Given the recent growth of interest in Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and the various announcements of pageants, flotillas, beacons and concerts, you may be wondering how you can play your part in the Diamond Jubilee. One answer is to enter the Jubilee Time Capsule.

The Jubilee Time Capsule offers people across the globe an innovative way to share their memories and mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and her 60th year as Head of the Commonwealth.

An exciting digital Diamond Jubilee initiative from the Royal Commonwealth Society; the Jubilee Time Capsule will chart the 60 years of Her Majesty’s reign from the people’s perspective and will be gifted to The Queen following the Diamond Jubilee weekend in June.

The Royal Commonwealth Society is inviting you to select one of the 22,000+ days between 6 February 1952 and 6 June 2012 and share your story of that day. Be it a memory of the Royal Wedding, or a memory of your first day at school in 1972.

So far over 22,000 pieces of content from 7,000 people in 40 countries across the globe have been submitted.

Contributors range from school children in Australia to Chelsea Pensioners in the UK. A number of high profile contributors have also submitted memories, from British television presenter Gok Wan to the Dean of Westminster Abbey.

One of the most popular days in the time capsule so far is the 29 April 2011. In fact the Dean of Westminster chose to contribute a memory for this day. In his entry the Dean of Westminster talks about officiating at the Royal Wedding.

The Dean talks about the wedding being ‘intimate’ despite the estimated 2.2 billion people that watched it, greeting Catherine at the Great West Door of the Abbey and how the wedding is a sign of hope. To view the Dean’s entry click here.

You too can submit your own memory by visiting www.jubileetimecapsule.org. You simply need to sign up, pick your date and tell your story.

Diamond Jubilee: The Jubilee Time Capsule from the Royal Commonwealth Society is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s 63rd monarch, has steered the monarchy through decades of social change while remaining a symbol of national stability in a shifting world.

This video from The Telegraph is a good overview of her life and times.

Video: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: 60 years in video is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Full Text:

“Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George VI, of blessed and glorious memory, by whose Decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary:

We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the Realm, being assisted with these His late Majesty’s Privy Council, with representatives of other Members of the Commonwealth, with other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, do now hereby with one Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim, That the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become Queen Elizabeth II by the Grace of God, Queen of the Realm, and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom Her Lieges do acknowledge all Faith, and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess, Elizabeth II, with long and happy Years to reign over us.

God Save The Queen”

Video: Princess Elizabeth proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II is a post from: Anglotopia.net

We found this audio recording of the BBC reporting that the King had died and that Britain now had a new Queen.

Very sad and moving.

Diamond Jubilee: The Moment She Became Queen is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Queen released a statement today to mark her accession to the throne on February 6th 1952. It’s reproduced below.

Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee.

In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth.

I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart as we join together in our celebrations.

I send my sincere good wishes to you all.

ELIZABETH R.

Diamond Jubilee: The Queen’s Message to Mark Her Accession Day is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The met office records some of the UK’s most extreme weather patterns. Here are a few that hold the current weather records.

Brought to you by Confused.com – Find cheap car insurance in minutes.

The UK’s most extreme weather events – Infographic is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Scotland’s National Museum of Costume’s exhibition for 2012 will be Off the Peg: Fashion from the ’40s and ’50s.

The exhibition will centre around designs produced by Horrockses Fashions Ltd, one of the most well-respected off-the-peg labels of the 1940s and 1950s. Horrockses gained a reputation for practicality and glamour combined with easy-care fabrics. They produced evening gowns, day dresses, beach clothes and housecoats in bold innovative prints.

Horrockses Fashions were sold in most of the cities and towns in Britain. They were backed by successful advertising campaigns and it is said that the young Queen Elizabeth was a fan of the designs. The garments in the exhibition are on loan from private lenders and the exhibition is organised by the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.

Scotland’s National Museum of Costume showcases fashion trends from the 1850s to the 1950s. The museum is in a Victorian country house 11km (7 miles) south of Dumfries on the A710, on route 7 of the National Cycle Network.
It is open daily 10am–5pm Apr–Oct (closed Nov–Mar), admission £4.50 adults, £3.50 concessions, £2 children (under-5s free), £11 family ticket. Off the Peg: Fashion from the ’40s and ‘50s runs from 1 April to 31 October.

National Museum of Costume. Shambellie House New Abbey, Dumfries DG2 8HQ Scotland
Tel: +44 300 123 6789
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Facebook: National Museums Scotland
Twitter: @NtlMuseumsScot
Flickr: National Museum of Costume
Blog: The Feast Bowl

Forties and Fifties fashions on show at Scotland’s National Museum of Costume in April is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Credit: chrisdb1

The United Kingdom is gearing up for some spectacular events this summer. The Olympic Games is considered the biggest sporting and tourism event on the planet, but there are other events happening across the UK that will be taking centre stage that have a global reach and are set to attract thousands of visitors.

100 Years Since The Maiden Voyage Of The Titanic

The ill-fated Titanic set sail from Southampton on the 10th of April 1912. Four days later the ship sank after colliding with an iceberg in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The story of the Titanic has been immortalised in books, films and even music, and the centenary commemoration is set to bring thousands of people to Belfast in Northern Ireland where the Titanic was built and Cobh (Queenstown) in County Cork in the Republic of Ireland. Queenstown was the last port of call for the ship before heading across the ocean.

The link between the Titanic and Ireland will always be particularly strong with hundreds of Irish passengers perishing when the ship went down. The Centenary celebrations in County Cork have taken on Olympic proportions with many people suggesting that the numbers of visitors to Queenstown and County Cork will exceed that of visitors to the Olympic Games in London.

Queenstown harbour in Cobh, County Cork – source: Wikipedia

Over 35,000 tickets were sold in 2011, for tours to the Titanic Centre, and County Cork has gone all out with tours, trips and a Titanic experience for the thousands of people expected. Irish websites devoted to the events number dozens and have been attracting hundreds of thousands of hits in the lead up to the centenary date in April 2012. The BBC and the Irish Telegraph have both reported on the enduring pull of this tragic story.

