Monday Miscellanea

This Week In London’s History

Monday - 3rd May 1951: The Royal Festival Hall is opened by George VI, as a part of the Festival of Britain.

Tuesday - 4th May 2000: Ken Livingstone becomes the first Mayor of London. Wednesday - 5th May 1980: The SAS storm the Iranian Embassy in London, ending a six day siege and freeing 19 hostages. Thursday - 6th May 1990: In the first of several changes to London’s telephone dialling codes over the course of a decade, London’s old ‘01’ code is replaced by ‘071’ for inner London exchanges and ‘081’ for those in outer London. Friday - 7th May 1663: The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane opens for the first time.

Random London Quote Of The Week

Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved on the wall of his cell this sentiment to keep up his spirits during his long imprisonment: "It is not adversity that kills, but the impatience with which we bear adversity."

Father James Keller

Picture by Simon Crubellier via the Londonist Flickr Pool.