HMS Belfast

 

HMS Belfast was launched in Belfast on St Patrick’s Day 1938 and was the largest and most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy. She played a crucial role escorting Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union during 1943.
In June 1944 Belfast spent five weeks in Operation Overlord supporting the D-Day Normandy landings. She reportedly fired one of the first shots on D-Day. From 1950-1952 the ship played an active role in the Korean War. She is now preserved by the Imperial War Museum.  http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast



 HMS Belfast's bell, Silver ship's bell, bearing the arms of the City of Belfast. The inside of the rim

has various names engraved on it, as the bell (inverted) was used as a font and those baptised were

named here, in naval tradition.

 

The view from the bridge, today looking upstream over the river Thames.

 

These are the forward A and B Turrets each holding three of the twelve

 6-inch guns, each capable of delivering a shell onto a target 12½ miles away.

 

 

Bunhill Fields

 

 This cemetery can be found just off London's City Road.

 

It is a little oasis of calm in the city with tombs of some famous people, ...

 

 ... including writers John Bunyan

 

... and Daniel Defoe and William Blake.

 

Doggett's Coat and Badge Race

The Doggett's Coat & Badge Race takes place annually on the Thames between London Bridge and Cadogan Pier (Chelsea).  It is the oldest rowing race in the world with up to six River Thames apprentice watermen taking part in a race which has been held every year since 1715.

 Here we see the traditional watermen's red coat with a 

silver badge being worn by previous winners of the race.

The rowers are followed by the umpire's motorlaunch 'Panache'.

 This year the race was watched by The Duke of Duke of Edinburgh, the first time since 1951.

 

 The flotilla of small boats follow the race upstream to the finish at Chelsea.

Le Tour de France 2014

Stage 3 Cambridge to London

 The flag seller walks along the route in London's lower Thames Street 

 before the crowds and cyclists arrive at great speed!

 All of a sudden the Peloton comes around the corner and are gone past within twenty seconds!

Just behind the main Peloton come more riders including André Greipel of team Lotto-Beliso.

Wilton's Music Hall

Who would think that a small pair of doors .........

.... is your way into the last remaining Victorian Music Hall.

This year is it was one of the many indoor venues for world music.

All part of the Cultural Co-operation World City Music Village.

http://www.culturalco-operation.org/

World City Music Village 2014

This year Cultural Co-operation held their world music festival at the Natural Trust's beautiful 

Osterley Park and House. The Saturday was wet at times, the Sunday was better, but the weather

did not effect the wonderful quality of the music from around the world by London based artists.

London Nocturne 2014

Cyclists of all disciplines were back this year to race the 1.1km circuit around Smithfield Market.

 

 From the very serious cyclists ......

 

..... to the fun riders on "Boris Bikes". Special Yellow edition to celebrate the

Tour de France starting this year in Yorkshire.

Bankside views by night

 The lights of the City are at their best as the sky begins to darken.

The "Cheesegrater" and  the "Walkie Talkie tower" are majestic when lit up!