May 12, 2010 As politicians traipse into 10 Downing Street to learn what second jobs they will get in addition to being an MP, I decided to brag dig out this photo of the time I once also passed through those hallowed doors.
I was fortunate to have a guided tour of the main state rooms of the building on the first floor, although I didn’t get to see the ground floor Cabinet Room as it was in use at the time. Well, it is a working building after all!
The tour was quite facinating, and unlike most old houses (or Buckingham Palace), we were not held back from anything by ropes or stern admonitions not to touch things – it was a very hands (and bums) on tour, including sitting on some very expensive chairs in the pillared room as our genial guide regaled us with anecdotes about the building, and gossip about politicians who have worked there.
At the top of the famous staircase is a small waiting room with various notable exhibits, including a very small Union Flag that had been taken up to the moon on that first landing – and a bust of Winston Churchill with a rather polished head. There is a superstition that touching Winston’s head brings good luck, so, errm, why not. You never know!
Of course, now every time a TV show features the inside of 10 Downing Street, I can shout at the screen about the bits they get wrong!
In fact, I am not sure why a TV studio hasn’t built an accurate mock-up of the interior of the building, considering how often it features on Dr Who nowadays. Must be cheaper than hiring a posh house each time.
Although tours are not really available to the general public, if you represent a “suitable organisation”, take a punt and write to 10 Downing Street asking to be considered for a tour. If your letter gets to the right person and manages to tick the necessary requirements – I took several attempts, and still don’t know what tipped the balance – then a formal application has to be filled in. That in turn is considered by a Committee. After all that, if approved, there is a long waiting list and the group I represented waited about a year before we were allowed inside.
But it was worth the wait.
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10 downing street
Feb 25, 2010 As a bit of a fan of tunnels under London, I am often asked about the oft-rumoured tube tunnel that allegedly links Buckingham Palace to, depending on the rumour, Downing Street or Green Park.
It is claimed that the tube was built so that the Royal Family can escape in times of war or insurrection.
Sadly, the rumours are utterly unfounded.
There are indeed some tunnels under London that are pseudo-secret, but they can be inferred from sealed files in the National Archives or provable tales from the people who built them in the first place.
However, Annie Mole carried a report about The Queen visiting Aldgate station yesterday to unveil a memorial plaque for the July 7th bombings. Her Majesty was also photographed standing next to a specially mocked up tube station sign that read “Buckingham Palace”.
I give it all of about 15 minutes before that photo is cited by tin-foil wearing brigade as PROOF that there is a secret tube station at Buckingham Palace.
If you want to read about the real “secret tunnel” under Whitehall – click here.
Update: In the time it took me to type this (inc coffee breaks), someone has already questioned the existence of a tube tunnel under Buckingham Palace on Annie Mole’s photo!
Nov 5, 2009 If you had been in Westminster today, you might have seen a group of distinctive looking people striding purposefully down Whitehall to Downing Street.
Today, on the 5th November, is the day that political blogger, the Old Holborn takes a casual wander down Whitehall in the guise of V, from the film to present a Carson Rose to the police at the gates of 10 Downing Street.
Once the group got to the gates, the lead V leant over to present the rose, but the police were noticeably uncomfortable and didn’t want to play along. After a few attempts, V carefully placed the rose on the barrier as a gift, pointing out that he had paid his taxes on it.
As the group processed down Whitehall to a pub, some speculated about the future fate of that rose and wondered aloud if it was about to be dealt with as a potential bomb.
I had to leave them at the pub, although they went onto Parliament later to seek entry as a member of the public is entitled to do. I popped back to Downing Street, but the rose had already been removed.
I also arrived late, so missed them congregating at the pub. Opps!
Some photos at my usual haunt on Flickr.
Dec 19, 2008 Tomorrow evening (Sat 20th Dec), it will be possible to watch a satellite launch live, as a launch of the massive Ariane 5 rocket will be taking place.
Alas, it is only via the internet from South America – as I doubt a launch in London would get past the Health & Safety regulations.
Fortunately though, the launch is also at a more tolerable time – starting at 9:50pm (they are often a lot later in the night), so something to watch on your computer if the TV is proving uninspiring.
Live Streaming Link (needs Real Player or Windows Media)
This will be the 42nd Ariane 5 launch, and will launch two communications satellites, primarily intended for direct TV broadcast services and data networks: HOT BIRD 9 and W2M, both for Eutelsat.
The launcher will be carrying a total payload of 9,220 kg, including 8,340 kg for the two satellites, which will be released separately into their targeted orbits.
Incidentally, you can actually write to Arianespace and get tickets to watch the launch live in person. Alas, the flights to French Guiana are unusually expensive. I suspect that the airlines milk the route for all its worth as the bulk of the customers flying there are going to be VIPs who don’t really care about the cost.
You can also naturally watch launches at NASA’s facility in Florida – and there are also periodic launches on the other side of the USA, out of Vandenberg Air Force Base. Another spot to watch a live launch is Baikonur in Kazakhstan – which is the former USSR launch site. Today it is mainly commercial launches, with the occasional launch of a Glonass satellite to finish off Russia’s version of the USA’s GPS platform.
There were plans to let tourists watch the Chinese rocket launches, and indeed the local government invested in a large tourist park near the launch site. Alas for them, the army decided it didn’t like civilians watching, and shut the whole thing down.
On a slightly related subject – just a reminder of my 10 Downing St petition.
When man first landed on the moon, Britain’s Union Jack/Flag was also taken up to the moon and then brought back to earth, and now resides inside 10 Downing St. I think it should be put on public display as an inspiration to our future scientists.
If you think that would be a good idea – please sign the petition by Jan 3rd 2009. You never know, it might attract attention of the person who can say “Yes!”.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/moon-landings/
(Note: Image is not necessarily to scale)
Over the weekend, over on another private website the old chestnut of the fake moon landings was raised, and sensibly put in the bin where it belongs.
As part of the discussion, I mentioned one of the things I learnt when I was able to go on a tour of 10 Downing Street in 2006 and that is in the waiting area at the top of the famous staircase is a small Union Jack Flag along with a few pieces of moon rock – and the sign next to it said that the flag had been taken up on that famous Apollo 11 mission and been on the moon.
Blimy I thought at the time, the British Flag has been to the moon and back – and now sits in a small display case inside 10 Downing Street.
In an odd way – it was actually one of the most notable things for me of the entire visit around the place.
Anyhow, I realised that next year will be the 40th anniversary of the lunar landings, and considering that the UK government recently signed a deal to develop and send probes to the moon – wouldn’t it be an ideal opportunity to put the flag and moon rocks on display for everyone to see?
It could be quite an inspirational thing to show to school children – to say that, even if as just a passenger, the Union Flag has also been to the moon.
If you agree, then why not sign this petition I set up on the Number 10 website and lets see if we can get that display case out into the public – after all, it was a gift to the British people, so let some Brits see it!
..and tell your friends as well.
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