View allAll Photos Tagged answer
"Answered Prayer"
Judy Royal Glenn Photography
Meet Barley! He is part of an answer to prayer a few weeks ago.
We travelled three days of eight plus hour trips to make it to Texas a few weeks ago. I wanted to photograph the blue bonnets while we where there. When I found a small patch on the side of the road, I told my husband I wanted to stop. He always is very tolerating of my craziness to suddenly stop so I can photograph something, but when I asked, he did not want to. We continued on our trip.
He started feeling bad and asking the Lord to show him some flowers so I could photograph them. He found a patch on the side of the road, and we pulled over.
A while later, a truck pulled up and the driver started talking to my husband. I stopped photographing the flowers to see what he was saying.
He said he had a whole field of blue bonnets on his property and ask if we were interested in photographing it. I could not believe what he was asking me. It was like I was in Heaven.
The field was beautiful! I photographed their sweet son named Noah, Kimber, their three week old, and Barley, their lab met which met us when we arrived. It was like a dream come true! Not only did I get to photograph their beautiful field of blue bonnets, but I got the icing on the cake times three!
Location: Luling, Texas
To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website: www.judyroyalglennphotography.com
EOS 60D+Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
* If you have requests or comments, please describe these in photo comment space.
Angler : Mr.FUKUI
ROD : PA90 jawbreaker
REEL : EXCELER 3000H / DAIWA
LINE : PE#1.5 + NYLON 30lb
Target : Japanese Seabass
コメント:台風後の激流の加古川でも抜群の安心感でした！
Photo captured on the Second Beach Trail via Minolta MD W.Rokkor-X 24mm F/2.8 Lens. Olympic National Park. Coast Range. Olympic Peninsula. Clallam County, Washington. Late May 2016.
Exposure Time: 1.3 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/22 * Bracketing: None
Got tagged by plaguebearer so i'mma answer some questions and present a random picture of Rook whom just came home DOUBLE POST OF INTRODUCTIONESS AND INFO!
Some Favorites of Mine
Animal: Big Cats (LION RAWR X3)
Color: Apple Green and White
Author: Gail Giles
Shape: Star
Drink: Red Bull
Season: Fall
Game: Bioshock or Final Fantasy 2
Hobby: Writing and BJDs
Holiday: Thanksgiving
Style: Casual, skinny jeans, printed tees, a vest, flats or converse
Disney Character: Flynn Rider
Movie: o.O Shawn of the Dead, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Due Date, Zombieland, Third Star, Stewart a Life Backwards, History Boys, Nativity! (2009 with Martin Freeman)
Band: Our Lady Peace, Queen, The Bangles, Goo Goo Dolls, Flyleaf
Food: Cheesy Potatoes like my mama makes
Book: Acceleration or... Shattering Glass
Villain: James Moriarty,Terminators (aka skynet), The Joker
Comic: Uncanny X-Men, The Runaways
Disney Movie: Peter Pan
Candy: Jolly Ranchers
Music Genre: All?
Superhero: Buffy Summers, Sarah Connor, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
TV Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sherlock (BBC), Spaced, South Park, The Walking Dead, Black Books
Book Genre: Supernatural, horror, detective, thrillers
Comic Company: Marvel
Subject: Literature
Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Sam Rockwell, Logan Lerman, Michael Angarano, Helen Mirren, Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Ben Whishaw, Martin Freeman, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg
Person: My sister Megan(Aka PlagueBearer on here)
Website: tumblr, Deviantart, themoviebox.net
Time Period: 1940s
Number: 7
Singer: Lana Del Rey, Anna Ternheim, Utada Hikaru, Celine Dion, Jeff Buckley, Richard Marx, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Hot Tea: Ew, never
Nail Color: Natural w/ a white tip
TV Channel: AMC, TruCRIME, MSNBC for To Catch a Predator (those gais are gross yo)
Flower: Lily
Object: My phone
Ice Cream: vanilla with cheese cake chunks
Shoes: flip flops or converse
Hero: My sister Megan and Sherlock Holmes
Sandwich: turkey on white with lettuce, pepper jack cheese, and mayo
BJD: Supia Muse
Cookie: Oatmeal Raisin
anything else just ask~~~!! I'm not tagging anyone cause I never do these fuckin things.
Everything you wish comes true. If you are kind, if you have God in your heart and if you work hard you will receive everything you wanted and believed. I know it. It often happened with me. Want to share something - at the beginning of this year I made a list of 8 goals for year. Fankly speaking I didn't believe I achieve 50% of them, but at least it will motivate me more than not having a list at all, And...somehow, all the things listed there became real. They came to me themselves)) I attracted them)
One position from that list was unsolved untill today. It was a question and a goal was to give myself an answer for it and start proper actions. I was asking myself the same question everyday, several times a day, during 2 years... Everyday, everynight... And today, yes, today, less than 1 hour ago I feel that the answer came to me. I'm so happy! :) For a while I'll keep this answer a secret, I just really wanted to share this moment of relief, happiness, freedom and tears. Decision I made an hour ago is very important to me and I believe it is a right one.
And I want to encourage everyone who is reading this to think about your live. What are you living for? What are you doing on this Earth? Is it significant? Do you make a difference? What is the purpose of all the things you do in life?
P.S. These 2 videos helped me much to find the answers:
So why don’t blacks vote Republican? The answer is simple. Black people are not crazy. Being not crazy, they understand a simple truth about conservatives: They have never stood with, or up for, black people. Never.
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.......***** All images are copyrighted by their respective authors ......
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.....item 1)... OnlineAthens ... Athens Banner-Herald ... onlineathens.com ... Pitts: 'Our' blacks vs. 'their' blacks
By LEONARD PITTS
Published Monday, November 7, 2011
onlineathens.com/opinion/2011-11-07/pitts-our-blacks-vs-t...
Do you think it gives Clarence Thomas a warm, fuzzy feeling to know he is one of Ann Coulter’s blacks?
That is how Coulter put it on Fox “News” while defending Herman Cain against sexual harassment charges that threatened to engulf his campaign last week. “Liberals,” she said, detest black conservatives, but the truth is, “our blacks are so much better than their blacks.”
“Our” blacks? Really?
Social conservative pundits tend to be astonishingly obtuse when discussing race, (See Exhibit A, above) so it is good they rarely do so. Last week was an unfortunate exception, as one of “their” blacks struggled to frame a coherent response to allegations that he harassed female colleagues in the 1990s when he headed the National Restaurant Association. Though accusations of sexual impropriety have beset a bipartisan Who’s Who of black and white politicians, the right wing came out in force to argue that people are only questioning Cain because he is a black conservative.
This would be the same Cain who not so long ago said racism was no longer a significant obstacle for African-Americans. This would be the same right wing that is conspicuous by its silence, its hostility or its complicity when the injustice system imposes mass incarceration on young black men, when the number of hate groups in this country spikes to more than a thousand, when the black unemployment rate stands at twice the national average, when the president is called “uppity” and “boy.”
But they scream in pious racial indignation when Cain is asked questions he doesn’t want to answer.
A “high-tech lynching” said blogger Brent Bozell.
“Racially stereotypical,” sniffed Rush Limbaugh.
“I believe the answer is yes,” said Cain himself when asked on Fox if race was the cause of his woes, adding honestly, if hilariously, that he has no evidence whatsoever to back that up.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think Cain was some hybrid of Emmett Till and Kunta Kinte. Nobody knows de trouble he’s seen.
The candidate has spoken of how he left the Democratic “plantation,” the implication being that more blacks should vote Republican. It would seem on the surface to make sense. As a 2008 Gallup Poll proved — and simple observation reiterates — African-Americans tend to be as conservative as your average Republican on some key moral issues and are more religious than the average Republican, to boot.
So why don’t blacks vote Republican? The answer is simple. Black people are not crazy. Being not crazy, they understand a simple truth about conservatives: They have never stood with, or up for, black people. Never.
Forget modern controversies like mass incarceration. Social conservatives, then based largely in the Democratic Party of the early- to mid-20th century, opposed the Voting Rights Act. They opposed the Civil Rights Act. They opposed school integration. They opposed the Montgomery Bus Boycott. They opposed a law to crack down on lynching.
These are the people for whom African-Americans are now supposed to vote? To make the argument is to betray a stunning contempt for the intelligence — and memory — of black voters.
In talking about race, conservatives have all the moral authority of a pimp talking about women’s rights. Granted, “their” blacks might disagree.
• Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, is a columnist for the Miami Herald. His columns appear each Monday in the Banner-Herald. Send email to lpitts@miamiherald.com. Pitts chats with readers online from 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays at www.MiamiHerald.com.
Comments - Please Read Before Posting:
We love our readers at OnlineAthens.com, so we're giving you a soapbox. In return for giving you a place to speak your opinion, we simply ask you adhere to a few guidelines. We expect our commenters to have lively discussions, but racist, hate-filled, harassing or libelous comments will not be tolerated. Please read our Terms of Service for full guidelines. Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of the Athens Banner-Herald.
Our commenting Web site is AthensTalks.com
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.....item 2).... Moment of Truth Project ... momentoftruthproject.org ...
The era of deficit denial is over
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOMENT OF TRUTH REPORT
momentoftruthproject.org/node/295
December 1, 2011 marked one year since the release of The Moment of Truth report by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The report declared that the era of deficit denial is over. In the year since the report was issued, fiscal responsibility and reform has become the dominant national issue and the debate has shifted from a question of if we should reduce long-term deficits to a matter of when and how we will do so.
While the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Select Committee) failed to reach an agreement on $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, the momentum behind enacting a bipartisan, comprehensive fiscal plan based on the framework put forward by the Fiscal Commission has continued to grow. In the wake of the Select Committee's failure, a growing number of lawmakers from across the political spectrum have voiced support for a bipartisan and comprehensive approach to solving our fiscal problems, with many of them specifically calling for reviving the Fiscal Commission's recommendations. These calls have been echoed by many editorial boards and columnists and organizations.
