#Battersea Fair Fun

[msclaritea]

[inthedarktrees]

Models Valerie Carton and Patricia Webb hooking wooden ducks at a fun fair in Battersea Park, London

Carl Sutton, “The Fun of the Fair in 3-D,” Picture Post, June 20, 1953

[gacougnol]

Roger Mayne (1929–2014)

Teddy Girls, Battersea Fun Fair, 1956

[innocentscemetery]

A young American boy with ice cream around his mouth at Battersea Fun Fair, London. July 1956.

By John Chillingworth.

[federer7]

Sherree Danton, Pat Lawrence and Wendy Graham enjoying the wind machine at the opening of the Festival Gardens fun fair, Battersea Park, London. 1st June 1957

Photo by Terry Fincher

[ludmilachaibemachado]

“London belonged to the young. All the old class structures of our parents' generation were breaking down. All the old, social mores were swept away. No one cared where you came from or what school you'd gone to, what accent you spoke with or how much money you had. All that mattered was what you could do, what you could create. Bohemian baronets smoked grass openly, dukes daughters went out with hairdressers, and everyone put two fingers up to the conventions of their youth and the expectations of their families. The capital was abuzz with creativity, bristling with energy. Everything was possible - and money was not the key to every door.”��

These photographs are of Pattie Boyd, Prue Bury, and Isla Blair - who all worked together in the 'A Hard Days Night' film. Here they are seen posing for publicity photos at the Battersea Park Fun Fair, March 1964🌸

Via @patties_boyd on Instagram🌸

[heir-less]

Alison Pearson's Battle Against London and "Sexy Crop Tops"

Speaking of Alison Pearson, I forgot to go on a tangent about this article I read from her over the summer. As I mentioned, it was written in August in response to the news the William and Catherine had moved to Berkshire and enrolled their three children at a local prep school in the area, switching from the London-based Thomas's Battersea.

Alison Pearson has a lot to say about London, apparently.

To start, London is one of the most walkable major cities in the world with a very good public transportation system. One of the first claims that Alison Pearson made in her article about the Waleses moving to Windsor was that London is extremely car-dependent and polluted like something from the pages of a Dickens novel. She had no fun driving her kids everywhere in London, she states.

This confused me (I live in a North American "family-friendly" suburb so complaining about London being car-dependent is properly insane to me) until I read the next paragraph. Pearson goes on to imply that public transportation is a magnet for crime, claiming a neighbour's child was assaulted on the bus, an occurrence so frequent she deemed it a "rite of passage". She also goes the extra mile of linking to another article blaming Sadiq Khan for London's crime rate.

(Would it shock you if I told you most crime in London is on the decrease when compared to the rest of England? Hm, I wonder why a British man of Pakistani descent is always the scapegoat for these lies about crime? Coincidence?)

According to Pearson, London's state schools are run down and obsolete. Students aren't given music lessons, there are no sports fields, everyone is anorexic, and her daughter was being peer-pressured into wearing slutty crop tops. Of course, Pearson just had to run for the countryside and send her children to a lily-white private school where "[d]emands for sexy crop tops ceased, at least temporarily." Y'know, as you do.

Pearson also states that she felt as if the Waleses had "similar motives" to her own in choosing to "quit the city" and send their children to Lambrook, a co-ed prep school in Berkshire with an term fee of £6,899 - £7,489. Pearson has seemingly forgotten that the Wales children never attended a state school in London (Thomas's Battersea is also a prep school and slightly more expensive than Lambrook) and that the Waleses have not "quit" London, they still maintain an apartment at Kensington Palace. So, similar motives or selective memories? Who knows!?

Anyway, I'm not from London so I want to know: is this true? If you attended a public school (I know you call them state schools, but we call them public schools in North America) were you and your friends always violently mugged on the bus? Was your school a decayed shithole with no music or sports programs? Did "all the girls in the sixth form have anorexia"?

Please, tell me if that was your experience otherwise I might go on thinking that Alison Pearson is a lying, racist cunt with Meghan Derangement Syndrome and an insane fear of smartphones, "which should really be called dumbphones". That just wouldn't be fair, would it?

[seventh-victim]

Battersea Fun Fair, London, England  c.1952  (photo: David Moore)

[vintage-london-images]

Battersea Fun fair snapped here with Battersea power station in the background, circa 1954.

[master-john-uk]

3rd May 1951 - King George VI opened The Festival of Britain.

