What a Great Way to
Spend an Afternoon!
There were over 90 different
dealers.
I
t’s a beautiful spring day
and I’m at the British
Antique Dealers Association
Fair in Duke of York Square.
After being in the hustle and
bustle of London’s King’s
Road the huge Marquee was
an oasis of calm.
The enormous structure takes
up most of the square and
once inside you are in a
different world. It’s amazingly
elegant with sets of beautiful
Marsden Hospital - and the
proceeds from the BADA Fair
will go towards opening this
one. In addition there are
further Maggies Centres
planned in Spain, Norway and
the Netherlands.
(Maggiescentres.org)
antiques and collectables
everywhere you turn. There
were over 90 different dealers
ranging through fine art,
sculpture, antique porcelain,
china, glass, silver and gold,
furniture and jewellery, a
number of exhibitors
incorporated contemporary art,
glass and small items in their
displays. There were also
conservators, framers, shippers
and all sorts of associated
services. It was difficult to
know where to start as
everything was so beautifully
displayed.
There was a champagne bar
and places to eat: the Pantry
serves soups, light bites and
sandwiches and the Dining
Room provides full on three-
course meals with waitress
service.
The event was partnered with
Maggies Centres, the first of
which was opened in Edinburgh
in 1996. The charity was
founded to provide a warm and
welcoming place on hospital
grounds where cancer sufferers
The Fair was incredibly busy
and the attendance was very
cosmopolitan. I took the
opportunity to speak to some of
the people who were there.
Everything was beautifully displayed.
could meet others who were
experiencing the same life
changing difficulties.
There are currently 22 centres
with 20 throughout the UK,
one in Tokyo and one in Hong
Kong. All provide free support
and advice.
There are seven more centres
planned in the UK - the next
being in London at the Royal
I met a Spanish brother and
sister who were looking for a
particular piece of silver to add
to their collection. I also met a
local couple who were looking
for a good watch for their
Father’s Birthday. The family
had clubbed together and
hoped to get a Rolex. And I also
spoke with a Danish couple
who were looking for a
seascape for their new home.
It was a lovely but exhausting
visit and I loved the whole
afternoon.
LIN KENNEDY
Beasts of London
Voiced by actors, comedians and
well known figures, the animals
tell a new story of London from
their perspective. Some voices
are immediately recognizable,
Joe Pasquale and Brian Blessed
cannot be mistaken, though they
bring a relevance to the stories
they tell. It took me sometime to
recognize Pam Ferris and Kate
Moss but perhaps I was
supposed to be listening to the
animal’s exploits not sleuthing
voices.
Artefacts from the museum are
brought to life…
I
was delighted to be invited
to the launch of “Beasts of
London” at The Museum of
London and very quickly
understood why The Daily
Telegraph awarded the
immersive experience Five
Stars.
The immersive experience is a
collaboration between The
Museum and Guildhall of Music
and Drama. Artefacts from the
museum are brought to life in a
series of immersive theatrical
sets. In some, you sit and
observe with displays all around
you. Others are walk though
spaces though you have to
remain alert as characters come
at you from all angles. Tiny the
Rat Catcher is hypnotic though
Visit The London & UK DatebooK on www.thedatebook.co.uk
brutal; The Roman Amphitheatre
quite captivating.
The Museum has to protect
itself by guiding that the
experience is suitable for
children age 7 and above.
However two young ladies I
know around this would squeal
with delight at the more gory
bits. I shall ask their Mum if they
want an afternoon out.
Voiced by actors, comedians and
well known figures, the animals tell
a new story of London.
The experience lasts about an
hour and time slots need to be
reserved in advance. Once
Beasts is over, there is much
more to see and do at the
Museum. For a captivating day
out until January 2020, pre-
book on the website and head
to London Wall.
… in a series of theatrical sets.
JONATHAN BYRNE
THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
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