Former Fiscal Commission co-chairs and current Moment of Truth project (MOT) co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Sen. Alan Simpson remain active in the discussion on how to solve our nation's fiscal problems. They testified before the Select Committee on November 1 and have had several op-eds published in addition to speaking to audiences across the country. They continue to receive very positive reactions from audiences across the political spectrum (Sen. Simpson reports that he continues to get "more thumbs up than other digits"), providing further evidence of what the Commission wrote in The Moment of Truth preface:
"The American people are a long way ahead of the political system in recognizing that now is the time to act. We believe that far from penalizing leaders for making the tough choices, Americans will punish politicians for backing down -- and well they should."
# # #
Click here to read the official statement from former Fiscal Commission members Erskine Bowles, former Sen. Alan Simpson, Alice Rivlin, Dave Cote, Andy Stern, Ann Fudge, former Sen. Judd Gregg and former Rep. John Spratt.
Click here to see where we would we be if the Fiscal Commission's recommendations had been adopted one year ago.
MOT Highlights
... New York Times: Thomas Friedman: Go Big, Mr. Obama
... Des Moines Register: Editorial: It's Time to Dust Off the Bowles-Simpson Plan
...Fiscal Times: Super Flaw: If Only Obama Had Held Up Bowles-Simpson
...USA Today: Obama Missed the Boat to Cut the Debt
Testimony Before the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Click here for written testimony.
Click here for video and full transcript.
Bowles, Simpson Speak at the 2011 WSJ CEO Council
Click here for video.
Bowles, Simpson Interview with MSNBC's Chuck Todd
Click here for video.
Recent Op-Eds by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson
Washington Post: The Super Committee's Make or Break Question -- Nov 16, 2011
CNN Opinion: All It Takes to Solve U.S. Debt Problem is Willpower -- Nov 15, 2011
Washington Post: Our Advice to the Super Committee: Go Big, Be Bold, Be Smart -- Oct 2, 2011
Click here to see complete list of MOT publications, event recaps and other highlights.
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guys I am SO sorry for mumbling and making myself difficult to understand, but I was trying to do it fast as the video kept being too long.
I hope I'm not too awkward, ahahaha.
tagged people who are mentioned in the video!
PS - for the question "what photographers do you like to follow", I'm an idiot for not saying:
-Jeen Na
-Karrah Kobus
-Alex Stoddard
-Brian Oldham
-Bern Talanca
-Laura Makabresku
-Brendon Burton
-Erin Rena
-Parker Fitzgerald
-Grace Adams
-Grace Jones
yeaaaaaaah so a lot of people. and I know I'm leaving important ones out.
THE VIDEO HAS A DISLIKE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I don't blame them.
The performance of Nu Sass Productions' "Priscilla Dreams the Answer" (written by Walt McGough) at the Warehouse Theater at Fort Fringe, part of the 2011 Capital Fringe Festival.
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NOTE: This image is fully copyrighted. Permission is granted to those affiliated with Priscilla Dreams the Answer to use these photos provided that:
- (1) Users provide attribution in the form of "Priscilla Dreams the Answer, by Walt McGough - Nu Sass Productions, Capital Fringe 2011. Image (c) Andrew Bossi, Flickr"
- (2) For any online usage, users provide a link either directly to this photo or to the following: "http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/collections/" AND "http://nusass.org/priscilla-dreams-the-answer/"
Users wishing to use these photos in violation of these terms shall contact me to discuss exemptions. Those affiliated with Priscilla Dreams the Answer or myself may each permit others to use these photos provided the above two conditions are met.
TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY
1 Lift Cover
2 Push Button
3 Answer Operator
YOU MUST ANSWER TO GET HELP
Unfortunately, if you don't read English, you may be screwed.
Call box located on 7th Ave, upper 30s.
Explore #356, September 24, 2008
"They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did."
- John 8:39f, which is part of today's Gospel at Mass.
Detail from Comper's rood screen in St Cyprian's church in London.
Nano Figuren Maßstab / Nanofigure scale
Teile / Parts : 4355 pcs.
Maße / Dimensions : 41,2cm x 21,7cm x 12,5cm
Gewicht / Weight : 2150g / 4,74lbs
Anleitung bald verfügbar! / Instructions available soon!
für weitere Informationen kontaktier mich bitte / please contact me for more information
feindhammer-mocs@gmx.net
Anfragen werden Zeitnah beantwortet / Requests will be answered as soon as possible
October 7, 2012 - Tokyo, Japan. People attending an international festival in Tokyo to celebrate international cooperation. The World Bank partnered in the 2012 Global Festa event in advance of the 2012 Annual Meetings. People answer a World Bank's question that was posted online as part of an international campaign - "What Will It Take?".. to improve lives, to create jobs, to end poverty. Photo: Simone D. McCourtie / World Bank
1. Anything?! Damn boi! asked by A Civilian
A: yes, anything
2. what would you do for a klondike bar? asked by =BROHAMSANWICH=
A: amost anything
3. what number is the earth? true or false? asked by Socialist brick (I am the Box man JR)
A: 24; true
4. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? asked by marineraider Semper Fidelis
A: all of the wood
5. Favorite of all your mods? asked by whatman59
A: a tie between my intervention, RPK, and mk14
6. How many stomachaches does a cow have? asked by lego blackops
A: one?
7. What if a drunk bear was backwards on a gocart coming towards you going 10 knots because he adjusted the sails to face the wind? What if a turtle got ran over by a truck which caused the bear to spin out of control and loose altitude and crash land his plane? asked by HighonBricks
A: then the bear would be dead.
8. have you always lived in Florida? asked by Zachary117
A: yes, i was born and raised in florida, and i have lived in the same house my entier life
9. who would win in a fight Hawkeye, Katniss or Legolas? Honest answer please. asked by soulspiritstudios
A: hawkeye because i have never seen lotr, and i just think he could easily beat katniss
10. How old are you? asked by [Night Fox]
A: i am 14 turning 15 in march
11. where in FL do you live, cuz i live in FL :P asked by legocreator216
A: i live in Palm City, all the way on the east coast, about even with lake Okeechobee
12. what is the music you like? asked by clone camo1
A: i like country music and 50's rock
well guys, that concludes my first q and a, i may do another in the future if you want. i hope you got to know a little more about me, even though some of these questions didnt make sense :P
The News Line: News Wednesday, 27 April 2016 Massive doctors picket lines –answer the Cameron-Hunt threats
Unison leader PRENTIS with delegates from the Unison Health Conference joined the picket line at the Brighton General Hospital yesterday
www.wrp.org.uk/images/photos/16-04-26-11992.jpg
THE TUC must organise a national day of action in support of the junior doctors’ dispute and our NHS, the Public and Commercial Services union said yesterday.
The union’s general secretary Mark Serwotka wrote to the TUC yesterday afternoon to ask that the proposal is discussed at this morning’s general council meeting. The general council is the TUC’s ruling body. Yesterday morning hundreds of Unison delegates joined a march from the Brighton conference centre to join junior doctors on their picket line at Brighton General Hospital. The march was called by Brighton and Hove trades council and Sussex Defend the NHS. Delegates from the Unison Health Conference joined with other trades unions and community groups on a lively picket line outside the hospital.
Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, spoke and brought greetings on behalf of Unison. Local BMA rep and junior doctor Todd Leckie addressed the rally. He said: ‘Jeremy Hunt does not care about us and he does not care about the NHS. This is why we are on strike today, we do this with a heavy heart. If we do not oppose this contract we will not be able to care for our patients in the future. ‘That is why thousands of us are on strike today.’
He went on to thank Unison for their support and said a special thanks to the consultants inside who were covering for them. Speaking from the 200-strong picket outside Kings College Hospital, London, Dr Jack Granville in Respiratory medicine said: ‘I’m here on the picket line at King’s College Hospital oppposing the damaging, unsafe and unfair contract that Jeremy Hunt is wishing to impose on junor doctors.
‘I also want to oppose the government’s austerity agenda, cuts and privatisation.
‘The NHS in its current form is already struggling. King’s A&E Department had its worst winter ever. There were many unsafe situations created. The hospital was struggling to discharge people, with no beds in which to admit people.
‘That is a result of the government’s decimation of the social care budget due to cuts to councils, and is the consequence of the government attitude to health and social care.
‘People are losing their lives. I would support co-ordinated strike action by other unions if they were willing to engage with us. This government is a disaster for this country.’
Dr David Herbert said: ‘I’m a junior doctor, two years working for the NHS and I have seen conditions get worse and worse, not just for doctors, but nurses, health care assistants, phlebotomists, absolutely everyone, and for patients. We are all working under extreme pressure at the moment and this contract will make a situation which is barely manageable untenable in the future, so I am here striking for better conditions.
‘We need to retain talent and staff in this country. We need to value the staff properly, keep them happy and working for the NHS. I think this government is being childish. How can we have an elected government supposedly working for the good of this country, but who are refusing to engage with the wider body of doctors who work on the front line and who know what it is like to be on a ward at 3.00am, doing their best for their patients. I don’t understand how our elected representatives can behave this way. It is beyond reproach really.’
Dr Patrick said: ‘It is really a shame that the other unions like Unison and Unite have been so tentative in their commitment. The sea of opinion might change even more when the public realise that this strike action today – with the full walkout – won’t be to the detriment of people’s health.
‘It will be impossible to undo privatisation. Utterly impossible. The Labour Party should be rallying the unions and rallying the public. The Tories are getting away with absolute murder and it is left down to us and the public to drive the momentum. We really need more help and we need to get other sections of workers involved.’
Dr Benedict said: ‘I can’t imagine a whole body of doctors around the country all signing up to mass resignation as the next step. I personally think an indefinite walkout is the way forward. We need an option that brings the country to a standstill and that has a big ongoing effect. If we have a strike for 48 hours the consultants can come on board, and work harder to keep it going. If we have an indefinite walkout then great things can be achieved, and the Conservative government might be forced back to the negotiating table.''