Events in Ireland began on the very first day of 2012 with LE Emer gliding into port in Cobh in County Cork. The yearlong programme by the Cobh Town Council includes shows, walking tours, interactive museums and even an international film festival.

Several commentators and travel writers have predicted that the Titanic centenary will be even bigger than the Olympics taking place across the Irish channel to the south. In terms of global reach, this is nearly impossible, however many of The Olympic events are reportedly downsizing while Ireland and County Cork are preparing for a massive influx of tourists.

The Olympics Could Be The Iceberg That Sinks London

Despite all of the pageantry, pomp and circumstance of the Olympics in London, the numbers of visitors to the city is not likely to rise during the summer months and particularly over the duration of the Olympic Games. The biggest issue with the Olympics is the fact that regular tourists are put off by the rumours of higher prices, overcrowding and even a lack of public services. Has London done enough to ensure that their regular summer visitors are going to visit in 2012?

Travel agencies and journalists say ìNot enough…î In 2008 the city of Beijing prepared for and expected nearly half a million foreign visitors to the city during the summer Olympics; just under 250 000 visitors entered the city during the entire month of August.

If the London Olympics is true to form, and follows the way of Beijing and Sydney, then there could be even less people visiting the city for the Olympics, which puts Ireland and the Titanic Centenary very much on top of the tourist numbers game this summer.

Article produced by GoIreland.com. If youíre favouring the centenary of the Titanic, then GoIreland have a range of hotels in Cork available for anyone looking to celebrate this once in a lifetime occasion.

Guest Post: The Titanic vs. The Olympics: Which Event Will Get The Most Spectators in 2012? is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This being the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, there’s a whole host of books coming out about her that purport to tell her life story. The first of them is The Real Elizabeth – An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Andrew Marr (in the UK the book is titled The Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II and Her People – which is much more accurate representation of what the book is about). It’s a pretty good read and I’ll go into it in more depth.

For those that aren’t familiar with him, Andrew Marr is a broadcast journalist in the UK best known for his documentaries on the history of modern Britain as well as a media personality who hosts a Sunday Current Affairs talk show called The Andrew Marr Show. He’s generally a good reporter and reliable storyteller, so I was looking forward to reading his take on the Queen.

The basic synopsis of the book is that it covers the history of modern Britain framed through her life and her reign. We get lots of back story related to her parents and grandparents and how a little known princess ended up becoming heir to the throne after the Abdication crisis. Many words are spent on this period of history but it’s important to get this back story so you understand the Queen’s worldview, which Marr insists is very different from the rest of modern Britain.

The book covers the main events in the Queen’s life, from her childhood, her time during the War, her Coronation and her reign through the volatility of 60′s, 70′s and 80′s Britain. It does not shy away from the disasters and the controversies. Many Royal watchers will be familiar with most of them but Marr provides some interesting tidbits and has sources that provide different perspectives on well known events (such as the Death of Diana).

All throughout Marr attempts to portray the personality of the Queen. But I think he rather fails because the Queen is supposed to be absent of personality. That’s her duty. Thus reading the book sometimes she’s comes off rather like a robot.

There are many interesting asides as Marr guides us through her day-to-day activities and all the arcane little traditions and conventions that have to be followed for the smooth operating of the British state (of which she is the head). There’s a whole chapter dedicated to the Royal Yacht Britannia how it defined her reign only to be scrapped in 1997. One amusing insight was that there was a secret plan, in the event of a nuclear war, to turn the yacht into a floating palace where the Queen could continue to run her kingdom by hiding in Scottish lochs.

While the book is an interesting read – sometimes it feels a bit like an obituary. The Queen is far from dead and will likely be with us for another 20 years more by going on the longevity of her family. So, it’s a little strange to be writing about her in this fashion. There are no explosive revelations in the book, no controversies, which is fine as that’s rather symbolic of the Queen’s modus operandi.

Her Majesty has had a profound affect on British society – yet most of that is simply due to just existing and being there. She’s a living symbol, not just of the British state but of Britain’s long history and heritage in these matters. She fulfills her duties admirably even in the face of controversy (usually created by her wayward children).

Really, reading the book made me rather jealous that we don’t have a monarchy. With the shambolic state of our political system, it would be rather nice and comforting to have an apolitical head of state who represents us a nation. Our head of state will always be a political person who only represents us for 4 years (or if we’re unlucky, 8). Perhaps that’s why British royalty is still so popular here. The Queen endures, she’s survived countless hostile governments, swings to the left and right. It’s rather amazing to think that her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill.

The book ends in 2011 which saw the success of the Royal Wedding and looks at the optimistic future the Royal Family can expect. As someone who experienced the Royal Wedding first hand – it’s interesting to already read about it in a historical context.

If you’re at all interested in the Queen and in modern British history, I highly recommend this book. It’s a masterful read and any Anglophile will enjoy picking it up.

Brit Book Review: The Real Elizabeth – An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Andrew Marr is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Great Britain is likely to be a tourism hotspot this year and there is plenty to shout about, what with the upcoming 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and also the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. You may have also seen that the tourism board VisitBritain has today announced UK businesses to invite their friends, relatives and past customers from around the world to visit the country this year.

With this in mind, perhaps you might be interested in a British Holiday with a difference. Stately Escapes, specialises in offering up luxury accommodation for groups of holidaymakers from 6 to 60 people at a price from £75 per person for the week in the low season to £250 in the high.

Here are some gems Stately Escape has available – the Best of British perhaps?!

