed.  I've said before that the production team and the actors are too close to the production - and they forget that the audience are only going to get one go at comprehension.  I usually go out during commercial breaks to make a cup of tea, take off my make-up, get ready for bed - do the advertisers really believe that we want to watch the same Ad endlessly?  But there are some ads where I have had to watch a couple of times to get the gist of what they are saying - in one the young lady speaks so indistinctly that I'm not even sure what she is advertising.  I'm not suggesting a return to the 'cut-glass upper class' accents of the 50's (almost as irritating) but perhaps an independent team should be invited to view programmes as they are being recorded  and make comment on the inaudibility or incomprehensibility of the dialogue.  Dream on girl!

I have a friend who now turns on subtitles for English programmes - perhaps I'd better follow her example- if I can find the right button - I'm a technological dinosaur.

Am thoroughly enjoying Homeland and will be really sorry when it comes to an end in a fortnight.  It's twist and turns keep you totally in thrall.  Last night I found myself saying 'Ohhhhhh ........" in disappointment and frustration when the episode ended.

Anyway, yesterday I watched The Magnificent Seven based on the story of the Seven Samurai.  It was absolutely stuffed with stars - most of whom, sadly, are now dead.  It was a very good adventure story and I was staggered to see that it was made over 50 years ago in 1960. Many years ago I happened to stand in a lift at Broadcasting House with Yul Brynner - quite a thrill and he was very charismatic.

I have used Douwe Egbert Ground Coffee for as long as I can remember – buying for cafetières and also filters as I have a lovely silver coffee pot which takes a filter bag. I’ve often had compliments on the coffee from dinner guests. And it is not the most expensive on the market by a long chalk.

Recently I couldn’t find my coffee in either Waitrose or Sainsburys and was rather sheepish when the assistant pointed out where it was. I could be forgiven – the packaging was totally different and gone was the rigid pack (which fitted perfectly into the caddies which they occasionally had on offer). Now, one is offered a floppy packet and  a grind suitable for all coffee makers (is it?) but what I thought very cheeky was that there are 50gms less in the new package. I cannot remember what I paid last time round so I don’t know if they have reduced the price – I rather doubt it – or reduced the size and kept the same price so as to keep their profit the same.

This claim that ‘one size fits all’ often leads to a reduction in quality as it did some years ago with Stain Devils. At one stage they made a stain devil for virtually every eventuality – I had the little containers for removing felt-tip pen, blood, grass, rust, wine etc. and so forth – even for chewing gum. (And why would I need that you might ask – because some thoughtless individuals sometimes stick their gum (YUK) on chairs and seats and I’ve ended up with it on my clothes or on my shoes where they’ve just discarded it onto the ground) Those little Devils were worth their weight in gold and they all worked. Now one can only purchase about three separate ‘multi-purpose’ items and they simply do not have the efficacy of the individual removers.

Here I go again – Grumpy Old Woman but it is all the result of take-overs where old established and excellent brands are swallowed up into Conglomerates and suffer accordingly.

Really must get on – I loathe paperwork and filing and procrastinate as long as possible before I have to do it. In fact, I sometimes take so long to make a decision that the matter reaches its ‘Sell-by’ date and then the paper goes in the bin. You’d never think I was once a very efficient secretary.

Bye for now. Jan
 

BECKET – the film starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole is a most enjoyable and interesting film and keeps fairly closely to the historic detail apart from portraying Becket being as much a womaniser as Henry II. He certainly was not and from the latest book ‘Becket’ by John Guy it would appear that, although no one knows about his sexual activity during his student days in Paris, he was a celibate man. I haven’t quite finished the book yet – it’s a slow read for me as I’m taking notes as I go along. My favourite ‘spot’ in the Cathedral when I’m on duty is the Martyrdom and I’m happy to briefly tell the story of the conflict between Henry II and Thomas – the conflict which led to his murder. The conflict was complicated and came down to power and the intransigence of both men.

John Guy is giving a talk based on his book on 22nd May in the Nave at Canterbury Cathedral – so if you are in the vicinity and would like to attend, you can obtain tickets from Waterstones. I’ll certainly be there along with several friends.