Dr Colin Coulter said: ‘I am increasingly convinced that privatisation of the NHS is the goal here. Even today at The Royal College of Physicians, there were about 25 CEOs from private healthcare providers meeting to discuss the future of our healthcare. The narrative of our struggle needs to go bigger, because this is something that is going to affect radiographers, porters and everyone in the NHS.’
A large picket of over 50 doctors manned the picket line outside St George’s Hospital in Tooting. David Thompson, a surgical trainee, said: ‘Two people could have stopped this strike, Cameron and Hunt, but they chose not to.’
Sophie Herbert, junior doctor in General Medicine, said: ‘Hunt has refused to talk to junior doctors in public which seems very suspect. We believe he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on when confronted with the truth. He has failed to listen to our concerns that the contract will harm patients and instead he is just repeating his government’s spin and propaganda.
‘The government is hell-bent on destroying the NHS, which will do very real harm to patients. Hunt should drop the imposition of the contract and return to negotiate to the caring professions.’
Seema Jain, junior doctor at St George’s, said: ‘Safety is not being compromised while the strike is on. We have tried everything else. The government says the strike is political. Well it is political because the government is imposing a contract that will harm patient care. We are being treated like children.’
At St Thomas’ Hospital Sian Ashby, GP trainee, said: ‘We are quite determined we don’t want to work under this new contract. It affects staffing numbers and gender discrimination. We are not being listened to by the government. We have the support of nurses, physiotherapists and all the other health professions.
‘The PFI and the Health and Care Act, all these are pushing the NHS into privatisation.
James Connor, a GP who came down to London from Banbury to join the picket said: ‘I am here to voice our general concerns that the NHS is being run into the ground in order to justify privatisation.
‘We have the best, most efficient and most equitable healthcare system in the world.
‘This TTIP agreement will badly affect the health service. The government is intent on attacking the poorest and most vulnerable in society. This government has picked a fight with so many people that opposition is growing.’
At Northwick Park Hospital, where 200 pickets turned out, Sarah Krrar said: ‘I have been nine years a junior doctor and was six years a medical student. I have seen the deterioration of the service we have provided over the last five years because of the cuts. Cuts have coincided with a massive increase in demand for the service.
‘Last year, 30% to 40% of patients that I looked after were in hospital for social rather than medical reasons. They came into hospital initially for medical reasons, and they can’t go home because the care is not there. The NHS needs resources. There are massive staff and bed shortages, the current staff have worked flat out to keep the service afloat. Jeremy Hunt coming along and alienating the work force is complete madness. To imply that we are the barrier to expanding services is offensive.''
Junior doctor Elvis Adams said: ‘Jeremy Hunt has to back down. I hope 50,000 striking junior doctors outweighs the will of one man.’
Dr Jenny Abthorpe said: ‘Over 70,000 operations are cancelled every year because of lack of funding or beds. They only quote how many operations hae been cancelled on the day of our strike. On Christmas Day and bank holidays, hospitals have the same cover as the previous junior doctors strike days, however no one complains.
‘We are fighting for the future. We know what will happen in future if this contract goes through. We are not asking for a single penny extra on pay. I work seven nights and two weekends every four weeks. I don’t want to work more weekends or night shifts. Doctors’ mental and physical health is worse than it has every been. What type of NHS and what type of doctors so we want in the future?’
Junior doctors Kate Felton (paediatrics) and Jacob Ellis (child psychology) spoke to News Line amidst an animated group with strong opinions. Jeremy Hunt says that we are a block to a seven-day working contract. If you really want elective options at weekends then you need nurses and other staff as well. Can we afford that? We already work seven days!
‘We have an overwhelming lack of confidence in Hunt. He has shown no insight into the way the NHS works and his attitude is insulting to our intelligence. He cannot even say what seven-day working means; it is not sorted and no-one knows. Our union has, on the other hand, been very clear: if you stop the imposition then we will negotiate.
‘He has rejected a very fair offer from our union. How do you even model a contract when you don’t even know how many doctors you have got? There is already a massive loss of talent as people come up for retirement, leaving massive holes in the service, all aggravated by this imposition, which will make new doctors leave.
‘It costs a great deal of public money to train a junior doctor! We are trying to get Hunt to listen to us. Other unions have supported us. Unison has offered support because of pressure on public services, and the teachers have marched with us because of the imposition of academies. We are the first profession specifically targeted by the government. If we fail, then the floodgates open for other sections to be targeted.’
‘It’s ridiculous to impose a contract that compromises patient safety and puts further strain on an already stretched NHS,’ BMA rep Raj Shah told News Line on a lively picket line outside the Royal Free Hospital, northwest London.
Junior doctor Sofia Haddart said: ‘It’s a sad day that it’s come to this. We’ve tried a long time to avert this day but the government has left us with no choice.’
Nurse Kat Booth joined the picket line. She said: ‘I fully support these guys. I feel if the government imposes these contracts on the junior doctors, then nurses and all ancillary hospital workers will end up having their pay cut, working more hours and less flexible working time.’
BMA member Miles Gandolfi said: ‘Our strike is a protest against a contract the government is trying to impose. It’s something my colleagues and myself feel strongly about for a number of reasons. It’s not going to be fair for the doctors who would end up working much longer hours. You’d end up losing your extra pay for weekends. The contract already recognises it is unfair to female doctors, which is pretty shocking.’
BMA member Alison Berner added: ‘What we are doing today is really important for patient safety. We want a contract that’s safe for patients and safe for doctors to work in. It’s very sad it’s come to this and hopefully today will show the government how important this is and they will reconsider and come back to the negotiating table.’
On a well attended picket line at Barnet hospital Dr Amy Bowes told News Line: ‘At present I work in medicine for the elderly in my first year of training and it was disappointing to start my career in such a position and to have a health minister so insistent on imposing an unfair contract.
‘Although today has been very unfair for all of us we feel we’ve been backed into a corner and have no choice but to fight.We’re pleased our consultants are supporting us and patients will continue to receive a high standard of care.’
Katie Knight, BMA member on big picket at North Middlesex Hospital, told News Line: ‘Hunt has been wilfully ignoring all our efforts to speak to him. He’s ignored a cross-party attempt to form a last minute resolution and it’s as if he’s goading us into taking this action – he’s backed us into a corner. I think we need some assistance from the TUC. We appreciated the support we had on the last March particularly.’
Whipps Cross Hospital BMA rep Niki Fitzgerald told News Line: ‘We think very carefully about taking strike action. In our job we fill out risk assessments everyday. We have done our work on the risk assessment for this strike and have come to the conclusion that the risk to our future patients is higher than the risk put to patients during this current strike.’
Junior doctors Anita Chan said: ‘We are fighting for the future of the NHS. That is the essence of the message we are putting across. As a whole the service needs more staff, more resources, more funding before we are spread any thinner. Teachers, ambulance workers and other public service workers are fighting for the same thing and we should come out together.’
Martin Goodsell brought the East London, Unite Community banner, he said: ‘We support the junior doctors 100%. We are community activists engaged in housing and anti-eviction campaigns and against zero-hours contract employers.
‘All these campaigns must come together. The teachers and doctors should come out on strike together. We need an all-out NHS strike. This is about the unions working together to resist rivatisation and co-ordinate actions and strikes.’ Len Weiss, chair of the Unison Waltham Forest retired members branch, said: ‘We are here to support the junior doctors on their picket line.
The fight for the NHS and to keep it fair and safe is too important to give up,’ said Hammersmith Hospital junior doctor Julia Prague on the picket line yesterday.
Julia added: ‘All we get from Hunt is the same rhetoric.’ Natasha Rinne, a maternity services junior doctor at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in Hammersmith, told News Line: ‘I was hoping to wake up this morning to hear that the strike had been cancelled, but instead woke up to hear health secretary Hunt telling the nation that the junior doctors are bullies. But to have a contract that is not safe for workers and patients imposed upon us shows us that the only bully is him.’
At Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith junior doctors were joined on the picket line by a group of consultants. Andy Forester, an orthopaedic consultant, said: ‘This truly is everyone’s fight. If this contract is imposed then everyone else will be next, from nurses to cleaners and other staff.’
Striking Charing Cross junior doctor Neeraj Kalra told News Line: ‘Hunt’s failure to negotiate shows just what sort of minister he is – he has lost the trust of the workforce. It’s just a backdoor attempt at privatising the NHS. Consultants can cover for a few days but if we escalate the action they won’t be able to cope.’
Ann Sturdy, an acute medicine junior doctor said: ‘Since I became a junior doctor four years ago we’ve always been short of beds, short of equipment and short of staff.
‘We regularly work two people’s jobs because there are not enough of us and this contract will make that much worse. At the moment we’re struggling to manage a routine service over the weekends.’
At the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital junior doctor in oncology, Ramya Ramaswami said: ‘The voice of 54,000 junior doctors is not being heard by this government who want to impose ideas that suit only a few people.’
At Ealing Hospital the striking doctors set up their picket alongside the West London Council of Action’s daily picket which is fighting against the closure of the Charlie Chaplin children’s ward and all children’s A&E services on 30th June.
Striking BMA member Donna Arya said: ‘We feel strongly that future generations should not have to work in an unsafe NHS. I appreciate that other unions are with us and support our fight.’
A&E doctor and BMA member Veronica Jones spoke about imminent planned cuts at Ealing Hospital, saying: ‘I think not having a paediatric A&E is of real concern because children will be turning up and if it is an emergency then they will have to be transferred to Northwick Park, which will lead to unnecessary delays which could be very dangerous.
‘There’s a lady here from the NUT and she agrees that we are all in the same fight.’
NUT member Sally Hackney said: ‘I think the TUC should call a general strike. This government is privatising all the professions and it has to be stopped.’
