'Athena' by Nasser Azam

I spotted this large bronze statue, in the centre of a roundabout, outside London City Airport and was immediately struck by its size. Unfortunately, as it was a cloudy day, I couldn't get a photo with the sun lighting up the silver coating that covers this giant bronze statue.

Standing at 12 metres (39 feet), it has to be one of the tallest bronze statues that I have ever seen. In fact, it is the tallest bronze statue in the United Kingdom.

Newham Council's Strategic Development Committee were the ones who commissioned the statue, stating:

“London Athena will face east towards the airport and its approach road with her head looking up at the sky and her arms outstretched about her as if greeting or waving to aircraft in and out of the airport.”

Nasser Azam, who designed 'The Dance' on the South Bank, was commissioned to design the figure and it was unveiled in 2012. 

Athena is the Greek Goddess of war, handicraft and practical reason.

London City Airport objected to the statue, who had requested to use the roundabout for signage and advertising related to the airport. They lost their objection, which I am glad about as this statue is definitely an improvement for the area.

Nasser Azam, who was originally from Newham, had the bronze cast at his foundry, Zahra Modern Art Foundries, which he had purchased in 2010. This foundry, originally called the Morris Singer Art Foundry, was the one that cast the Trafalgar Square Lions.

Because of the finish, applied to the statue, many people forget that it is made of bronze.

A small disc states:

"Athena

by

Nasser Azam

bronze

2012

with the support of

Elan Corporation, plc"

Olympic Bell (London 2012)

The Olympic Bell, which Bradley Wiggins rung to signal the opening of the London 2012 Olympics, now hangs rather forlornly outside the London Stadium.

It is a monster of a bell that will, in all likelihood, hang hear for the rest of its days, never to be rung again. This seems to be a waste of a bell, to me, as a bell is designed and tuned to be rung.

Having never seen it up close I was shocked by the sheer size of it.

"Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises" - The Tempest

Brief History

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry was commissioned to make the bell for the London 2012 Olympic Games, in September 2011. They finalised the design, kettering and tuning but found that no longer had the capability to cast such a massive bell. Controversially, they subcontracted the casting to Royal Eijsbouts, in the Netherlands. The Loughborough based Taylor's Bell Foundry, which had also tendered to the cast the bell, took exception at the bell being cast by a non-British company. 

The framework, from which to hang the bell, and the hammer mechanism, which alone weighed a half-ton, were made by various companies. In total there were twenty different companies, from three countries, that brought the bell to completion.

'Robert' the Steam Locomotive, Stratford

Keilyn and Erin with Robert, 2013.

Should you ever find yourself in Stratford, either for shopping, to wander around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to see the Cart & Horses (birthplace of Iron Maiden) or just to visit, then make sure to look out for 'Robert', the steam locomotive.

Set on a plinth, just outside Stratford station, on Station Street, he is a great photo opportunity, as it is not often you can get this close to a steam locomotive, these days.

We first saw 'Robert', back in 2013, when we took Erin and Keilyn for a wander around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It was quite a surprise to walk out of the station to then come face-to-face with a massive steam locomotive.

Walking with Keilyn: Olympic Park to the Mithraeum... and beyond

Aquatics Centre.

 Tuesday April 4, 2023.

With the first week of the Easter holidays begun and with the weather on our side Keilyn, my 9 year old daughter, and I decided to take a trip to London. On Keilyn's insistence we headed to Stratford, via the Jubilee line, as she wanted to explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Our journey was uneventful and after grabbing a hot drink and some food, at Stratford station, we made our way to the park. 

West Ham FC Stadium.

Crossing WaterWorks River, via Stratford Walk, we were immediately in front of what is now West Ham FC Stadium, while below us, on the river, the Water Chariots and swan pedalos were moored up.

Water Chariots and Swan pedalos.

Turning right we headed towards the Pleasure Gardens Play Area, which Keilyn thought was 'Okay'. We continued by following the course of the River Lea via Middlesex Way, which brought us to Eastcross Bridge, next to which the 'Agitos' stood tall and proud against the blue sky. 

Agitos.

Following the path around brought us to the London Blossom Garden and the Tumbling Bay Playground. Keilyn was suitably impressed with this little park.

Keilyn just swinging around.

From here we clambered up and down hills to see the Olympic Rings, set among a small copse of trees. 

Keilyn, an Olympian in the making?

Then it was back down the hill to Gaskell's Fort play area, which Keilyn loved.

Gaskell's Fort Play area.

Then we crossed Knights Bridge and turned left and ourselves back on Middlesex Way, which we followed until we reached Marshgate Lane. We followed this until we turned onto Bassett Lane, which took us across the River Lea Navigation. 

Jurassic World: The Exhibition

 

Time to get up-close-and-personal with some dinosaurs.

Thursday October 27, 2022.

Having travelled back in time, in 2018, to see Dinosaurs in the Wild, for Keilyn's 5th birthday, it was only right that we should take a trip to Isla Nublar to visit the Jurassic World Park.