Queen Anne House

Queen Anne House is a large Grade II listed property that combines many of its original features with modern facilities. It is located on the Welsh border equidistant between Hay-on-Wye and Ludlow. Offering luxury four star accommodation for up to 18 guests, in a beautiful isolated setting surrounded by mature gardens, the house provides a comfortable base from which to explore the local countryside. It is also within walking distance of a Michelin starred restaurant and the local pub.

More info: http://statelyescapes.co.uk/holiday-details/view/47-queen-anne-house/in-region/16-heart-of-england/

C18th Rectory in Suffolk

This house is a fine C18th Rectory on the approaches to the small, quiet village of Alderton, which lies off the beaten track, on the Deben Peninsula, in Suffolk. As you enter the house there is a magnificent sense of stepping back in time; the grand piano, a cosy library, the original stone floors and mementos from generations past conjure an atmosphere reminiscent of times gone by. The house is located just a mile from the coast and sits in 18 acres of private grounds comprising beautiful gardens, paddocks and woodland for your enjoyment. There is also a hard tennis court available for your private use.

More info: http://statelyescapes.co.uk/holiday-details/view/284-c18th-rectory/in-region/33-suffolk/

King John’s Hunt Lodge in Surrey

This Grade I listed C11th moated manor house has been lovingly restored by the owners. The house is surrounded by beautiful Victorian gardens and is situated on the edge of the Surrey Hills, offering seclusion and tranquillity within easy reach of excellent local amenities. King John’s Hunt Lodge provides luxurious accommodation in a historic venue with modern day technology and home comforts. The manor has been a dwelling for more than 1,000 years. The first mention of the house is in the Doomsday Book in 1017 where it was described as a royal hunting lodge, reputedly later King John’s.

More info: http://statelyescapes.co.uk/holiday-details/view/156-king-johns-hunt-lodge/in-region/34-surrey/

Inglethorpe Hall in Norfolk

Built in 1745, Inglethorpe Hall was once a substantial North Norfolk private estate and residence. Still set in thirty acres of private grounds and parkland, it offers exceptional views across the Wash and is just one of a few Grade II listed Country Houses in England. This historic building has just undergone an extensive restoration and is now ready to open its doors for rental as a holiday house. Ideally positioned on the beautiful and undulating North Norfolk coast, the Hall lies on the boundary of the Royal Estate at Sandringham, just one of the amazing historic houses to visit in the area, and within easy reach of many famous beaches, villages and Market Towns.

More info: http://statelyescapes.co.uk/holiday-details/view/93-inglethorpe-hall/in-region/22-norfolk/

The Globe Pub in Devon

If you are after a country pub experience with a twist or a group get-away with a difference, we have the answer – The Globe Pub is now available for your own private hire! You can now hire out the entire refurbished, 18th century built pub including the bar, restaurant and the upstairs accommodation for private use. This beautifully restored 18th century pub is the perfect place for your next group trip. Staff, food and drink are provided, so you can relax and unwind in the privacy of your own pub for a while. The pub boasts roaring log fires, a cosy bar, wood panelled restaurant, an afternoon tea lounge and serves a variety of West Country Ales and fine wines.

More info: http://statelyescapes.co.uk/holiday-details/view/291-globe-pub/in-region/11-devon/

Stately Escapes: Great Places to Stay in 2012 for All Britain Has to Offer is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The website Wales Online has an interesting article about the history and traditions behind Wales’ colored harbour houses.

Here’s an excerpt:

It is one of the best-known and best-loved traditions of West Wales’ coastline. Sion Morgan traces the history of painting harbourside houses in a spectrum of pastels

LEGEND has it that the pastel shades of West Wales’ harbours are a legacy of the fishermen forefathers of these small communities.

Once, as the story has it, fishermen would paint their terrace homes around the dock in varying colours so they could recognise their own as they returned from the sea.

Today those colours are the proud hallmark of towns around the coast, from popular Tenby to the tiny bay of Solva and up to beautiful Aberaeron, all of which boast rows of pretty Georgian and Victorian cottages and houses in a rainbow of peach, blue, green, violet and pink.

Click to read more here.

Wales: The history and traditions behind Wales’ multi-coloured harbour houses is a post from: Anglotopia.net

From the beginning, the unexpected has pervaded the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

As a child, “Lilibet” and her younger sister Margaret were groomed for a life considered ordinary by royal standards. However, at the age of 10, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor’s future as Defender of the Faith was sealed when her father took the throne in an unforeseen turn of events.

It would be the first of many detours along the royal road ahead.

In honor of her Diamond Jubilee, which this year celebrates six decades of her rule, here are Queen Elizabeth’s Top 10 Royal Moments:

1. The Abdication of King Edward VIII

When Elizabeth’s grandfather King George V died in 1936, the crown passed to her uncle King Edward VIII.

However, Edward refused to forsake plans to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, opting instead to abdicate the throne less than a year after his father’s death.

The switch propelled her father, George VI, to the throne and altered Elizabeth’s life forever. Suddenly the 10-year-old girl was reading the latest political news and absorbing lessons on British government.

Here’s a video of his historic speech:

2. Accession to the Throne

On Feb. 6, 1952, while on a trip to Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip, Elizabeth learned her father had died and she had inherited the crown at the age of 25. She immediately returned to Britain as quickly as possible.

Thrust into the global spotlight, Elizabeth was named Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year – 1952.

Here’s a historical video all bout her Accession Day:

3. Coronation

Elizabeth’s coronation as Queen at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953 was the first coronation broadcast on television.

The more than 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and other heads of state from throughout the Commonwealth, witnessed the Archbishop of Canterbury place the crown on her head.

In a radio broadcast marking the occasion, the Queen said, “throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”

4. Silver Jubilee – 1977

More than one million people gathered along the streets of London to watch the Royal Family, led by the Queen and Prince Philip in the golden state coach, on its way to St. Paul’s at the launch of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.

“I want to thank all those in Britain and the Commonwealth who, through their loyalty and friendship, have given me strength and encouragement during these last 25 years,” said the Queen at the time.

