London celebrates the Torch Relay

The tremendous support for the Olympic torch has continued as it has been working its way through the London Boroughs over the weekend.

Photo:  London2012

The flame has been carried on the outside of a pod on the London Eye by Amelia Hempleman-Adams who skied to the South Pole at the age of 16, taken around the Crystal palace stadium by spinter Marlon Devonish and every torch bearer has described the emotional experience as the best moment in their lives. For five minutes this person is the only person in the world carrying this Olympic flame.The simplicity of the event highlights the bravery and determination of so many people, who have been nominated as a torch bearer for their hard work and good deeds within their community and further. 

Doreen Lawrence carries the flame in Lewisham in memory of her son who was murdered in 1993
. Photo:  LOCOG/PA

There is just so much good feeling wherever the torch goes. Not only are people there to see the historical moment of the torch, but also to honour the marvellous work of these people in their community and see the great sportsmen and women.

Fabric Muamba, the Bolton footballer who survivied a cardiac arest on the football pitch earlier this year. Photo: London 2012

Today, the route ends in Wimbledon with Andy Murray and Venus Williams running through the tennis courts and Tim Henman will ‘put it to bed’ in the cauldron at Tooting. 

Photo:  BBC/PA

However, tonight the story line of the BBC’s soap EastEnders includes a live insert with ‘Billy Mitchell’, running through the fictional borough of Walford and past some of the programme’s landmarks including the Queen Vic pub.

Chris Hoy at the Beijing closing ceremony Photo: PA

And breaking news, we have just heard that Sir Chris Hoy will be carrying our flag for Team GB on Friday at the opening ceremony. The four-time Olympic gold medal cycling champion proudly carried the flag at the closing ceremony in Beijing four years ago.

The Flame arrives in London

The Olympic flame arrives in London today!

In a dramatic arrival by helicopter, the flame will be abseiled by a Royal Marine into the Tower of London where it will spend the night in a vault with the Olympic medals before starting the last week visiting all the London Boroughs. 

Finally, on Friday 27th the flame will take a tour of Hampton Court Palace before boarding the Royal barge, The Glorianna rowing boat for a journey down the Thames to City Hall then onward to Stratford to light the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium.

Heathrow welcomes the world

10 days to go until the start of the 30th Olympic Games and the Olympic family begin to arrive at Heathrow, along with their coaches, family and a massive amount of baggage ranging from canoes to bicycles and guns.

Team members from the US Olympic team.   Photo PA

Over 500 special multi-lingual Heathrow staff and Locog volunteers will be on hand to provide a warm welcome and direct the competitors to accreditation desks, before boarding coaches to the Olympic Village in Stratford. Nearly 3,000 apartments have been arranged around courtyards, across 11 blocks and the Australian team wasted no time in settling in and erecting a large team banner across their balconies!

The Olympic Village.  Photo: Telegraph

Today, the airport is expected to handle a record number of passengers and every effort has been made to ensure everyone arrives to a very warm welcome to make up for the bleak dark skies and constant drizzle.  However when the sun does start to shine, our city will be looking stunning.

The scene at Heathrow airport today could never have been imagined when a British aircraft builder Richard Fairey, bought a 150 acre plot of land for £15,000 to build a private airport to assemble and test aircraft.  During World War II the government requisitioned the land as an air base and after the war in 1946, The Great West Aerodrome at Heath Row, was opened as London’s new airport.  Conditions were primitive, with ex-military marquees forming a tented village along the Bath Road, however these terminals did contain comfortable floral patterned armchairs and side tables with vases of fresh flowers!

Terminal 5.  Photo:  Telegraph

By 1947 three runways had been built and there was an ever increasing demand for air travel, so the construction of a new permanent building was started in 1950 and by 1986 the airport had four terminals. A major redevelopment started in 2002 resulting in the state of the art Terminal 5, brand new control tower and improved transport links.  Currently under construction is a new Terminal 2.

The new Control Tower

Wimbledon

Photo: Getty 

The torrential rain over South West London on Sunday did nothing to dampen the spirits of the tennis fans who had queued overnight to watch the first British man to reach the Wimbledon Finals in 74 years.  Andy Murray and Roger Federer took to the famous Centre Court at 2pm and began their battle for the title of Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion.

Tension was high during the first set and the crowd were ecstatic when Andy secured the lead.  There then followed three more sets, interrupted by a rain break when the new roof was closed and the air conditioning needed time to adjust the atmosphere.

Photo AP

Once the match was resumed undercover, Roger's game just became unbeatable.  Andy played like a champion, but it was still not enough to defeat the greatest tennis player of our time.

Photo PA

There then followed a highly emotionally charged presentation ceremony with a touching speech from Andy which left his audience choked with emotion, if not joining in with his tears.


The Scot, who has been given a reputation of being surly, bravely fought back the tears to thank all his supporters and recognise the pure genius of the man who had just won the title of Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion for the seventh time.