Trainee barrister Adam Marley joined the picket, saying: ‘The Tories want to pick off different sections, it’s a typical tactic, divide and conquer. The junior doctors must be joined by the whole trade union movement, they can’t sack everyone in the whole country. I would love a general strike, everyone out together.’
BMA striker Charlotte Bryant said: ‘The new contract would put patients at risk. There’s an expectation that there will be a seven-day NHS without more resources. In fact the doctors are already working seven days. We’ve shown a lot of unity in this struggle and we will carry on until we succeed in preventing the imposition of this disgusting contract.’
Sri Nirmalananda Maha Swamy is not satisfied with the answer of the concerned officer. At the same time, Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan Ex-Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka scratching his head for the answer.
"There are some things you simply must ponder in your heart. Your heart has the answer that you cannot get from anywhere else." -Iyanla Vanzant
Slept hard. No bug problems to speak of. Fan room was actually quite nice temp wise. Sometimes the AC around Thailand can get pretty damn cold.
Showered, Packed, and made it downstairs for eggs and toast and coffee for breakfast (included with room).
Talked with the staff about all the best places to visit. They offer bike rentals, but I didn't want to worry about having a bike.
Walked from hotel to Wat Ratchaburana where I was accosted by a TukTuk driving trying to take me on a tour. He was a little seedy, so I politely declined slash walked away while he was still talking because they don't take no for an answer.
After I got my ticket (20 Baht) I met a nice guy who spoke good english. He told me about all the best temples and showed me by pointing at some post cards. Turned out he was also a TukTuk driver looking to take me on a tour. I said I would think about it and if he was still there when I got back we'd talk more.
Inside was pretty fucking epic. Super old ruins. Not an active temple. No railing. No guards. You could go anywhere and just be, and look around. I loved how they would put the Buddha pieces back together since they'd been destroyed.
Climbed to the top and found a staircase that led down inside.... CREEPY dark cave deep inside the temple. Don't go in if you are claustrophobic ! It was very interesting though. There were frescos on the walls in the TINY room at the base of the STEEP stairs.
As I left I met up with the TukTuk guy again, and we agreed on a tour and route. We were off. I paid 300 Baht an hour, which is higher than average, but I read some good advice somewhere in my travel research: Bargaining is about paying the right price for you, not the cheapest, or "local" price.
First up was Wat Kudidao which was free, and super cool. Parts were flooded, and there was elephant poo everywhere because part of one of the elephant ride tours goes though this temple.
Then my driver convinced me to see the elephants. I wasn't super keen on it, but he said it was close and just walk in a take a photo and leave, you don't have to pay, or ride. So I agreed. It was both awesome and depressing. Saw elephants, and a tiger. But they didn't have the best conditions so I was very uncomfortable. Snapped a photo and left.
Next to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. A big temple with a huge reclining Buddha. An active working temple - so there were a TON more people. I wasn't as trilled by the temple, the highlight was a group of Thai students learning English.
They had an interview sheet, and as part of some assignment had to introduce themselves to foreigners and conduct a conversation in English. It was hilarious to see some of their instructs and questions were written with horrid grammar.
It was super fun, and they were all nice. Afterwards they asked for a photo with me, and then gave me a souvenir (little elephant and tuktuk magnet) as a thank you.
Next was Wat Phanan Choeng with a 19m giant Gold Buddha. Then to Wat na Phra Men which has the only original Buddha statue that wasn't destroyed. Then Wat Phu Khao Thong which is a HUGE while monolith, and lastly my TukTuk driver dropped me at Wat Lokayasutharam which is a large reclining Buddha in ruin.
I overpaid for some nice little trinkets from a very sweet crazy Thai lady selling them from her pockets.
Afterwards I was to walk to the final Wats... but I was a little disoriented.
I cut though a Wat (name unknown) to get over to a main road. It had rained and rained the last few days, so there was lots of mud. Thankfully my day was pretty rain free.
I had to meander to avoid the mud, and there were lots of packs of dogs. Not nice dogs. Abused, neglected, street dogs. I'm pretty confident around dogs, so they didn't frighten me. I had noticed someone was also cutting though the same area as me - it was pretty abandoned otherwise. After I passed a nasty looking dog pack I heard barking from behind me.
The dogs were zeroing in and surrounding the guy that was behind me. He was freaking out, and going deeper into a wet area. I whipped my bandana at them and yelled "No!" (which I later realized they would have no idea what that meant) and scared them off. But not before one of the dogs made a lunge at the guy and he slipped, fell ass first, and skidded across the mud. Splat.
I helped him up, and helped to clean some of the mud off. His name was Ko, a Japanese student on vacation alone, backpacking across Thailand for 2 weeks.
We became buddies. He had walked the entire island (it's not really an island, they just call it that) and needed to get back to the train station. He only had one other pair of clothes, poor guy.
I was trying to help him find a TukTuk, but none in sight. Asked a guy and he pointed us towards a market. Ko and I had Pad Thai and talked over lunch. I asked a British girl where we were -- she wasn't sure. lol. More Thai girls practicing their English, another interview, photo, and souvenir. This time Ko got to participate, even if his English wasn't that good - I thought it was, but he was self conscious.
I found a TukTuk and Ko and I shared it. I got dropped off at another Wat, and he went on to the Train station.
Wandered Wat Maha That, took more photos, and then started walking toward the train station. Got turned around and had to ask some Thais from direction. Yay for sign language ;)
Bought a coke. Wandered streets. Scared half to death by a Creepy Teddy Bear alone in a Phone Booth. Tuk Tuk drove by - hopped in! He said a Bus was better... and why not.
Got to the Bus Station... I hadn't completely zipped up my backpack when I swung it over my shoulder as I climbed out of a Tuk Tuk. Out flew my DSLR camera and landed (50mm f/1.8) lens down in the street. Thankfully the camera body seems to be in working order - just need to find some way to tape the memory card door closed. A spring broke and it won't stay connected. Apparently the door needs to be closed in order for the camera to be turned on.
After my camera went flying and some kind people helped me to pick up the pieces, all I could do was smile and shrug. There isn't anything to be done. Live and learn and be happy. Thankfully I have my kit lens for my DSLR and my point and shoot (which I prefer anyway because it's smaller). All is well.(the final photo)
The bus was 60 Baht... and an adventure. The driver was CRAZY! Fucking mad-man. Weaving and speeding and cutting off and driving on the median and the shoulder and crossing though the wrong way on connectors. At one point he got pulled over. Slipped the cop some cash, and then speed off again weaving and speeding and cutting off. Crazy.
Made it to Victory Monument BTS station (Bus station in Bangkok) and got on the BTS Skytrain... going the wrong direction. Transferred to MRT and took Subway to Silom. I could have gone back to hotel, but thought that if I did, I wouldn’t leave again tonight. Got a 2 hours massage, and then dinner, and a slice of cheesecake.
Took motorbike back to hotel and crashed.
Sin Edición . Ne Ŝanĝita . Not Edited
Ciudad de México, México
Q&A: Knowing which way to follow, even is not clear
SABRINA A. PARISI ANSWERS TO A JOURNALIST ABOUT HER NEW PROJECTS: BOOK RELEASE HOLLYWOOD FAVORITE PETS, NEW TV SHOW AND A FASHION LINE CALLED FROGANIZER.
You know Hollywood closely – is it of any interest to you? Is it a fancy place like we, the common people imagine it, or is it a common place where people live like everybody else?
Yes you are right; I definitely live the Hollywood lifestyle. It’s an interesting circle of very creative and sometimes odd individuals with common interests. There is much competition but at the same time we are close to each other and try hard to create less stress or drama by protecting our self from outside sources. Meaning that we all know each other and soon or later any news is known and shared by everybody. Most of us, try to concentrate and focus in our projects and of course we have lots of events and lots of paparazzi and lots of everything that, sometimes it gets overwhelmed and I dream of a week in some peaceful island. One thing you may find remarkable is the fact that for our birthdays we usually have red carpets, press and paparazzi; then of course we still have the average cakes and candles to blow.
Why did you decide to uncover the secrets of the stars? Usually the world elite desires to be left alone, to be out of the lights? How did you convince them to participate?
It was easy. Pets are part of our life it is not different for the stars. We all are proud to own a pet and treat them as kids. Celebrities are not different! It’s not uncommon to meet with each other and start talking about something bizarre that happened because of them. And let me tell you, the celebrity pet life is something fascinating to be shared especially with the outside world. Thus since I love animals and I had this passion all my life I decided to collect all these stories and put them together. The result was amazing and humorous.
With whom out of the elite are you friends? What do you do together? Are there things that you’ve omitted for the readers? Why?
There is not really one particular person which I am closer friend than another one. We all know each other but most of us travel a lot, we participate to various media Hollywood events and so we really do not have time to get that “so called” close friendship. If I did omit something? Most likely I did but not entirely, after all this may be a first edition to be continued with another one so why unrevealed all the secrets… however, the reader needs to be prepared to some of the funniest and bizarre stories. I promise I collected the most peculiar confidences from the stars about their celebrity pets and it will be uncovered in this book “Hollywood Confidential”.
What’s your most exotic adventure with the stars?
I have a few. Last year Producer/Director Quentin Tarrantino and I got lost in the elevator of the Kodak Theater after an academy awards party going from the venue to the car garage (several levels of garage!). No, we were not together but happened to dance all night and left almost at the same time which it looked suspicious. Considering that it was almost 1:00 in the morning and we were the only two people lost in the garage, well, to me that was pretty exotic! Little to say, my painful high shoes were less exotic! It took us hours to find the right level garage going back and forth in the huge building and the funny thing we had the cars parked one close to the other one. We kept hitting each other from one level to another of the big building … “Hi” and we said that “Hi” at least 100 times with a laughing and crying result.
But as far as wilder and more exotic adventures I have a lot and some of them have been filming and they are going to be release in my next TV venture.
Your house, your clothes, your car, your favorites – are these of those who you write for, or is it your individual style?