5. “Annus Horribilis”

In a speech given Nov. 24, 1992 to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, the Queen referred to 1992 as her “annus horribilis,” or horrible year.

It was, after all, the year her sons Prince Charles and Andrew, the Duke of York separated from their wives, Diana and Sarah, respectively; daughter Princess Anne divorced; and a fire destroyed a portion of Windsor Castle.

During that speech, Elizabeth said, “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. … I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge the events of this tumultuous year. I dare say that history will take a slightly more moderate view than that of some contemporary commentators.”

6. Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

When Diana, former wife of Prince Charles, died following a car crash on Aug. 31, 1997, members of the Royal Family were depicted as unemotional and lacking in compassion for not displaying grief publicly.

The Queen subsequently broke convention by bowing to Diana’s coffin as it passed Buckingham Palace during the funeral procession and paid tribute to Diana during a live television broadcast on Sept. 9, 1997, thereby ending criticism from the tabloids.

During her speech, Elizabeth said, “Since last Sunday’s dreadful news, we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger and concern for those who remain. We have all felt those emotions in the last few days. So what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. First I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”

7. The Deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother

In 2002, the Queen lost her sister and only sibling, Princess Margaret, and her mother, the Queen Mother.

Margaret died Feb. 9. In a statement from the Palace, the Queen announced her death “with great sadness.”

The Queen Mother died the following month on March 30 at the age of 101 with Elizabeth at her bedside.

8. Reception for Charles and Camilla

Despite her well-known disapproval of their relationship, the Queen held a reception at Windsor Castle in honor of the April 9, 2005 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. She and Philip did not attend the civil wedding ceremony.

The marriage was said to have been the culmination of the long and controversial relationship of Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

9. Advising Prince William on his Wedding

The Queen assisted her grandson in planning his April 29, 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton.

Not only did Elizabeth advise William regarding what to wear (his Irish Guards uniform), she helped shape the guest list for the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. “I rang her up and said ‘Do we need to be doing this?’ ” he said in an article printed in The Daily Mail. “And she said, ‘No. Start with your friends first and then go from there.’ And she told me to bin the list.”

10. Farewell Tour, Visit to Ireland

Last year, at the age of 85, the Queen embarked on what many referred to as her “Farewell Tour” of the Australia, her 16th visit to the continent.

She also became the first monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland since it gained independence in the 1920s. The historic four-day visit was conducted in May.

Editor’s Note: This post was written by Leeann Neal. LeeAnn is an Oregon coast freelance writer and journalist. Her grandmother, whose own grandparents moved to the United States from London in the 1800s, was a staunch Anglophile who insisted on passing on the ritual of afternoon tea, and who made Yorkshire pudding from scratch each Christmas.

What’s your favorite moment of the Queen’s 60 year reign? Let us know in the comments!

Diamond Jubilee: The Queen’s Top 10 Royal Moments of Her 60 Year Reign is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Britain’s biggest celebration of trains and railways takes place this June in York.

Railfest 2012 will bring together more than 30 record-breaking locomotives that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, largest, strongest, first, last or oldest.

Record-breakers include Mallard, the fastest steam locomotive at 126mph; the newly restored Flying Scotsman, the first locomotive to reach 100mph; Tornado, the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation; and Ffestiniog Railway’s George England 0-4-0STT Palmerston, the oldest steamable narrow gauge locomotive, which will be joined by FR carriage No.15, the oldest operational bogie coach in the world.

During the festival visitors will be able to climb inside drivers’ cabs, ride on trains large and small and examine rarely-seen vehicles like a sailing train, snow ploughs and leaf blowers. There will also be a wide variety of miniature locos and toy train displays.

The event takes place at the National Railway Museum, which covers over 200 years of railway history. Its collections include more than 100 locomotives, 250 items of rolling stock and thousands of other objects from posters and tickets to uniforms and silverware. The last Railfest was in 2004 and attracted more than 60,000 visitors.

The museum is open daily 10am–6pm, admission free. Railfest 2012 will run from 2 to 10 June, admission charge.

National Rail Museum York, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
Tel: +44 8448 153139
Website: nrm.org.uk/railfest2012
Facebook: National Railway Museum
Twitter: @railwaymuseum
YouTube: National Railway Museum
Flickr: National Railway Museum, York

Railway’s record-breakers – Railfest 2012 in York is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Making a biopic about Margaret Thatcher is not an easy thing to do. She’s not a sparkling conversationalist, she’s not overly witty, and she’s not electric in personality. However she is one of the most significant women of the last century and remains England’s first and only female Prime Minister. She is a woman who, while in office,  caused as much controversy as she gained accolades.

Thatcher is the subject of a new biopic, ‘The Iron Lady.’ In the film Meryl Streep plays Thatcher in her older years with Alexandra Roach portraying her in her formative years. Jim Broadbent co-stars as Denis Thatcher. Richard E. Grant and Anthony Head also appear in the film.

Encapsulating the entire life of someone as significant as Ms. Thatcher is no easy task. She is a daunting figure who even today casts a shadow over the office of Prime Minister. Nonetheless this is what ‘The Iron Lady’ sets out to do. Using flashbacks the movie establishes early on that Ms.Thatcher was a potent political leader who came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to stand side by side with other leaders in a male dominated world.

History shows us that Margaret Thatcher was a woman who, when she set out to do something, got it done. Her Achilles heel however that was she often didn’t play well with others. As she rose to power in the Conservative Party she stepped on a lot of egos and spewed a lot of venom at some of the most respected people in Britain. Streep brings this out in her performance with rich detail, upending tranquil scenes with sudden bursts of rage and anger. She also does a magnificent job of bringing the inner turmoil that Maggie suffered all her political life; being a woman in a man’s game.

