News

On Sunday afternoon choristers from the Bach Choir, the London Symphony Chorus and the Royal Choral Society came together to sing a selection of music including Myola Lysenko ‘A Prayer for Ukraine’, Orlando Gibbons ‘Drop, Drop, Slow Tears’ and ended with us singing together Hammerstein’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

The choirs were inspirational of course.

At the beginning of the week we were telling potential guests, “It looks as though it’s going to be windy weekend.” By Wednesday I was told “there are going to be strong gusts on Friday and we are going to have to close the playgrounds.” The next day the decision was made to close all the the Royal Parks on Friday at least until the wind dropped.

NATURE’S SCULPTURES IN THE PARKS
Our accredited photographer, Paul Shelley, usually specialises in gritty street and work situations with well worn faces looking resignedly into the lens. Industrial archaeology also features a lot in his portfolio.

However we are lucky that from time to time he changes the pace and visits our two parks for some spirit lifting photography.

On this occasion he told us he was feeling melancholy and looking at things from a different perspective. It’s an interesting point of view in the middle of winter.

Sue Price
Chairman

New Year News
Well, we made it, despite so much planning and replanning to complicate things. Was the turkey a leg only, a crown or an enormous bird? Somehow, we got through Christmas and New Year. Weeks of dark, damp and warm days were depressing until suddenly, in early January, we’ve seen the sun again and felt cold enough to “wrap up warm” in the morning frost. Thanks to our talented photographer who took sunrise pictures for us in Hyde Park. It’s the early bird…..

What could possibly persuade you to get up before dawn, to find yourself at Hyde Park Corner on a November Sunday morning? The veteran cars arriving through Kensington Streets on Friday and Saturday and the high tech trailers through the night gathering once again in Hyde Park raise the interest levels. The Imperial College garage doors in Prince Consort Road have been open a lot more recently showing off their own prize vehicle.

It is of course the London to Brighton run for the very earliest of these amazing models which have arrived from all over the world to join the journey.

The great Mailing Operation took place a couple of weeks ago and we have been very grateful for all the kind feedback from you, our members. Words and pictures have both been mentioned as well as the new’ish design. Chauncey the dog (back page) is being recognised on his park walks and is soon going to sign autographs with a delicate dab of his paw.

First Major Event for Hyde Park
(since Christmas 2019)

Congratulations to all who ran in The Royal Parks (RP) Half Marathon (‘The Half’) a couple of weeks ago and congratulations to the teams who organised it.