I confess, I love fast exotic, expensive cars. I am also addicted to shoes I may have thousands by Galliano, Dior, Cavalli, Chanel etc…. My shoes-walking closets are huge. I grow up by attending some of the most amazing fashion shows both in Italy and France. My mom was an addicted of it and of course I proudly inherit the same addiction. I have been told that there is not vaccination for this addiction! Being exposed to all of this I started developing my own style. Last year I began my own fashion line called Froganizer. This is a unique, young and very colorful line for everybody people. My models are average girls and women, not top model. I recently was attacked and criticized by some European media who complained about the “average” look of my models not my fashion line! Well, I’m asking to you, how many top models do you see walking into a bar or going to work or to school? Not too many. So my line is for everybody woman and girl… I consider myself one of them.
How did the Froganizer line started?
That’s was funny. I started this venture by chance. Last summer I went to Italy and I had this romantic date dinner in this amazing area called the Cilento, it is in South Italy. I was very excited as I really cared about this person and wanted to impress him. But I was not aware that that morning my youngest daughter had put a frog inside my purse. So in the middle of this dinner the frog jumped out my LV, hitting the center of the table and shocking my date. It was awful and hilarious at the same time. You’ll say “Kiss the Frog.. it will turn into a Prince” right? Well, my Prince run away as fast as he could leave me instead with a stupid frog. So, with so much disappointment I went back to the States and started writing a short weekly story about a panther and a frog “The Panther and the Stupid Frog”. The short tail was an internet hit and I started receiving so many emails about it. Later I created my first Frog mascots Dr Frog, a toy frog I introduced to the red carpets starting my new TV reality venture and having the shocking expression of the starlets and paparazzi when I asked them to kiss it. Dr Frog became very popular puppet among the Hollywood scene. When I finally decided to introduce my fashion line to the world, I called it Froganizer (a frog womanizer). My Froganizer line has been successful shown in several catwalks and famous Hollywood venues. I am now ready to launch it internationally.
You are part of the world highlife. Why did you abandon acting for TV shows and reporting?
I never considering myself an actress neither a reporter; I am a personality. I love to create thru my writings and art and produce TV series. I like to interact with people and since I live here moth of these people are celebrities and popular personalities this is why I became a celebrity reporter. I have been writing for several magazines and newspaper and of course I love it. I definitely choose TV rather than theater; I mean, the majority of people have TV at home, you don’t go to the theater every single day, right? But most of all I like the real life with the real dramas and adventures… reality and lifestyle, let’s say. I like to picture r snap the real expression and mood of each individual in weird situations and candid scene. I enjoyed my work for Nova Television and I wish I had more control of the final product, my choice would have been the adventurous, unpredictable, and odd and craziness of the Hollywood you never seen before. The behind the smog and the statuettes… the real Hollywood life!
About acting, I must admit that I recently received 2 very interesting movies offers and I am quite considering accepting the roles.
If you had to imagine yourself as a picture, what elements would be present?
My pink Cartier Pasha. I love my watches and I have a huge collection of Cartier.
Is the Italian origin of help or is it a setback – the Italians are warm, openhearted people. What about the Americans? The zodiac sign Aries – helping or pronging?
Seems like most of the people that I ever met loves Italians so it really helped me. I am the typical Italian bold woman, sometimes people have this misconception of my innocent look with sweet face, no, don’t mess up with me and don’t offend my intelligence. I’m a hard worker and have goals in life; I expect others to respect me for that!
My zodiac signs Aries talks about being impulsive,impatient, adventurous, energetic, pioneering, courageous, enthusiastic, confident, dynamic and quick-witted, … I am all of it and more. But most of all I am a very happy and positive person. I trust people and believe in friendship. I give my life to a friend but again, the friend needs to be honest and ethical otherwise I cut it out totally. I don’t judge people for money or power but for their insider and knowledge and I get very intrigued by people’s intelligence. I’m very upfront to everybody and very direct. In a simple note, I am more a leader than a follower.
Do you open the piano when you are sad? What do you play to yourself?
I play the piano but mostly I start drawing and writing. I also listen to some melodic, sentimental Italian music like Claudio Baglioni or Eros Ramazotti and I unleash my sadness. However, as I previously said I am a happy individual so sadness does not last that long. It seriously takes very little to make me laugh again.
With what did Bulgaria get to you?
With its amazing welcoming! With its people, its art, music, culture and food of course. I spent a beautiful time in your Country and I am looking to visit it again. And let me add, in my first visit in Bulgaria I received a beautiful hand decorated mummer’s (Kouker’s) mask. This mask is displayed in my kitchen’s wall close to my favorite coco clock from Germany and so as you can see I have Bulgaria in my heart and in my house.
Your grandmother has roots from Bulgaria – the motherland of the white brined cheese. Who taught you to eat cheese?
My grandmother is from Eastern Europe but her family moved to Italy so long time ago that we are not sure if they really had Bulgarian roots. I can tell you, that people always told me that I look quite one, and to me it has been a compliment as Bulgarian women are very beautiful. Yes, I love feta cheese but not only that, last time I came to Bulgaria I gained so much weight, and the food was amazing.
Dogs are your companion, partner or? How do you manage to part with some of them so they become pets of your clients like Brad Pit, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Hom Penks, George Lucas. Do you visit them? Are they taking good care of them?
I grow up with animals so they are a complete part of my life. My dogs gave me so much satisfaction as pets but also as champion dogs and in the entertainment industry. I do not have too many litters per year and I am very picky when choosing my clients. I said NO and refused to sell dogs to many well known celebrities simple because I thought they could not proper taking care of them. To me it is important that my animals will be very well taking care and spoiled. And yes, I definitely keep in contact with them.
Life is awfully hard yet you live so colorfully. How do you make it such? With what do you paint the everyday life of the crisis?
As I mentioned before I am a hard worker. Sometime people buy just the Hollywood smog, meaning they think that just because I live in this part of the world everything is easier, shinier and better, like living a constant fairytale. I guess my positivity helps me a lot. I believe in good energy and that the good energy will only bring good things.
Are you vain? Which of your vices will you admit?
Ok, seriously find me a woman that is not vain or at least a little vain! I am vain but not in the obsessed way, I like to receive attention. I don’t ask every single morning to my mirror: “Mirror, mirror of the wall/ Who in the HollywLand is fairest of all?". To me beauty is not the solely and most important factor key of success and life; and I don’t get offended if someone would say: “You are not pretty to me!”. But I would definitely get offended if someone would tell me: “You are stupid and unknowledgeable!”. Why, well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yes it helps but in my opinion who succeed in life are those individuals that have the right personality and knowledge. My vanity is more intellectual than anything else; I like to challenge people with my facts, talking and traits and I like to receive other’s people input. I ask for attention and focus. I am a huge talkative so if you ever meet me in person be prepared to my non-stop chatting. So, would you call that a vain?
President Cyril Ramaphosa answers questions on the economy, border control in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). (Photo: GCIS)
In the breakneck age of early jet travel, it was a race between the transatlantic superpowers to become king of the skies. To combat America's rising star, the Boeing 707, Britain hoped that its latest development, the Vickers VC10, would be the answer to our prayers, but instead has come to encompass all that was right and all that was wrong with the British aviation industry.
As part of a consolidation of the UK aviation industry to reduce costs, the British Government cut down on the number of companies available to build aircraft. By 1959, only two engine makers, Rolls-Royce and Bristol Siddeley, were allowed to take part in aviation powerplant construction. By 1960, the government had merged the aircraft manufacturers into a selection of larger companies, including British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which encompassed Vickers, Bristol and English Electric's aviation interests, Hawker Siddeley, that was built on de Havilland's heavy aircraft experience, and Westland consolidated helicopter manufacture. The British government also controlled route-licensing for private airlines and also oversaw the newly established publicly-owned British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) long-range and British European Airways (BEA) short and medium-range airlines.
In 1951, the Ministry of Supply commissioned Vickers to create a military troop/freighter aircraft based on the Vickers Valiant nuclear bomber. The concept interested BOAC, who entered into discussion with Vickers and the RAF for a passenger variant to become the flagship of transatlantic flights. In October 1952, Vickers were contracted to build a prototype which they designated the Type 1000 (Vickers V-1000), followed in June 1954 by a production order for six aircraft for the RAF, together with the planned civil variant for BOAC known then as the VC7 (the seventh Vickers civil design).
Work commenced in 1955, but was put on hold after the RAF order was cancelled the same year due to major cutbacks in the face of a recession. Vickers hoped that BOAC would remain interested, but waning confidence in the British aviation industry following the Comet crashes and delayed production of the Bristol Britannia turboprop made them reluctant to follow the project through. Although BOAC would later order a set of the Comet 4 aircraft, these were only seen as temporary stop-gaps until the airline received 15 Boeing 707's in 1959. However, while the 707 was an able aircraft, it was very poor at operating the Empire services to the colonies in Africa and Asia. In these regions, many airports are located in hot climates at high altitudes, examples being Singapore and Nairobi, therefore reducing aircraft performance. The 707 was oversized and underpowered for such a task, and thus BOAC once again searched for options.
De Havilland offered the DH.118, a development of the Comet 5 project while Handley Page proposed the HP.97, based on their V bomber, the Victor. After carefully considering the routes, Vickers offered the VC10. Crucially, Vickers was the only firm willing to launch its design as a private venture, instead of relying on government financing.
The design of the VC10 included a T-Tail with four Rolls Royce Conway engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage. It had a generous wing equipped with wide chord Fowler flaps and full span leading edge slats for good take-off and climb performance; its rear engines gave an efficient clean wing and reduced cabin noise. The engines were also further from the runway surface than an underwing design, an important factor in operations from rough runways such as those common in Africa; wide, low-pressure tyres were also adopted with this same concern in mind. The VC10 was capable of landing and taking off at slower speeds than the rival 707 and its engines could produce considerably more thrust, providing good 'hot and high' performance, and was considered to be a safer aircraft.