The Festival of Britain was a celebration of British industry, science and arts. The country was still struggling to recover from the economic and social effects of the Second World War. The festival was intended to be a “tonic for the nation”, to raise the spirits of the people and promote a feeling of recovery.

Although exhibitions and events were held across Britain, the centre piece of the Festival was on London’s South Bank... an area which had been left untouched since it had been bombed during the war. The site contained the largest dome in the world at that time which housed exhibitions themed on discovery, a futuristic looking structure that appeared to float above the ground called The Skylon and, a Telekinema... a 400 seat auditorium that could show films (including 3D) and also had a giant television screen. The Royal Festival Hall is the only surviving building from the Festival on the South Bank.

A five minute boat trip up The Thames took people to The Pleasure Gardens in Battersea Park. This area focused more on fun than cultural exhibitions and featured fairground rides and a miniature railway. The Battersea Park Fun Fair stayed open until the 1970′s.

[bernieshop]

Battersea Fun Fair Memories 100% Cotton Fantastic Quality Tea Towel Size 34 x 51cm. Handmade By Artist Bernie Wighton

[51kas81]

As well as acting, Somerset’s Anthony Head has a passion for animals which is why he is a patron of the county’s Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre.

“I don’t think we can do too much for our wildlife, especially here in Somerset and Secret World is quite amazing,” he says. “Their whole ethos of rescue, rehabilitate and release could not be better. These are genuine people doing something real for our wildlife. That is their prime interest and I am very happy and proud to be a part of that as a patron. They deserve all the support we can give them.”

A little while ago Anthony and his partner Sarah Fisher, who is also a patron of Secret World, were announced as ambassadors for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and he could not have been more delighted.

“It’s an honour to be named as an official Ambassador for Battersea,” he says. “I’ve taken pride in working with the charity for many years and Sarah and I have had many Battersea dogs come through our doors. Rescuing an animal in need brings you so much joy.

As well as supporting many animal and other charities they also are great champions of Somerset.

“Somerset simply has to be one of the most beautiful counties in England. It has the most invigorating country air and such wonderful places to walk and admire – and not just for humans. Dogs love it too – there are so many great places to explore and so many pleasant aromas to sniff. Dogs read smells like we read the newspapers and there is a lot of great things going on in Somerset.”

Anthony’s rise to fame began – as he is constantly reminded – when he appeared alongside Sharon Maughan in a series of Gold Blend coffee adverts. There was instant fame but since then he has become one of our busiest actors and in demand on both sides of the Atlantic.

“I think I was destined to become an actor near enough all my life,” he says. “My mother was an actress and actually appeared as Madame Maigret in the original TV series which starred Rupert Davies. The older brother Murray went into acting too. My father was a documentary film director. I must have inherited something because I loved getting into costume from a very early age and wanted to be in every school drama that was being produced.

“Having parents in the industry though was not a door opener, in fact they both basically told me that it would be a good idea to have a second career going as acting was not the most stable of occupations.”

It would be easy to say that the rest is history and an ongoing history at that. Anthony became a big star in America and around the world when he had a major role in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series.

His list of credits is long and very varied both on stage and on screen. He even appeared as Captain Hook for a children’s party in Buckingham Palace.

Away from the bright lights and cameras though Anthony Head is a very down-to-earth kind of guy who likes nothing better than to be at home at Tilley Farm in Farnborough near Bath. It is his haven although it was used for filming some episodes of Buffy.  

“The whole family shares a love of animals,” Anthony reveals. “Sarah is a well-known TTouch instructor and behaviour counsellor. She has worked with animals for over 17 years and teaches staff workshops for many of the UK’s top animal shelters including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Mayhew Animal Home, Blue Cross, Wood Green Animal Shelter and Dogs Trust working with their long stay dogs and other animals with behavioural issues. Sarah also fosters challenging puppies for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and assesses dogs for court cases.

“So we are a close family with the same passions for animals and especially dogs. While I was filming Buffy I lived in Los Angeles for five years, while Sarah and the girls – Daisy was four and Emily was six at the time – stayed in England. I’d try to go home to them every three or four weeks. It was great to be home and I used to take over from Sarah, take the girls to school and do as much as I could before I had to go back. While I was away I missed my family terribly and I owe an enormous amount to Sarah who encouraged me to go for it and said she would hold the fort at home. “We have rescue dogs as well as ponies and other animals. They are a big part of the family. I do my share of mucking out and all that sort of stuff and I love it. Just being out in the Somerset air makes you come alive again even at the end of a long day’s filming.

