This day in London’s History
1938: Trouble at the top. Anthony Eden resigns as Foreign Secretary in protest against Prime minister Neville Chamberlain’s policies of appeasing Hitler and negotiation with fascist Italy. The inexorable march towards war continued.
London fact of the week
Bar Italia, the late-night coffee house on Frith Street, Soho, gave birth to the modern age. In a room upstairs, John Logie Baird first demonstrated the transmission of moving images, which we now know as television. The bar also has strong musical connections. As well as being situated opposite Ronnie Scott’s, Bar Italia was also immortalized in an eponymous song by Pulp.
London person of the week
The 20 heroic souls who were last week given awards by the queen for bravery and outstanding service in the aftermath of the July 7 bombings.
One thing you must do in London this week
Visit Guildhall Art Gallery. It’s scandalously under-used, only costs £2.50 to get in, and is currently hosting the excellent City of Heaven, City of Hell exhibition. You can also pretend to be a gladiator in the gallery basement, which contains the remains of London’s Roman amphitheatre.
One thing you must not do in London this week
Forget your brolly. Looks like we’re in for a week of rain and, yes, even snow.
Image reproduced from Wikipedia, under Crown copyright.