Have just finished the book - absolutely fascinating and certainly furnishes me with many more facts should I be asked questions in the Martyrdom.  (And I've learned that the words 'will no one rid me of this turbulent (troublesome) priest" are apocryphal.  So will have to learn the correct ones.

The Altar of the Sword's Point - the Martyrdom - Canterbury Cathedral

I missed Parkinson's interviews first time round - possibly working or doing something but on Saturday (21st April) I watched an old interview with David Niven repeated on BBC 4 (a Channel I like very much).  

What a fantastic and entertaining raconteur was David Niven.  I was laughing out loud at some of his stories and wished I'd recorded the interview.  And he told a wonderfully funny (and clean) joke about a prawn - which someone has uploaded on Youtube.

The reason for this Blog is to let you know that next Saturday the Parkie interview will be a repeat of his talk  with Richard Burton - can't wait.

I wish I could say that I actually met David Niven but all I can claim is looking up from my script while doing a run through of the News at HTV West  and there was a knight in chain mail - it was David who'd crept into the studio from make-up to catch up on the cricket, I think.  He was at HTV West in Bristol to make 'The Canterville Ghost'.  I did manage to get his autograph but that was about it.

RICH by Melvyn Bragg

Although I was given this weighty tome over 20 years ago, I’d never got around to reading it. Having made a recent visit to the Old Vic in London where I saw Richard Burton and John Neville in ‘Othello’ I decided to get the book down off the shelf, dust it off and read it. The read was very well worthwhile. I hadn’t realised what an academic Burton was and an avid reader – a very bright man as well as a fascinating character.

I think he must have been one of those men who is impossible to live with and impossible to do without. What a character!

As I belong to Lovefilm, I ordered a compilation of his films and am slowly making my way through them. I own and often watch Becket but was unfamiliar with many of his films. What a treat it is to watch so many of these quality productions even though Burton accepted many of them to sustain the rich life style to which his wife Elizabeth Taylor appeared to be addicted. I got the feeling that had not Elizabeth entered his life he would probably have retained his acting for the theatre which he appeared to prefer. He was such a commanding presence on stage and that magnificent voice – so few of the modern day actors have that vocal beauty.

I’ve got so fed up with all the ‘Reality’ programmes (ok,ok so I’ve taken part in a few) and the plethora of Cookery programmes that I’m now watching predominantly old films and devouring all the Scandinavian Detective Dramas.

When I was reading news back in the 80’s I came into contact with many of the rich and famous predominantly at Charity events and quite a few were kind enough to accept invitations to dinner – among them was Sally – Richard’s third and last wife – who had an all too brief marriage before his early death. It would have been totally inappropriate to ask about Richard but she was a very pleasant guest - I think she now lives in Australia.

Anyway, if you are interested in this fascinating man and an extremely well written Biography – then see if you can obtain a second hand copy of ‘Rich’.

When I was at school we had a wonderful English teacher - Mother Mary David - and she would organise outings from our school in Abbey Wood, Kent up to London to the Old Vic (which then was totally devoted to Shakespearian plays and nothing else).  One of these outings was to see Richard Burton and John Neville in 'Othello'. They were alternating the parts and when we saw it Burton was Othello and Neville - Iago.  At the time I had a consuming passion for John Neville and stood at the stage door for as long as Mother Mary David would allow in the hope that I could get John Neville's autography.  I did see him in a navy and white spotted gown when he came down towards the stage door but he didn't come outside.  I left empty handed but wrote him a letter and to my joy received a photo of him properly signed -I could see the indentation in the photo so knew it had been personally signed and not just stamped.  What a pity I didn't have a 'crush' on Richard Burton at the time.

Richard was extremely kind to his family and friends and always tried to obtain parts for his 'chums' when he was starring in a film.  When working on the magazine programme 'Pebble Mill' in the late 70's I was fortunate enough to interview and obtain autographs from several of his friends - Robet Hardy (whom he called Tim), Michael Hordern (later knighted) and David Niven.  I'll copy them in to the Gallery for you.