In fact it is this that haunts Thatcher and makes he lust for power so intense. As Thatcher, Streep perfectly mimics her voice, mannerisms and vocal pitch. It is a striking proposition to play her and Streep undertakes this fearlessly.

Alexandra Roach has it somewhat easier. Her younger Thatcher, although fighting early on for a political seat, is far more endearing and naive. The film’s few tender moments come when she and a younger Denis (Harry Lloyd) meet, court and fall in love.  Roach sets the groundwork for what is to come and allows Streep to roam free in the role later on. Thatcher’s early years in politics were not easy and Roach’s performance reflects her ambition, drive and determination to be seen as more than a grocer’s daughter. She too has taken a dauntless role and made it her own.

Broadbent is superb. He gives the film a breath of air when things get intense. He also holds his own with Streep onscreen as she hustles and bustles boisterously from crisis to crisis. Broadbent, although appearing mostly as an illusion of Thatcher’s dementia throughout most of the film, gives Denis a life, albeit one that is subservient to his wife’s insatiable desire for adoration and power.

Olivia Colman plays Carol Thatcher, Maggie’s daughter who watches helplessly as her mother moves from the worlds of the past and present without any differentiation. It’s not easy being the daughter of one of the most controversial figures in the world and Colman brings this out in the role. She brings a sense of angst as a daughter caring for a mother who is in mourning and suffering from dementia.

The film is set over three days in Thatcher’s life following the death of her husband. Over this period Lady Thatcher, suffering from dementia, recalls her life. It is not obvious at first, but her dementia is profound. She struggles to control herself and oftentimes finds herself speaking to her dead husband. Flashbacks and archival footage tell the story of her ascension and decline from power as well as her life out of office. These flashbacks chronicle her rise from obscurity to her rise through the House of Commons and eventual leadership of The Conservative Party. This is where Streep really takes the reigns of the role and runs with it. As Thatcher becomes PM and leads Britain into the Falklands War she intensifies her performance. She perfectly nails Thatcher’s cold ambivalence to labor strikes, youth protests and the antiwar movement.

Streep skillfully recreates the cold and calculating Thatcher that got things done her way and balances that with a woman, who late in life, struggles with getting a grip on reality and being an ordinary citizen. This careful balancing act enables her to bring a sense of tragic melancholy to the elderly Thatcher who clearly remains bitter, angry and lost after leaving office.

During Thatcher’s rule she faced several crisis situations. The UK’s youth culture and union workers protested and criticized her ever move. The riots they caused were profoundly demonstrative in illustrating how divided she often made her nation’s citizens over her policies. As Prime Minister she was not always popular. She was one of the most controversial leaders of the 1980s who oversaw a period of economic malaise, went toe to toe with the IRA, and went to war over the Falklands. She also  staunchly supported American interests in the Cold War by allying Britain closely with Ronald Reagen’s United States, another move that enraged her colleagues and most vocal opponents.

When Meryl Streep takes a part she inhabits every fiber of that character. Here she completely transforms herself into Ms. Thatcher. The tone, inflections and mannerisms are pitch perfect and thus the audience completely forgets they are watching an actress.  Thatcher is not an easy person to like and Streep gets it right by not trying to make more out of her then she is. She doesn’t shy away from the fact that Thatcher is often very cold and domineering . Yet her version of the PM is tinged with a sense of loss over the death of her husband and frustration over how she left office.

Although The Iron Lady is one of Streep’s triumphs as an actress, the film itself  misses its mark. The pacing is off and the audience is left to wonder somewhat as they attempt to discern what Maggie perceives as real or imaginary. The  ensemble is terrific but suffers from a script that drags a bit in places as it struggles to make Thatcher interesting and compelling. The fact is that  it is hard to make one of the world’s most unlikable political figures interesting to a wide audience.

Director Phyllida Lloyd
 adeptly chronicles her life and political rise by, at times, presenting the film like a stage production with closed in sets, tight dialogue and powerful acting. By staging the film in this way she manages to make this daughter of a shop owner watchable. It also creates a natural spatial tension that enhances the scenes where Thatcher is at combat with her rivals. Lloyd also takes advantage of some great locales for filming. Being able to film inside some of the most powerful places in the British government lends a lot to the production. It is a cinematic treat. The costumes and sets are also great.

She also knows enough to let Streep go out on her own and inhibit the character without interference. With Roach she lets a young actress find her way with the part, resulting in a breakthrough performance.

‘The Iron Lady’ is a film held together by Meryl Streep. The supporting cast is also quite good, however there is something flat about the film that makes it difficult to connect with. It could be that even on screen Thatcher is not easy to warm up to. Another problem is that this movie is over ambitious in trying to deliver a complete picture of someone as complex as Margaret Thatcher. The film is unapologetic of her flaws and characteristics and doesn’t try to rewrite history. Nonetheless it somehow misses  capturing her many complexities which is probably impossible to do in a feature film.

This evasive, all pervading problem of Thatcher’s unlikability is what makes ‘The Iron Lady’ a good film but not a great one. It is a very good film that has so much more potential to be a great one. Maybe the film suffered from Thatcher’s problem of not knowing when to hold back and ease up. Still, despite this, it is worth seeing.

‘The Iron Lady’ is a must see for fans of British politics, popular culture and history. Sadly many people today know little of the discord she brought to her nation’s youth culture or just how close she came to plunging England deeper into the murky depths of The Cold War. She was controversial, powerful. resourceful and resolute. She moved Britain from austerity into a new era of nationalism while restoring it as a world power. ‘The Iron Lady’ affords Anglophiles the opportunity to familiarize themselves with one of Britain’s most polarizing personalities while watching an amazing actress, Meryl Streep, make the part completely her own.

Brit Movies: The Iron Lady Review from an American Perspective is a post from: Anglotopia.net

MPs could be forced to move out of the Houses of Parliament after subsidence has caused Big Ben’s clock tower to lean by an alarming 18 inches. Report by Sophie Foster.