The Rolls Royce Conway engines provided the VC10 with 22,500lbf each, propelling the aircraft to a top speed of 580mph, a range of 5,800 miles and an operational ceiling of 43,000ft. However, the combined engine pack at the rear of the aircraft made the VC10 incredibly noisy externally, so much so that it has gone on record as the loudest commercial airliner in history, something that even the mighty Concorde couldn't top!
Another party-piece of the VC10 was its revolutionary and highly advanced onboard avionics, including a quadruplicated automatic flight control system, intended to enable fully automatic zero-visibility landings. Capacity was up to 135 passengers in a two-class configuration. The VC10 came in two variants, the Standard and the Super. Super VC10's differed in that they were equipped with more powerful Conway engines and a 28ft longer fuselage offering up to 212 seats, 23 more than the Boeing 707–320 series.
Each aircraft cost £1.75m (£39m in today's money) and confidence in the aircraft was high, with most of the development team expecting it to thrash the comparatively simple 707. However, the costs of development meant that in order to earn a profit, Vickers would have to sell at least 80 of the aircraft at the asking price. Eventually BOAC took on 25 of the aircraft, 55 short of their required amount. In response, Vickers offered a regional alternative known as the VC11, intending BEA to consider its usage, but this plan came to no avail, the company instead ordering the Hawker Siddeley Trident.
The prototype, G-ARTA, rolled out of the Weybridge factory on 15th April, 1962. On 29th June, after two months of ground, engine and taxi tests, it was first flown by Vickers' chief test pilot G R 'Jock' Bryce, co-pilot Brian Trubshaw and flight engineer Bill Cairns from Brooklands to Wisley for further testing. Flight tests revealed a serious drag problem, which was addressed via the adoption of Küchemann wingtips and "beaver tail" engine nacelle fairings, as well as a redesigned basal rudder segment for greater control effectiveness; these aerodynamic refinements considerably elongated the testing process. The certification programme included visits to Nairobi, Khartoum, Rome, Kano, Aden, and Beirut. A VC10 flew across the Atlantic to Montreal on 8th February, 1964.
Problems regarding the construction of the VC10 however were due largely to the location of the factory at Weybridge. Weybridge, a former RAF Spitfire base, had a runway that was too short for the VC10, and thus the aircraft, following construction, had to be flown without furnishings and with less than half a tank of fuel to the nearby BAC factory at Wisley, located 3 miles to the south, where the aircraft would be fitted out for final delivery to an airline.
The first deliveries to BOAC took place in 1964, and immediately received acclaim from passengers and crews for their low noise level, comfort, ease of flying and stylistic beauty, especially in the BOAC livery. BOAC would eventually take on 11 Standard VC10's and 17 Super VC10's, these being put to work on the Empire flights as well as transatlantic services to New York. Most other carriers that took on the VC10 used it to exploit the hot and high flight capability, and thus it was very popular among Middle Eastern and African airlines such as Gulf Air, East African Airways and Ghana Airways. In addition to commercial aviation, the VC10 also found itself in its original intended role working for the RAF, which took on 9 aircraft originally as strategic transport and VIP aircraft.
However, despite it being lauded for its advanced design and superb looks, the VC10 would very quickly come to symbolise all that made the British aviation industry lag behind the foreign competition, and it would cost Vickers dearly.
Vickers wanted the VC10 to be a mass-produced competitor to the 707 and Douglas DC-8, and though equally as capable and much more advanced, its failure to sell in the same numbers came down to three things. The first was that most airlines didn't have the hot and high problem that the VC10 was specifically designed to overcome, and thus its technology was somewhat surplus to requirement. At the same time the VC10 was considered cutting edge, a risk many airlines weren't willing to take, especially during the economically and politically unstable times of the 1960's and also following the failure of the Comet. The final, and arguably most important, reason was because the VC10 was much more expensive to operate. Whilst the 707 and DC-8 followed the barn-door approach to building aircraft, the VC10 was a highly advanced and extremely complex plane by comparison, and thus didn't suit the needs of its opponents.
As a result, only 54 VC10's were built when production ended in 1970, and very soon the ones that had been built found themselves redundant. Throughout the 1950's and 60's, the economically unstable UK, like many other colonial powers, were forced to give independence to many of its overseas territories, including Kenya, the Sudan, Singapore, Nigeria, Rhodesia and countries of the Arabian Peninsula such as Yemen. As such, the requirements for the VC10's hot and high abilities were reduced as BOAC, later British Airways, removed or reduced services on routes to these former colonies. The political unrest that ensued also broke apart many of the other operators that used VC10's, namely East African Airways, which was an airline jointly owned by the governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Following independence, relations between these countries began to deteriorate, and the airline folded in 1977.
Here in the UK, almost all VC10's were now under the ownership of British Airways, taking on former British United and later British Caledonian units. The VC10, though a useful aircraft, was now both needlessly expensive due to its inefficient nature, especially after the Oil Crisis of 1973, and had been superseded by a variety of later builds, including Boeing 747's. The first VC10's were retired as early as 1974, though would later find use with Gulf Air. Eventually, almost at the same time, every VC10 in passenger operation was retired, with all commercial examples being withdrawn by 1982. British Airways made its last flight of a VC10 in May 1981 after attempting to sell them on to other airlines with no avail. Eventually, those that had not been scrapped were instead sold to the RAF.
The RAF, by the mid-1980's, owned 28 VC10's, including both their original orders from 1964 and converted commercial examples. All of these aircraft, including the transports, were retrofitted into air-to-air tankers to replace the Handley-Page Victors, which were converted nuclear V Bombers. Under RAF service, the VC10's saw action in both Gulf Wars, the War in Afghanistan, the Kosovo Crisis and assisted in the Arab Spring of 2011. Each aircraft was capable of carrying 80 tons of fuel over their range of 5,800 miles, making them important parts of any airborne tactical situation. The VC10's remained in service with the RAF until the final examples were retired on the 25th September, 2013, being replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager aircraft. After 49 years of service, of which only 18 had been spent in passenger service, the last mass-produced long-range British jet airliner fell silent and was consigned to the history books.
However, the VC10 does have the distinction of being among the safest aircraft in aviation history. Although 7 aircraft were written-off during its career, only two were fatal, and none were as a result of a fault with the aircraft itself. Three VC10's were hijacked, two of which were destroyed, one being at the infamous Dawson's Field in Jordan alongside other hijacked aircraft, though in all three situations only one hostage was murdered. One VC10 was destroyed by small arms fire on the ground at Beirut during an Israeli raid, one was written-off after a hard landing, and another was written-off on the ground after an error in fuel distribution. In the case of the two fatal landings, these were due to pilot error more than anything else, and the combined loss of life for both incidents was 130.
Today, 10 VC10's have been preserved, including one commercial example, two former VIP aircraft, and 7 ex-RAF tankers and one partial fuselage.
It is truly a shame that the VC10 never caught on in the way Vickers had hoped, but, as mentioned, it is one of several aircraft that summarize the best and worst regarding the motivations of the British aviation industry, creating highly advanced aircraft that are far more reliable and endearing than the competition, but being too expensive or complex to have a mass-market appeal. The VC10 was an unfortunate case in point, with all passenger examples retired within 15 to 20 years. A sad waste perhaps, but at least there are still Vickers VC10's in the world to show us all the lengths of British innovation and aircraft manufacturing.
This aircraft is one of my all time fave's and for a very, very good reason!
I have been trying to get inside Temple Church for some years now. Lat time was in January when the warden assured me it would be open on Saturday, only to find after travelling up from Dover that the door was locked, despite the sign on the door saying it was due to be open.
Anyway, all good things come to those that wait.
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The Temple Church was consecrated in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 10 February 1185 by Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The whole Temple community had moved from an earlier site in High Holborn, considered by the 1160s to be too confined. The church was the chapel serving the London headquarters of the Knights Templar, and from them it took its name. The Templars – as the knights were popularly known – were soldier monks.
After the success of the First Crusade, the order was founded in Jerusalem in a building on the site of King Solomon’s temple. Their mission was to protect pilgrims travelling to and from the Holy Land, but in order to do this they needed men and money. For more details of the Templars and this early history of the Church, see The Round Church, 1185.
The London Temple was the Templars’ headquarters in Great Britain. The Templars’ churches were always built to a circular design to remind them of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, a round, domed building raised over the site of the sepulchre where Jesus was buried. At first, the Templars were liked and respected. St Bernard of Clairvaux became their patron and they gained many privileges from popes and much support from kings.
In England, King Henry II was probably present at the consecration of the church; King Henry III favoured them so much that he wished to be buried in their church. As a consequence of this wish, the choir of the church was pulled down and a far larger one built in its place, the choir which we now see. This was consecrated on Ascension Day 1240 in the presence of the king. However, after Henry died it was discovered that he had altered his will, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
On 10 February 1185 Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, processed into the Round for the church’s consecration. The King was almost certainly present. A grand church for a grand occasion; for the Round had no such quiet austerity as we see in it today. The walls and grotesque heads were painted: the walls most probably with bands and lozenges of colour. The Round was proudly modern: Heraclius entered through the Norman door to find the first free-standing Purbeck columns ever cut; above them curved in two dimensions Gothic arches rising to the drum. A chancel, some two thirds of the present chancel’s length, stretched to the east. There the Patriach’s procession will have come to rest for Mass. And there the altar stayed. What, then, – on that great day or later – was the function of the Round?
Its most important role was played by its shape. Jerusalem lies at the centre of all medieval maps, and was the centre of the crusaders’ world. The most sacred place in this most sacred city was the supposed site of Jesus’ own burial: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here the crusaders inherited a round church. It was the goal of every pilgrim, whose protection was the Templars’ care. This was the building, of all buildings on earth, that must be defended from its enemies.
