Monday May 5, 2025.
With the Victory in Europe 80th Celebrations getting underway, today, Keilyn and I set off to enjoy the festivities. A taxi took us to Watford Underground station, where we boarded a Baker Street-bound train. My mum and uncle Martin had left earlier in the morning, heading for The Mall and St James's Park, in order to see the procession and catch the flypast from there. We changed at Finchley Road and caught a Jubilee line train, to Green Park, as Keilyn thought it would nice to catch up to mum and Martin.
On exiting Green Park station we were herded, like cattle, down the east path towards The Mall. Vendors were selling Union flags and other merchandise, as the crowds flowed in both directions. On reaching The Mall we were given VE Day flags and then realised that there was no way we would see anything and, with my mum and Martin on the other side of the road, we retraced our steps, heading for Piccadilly.
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| Photo © Keilyn J A Morrissey. |
Heading east, along Piccadilly, we made our way against the throng of people still heading to Green Park, before we reached Piccadilly Circus. To our surprise Piccadilly Circus was deserted of people, so we headed towards Leicester Square, stopping at Greggs to pick some nourishment, which we ate in an almost deserted Leicester Square.
Once we had eaten we had our photos taken with Mr Bean and Paddington Bear, before heading along Irving Street and, after crossing Charing Cross Road, followed William IV Street to Strand. Again the roads were fairly clear, so we headed down Adam Street, where Keilyn had her photo taken outside the door of Number 10, before we turned down John Adam Street, heading for York Buildings.
At the end of York Buildings, on the left-hand side, is a lovely building which was the first home of GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters). A green plaque, affixed to the wall, tells us this. However, if you look at the plaque closely, it contains a hidden message, that many people miss. Can you work it out?
We then entered Victoria Embankment Gardens, beside the York Watergate, and headed for Kippo's Coffee & Gelato, as I was in need of a coffee, while Keilyn was aching for a hot chocolate. With drinks in hand we walked along Victoria Embankment, before climbing the steps to Waterloo Bridge. Our vantage point from where we would watch the flypast.
As we still had time, we crossed the bridge and visited the National Theatre, checking out the view from its terraces and using the facilities. We then headed back up onto Waterloo Bridge, which was starting to fill up with people eager to see the flypast. We found a spot, almost in the centre of the bridge, and waited. I was glad that we had dressed for the weather, as the wind began to pick up and, off beyond Canary Wharf, we could see rain falling from the clouds. We all hoped that it would pass around us, which it did, fortunately. While we waited we took pleasure in waving at the tourists on the boats, passing below us, cheering when they waved back.
I had written a list of the order of the aeroplanes taking part in the flypast, which Keilyn read from as the BBMF Lancaster came into view. Then followed a Voyager and an A400m Atlas, a C-17 Globemaster III, a P-8 Poseidon with Two Typhoons, an RC-135 Rivet Joint with 2 F-35B Lightnings, the Red Arrows brought up the rear with 4 Typhoons.
With this part of our day completed, Keilyn and I dropped down onto the South Bank, before dropping down onto the beach, now that the tide had rolled out. We followed the beach all the way to Bankside, before clambering up the slippery steps to the pavement.
We passed the Clink Prison Museum and the Golden Hide, before joining Montague Close and then Tooley Street. Turning along St Olaf Stairs brought us on to The Queen's Walk, which we followed west to the steps that would take us up to London Bridge.
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| Photo © Keilyn J A Morrissey. |
I had heard a rumour that HMS Belfast was going to be 'firing' her guns, at 15:30, as part of the VE-Day 80 celebrations. (To be more accurate, pyrotechnics aboard HMS Belfast would simulate the firing of her guns). Still, it was something we had never witnessed before, so we were eager to see it. There were only about two or three people, on London Bridge, who knew what was going to happen. This small group got larger as questions were asked and more people joined us at the railings.
Police motor launches soon appeared, stopping river traffic, and, just after 15:30, the first 'shot' was fired from a starboard gun. More 'rounds' followed, before her forward facing guns 'fired', with flashes of fire, smoke and a loud 'bang'. It was a wonderful few minutes, which took those on the banks of the river, and those crossing London Bridge, by surprise.
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| Photo © Keilyn J A Morrissey. |
Suitably entertained Keilyn and I made our way to Upper Thames Street, before heading along Queen Street and onto Cannon Street. Again, much like earlier in the day, the pavements were fairly empty, so we made the most of it by visiting the Reflection Garden, where we took some photos of St Paul's Cathedral.
We then headed through One New Change to Wood Street, so that Keilyn could see what could be the oldest tree in the City of London.
From here we followed Cheapside to St Martin's Le Grand to Aldersgate Street and Barbican station.
A semi-fast Amersham-bound train was waiting at the platform, so we jumped aboard and rode the few stops to Baker Street. There was just enough time to grab some snacks and a drink each, before we boarded a train towards home.
Once back in Watford it was the usual short walk home.
It was a great start to the celebrations, with Keilyn and I having a wonderful day out, in an almost deserted city, seeing new things and discovering so much.
Distance travelled:
- Bus - 0.0 miles
- Cable Car - 0.0 miles
- Car - 0.0 miles
- DLR - 0.0 miles
- Ferry - 0.0 miles
- Overground - 0.0 miles
- River Boat - 0.0 miles
- Taxi - 1 mile
- Train - 0.0 miles
- Underground - 37 miles
- Walking - 6 miles
Sounds like you had a fab day. HMS Belfast firing was a bonus. I didn't get the hidden message in the GCHQ plaque. And the Flypast was short but sweet, watching as we were from St James's Park. That wind was certainly chilly.
ReplyDeleteThe wind was certainly chilly, especially from our vantage points on Waterloo and London bridges, and seeing the pyrotechnics on HMS Belfast was definitely a bonus. I would tell you the message, in the plaque, but that would spoil Monday's blog.
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