Here I share with you my autographed photo of John Neville

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB – by James Bowen

A friend alerted me to the This Morning interview about a young busker who’d befriended an injured stray marmalade tabby cat. Having watched it and been very impressed I then watched some of the clips on YouTube.

Couldn’t wait to buy the book and had to order it at Waterstones because it was already out of print.

It’s a lovely read and very heartwarming – the story of the friendship and love which grew up between them – both helping the other. In James’ case the responsibility for his adopted cat’s life and wellbeing sets him on the road to recovery from near destitution and drug addiction. You would be amazed at the extent of the extremes of behaviour meted out by people to James and Bob – from overwhelming kindness to downright nastiness and meanness.

Watching the This Morning programme, you couldn’t help but warm to James and wish him well. I only hope he got a good deal from the publisher and that the money will kickstart his new life.

I’ve been asked to hand out one of the Awards at the Cats Protection League event in London later this year. I’ve suggested they might invite James along – it would be a pleasure to meet him and Bob. Mind you he might be too busy filming – I’ve heard that there might be a film of his adventures. They are going to find it difficult to find enough marmalade tabbies with Bob’s intelligence and uniqueness.

My own stray is also a marmalade tabby and but for the fact that my Tamby has white ‘socks’ he could be Bob.

If you are interested in the story just type in Bob the Street Cat on You Tube.  My only criticism of the book was that I expected a few photos and there were none except on the front and back covers - there are plenty on Youtube so why not in the book?

I think Tamby is suggesting that he too could be a TV Star - why he chose to sit under the TV heaven alone knows.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL

It is the second oldest Cathedral in England having been founded in 604 AD. The present building dates back to 1080 and the French Monk Gundulf.

It has one of the finest Romanesque facades in England and became a place of pilgrimage after the murder of a Scottish baker, William of Perth who was brought to the Cathedral and at his shrine miracles were reported. No trace of his shrine remains today.

Rochester is a Cathedral well worth a visit but if you are doing a Cathedral circuit, look at Rochester before Canterbury because, in my humble opinion, there is nothing like Canterbury. However Rochester charges no admission fee and only a small amount for the Audio guide which is very good. Don’t know how they manage to keep it in good repair without charging a fee unless they get help from the local Council. Canterbury certainly gets nothing – nor does it from the Church. When people – very few – object to the entrance fee I tell them that a very large proportion of our visitors come for the History and the Architecture and how else does one pay for the continual renovation. It is like the Forth Bridge – as soon as you’ve repaired one part, another one needs attention.

The nave at Rochester is a fine one though not as long or as tall as ours at Canterbury. The Cathedral was plundered when King John held it against his rebel barons in 1215 and later desecrated by Simon de Montfort’s troops when they captured the city. And of course it was damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers.

There is a huge John the Baptist Fresco (not to my taste but that’s a subjective view) which was created in 2004 on the 1,400th anniversary of the Cathedral and the diocese of Rochester.

Two things remain in my memory. One was the plaque to Lieut. J.R.N Chard who was awarded a VC for his part in the defence of Rorke’s Drift against overwhelming Zulu Impis. I’m not sure why it is in Rochester Cathedral because he was actually buried at Hatch Beauchamp in Somerset. In the film ‘Zulu’ his part was played by Sir Stanley Baker. In fact there is a picture on the Internet of Sir Stanley crouching by the grave and it is in the possession of Lady Baker.

I took this off the internet -
It has been ascertained that, a named cast copy Victoria Cross to "Lieut.J.R.Chard Royal Engrs,22/23 January, 1879" and a South Africa Medal,l877-l879,with clasp '1879',to "Lieut.J.R.N.Chard VC.RE." were auctioned by Glendinings of London,on l7th. May,1972 and sold for £2,700, to Sir Stanley Baker, the film actor who played the part of Lieutenant Chard in the film 'Zulu' in 1964 and, who, incidently, also died of cancer.   Photo below

The other memory was of the Cross of Lorraine over one of the Stalls in the Quire. There was a rope across the Quire so I couldn’t investigate further but, with my ongoing interest and intense efforts to have a documentary made about my sponsored French pilot, René Mouchotte, the Cross of Lorraine seems to attract me like a magnet.
Well worth a visit – especially coupled with a visit to The Keep – but do look at Rochester before Canterbury and that way you won’t be disappointed.