In every round church that the Templars built throughout Europe they recreated the sanctity of this most holy place. Among the knights who would be buried in the Round was the most powerful man of his generation: William the Marshal, Earl of Pembroke (died 1219), adviser to King John and regent to Henry III. His sons’ effigies lie around his own. The Marshal himself (who lies recumbent and still) took the Cross as an old man; his sons (drawing their swords) did not. Their figures lie frozen in stone, forever alert in defence of their father’s long-forgotten cause. Such burial was devoutly to be desired; for to be buried in the Round was to be buried ‘in’ Jerusalem.
The Patriarch Heraclius may well have been the most ignorant, licentious and corrupt priest ever to hold his see. Our reports of his character, however, reach us from his enemies. The great Western chronicler of the Crusades, William of Tyre, was for decades Heraclius’ opponent and rival. In 1180 William had (and had been) expected to be appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem. But the king of Jerusalem was swayed by his mother, said to be a mistress of Heraclius – who was duly appointed Patriarch. William himself was honorably reticent in the face of this reverse. His followers were less restrained. ‘Ernoul’ tells (with more indignation, it seems, than accuracy) how his hero William was excommunicated by the new patriarch, went into exile and died at the hands of Heraclius’ own doctor in Rome. William’s narrative was expanded and continued in Old French as L’Estoire d’ Eracles: its story starts with the Emperor Heraclius who recovered the True Cross in 628 – and includes a prophecy that the Cross, secured by one Heraclius, would be lost (as it was) by another.
Can anything redeem our Heraclius’ reputation? Far more was at stake on his visit than at first appears. He was in London as part of a larger mission:- King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was dying. His kingdom was riven by factions and under threat from Saladin. He had drawn up in his will the rules for the succession: if his nephew, due to become the child-king Baldwin V, were to die before the age of ten, a new ruler should be chosen through the arbitration of four potentates: the Pope, the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, the King of France and Henry II of England. Late in 1184 a deputation headed west from the Kingdom of Jerusalem: Heraclius, the Grand Master of the Templars and the Hospitallers’ Grand Prior. They visited the Pope, Frederick, Philip II Augustus – and finally Henry. The emissaries reached Reading. As credentials they brought the keys of the Tower of David and the Kingdom’s royal standard. According to some English chroniclers, they offered the Kingdom itself to Henry. The incident is hard to analyse. To plead for protection was to offer the power that would make such protection effective. Did that call for the Kingdom itself? The apparent offer of keys and standard may have been misread; for the ambassadors were reworking a performance already presented to Philip of France. (One French chronicler later derides Heraclius: he was offering the keys to any prince he met.) But the Kingdom of Jerusalem was in desperate straits; and behind the pageant may have lain hopes for the subtlest solution of all: to side-step Jerusalem’s factions; and instead to secure one – any one – of Europe’s leaders as king. How strange, to entrust any such delicate mission to the buffoonish Patriarch of myth.
The story offered welcome ammunition to Henry II’s enemies. Gerald of Wales, bitterly opposed to the Angevins, sees here the turning-point in Henry’s reign: the king failed to rise to this one supreme test; from then on his own and his sons’ adventures faced ruin. Gerald inherited the topos from an old story with a quite different cast. His new version gave Heraclius a starring role. The Patriarch confronted Henry, Gerald tells us, at Heraclius’ departure from Dover. Here is the king’s last chance. ‘Though all the men of my land,’ said the king, ‘were one body and spoke with one mouth, they would not dare speak to me as you have done.’ ‘Do by me,’ replied Heraclius, ‘as you did by that blessed man Thomas of Canterbury. I had rather be slain by you than by the Saracen, for you are worse than any Saracen.’ ‘I may not leave my land, for my own sons will surely rise against me in my absence.’ ‘No wonder, for from the devil they come and to the devil they shall go.’
Gerald’s Heraclius was no coward, and no fool. ‘That blessed man Thomas of Canterbury’ had been killed in 1170. The penance of the four knights who killed him was to serve with the Templars for fourteen years. Henry himself promised to pay for two hundred Templar knights for a year; and in 1172 he undertook to take the Cross himself. Thirteen years had passed. Henry was growing old. Such a vow, undischarged, threatened his immortal soul – as both Heraclius and he knew well. Henry must tread carefully. He summoned a Great Council at Clerkenwell. Surrounded by his advisers, he gave Heraclius his answer: ‘for the good of his realm and the salvation of his own soul’ he declared that he must stay in England. He would provide money instead. Heraclius was unimpressed: ‘We seek a man even without money – but not money without a man.’ Virum appetimus qui pecunia indigeat, non pecuniam quae viro.
***
Our church’s consecration was deep within the diplomatic labyrinth at whose centre lay the future of Jerusalem. The Templars had come a long way. The Order was founded in 1118-9 by a knight of Champagne, Hugh of Payns, who led a group of his fellow-knights in vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. At their foundation they were deeply suspect: it was unnatural for one man to be soldier and monk together. A handful of such ambivalent knights had little chance, it might seem, of attracting support. In the twelfth century the significance of their seal was well known: Matthew Paris, monk of St Albans, explained that the two knights on one horse recalled their lack of horses and poor beginnings.
In Champagne and Burgundy lay the Order’s origin and the seed of its success. Over the course of fifty years a star-burst of spiritual energy illumined all of Europe; and its centre lay in a small area of eastern France. Hugh’s town of Payns was near Troyes, the local city of one Robert, who became a Cluniac monk. In 1075 this Robert, already an abbot, left his monastery with a group of hermits to found a new house: at Molesme. The list of those influenced by Robert and his houses reads as a roll-call of Europe’s spiritual leaders. There was Bruno, who lived briefly as a hermit near Molesme before establishing the most ascetic of all houses, La Grande Chartreuse; Bruno had already been master to Odo, who later became Pope Urban II and preached the First Crusade. When Robert moved again, in search of a yet more rigorous life, he took with him Stephen Harding, later Archbishop of Canterbury. They set up their house at Citeaux.
Harding would in time become abbot. The rigour of the house made it few friends among the local nobility. Its future was uncertain. And then arrived as remarkable a monk as any of that remarkable age: Bernard. He spent three years at Citeaux before a local lord, Hugh Count of Champagne, gave him in 1116 an area of inhospitable woodland well to the north, back in the neighbourhood of Payns. It was known as the Valley of Gall. Bernard gave it a new name: Clairvaux, the Valley of Light.
Bernard secured single-handed the Templars’ future. Hugh of Champagne became a Templar; so did Bernard’s own uncle Andrew. The Templars’ constitution, the Rule, shows all the marks of Bernard’s influence; at the Council of Troyes in 1129 he spoke up for the Order; and, most influential support of all, at the repeated request of Hugh of Payns Bernard wrote In Praise of the New Knighthood.
The New Knighthood’s first half is well-known: in a text advising and praising and warning the knights, Bernard speaks as well to their critics. He is under no illusions: Europe was as glad to be rid of these warring knights as the Holy Land (in Bernard’s eyes) was glad to see them; their army could be a force for good – or for lawless violence. In the tract’s second half Bernard turns to the Holy Land and to Jerusalem itself. Here was his sharpest spur to the pilgrims’ understanding and to the Templars’ own.
Bernard reads Jerusalem itself like a book. In the tradition of Cassian’s fourfold reading of scripture, dominant throughout the Middle Ages, Bernard saw beneath the appearance of the city’s famous sites a far more important spiritual meaning. The land itself invited such a reading:- Bethlehem, ‘house of bread’, was the town where the living bread was first manifest. The ox and ass ate their food at the manger; we must discern there, by contrast, our spiritual food, and not chomp vainly at the Word’s ‘literal’ nourishment. Next, Nazareth, meaning ‘flower’: Bernard reminds us of those who were misled by the odour of flowers into missing the fruit.
And so to Jerusalem itself:- To descend from the Order’s headquarters on the Temple Mount across the Valley of Josaphat and up the Mount of Olives opposite, – this was itself an allegory for the dread of God’s judgement and our joy at receiving his mercy. The House of Martha, Mary and Lazarus offers a moral: the virtue of obedience and the fruits of penance. And above all: in the Holy Sepulchre itself the knight should be raised up to thoughts of Christ’s death and of the freedom from death that it had won for his people: ‘The death of Christ is the death of my death.’ Bernard draws on Paul’s famous account of baptism, and finds in the pilgrims’ weariness the process of their necessary ‘dying’: ‘For we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, so we shall be also in the likeness of the resurrection. How sweet it is for pilgrims after the great weariness of a long journey, after so many dangers of land and sea, there to rest at last where they know their Lord has rested!’
***
The Temple Church is now famous as a backwater, a welcome place of calm. The tides of history have shifted; their currents have dug deep channels far from our own Round Church. It was not always so. The effigies of the Marshal and his sons bear telling witness to the Temple’s role in the court’s and nation’s life. In the 16th century the chronicler Stow described the Templars’ seal. The story of their poverty was by then forgotten or incredible. Stow saw rather an emblem of Charity: a knight on horseback takes a fellow Christian out of danger. Perhaps there had always been romance in that picture of knights sharing a horse. The Order’s Rule, after all, allowed each knight three horses and a squire.
The effigies testify as well to a rich ‘reading’ of Jerusalem. The New Knighthood is double-edged: all that Bernard writes in praise of Jerusalem frees the faithful from the need to travel there: it is the spiritual sense of the city that matters – a sense as readily grasped at home. To find ‘Jerusalem’, as Bernard would have it, the faithful should rather come to Clairvaux, and not just on pilgrimage. So resolute a reading was hard to sustain. Bernard might detach Jerusalem from the benefits its contemplation could bring; but those around him sooner attached Jerusalem’s blessings to such places as fostered its contemplation.
Our effigies seem to us frozen in stone, their figures forever poised to fight battles that ended 700 years ago. But these knights’ eyes are open. They are all portrayed in their early thirties, the age at which Christ died and at which the dead will rise on his return. The effigies are not memorials of what has long since been and gone; they speak of what is yet to come, of these once and future knights who are poised to hear Christ’s summons and to spring again to war.