Video: Leaning Big Ben to force MPs to move out of the Houses of Parliament is a post from: Anglotopia.net

A unique artistic collaboration will turn a dilapidated building in Oxford into a giant compendium of strange, amusing and haunting stories in May this year.

Other Worlds is a series of installations in 25 rooms in Rochester House, an empty Victorian building that is destined to be a museum of storytelling. Throughout May, 25 writers will be paired with 25 other artists to produce works inspired by the current state of the building.

Among those taking part are writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen, composer Nick Bicat and Oxford city poet Kate Clanchy. The concept for the exhibition was devised by Dark Angels who run a creative writing programme of master classes at Merton College, Oxford.

Part of the Victorian building was a pub listed in the 1846 Oxford Directory. In 1899 Merton College bought the site from Magdalen College and developed it for residential accommodation, including the Master’s lodgings. In 1921 the site was sold to the Postmaster General for £6,400. Additional buildings were added for a sorting office and a telephone exchange.

The Story Museum is due to open in the refurbished Rochester House in 2014. It aims to be a world centre for story and storytelling and hopes to attract 100,000 paying visitors a year. Authors Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson are patrons of the Story Museum.

Stuart Delves a director of Dark Angels says: ‘Discarded equipment, the last leavings of former occupants, abandoned spaces awaiting some magic… even when they’re empty, these buildings are atmospheric. When they are adapted, with a storytelling purpose, they become extraordinary. We wanted to show our support for The Story Museum in an exciting, practical way.’

Other Worlds, 1 – 31 May, The Story Museum, Rochester House, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
Tel: +44 1865 790050
Website: www.storymuseum.org.uk/otherworlds
Facebook: The Story Museum
Twitter: @TheStoryMuseum

A derelict building has stories to tell in Oxford is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This week, a Podcast about England’s most famous Danish king – Cnut, or if you are a Dane, Cnut the Great. For the complete story, come to www.historyofengland.typepad.com.

History of England Podcast – Cnut the Conqueror

Cnut and Svein didn’t have it all their own way; Aethelred’s son Edmund Ironside at last showed that the English could still fight. But Edmund’s death in 1016 left Cnut in control.

Cnut was pretty much the complete king. Conqueror of the English, ruler of a Scandinavian empire that spanned 4 countries. And a man who knew how to win the peace as well as the war,   since in the main his years were so full of boring peace, prosperity and lack of discord that the chroniclers and podcasters could find little to say about his rule.

Making himself a legitimate ruler

Cnut married  Aethelred the Unready’s widow, Emma of Normandy. It was not only an astute political move but also turned out to be a good personal choice. Astute politically because he allied himself with the English Queen; and astute personally because he and Emma shared the same aims and values. Emma was a power at court, and helped Cnut get the English Church on his side.

This was important because recognition as a Christian King rather than a pagan warrior was essential a part of Cnut’s campaign to be accepted as the legitimate successor to the Anglo Saxon dynasty. He did other things as well. He agreed with the witan to rule by the laws of Edgar.  He issued his own law code which very clearly followed his predecessors’ codes, and their policy of accepting the different customs of the Danelaw and the rest of England.

But Cnut did have his followers to reward – after all they had fought hard for him and his father for many years. So although we see nothing like the wholesale replacement of English thegns that we will see under William the Conqueror, there is a significant influx. In the early years, Cnut’s great men are all Danes – Thorkell the Tall and Eilaf the Viking for example. But over time this changes, and Anglo Saxons such as Leofwin and Godwin gain their place in the sun. Cnut also taxed England and maintained a standing army and navy with the proceeds – some indication maybe that he was not secure at least for the first part of this reign.

Cnut spent much of his reign establishing his Scandinavian empire – and for a short period he ruled England, Denmark, Norway and parts of Sweden. But it didn’t last long, and was to prove beyond the ability of his sons to maintain.

When he died in 1035, the chroniclers are remarkably deadpan about his passing. But he was a clever and successful man, who gave England a much needed respite after the years of Aethelred’s chaos. He died and was buried at Winchester, and should be seen as one of the most successful rulers of England before the conquest.

History of England Podcast: Cnut the Conqueror is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The largest ever exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of the human body is to go on display in May at the Queen’s Gallery, next to Buckingham Palace.

Leonardo was not just one of the great artists of the Renaissance: he was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy. He wanted to be ‘true to nature’ in his painting, so he researched the appearance of the physical world in all its aspects, especially the human body. But as human bodies were hard to come by, many of his earliest drawings were based on medieval treatises and his work on the bodies of animals.

Leonardo intended to publish this work in a treatise on anatomy. But when he died in 1519, his anatomical drawings remained among his private papers and their significance was effectively lost to the world for almost 400 years.

His papers were pasted into albums by his successors, and one of the albums was brought to England in the 17th century. It was probably acquired by King Charles II and has been in the Royal Collection since at least 1690. Today the drawings are among the Royal Collection’s greatest treasures.

The Queen’s Gallery is open daily 10am–5.30pm (closed 16 Apr–3 May and 8 Oct–1 Nov), admission adults £7.50, seniors/students £6.75, under-17s £3.75, under-5s free, family ticket £18.75. Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist is at the gallery from 4 May to 7 October,

The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
Tel: +44 20 7766 7301
Website: www.royalcollection.org.uk
Twitter: @BritishMonarchy
Flickr: The British Monarchy’s photostream

The anatomy of a genius – Da Vinci Exhibition Coming to Buckingham Palace in May is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The 11th-century Durham Castle is benefitting from a £5-million refurbishment – and now offers holiday accommodation within its ancient walls.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site in north-east England is home to Durham University’s oldest college and its rooms are available to rent for bed and breakfast during the university’s vacation times. There are now 40 single, twin and double ensuite rooms, newly refurbished and decorated to 4-star standard.

