Editor’s Notebook NEWS in brief
TRAVEL CULTURE HERITAGE STYLE
A NEW BENCHMARK FOR DENCH
Judi Dench, a national treasure already, has been voted the greatest stage actor of all time by the readers of British newspaper The Stage. “It’s quite something to live up to,” she said, “I’m completely at a loss for words.” She was most recently on stage as Titania (below) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, directed by Peter Hall – a performance shortlisted for Theatrical Event of the Year, 2010. Next season the Rose Theatre will be staging As You Like It. Further information:
www.therosetheatrekingston.org.
Britain gets festive
WARRIOR’S BIRTHDAY Portsmouth has reason to celebrate: 2011 marks the 150th birthday of the first iron-hulled ship, HMS Warrior (above); 100 years of the Dockyard Museum, now part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy; and 10 years of the popular interactive Action Stations – from climbing walls to helicopter simulators. www.
historicdockyard.co.uk.
BRUEGHEL TO STAY IN BRITAIN The National Trust, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund have succeeded in saving Pieter Brueghal the Younger’s The Procession to Calvary for Britain after an intensive three-month fundraising campaign. It is on display at Nostell Priory in Yorkshire.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
RELICS IN THE BASEMENT An archivist at the National Portrait Gallery has found relics from the tomb of Richard II stored in a cigarette box among the papers of the gallery’s first director, Sir George Scharf (1820-95).Sketches were also found of the royal skull and bones, in sufficient detail to be used to reconstruct the king’s appearance when alive.
10 BRITAIN
This summer, 22 April-4 September, the Southbank Centre will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Festival of Britain with a vibrant programme of British culture. Events will range from classical music to hiphop and dance to performance poetry, via literature, debates, art, and vintage style, and venues include The Royal Festival Hall (above).
www.southbankcentre.co.uk.
Griffi th Park, a family-owned business based in Harpenden, makes sparkling wines that have been beating French champagnes in blind-tasting tests – and scooping prestigious international awards. The wine, imported from Australia, is on sale nationwide for £6.99 at Morrisons stores.
WWW.GRIFFITHPARK.CO.UK.
VISIT A SECRET GARDEN More than 3,700 private gardens across
England and Wales open for a few days each year as part of the National Gardens Scheme, raising money for charity. Recommended spring gardens to visit include Godmersham, Kent (right); Avon Cottage, Wiltshire; Langham Hall, Suffolk and Snape Cottage, Dorset. The Yellow Book, which lists all the gardens, is available at a reduced price of £7, inc P&P within the UK: use the code BMYB 11 at
www.ngs.org.uk; or tel: (01483) 211535. – Leigh Clapp
www.britain-magazine.com
LEGENDARY CHESS PIECE AT CHRISTIE’S
Check mate
This very rare gilt-bronze chess piece was awarded as a souvenir to the players of a historic chess game played in 1897 between
The House of Commons in London and The House of Representatives in Washington DC, by cable. The game lasted two days, and ended in a draw. This memento, now for sale, is estimated to be worth between £4,000 and £6,000.
PHOTOS: NOBBY CLARK/ ILLUSTRATION OF THE AUDITORIUM BALCONIES FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORD-1. THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL ARCHIVES/LEIGH CLAPP
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