Just in case you missed it in previous Blogs, my friend the Director of the Yorkshire Air Museum, put together this little tribute to René which you can watch by copying and pasting onto Google or whatever search engine you use.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCGWzG5sRrM

ROCHESTER CASTLE

Decided to pay a visit to Rochester Castle – really only a Keep – and the Cathedral.

It was very interesting to compare the Rochester Keep with that at Dover. Dover Keep had a 2 million pound makeover a couple of years ago which brought it back to the relative splendour it enjoyed in the 12th Century. It has been restored in a very sympathetic way and each room has been dressed with the furnishings as they would have been in the time of Henry II.

Rochester Tower/Keep was built around 1127 by William of Corbell, Archbishop of Canterbury with the encouragement of Henry 1. (Henry II had Dover Castle/Keep built around 1167).

The Keep is a ruin but you can clamber up and down the uneven staircase and get right up to the top battlements. It is very interesting to see all the apertures where the floors would have been attached and to be able to compare and contrast it to the rebuilt Keep at Dover.

Sadly my camera was in for a repair and I only had my mobile phone with me. I so rarely use it – not only for calls but also for photography- that I shall have to ask my friend Paul how to extricate the photos and get them onto my computer. Actually, even with my lovely camera, I doubt I’d have got very good photos as it was an incredibly dull and grey day which did not show up the stonework to its best advantage.

However, a really worthwhile visit and great to be able to look at the surrounding countryside and the Cathedral from the top of the Keep.

Was a bit concerned – they had netting strung across the top of the ruins to keep out the pigeons. However, some had managed to get in and I envisaged a slow death for them as there was no means of them being able to get any food. In fact one lay dead in the basement – starvation is not a nice death for any living creature.

Photo of Castle/Keep -not up to usual standard as taken on my mobile. Camera was in for repair.

A friend took me for lunch at Reads on the outskirts of Faversham. A delightful setting and interesting menu. We had a lovely lunch which I thought relatively good value when you consider what some up-market restaurants charge. There is a fixed charge for a bottle of wine if you want to take advantage of the Set Lunch Menu – thought that was a trifle over the top but then I don’t eat out very often so am not the best judge of relative values.

We only got in by dint of a cancellation and the place was packed which is always a good sign. One of the diners was Marco Pierre White – I was very surprised to see how often he went out for a cigarette (I thought smoking killed one’s taste buds and he is a Chef after all) and one of his companions spend time on a Mobile which I really do think is bad form. Call me an old fogey but if people cannot even part with their mobiles at meal times then something is sadly amiss. I think Mobiles are a superb modern invention but they are so over-used and abused and very often to the detriment of ‘other people’s space’. If you must take a call during a meal in a restaurant, then respect the other diners and go outside to take it.  What did people do before the mobile - we existed and managed and possibly led less stressed existences.

It has been suggested that these days people do not learn responsibility because the bosses are always at the end of a mobile, an Ipad or some other bit of modern technology and therefore they simply don’t delegate.

I was in a Hospital waiting area the other day and could not believe the gentleman who was on his mobile talking very loudly and trying to book incredibly priced tickets for some football match and a stay at an hotel as part of the deal. He obviously had money but not the manners to go with it. Several folk in the waiting room were appalled and eyebrows were raised. I think the authorities should ask that mobiles be turned off in places like that. You wouldn’t talk about intimate details in a public place so why conduct arrangements which could be done elsewhere.

I’m beginning to think that a great deal of modern technology actually makes more work for us. In the past we’d have made a list of questions and queries, phoned someone and sorted the problem. Nowadays emails fly back and forth at the speed of light. I know because a friend and business colleague and I are constantly exchanging emails – when really a phone conversation would probably sort it more efficiently.