The castle is next to the Norman Durham Cathedral on a prominent hilltop overlooking the small medieval city. The present castle began in 1072 as a simple defensive fortress commissioned by William the Conqueror. For centuries, it was the palace of the Bishops of Durham, who added to the buildings and altered them to suit their needs. Since 1840 it has been wholly occupied by University College.

The University of Durham was founded in 1832 by Bishop Van Mildert and the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. Guided tours of the castle are also available during university vacations.

University College, Durham Castle, Palace Green, Durham DH1 3RW
Tel: +44 0191 334 3800
Website: www.thisisdurham.com
www.durham.ac.uk/university.college

This is Awesome: Rooms to rent in an ancient castle in Durham is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Editor’s Note: This if the first review for Anglotopia’s new staff Brit movie reviewer – James Bartlett – a British Expat living in LA.

Period dramas and classic novel adaptations aside, in many ways this is perhaps the most British movie released for many years, as it is a biopic of Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister from 1979-1990 and a figure who not only became world famous as a no-nonsense politician and leader, but as a woman broke countless glass ceilings on her determined rise to the top.

Now frail and well into her late 80s, Thatcher herself is rarely seen in public these days and her reign is not looked back on with much fondness. It could be that history will be a fairer judge, and this movie attempts to look at Thatcher the person, as well as Thatcher the public figure.

The story begins as an elderly Thatcher (Meryl Streep) has breakfast with her husband Denis (Jim Broadbent), though it’s quickly clear that he is a figment of her imagination, and that she’s now seemingly disappearing into dementia, with long-dead Denis as a regular companion as she recalls moments from her past.

These include her young days as a grocer’s daughter with a father who was strong Conservative values; hard work, protecting business and minimal Government assistance – it’s no surprise that she and Reagan shared such a bond later. As a young Margaret Roberts though (played by Alexandra Roach), she entered a world of sexism and smoky rooms – yet Denis was one of the few who admired her spirit and respected her degree from Oxford.

Switching continually between the hazy present and the rose-colored past, we see Thatcher become head of her political party and then, in a ground-breaking historical moment, the first female Prime Minster. Over the following years she battles against the Unions and strikes, refuses to deal with terrorists, is bombed by the IRA, makes huge public cuts and introduces unpopular taxes – but also wins a war in the Falkland Islands and ushers in years of prosperity.

All things must come to an end though, and a leadership challenge sees her resignation and obscurity, regarded as a heartless relic in this modern age. Her flighty daughter Carol (Olivia Coleman) struggles to help, but is always second to Mark, the Thatcher’s son who always makes excuses to come and visit. It’s only Denis – a lost fantasy – who keeps her from losing her fast intelligence and strong opinions, and she knows even he will have to leave.

As awards season has proved, Streep – as ever – is marvelous as Thatcher in middle/late age, while Broadbent shows that Denis was always quick with a joke and an encouraging word. Streep captures Thatcher well, though – as someone who grew up in that era in England – never quite makes it; perhaps that would have been too much of an impression.

Part of that is due to the script, which barely rises above simplistic, movie-of-the-week stuff that lacks any real depth or bit; thank goodness it was Streep playing the part. American audiences are unlikely to be able to understand what is happening with regards to the historical elements either (Reagan gets a second of footage), and though perhaps that’s why they’re represented with vague archive footage, director Law – so successful directing Streep in “Mamma Mia” – adds little but safe clichés.

A movie like this about such a controversial and famous person needs to be packed full of drama and conflict, and here it’s too focused on an elderly Thatcher hallucinating her ghost Denis. It’s a tactic that allows Streep to show all her talents, but veers too closely to a character study of an old person remembering her past – and like it or not, Thatcher was more than any person, though you would hardly know it from this movie.

Movie Info:

THE IRON LADY
Rated: PG-13
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Duration: 105 mins
Cast: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra Roach, Olivia Colman
Score: 2½ stars out of 5

Brit Movies Reviews: The Iron Lady – Meryl Streep Shines by The Film Glosses Over History is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Guardian has a wonderful – and frank – article written by a modern day butler about how the industry has changed compared to what we see in shows like Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs.

Here’s an excerpt:

As the travelling butler to a self-made Asian industrialist who sleeps less than four hours a night and hurtles around the globe networking, making deals and building his empire, I am perhaps in a good position to explain why demand for English butlers is on the increase.

The modern day butler bears little resemblance to Downton Abbey’s impeccably mannered Mr Carson. In that era, the butler had to embody the virtues demanded of the head of a household, as well as polishing silver, decanting the wine, and ensuring the rest of the staff were performing their duties, looking immaculate and following the protocols of their rank. I am hard pressed to find any parallels between Carson’s role and my own, nostalgic though I may feel towards that golden age.

I began my career in theatre, working onstage and off. One night, while making a pitiful living as an actor in one show and producer of another (begging benefactors for money, persuading an Arab prince to sponsor a seat, while consoling a distraught actress over a dreadful review), I realised that as much as I enjoyed the problem-solving involved, I needed to do it in a more disciplined environment. Other than the army, private service was the only option I could think of.

That is how I found myself recast as the supporting actor to a protagonist who turns every day into a different play – shifting from comedy to melodrama to tragedy. I wear a mask (metaphorically of course) which helps me navigate the line between obsequiousness and subservience, while catering for my master’s every whim and request, however strange (providing the pet dog with chilled Evian), ludicrous (filling a library with books chosen to match the room’s colour scheme) or impossible (24 hours to find tickets to the final of a world-famous sporting event).

Read the rest here – it’s fascinating.

An English Butler Talks about the Modern Butler Industry is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This is a guest post by by John Evans, Editor of sportcloseup.co.uk

Becoming Jane, the 2007 biopic of the writer Jane Austen re-run over the holidays by the BBC, may not seem the most obvious contender to be a movie about sport – but that was just the start of the festive surprises.