“There are many great towns and restaurants in the county as well as such a varied terrain and coastline – wonderful.”

Anthony does have strong views on people buying animals as pets.

“It’s great to have animals around, they are fun and loyal and they don’t know you as anything more than part of the family. It doesn’t matter to them if you are on television or head up a major company. They do have specific needs though. I have seen people looking at puppies in a shop and feeling motivated to buy one. I know they are hard to resist but many of those puppies will grow up to find themselves at best in an animal shelter. Basically if you don’t think you can do your best for them and give them a nice life, don’t take them on in the first place.

“Dogs are quite unique and have lived, worked and played alongside humans since we all began. They have so much to offer and they want to give. Some have not had a very fair deal in life, so taking in a rescue dog and giving it a new lease of life and happiness is one of the greatest things anyone can do. The rewards are beyond description. In a sense we owe it to all animals to take care of them and when you do and your dog looks you in the eye and gives you that amazing smile, it makes it all worthwhile.

[signaturetownhouse]

5 London Activities You Haven’t Tried Before

With the sort of deals you can get at Signature Townhouse London Hyde Park, it is not surprising that visitors to the English capital start craving something a little bit off the beaten track. Once your London “basics”, such as trips to Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey, are covered, here are five hidden gems to try on your next trip. 

Attendant 

It will take guests staying in hotels in London close to Hyde Park less than 30 minutes to get to Attendant, a Fitrovia coffee shop unlike any you have visited before. This is not because of the seasonal home-style brunches, or even their top quality coffee - though those are certainly part of the appeal. Rather, the coffee shop is located in a former Victorian toilet. Yes, you read that right. The Doulton & Co porcelain urinals remain and are part of the green seating which matches the original Victorian floor tiles.

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

When it comes to green space in London, there really is no shortage, to which anyone who has visited the royal parks of Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, St James’s Park etc can attest. But if you are looking to do something a little different, the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is a real hidden gem and can be found next to the Hackney Peace Carnival Mural. It grows on an old railway line and local residents grow food and wildlife-friendly plants here, and the public can visit during the hours outlined on their website, which is usually from late morning until dusk. So, next time the sun is shining, head to the gardens to relax - and maybe grab a delicious pizza from the cafe, too! 

Isabella Street 

Located within equal distance of Waterloo Station, Southwark Station and Blackfriars Station, Isabella Street is accessible for most of London. This street is a pedestrianized row of restaurants built into the railway arches and is decorated with a lush green archway, plenty of flowering planters, and offers a striking view of the Shard. Whether you just want a drink or a fresh bowl of noodles, there is something for everyone. 

Affordable Art Fair

There are a number of reasons people list when it comes to why they don’t visit art fairs but mostly, it is perceived as a completely unaffordable luxury. The Affordable Art Fair series is working to shift this perception. If you have always loved wandering around London’s immense free art exhibits and museums but never saw yourself making a purchase, this may be your chance. It will be in London in October 2022 and returns annually. The 2022 fair will take place in Battersea.

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote

If the previous suggestions didn’t really achieve the level of “hidden” you were hoping for, then the Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote is just the kind of quirky, obscure London activity for you. Murder, She Wrote is an American crime drama television series which was (and in many households still is) very popular when the first episode was aired on 30 September 1984. 38 years later in London, you can now visit a theatre with a group of friends (and Murder, She Wrote fans) and take part in an interactive solve-along for one of the episodes. It is a hilarious and fun evening for anyone, even if you hadn’t heard of the show until today. It is a perfect balm for what is admittedly a very stressful era worldwide. 

[aflashbak]

Can anyone explain what's going on at this curious looking sideshow with a small bearded showman, three bathing beauties, and a fake skull on a table? Battersea Fun Fair, 1956 https://www.instagram.com/p/BsiwKQBANJ6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dwayxojmw32b

[federer7]

1st June 1957: Sherree Danton, Pat Lawrence and Wendy Graham enjoying the wind machine at the opening of the Festival Gardens fun fair, Battersea Park, London

Photo by Terry Fincher

© Terry Fincher/Keystone/Getty Images

[ludmilachaibemachado]

waybackinthe1960s Twiggy photographed at Battersea Fun Fair in late 1966 by Michael Cooper🦋

Via @waybackinthe1960s on Instagram🦋