And as for Businesses saving on their use of paper – maybe they are but we aren’t. How often are you asked to download the details – in the case of my Holiday Insurance – a brochure of 28 pages!!  Is it only me – but how many of you ever read these brochures and conditions – sometimes the small print is so small one can hardly read it anyway.

And if you download a Boarding Card or a Eurostar ticket, you also use your paper and ink to download several advertisements which are on the sheet and which you are unable to delete. What cheek! The best you can do is a Fast Draft in Black and White.

Bye for now.
Enough – I did have one rather pleasing outing and that was to Rochester Cathedral and Castle which I will talk about in a separate Blog.

When  visiting  the Museum a couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed for the Yorkshire Post Saturday Supplement - partly because it is now the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands war and I was one of the Newsreaders at that time and partly because of my involvement with the Museum.

As my son has posted a link on his Facebook page saying how proud he is of me, I thought perhaps I could post the link too.

The article had one or two factual errors which I hasten to correct because the error was not mine.

I flew through the Sound Barrier in the early 70's at RAF Chivenor in a Hawker Hunter - one stands at Elvington and a very 'beautiful' design it is.  I then flew in 1983 with the Red Arrows in Display and the planes they flew and I think still use for their display are Hawks.

I have nothing but praise for the photographer - Simon Hulme.  I've never known a Newspaper photographer take so much trouble especially over 'outside' shots - and he got a very moody photo for the front page of me standing in front of a Nimrod.  I hope Simon won't mind my showing you the front page of the  Yorkshire Post Supplement which doesn't appear on the link.

The link is -  http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/memorial-post-for-newsreader-jan-leeming-1-4104333

And the photo is this one - 

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Why is it that so many of us are familiar with iconic landmarks elsewhere in the world and yet neglect to visit those ‘in our own back yard’.

I’ve never really devoted time to a comprehensive visit to Westminster Abbey – the last time being eleven years ago when we took some Russian visitors. I remember it well because on entering through the West door (now you enter through the North) a man did a sort of dance around me – you know the sort of thing when you go to avoid someone and both move in the same direction. Well I went to pay for the entrance and discovered my purse had been stolen – and in a House of God! Because of their limited knowledge of English, our visit was cursory and I promised myself I’d go back when I had more time.

The Entrance Fee is steep at £16 (reduced for seniors) but it does include the BEST Audio Guide I’ve ever encountered. The commentator is Jeremy Irons and one doesn’t only get the descriptions of the main tombs and places of interest but you are invited from time to time to listen to a more in depth explanation or even to a piece of music by someone like Handel.  Also at each stage when you press the button you get a picture which enables you to ascertain that you are at the correct place.  So often with Audio Guides you get lost as I did monumentally in the Musée de Cluny in Paris.  The numbering was all over the place.  In the end I gave up trying to sort out what was what.  But the Westminster guide could hardly be bettered and to have the wonderful voice of Jeremy Irons was a terrific plus.  I think you will gather that voice is very important to me and Jeremy's is beautifully mellifluous.

I particularly wanted to see the Shrine of Edward the Confessor because Thomas Becket's Shrine at Canterbury was based on the Confessor's.   The Shrine is opened twice a day for a short service of prayer which I attended. The Shrine is magnificent even now when most of the mosaics which adorned it have disappeared. I’m not very good at measuring but I would say that it is about 10 metres in height and at least five in width.  And now I can begin to believe that Henry V111 had 26 cartloads of gold, silver and jewels taken from the Shrine when he ordered it's destruction in 1538 at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After all, pilgrims were leaving gifts at Thomas' Shrine for nearly 400 years.