What were the odds on Anne Hathaway, the American actress who literally became Jane, getting to hit the winning runs in a village cricket match – yes, cricket – set more than 200 years ago?

Or that Jane Austen and her family in the southern English county of Hampshire would feature in a history of the game of cricket’s early days, written by a former Prime Minister, Sir John Major?

Or, perhaps most surprisingly, that Jane’s first completed novel, Northanger Abbey (written in the 1790s) would include one of the earliest references in literature to cricket’s American cousin, baseball – four decades before Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the sport at Cooperstown.

Forgive me Jane, but it is a truth almost universally acknowledged – and a great source of pride to us – that Britain is where modern sport really began: where so many were played for the first time, or had their first rules laid down, or were popularised before being exported to the rest of the world.

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, admitted as much last July as he invited the world’s athletes to come to London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, describing Britain as “the nation that invented modern sport”.

Take the momentous 1860s and 1870s.

In two extraordinary decades, Scotland staged the first of the world’s major golf championships in 1860, and took on England in the first rugby (1871) and football (1872) internationals. The English wrote football’s first laws in 1863 and, in a momentous four months in 1877, staged what was to become the world’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament and took on Australia’s cricketers in the first-ever official international “test” match.

So it is not that surprising that sport is a rich part of Britain’s heritage, on show at more than 30 museums from St Andrews in Scotland (golf) to Brooklands, just south of London – where you can walk on what remains of the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, dating back to 1907.

These are among more than 100 sports museums, stadium tours, one-off exhibitions and other visitor attractions featured in the sportcloseup.co.uk website that I launched in January 2011, to spread awareness of the UK’s unique heritage early in a decade that will see Britain hosting not just the Olympics but the Commonwealth Games and global championships in athletics, cricket and rugby.

Some of the attractions won’t come up as a surprise. London has three big, thriving, museums at Wimbledon (lawn tennis), Twickenham (rugby union) and Lord’s (cricket). Top English Premier League football (soccer) clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have popular ones too.

And there are plenty more not too far away during the Olympic and Paralympic Games – like the River and Rowing Museum at Henley-on-Thames (just over 40 miles west of the London 2012 Olympic Park) and the National Horseracing Museum at Newmarket in Suffolk, 60 miles north.

Bit there are surprises too, like small museums, some reflecting personal passions for a sport – for cycling (in Wales), fencing in the Midlands county of Worcestershire, badminton at Milton Keynes, just north of London, and shooting at Bisley, to the south.

And there are plenty of less familiar gems too.

One of the Olympic mascots, Wenlock, is named after a small town in Shropshire – between Birmingham and the Welsh border – which is rightly celebrated as one of the main inspirations for the start of the modern Olympics, thanks to a 19^th century sporting festival begun by a local doctor. The town’s museum, spruced up for 2012, re-opens soon.

Close by the 2012 canoeing venue at Broxbourne, just north of London, there is a museum about the sport of speedway, incongruously sited inside a wildlife park. In suburban Oxford – just a relatively short hop from the rowing museum – you can look out on the athletics track where the world’s first sub-four minute mile was run by Roger Bannister in 1954.

And visitors to the golfing shrine of St Andrews, where the sport has been played for six centuries, get not just the legendary “Old” Course and a golf museum (Europe’s largest) but also, just yards away, the chance to take a  walk on the beach where the famous opening shots of the Oscar-winning movie, Chariots of Fire, were filmed.

Its screenplay writer, Colin Welland, famously echoed Paul Revere (“The British are coming!”) in his winner’s speech in 1981. But will it be the Americans who are coming to see Britain’s unique sporting heritage and the museums that cherish it in 2012?

We hope so.

www.sportcloseup.co.uk

Guest Post: A Brief Guide to Britain’s Sporting Attractions and Museums is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Economist has a great article on the concept of Walker’s Rights in Britain that I thought was worth sharing.

Here’s an excerpt:

PACKHORSES first crossed the Old Bridge in Ilkley in 1675, probably bringing wool to market from the sheep farms that still dot the Yorkshire Dales. The modern traveller will approach the bridge across the river Wharfe with a different purpose. A sign at its foot heralds the start of the Dales Way, a 76-mile (122-kilometre) trek through some of the prettiest parts of England.

The intrepid hiker who makes the full trip will walk on every kind of surface: main roads, narrow rocky paths that are slippery when wet (as this correspondent can painfully attest), alleys overgrown with weeds, and fields where mud has merged with sheep and cow dung to form a brown ooze the colour of oxtail soup. He will pass through tiny villages with quintessential Yorkshire names like Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite and cross (via an overhead walkway) the six lanes of the M6 motorway that threads from Birmingham to Carlisle. And he will observe the English at play in all kinds of weather—teenage boys enjoying a refreshing swim, trout fishermen standing thigh-high in the current, elderly couples accompanied by their dogs and even one man taking his falcon for a walk.

Read the rest of this fascinating article here.

Walker’s Rights: A Guide to Walking in England from The Economist is a post from: Anglotopia.net

During her inaugural address Jamaica’s new Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says the time has come for her country to cut ties with the British monarchy.

While Jamaica is an independent country – they kept Queen Elizabeth as they’re head of state. They now plan to end this tradition.

See the video below:

No Queen Please, We’re Jamaican – Jamaica Plans to Ditch the Queen is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Royal Mail is releasing a series of stamps in honor of Roald Dahl book characters – as a lover of stamps and Roald Dahl – this couldn’t get more awesome.

Each stamp features illustrations by Quentin Blake, whose drawings are synonymous with the children’s classics.

Here’s a gallery of the stamps released:

They’ll be available to purchase from January 10th.

You can buy them direct from the Royal Mail, click here.

Royal Mail Releases Roald Dahl Themed Stamps – Images Inside is a post from: Anglotopia.net