Photo:  Murray Saunders

This outpouring of emotions must be giving a tremendous boast to his popularity, now that the sporting public have witnessed just how grateful he is for their support and his determination to succeed in the pursuit of his first grand slam victory.  No longer can the press describe him as miserable, cold and aloof, he showed great warmth and generosity in defeat and won over hearts around the world.

The hillside overlooking Wimbledon has been renamed
Murray Mount, formally Henman Hill! Photo: Getty

The tennis Championships at Wimbledon are the oldest tennis tournament in the world, the first having been played in 1877 when the spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final, won by Spencer Grove. 


The event is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, a much loved venue for many of the players on the tennis circuit with the great emphasis on tradition, regular Royal appearances and strict all white dress code for the competitors. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam event played on grass courts and the retractable roof on Centre Court was ready for 2009, so the inevitable rain delay could be avoided.

The Duchess of Cambridge applauds the Men's Finals with her sister Pippa.  Photo PA

The two main courts, Centre Court and No.1 Court are normally only used for the two weeks of Wimbledon fortnight, however this year the groundsmen will be working especially hard to make sure they are returned to top condition in time for the Olympic events.

Photo:  AP

Of course, a visit to Wimbledon is not complete without a traditional bowl of strawberries and cream.  They manage to get through over 28,000 kilos of strawberries and 7,000 litres of fresh cream during the two weeks!

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Hampton Court Palace opens its grounds every summer to host the world's largest flower show.  I attended the first Flower Show in 1990 which was sponsored by the Historic Palaces and Network Southeast trains and the event was more like a very enjoyable village fete.  Now the 34 acre site welcomes visitors and exhibitors from all over the world to this glorious setting beside the River Thames and the Royal Horticultural Society put on a better show every year.

This is how the site alongside the Long Water normally looks

Transformed!

You can easily spend a full day  looking at show gardens, conceptual gardens, small gardens, water gardens and new for this year The World of Gardens.  There is the floral marquee, the rose marquee and  growing for tastes marquee along with the Country Living marquee and this year the RHS have carefully planned large areas for eating and drinking and even included a bandstand and live music to get everyone's toes tapping!

This great band tried to cheer up the awful weather

All the spaces have been lovingly created and the very best thing about this venue is that there is masses of space to wander between the gardens and enjoy everything the exhibitors have to offer.  All the nurseries have plants for sale throughout the week, not just on the last day as at the Chelsea Flower Show, and the journey on the boat back to the bridge can be very amusing as everyone helps each other to make sure their beautiful floral specimens arrive home in perfect condition.

I'll share a selection of memories of the very wet day, the bad weather doesn't dampen enthusiasm though, garden lovers are made of tough stuff!

The day out starts at the bridge where we take one of the Turks Launches to the entrance showground.  A bit of an indulgence for a short journey, but it is a lovely way to approach the Palace.

 First garden we come across is surrounded by a massive crowd wathing Monty Don and Rachel de Thame filming a piece for the BBC.

 This was a beautiful vision against the black sky - it looks life like but is in fact a huge glass creation.

 Best Show Garden Bridge Over Troubled Water by Anoushka Feiler.

 Entitled The Italian Job I can imagine how cool and serene this place would be on a hot sunny day - I wish I was there!

 A garden for Dyslexia Action, tackling the issue and overcoming barriers to learning.  The two interlocking squares are dissected by a path through the centre and a jagged slate circle and dark pool, representing the journey to diagnosis.

 The winner of the Best Low Cost High Impact Garden, just a perfect place to chill out.

 There are always so many new ideas to see every year, whether it be on colour and design, or the mix of plants.

 Now, is this what happens to post boxes when we use the internet too much?!

 This is The Edible Bus Stop, providing an eye catching "Riot of Colour".  Inspired by the events of last summer, this installation sends the message that cities gain immense benefits from green spaces.  Designed by Will Sandy, he hopes this will raise the profile of the need to use neglected public spaces more productively and show that small spaces can be transformed into neighourhood hubs.

 Don't you just love these double yellow lines formed into a bench.

 This exhibitor manages to complete another commission whilst manning his stand.

 I could have done with one of these exotic parasols to cheer the gloomy day.

 This is a new trend for gardens, not to cover your house in grass, this is easigrass.  The option for artificial grass in those difficult to cultivate areas has become a bit more tempting when this is so like the real thing.

 A creatively designed 'bug box'.

 A garden of garlic and the roof too!

 Where did he go?

 Displays for all tastes.

 Waitrose show how the perfect strawberry should look.

 How about this for a great idea for a candleabra in the Presering the Community garden!

 Winner of the category of Best Summer Garden designed by Catherine MacDonald.  A lovely combination of colours have been used here.

 Falling Leaves by Plumpton College is such a restful, calm space.

 The scarecrow competition, based on the theme of sporting champions, produced some wonderful entries.

 A little piece of Switzerland blended perfectly with the great trees of Hampton Court Palace gardens.

 This is my ideal English Country Garden design.