I spent 4 hours wandering round with the Audio Guide and was about to go to the Chapter House when I realised they’d just shut it. I wandered off around the little museum and then a delightful Attendant came and said that I could have a quick look. It is a very attractive hexagonal shape - rather like the one at York Minster and it has some interesting frescoes which somehow escaped the vandalism of the Puritans around 1642. (I attended a training session at Canterbury the other day about the Monks and their way of life. Their day commenced with a meeting in the Chapter House where a chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict would be read out. So it was interesting to see a completely different Chapter House – in fact, by comparison with York and Westminster, ours at Canterbury is rather plain apart from the superb Oak roof)

It was a wonderful afternoon of discovery. You aren’t allowed to take photos in the Abbey – frankly I agree with the rule – nothing would be more irritating or disturbing than to have hundreds of cameras flashing all over the place. However my one criticism is that, having thought I could purchase postcards of many of the memorials and tombs, the selection in the Shop was very poor indeed. There were only about two dozen on offer. I can appreciate that they can’t have a postcard for every tomb in the Abbey but a few more would have been welcome. Having said that, the guide book is one of the less expensive I’ve come across and at £5 represented good value.

I was able to buy a postcard of Edward the Confessor’s Shrine so I will scan it for you. Copyright Dean and Chapter of Westminster 2007.
 

BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL – Westminster, London.

Of course we have our iconic memorial down at Capel le Ferne plus the Sir Chrisopher Foxley Norris Memorial Wall, but for ages I have wanted to see the relatively new BOB Memorial in London. Some have commented that it was disappointingly small. Perhaps it was a good thing that I’d heard these comments because I was totally unprepared for the superb memorial which I found emotionally moving and a wonderful example of the sculptor’s art.

The memorial was the work of Paul Day and you can go to the Internet to find a complete explanation of how he executed and interpreted this commission. In my opinion he gets to the heart of the Battle and nothing and no-one is left out – he’s got the tea ladies, the munitions workers, the land girls as well as emotive sculptures of the predominantly young pilots.

As you know, I am only able to post one photo with each blog and it is difficult to make a choice. But I will post others in the Gallery.

You can feel the speed at the sound of the 'Scramble' Bell
 

YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM – IWM AWARD

The Imperial War Museum held their London Film Awards on Wednesday and guess what – the Yorkshire Air Museum walked off with the first prize. As a Vice President of the Museum I feel able to share in their pride.

The entry in ‘Conflict Related Documentaries’ was ‘De Lourds Souvenirs’ – Heavy Memories and a play on words because the French bomber crews were called ‘Groupes Lourds’. The documentary was a joint production between the Museum and Geneviève Monneris who, I’m told, went proudly back to France with the very large Rose Bowl as the prize.

Couldn't get a photo of the whole Halifax Bomber at the York Museum but you can see the iconic Cross of Lorraine

If you just want to peruse - go to the Left and click on a month - up will come a few lines appertaining to Blogs written in that month and then if you wish to read more you just click on 'Read more'.  Afterwards you click on the month again and up comes the list.

I'm only putting this in because I don't understand why I've lost my American 'viewers' who used to far outnumber those in Britain.  Maybe I'm writing nothing which interests you!!

All good wishes,  Jan

YORK MINSTER – Memorial to the Groupes Lourds – Guyenne and Tunisie French Squadrons based at Elvington during WW2.

As I had a long drive ahead of me, our visit to York Minster was brief. What an imposing edifice. Can’t wait to have time for a more comprehensive visit.

York Minster is very different from Canterbury Cathedral – apart from it being a Minster but it is imposing in a different way. In one way they are very similar – covered in scaffolding. The work of maintaining buildings of this age and size is an ever ongoing task. And, of course, that task was badly exacerbated in 1984 when the South Transept Roof caught fire – it is thought it was struck by lightning but cynics consider it was ‘divine intervention’ following the installation of controversial clergyman the Rt. Rev. David Jenkins as Bishop of Durham!!!
(Of course the fire blazed away fed by the old oak roof and the lead – just like the roof in the Quire of Canterbury Cathedral in 1174, two years after Becket’s murder. That one was started by burning thatch blown by the wind from the roof of a burning house. Later a law was passed making it illegal to have a thatched roof within a certain distance of the Cathedral.)

The Groupes Lourds Memorial dedicated in November is situated behind the very imposing RAF Memorial.

As you know I can only put one photo into the Blog. So here is the French Memorial and I’ll put photos of the RAF one into the Gallery.

Till next time, Jan.