We arrived at the port and took our place in the queue to have our photo taken with some dinosaurs, before we waited in line for our ferry to Isla Nublar.

Advertising for Jurassic World.

The trip to the island was uneventful, considering that the previous ferry had been attacked by a dinosaur on its return journey. We did, however, spot a flock of Pterodactyls soaring majestically through the air.

Erin and Keilyn preparing to enter Jurassic World.

Once we had disembarked we made our way through the Jurassic World gates, which were made from the reclaimed wood from the original Jurassic Park gates, and came face to face with a Brachiosaurus. 

The Brachiosaurus, a gentle giant.

There was a raised area from which to gain a better view and the entire area had binoculars, which allowed you look down into Gyrosphere Valley, where various dinosaurs could be spotted.

Looking through the binoculars into Gyrosphere Valley.

Passing beyond the Brachiosaurus and through the deep jungle we cam across an animal transport truck. The truck began rocking from side-to-side and a rumbling roar could be heard from within. Soon the head, and upper body, of a Stygimoloch peered over the back of the truck at us. 

A Stygimoloch not happy with its transport.

Not wanting to hang around, in case it escaped, we hurried into the Hammond Creation Lab. 

Information.

The lab was seriously hi-tec and was covered in screens, which showed how DNA was extracted, while others showed information of the dinosaurs on the island. Incubators were also dotted around, with some containing unhatched eggs, or sleeping baby Parasaurolophus. Other containers held various 'dino-poo', which allowed you to feel the different textures between that excreted from and omnivore, herbivore and carnivore.

Baby Parasaurolophus in the Hammond Creation Lab.

'Cart & Horses': Birthplace of Iron Maiden

The Cart & Horses: Birthplace of Iron Maiden.

Saturday May 26, 2018.

When I was just 10 years young, I purchased my first 7" single. It was Iron Maiden's 'Run to the Hills'. I have been a fan of theirs ever since, so I decided that it was high time that I visited The Cart & horses, Stratford, where Iron Maiden performed their first gig, back in 1976.

So, with my friend Len in tow, we made our way to Stratford, via the Jubilee line, to visit this iconic establishment on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Walking into the pub the first thing to greet us was the small stage where, back in 1976, Iron Maiden first performed.

Hallowed ground.

After a couple of photos we grabbed a drink each and admired the merchandise on sale, before heading to the rear garden to enjoy the sun.

Merchandise for sale.

A few more photos and another drink was had, before we headed off to continue our walk.

What else was I to drink?!

Sunborn London

Floating Hotel on the Royal Docks.

The Royal Docks, which have gone through an amazing regeneration, are home to, among other things, the ExCeL London exhibition centre, London City Airport, The Crystal, plus countless bars, restaurants and hotels.

There is, however, one hotel which is moored in the Royal Victoria Dock: The Sunborn London Yacht Hotel.

Sunborn at night.

I am hoping to pay a visit to this beautiful looking yacht, next year, even it is just for afternoon tea, or just a few drinks in the bar, one evening.

Olympic Park Boat Tour, 2015

Approaching the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

I never got to visit the 2012 Olympics, due to work commitments, but I have visited the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park many times since. 

On one such occasion we took a boat tour along the River Lea, which allows you to see many of the Olympic venues, not to mention the varied wildlife, from a truly unique perspective.

Our vessel for this trip was one of the Water Chariots that had transported passengers to the Olympic Games.

'Dockers' by Les Johnson

Holland, Ringwood and Tibbs.

Sunday November 1, 2015.

It was a particularly foggy Sunday November morning, in the Unfinished City, as I strolled around the old Royal Docks. Still, this helped to take some dramatic and atmospheric shots, as the area was pretty much deserted. 

This image of The Dockers, with the cranes disappearing into the fog, became one of my favourite shots of the morning.

Gallery

Millennium Mills

Reflections on the Past.

Sunday November 1, 2015.

My first visit to London's Docklands was back in 1988. Saturday October 8, to be precise, to see Jean-Michel Jarre's Destination: Docklands concert. Jarre, his orchestra and choirs were situated on a 1,000 ton floating platform, while the freshly painted Millennium Mills acted as a screen for the various images and lasers.

The rear of Millennium Mills

The grandstands, where the 200,000 spectators sat, have now been replaced with the ExCeL Centre, while the mills themselves are still awaiting a much needed makeover.

Back on the evening of October 8, 1988, the weather had been windy with a slight hint of rain in the air. Sunday night's show would be downright water-logged. The day I took this photograph, however, it was decidedly foggy, which made the derelict buildings seem even more forgotten by time.

Crystal (City Hall 2022-)

London's most sustainable building.

Saturday June 27, 2015.

My annual September walk, through the Unfinished City, saw me traverse the capital from the Royal Docks through to Whitechapel, via the Thames Path. 

Travelling above the River Thames, via the Emirates Air Line, gives you a great perspective on a truly unique building, named The Crystal.