By 1145 the Templars themselves wore white robes with red crosses. White was linked with more than purity. In the Book of Revelation the martyrs of Christ, clad in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7.14), are those who will be called to life at the ‘first resurrection’. For a millennium they will reign with Christ; at its end Satan will lead all the nations of the earth against ‘the beloved city’ (Rev 20.9). The final battle will be in Jerusalem. Our knights have good reason to draw their swords. For buried in ‘Jerusalem’, in Jerusalem they shall rise to join the Templars in the martyrs’ white and red. Here in the Temple, in our replica of the Sepulchre itself, the knights are waiting for their call to life, to arms and to the last, climactic defence of their most sacred place on earth.
Little more than fifty years after the consecration of the chancel, the Templars fell on evil times. The Holy Land was recaptured by the Saracens and so their work came to an end. The wealth they had accumulated made them the target of envious enemies, and in 1307, at the instigation of Philip IV King of France, the Order was abolished by the Pope. The papal decree was obeyed in England and King Edward II took control of the London Temple.
Eventually he gave it to the Order of St John – the Knights Hospitaller – who had always worked with the Templars. At the time, the lawyers were looking for a home in London in order to attend the royal courts in Westminster. So the Temple was rented to two colleges of lawyers, who came to be identified as the Inner and Middle Temples. The two colleges shared the use of the church. In this way, the Temple Church became the “college chapel” of those two societies and continues to be maintained by them to the present day.
It was King Henry VIII who brought about the next change in the church. In 1540 he abolished the Hospitallers and confiscated their property. The Temple again belonged to the Crown. It was then for Henry to provide a priest for the church, to whom he gave the title ‘Master of the Temple’.
‘Be of good comfort,’ said Hooker: ‘we have to do with a merciful God, rather to make the best of that little which we hold well; and not with a captious sophister who gathers the worst out of every thing in which we err.’
Richard Hooker was appointed Master of the Temple in 1585. England was in alarm. The threat from Catholic Europe had revived: there had been rebellion against the Queen and Settlement in 1569; in 1570 the Pope had excommunicated Elizabeth and declared her subjects free from their allegiance; Mary Queen of Scots was linked with ever further conspiracy against her cousin; and the danger of Spanish invasion was growing.
England’s radical reformers were convinced: England’s only hope of spiritual and political safety lay in the example of Calvin’s godly state, Geneva. The ‘head and neck’ of English Calvinism were Thomas Cartwright and Walter Travers. Since 1581 Travers had been the Reader (lecturer) of the Temple. In 1584 the Privy Council ordered the Inner Temple to continue his stipend ‘for his public labours and pains taken against the common adversaries, impugners of the state and the authorities under her Majesty’s gracious government.’ Hooker and Travers were to be colleagues. Their differences soon became clear. To recover the purity of the primitive church, Travers would be rid of all that intervened and would forge the English church anew. Hooker was steeped in classical and medieval thought; saw the roots of his own (and Travers’) understanding in Aristotle, Augustine, Thomas and Calvin himself; and acknowledged –even valued – the differences to which such a rich tradition could give rise: ‘Be it that Peter has one interpretation, and Apollos has another; that Paul is of this mind, and Barnabas of that. If this offend you, the fault is yours.’ As then, so now: ‘Carry peaceable minds, and you may have comfort by this variety.’ When Hooker carefully and bravely explored the possibility that individual Catholics could be saved, the scene was set for the most famous public debated of the day. ‘Surely I must confess unto you,’ said Hooker: ‘if it be an error to think that God may be merciful to save men, even when they err, my greatest comfort is my error. Were it not for the love I bear unto this “error”, I would neither wish to speak nor to live.’
We hear of Hooker’s preaching at the Temple: ‘his voice was low, stature little, gesture none at all, standing stone still in the pulpit, as if the posture of his body were the emblem of his mind, immovable in his opinions. Where his eye was left fixed at the beginning, it was found fixed at the end of the sermon. …The doctrine he delivered had nothing but itself to garnish it.’ Travers, by contrast, was a natural orator, and he was himself a distinguished thinker; he later became the first Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. Hooker held his ground and deepened his reasoning. It was to disclose and offer the comfort of faith that he spoke: ‘Have the sons of God a father careless whether they sink or swim?’ The Temple sermons that survive stress the simple conditions of salvation: ‘Infidelity, extreme despair, hatred of God and all godliness, obduration in sin – cannot stand where there is the least spark of faith, hope, love or sanctity; even as cold in the lowest degree cannot be where heat in the first degree is found.’
The debate was brought to an end by Archbishop Whitgift: In March 1586 Travers was forbidden to preach. In 1591 Hooker resigned, and was appointed vicar of Bishopsbourne in Kent. Here he developed his thought in his masterpiece, Ecclesiastical Polity, the foundational – and still, perhaps, the most important – exploration of doctrine in the history of the Anglican church. Hooker elaborated a theory of law based on the ‘absolute’ fundamental of natural law: this is the expression of God’s supreme reason and governs all civil and ecclesiastical polity. ‘Of Law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world: all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power: both angels and men and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent, admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy.’ Hooker’s influence has pervaded English thought ever since. He was admired by Laud and by the puritan Baxter, extolled by the Restoration bishops, and brought once more to prominence by Keble and the Oxford Movement; he has now been rediscovered (in a recent monograph by Richard Atkinson) within the modern evangelical church. His reach has extended far beyond theologians. Ecclesiastical Polity was the starting-point for Clarendon’s History and seminal for Locke’s philosophy; its self-critical balance touched Andrew Marvell; and Samuel Pepys read it at the recommendation of a friend who declared it ‘the best book, and the only one that made him a Christian.’
THE BATTLE OF THE PULPIT
In 1585 the Master of the Temple, Richard Alvey, died. His deputy – the Reader, Walter Travers – expected to be promoted, but Queen Elizabeth I and her advisers regarded his views as too Calvinist, and Travers was passed over.
Instead a new Master, Richard Hooker, was appointed from Exeter College, Oxford. On Hooker’s arrival, a unique situation arose. Each Sunday morning he would preach his sermon; each Sunday afternoon Travers would contradict him. People came to call it the Battle of the Pulpit, saying mischievously that Canterbury was preached in the morning and Geneva in the afternoon. There was a lasting result of all this: Hooker published his teaching as Ecclesiastical Polity and came to be recognised as the founding father of Anglican theology.
By the end of the 16th century, the two Inns of Court had erected many fine buildings at the Temple, yet their position as tenants was not a secure one. In order to protect what they had built up from any future whims of the Crown, they petitioned King James I for a more satisfactory arrangement. On 13 August 1608 the King granted the two Inns a Royal Charter giving them use of the Temple in perpetuity.
One condition of this was that the Inns must maintain the church. The Temple and the church are still governed by that charter. In gratitude, the Inns gave King James a fine gold cup. Some years later, in the Civil war, his son Charles I needed funds to keep his army in the field. The cup was sold in Holland and has never been traced.
In February 1683, the treasurers of the two Societies of the Temple commissioned an organ from each of the two leading organ builders of the time, Bernhard Smith (1630-1708) and Renatus Harris (1652-1708). The organs were to be installed in the halls of the Middle and Inner Temple, to enable them to be played and judged. Smith was annoyed to discover that Harris was also invited to compete for the contract; he was under the impression that the job had already been offered to him. Smith petitioned the treasurers and won permission to erect his instrument in the church instead of in one of the halls. It was set on a screen which divided the round from the quire. This advantage was short-lived as Harris sought and obtained approval to place his organ at the opposite end of the church, to the south side of the communion table. It is thought that both organs were completed by May 1684.
Harris and Smith engaged the finest organists to show off their respective instruments and were put to great expense as the competition intensified and each instrument became more.
In 1841 the church was again restored, by Smirke and Burton, the walls and ceiling being decorated in the high Victorian Gothic style. The object of this was to bring the church back to its original appearance, for it would have been brightly decorated like this when first built. Nothing of the work remains, however, for it was destroyed by fire bombs exactly a century after its completion. After the Victorian restoration, a choir of men and boys was introduced for the first time. The first organist and choirmaster was Dr Edward John Hopkins who remained in this post for over 50 years, 1843-96, establishing the Temple Church choir as one of the finest in London, a city of fine choirs. This tradition of high-quality music was maintained by Hopkins’ well-known successor, Henry Walford Davies, who stayed until 1923.
In 1923 Dr GT Thalben-Ball was appointed organist and choirmaster. This musician, later world- renowned, was to serve the church even longer than his predecessor, John Hopkins, retiring in 1982 after 59 years in office. One reason for his fame was the record made in 1927 of Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer by Thalben-Ball and the boy soloist Ernest Lough. The recording became world-famous and brought visitors to the church from all parts of the globe.
In 1941 on the night of 10 May, when Nazi air raids on London were at their height, the church was badly damaged by incendiary bombs. The roof of the round church burned first and the wind soon spread the blaze to the nave and choir. The organ was completely destroyed, together with all the wood in the church. Restoration took a long time to complete. The choir, containing a new organ given by Lord Glentannar, was the first area of the church to be rededicated in March 1954. By a stroke of good fortune the architects, Walter and Emil Godfrey, were able to use the reredos designed by Wren for his 17th-century restoration. Removed by Smirke and Burton in 1841, it had spent over a century in the Bowes Museum, County Durham, and was now re-installed in its original position. The round church was rededicated in November 1958.
Probably the most notable feature of today’s church is the east window. This was a gift from the Glaziers’ Company in 1954 to replace that destroyed in the war. It was designed by Carl Edwards and illustrates Jesus’ connection with the Temple at Jerusalem. In one panel we see him talking with the learned teachers there, in another driving out the money-changers. The window also depicts some of the personalities associated with Temple Church over the centuries, including Henry II, Henry III and several of the medieval Masters of the Temple.