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Timbuk2 has given away over 50,000 cloth masks and are now selling them
www.timbuk2.com/pages/face-masks?variant=31701993717802
They emphasize they are non-medical.
Brennan Mulligan who was there from 1993 - 2002 and sold his stake to an investment group repackaged K95 masks removing that they weren’t for medical use and tried to sell them to Texas
www.propublica.org/article/he-removed-labels-that-said-me...
Camera: Nikon Nikonos-V
Lens: W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 Prime
Film: Fujifilm Fujicolor C200
Develop and Scan: Boots UK
YORK, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: during an i2i Soccer Academy Fitness Testing Session at Haxby Road on January 10th 2023 in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Appleby)
Former High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Singapore Ajit Jayaratne asserts that our diplomatic missions should be headed by individuals with a business orientation, as the role of diplomats has transformed. He elaborates: “Given that the world now runs on commerce in a globalised marketplace, our mission heads must have good business acumen to promote Sri Lanka – otherwise, there is no role for a diplomat to play. I found my business background most advantageous during my two and a half years in Singapore, because I was able to add value to Sri Lanka’s investment agenda. Diplomats must be very conversant with matters relating to trade, commerce and investment to be able to take Sri Lanka’s investment agenda forward.”
He infers that our career diplomats most often do not have a business orientation, in sharp distinction to the acumen of diplomats representing other countries. “You will observe that foreign diplomats – career or not – always promote their countries’ economic potential, because there is no point in having a mission abroad if we don’t see some tangible results for the country’s bottom line. I don’t know whether our career diplomats obtain a thorough business orientation, but I firmly believe that it is a vital component in their role in today’s context,” he adds.
Jayaratne also explains that a business background is vital for diplomats if Sri Lanka is to take advantage of its investment potential: “Look at India. Its political leaders are in the big league of world politics. The world is fighting to enter India, given the vast population they can tap into. For an Indian diplomat, it’s almost as if his or her work is cut out for them. But in our case, the only role we can play is a business role. We have to be able to market Sri Lanka’s investment potential credibly and with understanding, and that can only be done if you have a solid business background,” he declares.
The former envoy cautions, however, that this could lead to inappropriate political appointments being made. “First and foremost, politics must be taken out of the equation and only those who are suitable for such high appointments should be posted. It’s not as if political nepotism doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world. If you look at the US, for instance, members of the Kennedy family were once given many diplomatic postings. But it must be remembered that the diplomat’s role has transformed from that of simply being a friendly ambassador to one who is proactively involved in the country’s development,” opines Jayaratne.
He is concerned, however, that if hand-picked appointments are permitted, other issues could arise. “We may suddenly find people who have neither diplomatic qualifications nor a business orientation occupying these posts. And that would be more disadvantageous than beneficial to us in the long run,” he asserts.
Jayaratne cites the president’s recent visit to China – where business leaders comprised a majority of the presidential delegation – as emphasising the importance of that country to Sri Lanka, in a business sense, receiving the recognition of the head of state. “This is definitely a positive. Now, it’s crucial that the momentum is maintained if we are to obtain any benefits from that visit. That can be done only if we have a business-oriented person permanently as ambassador,” avers Jayaratne. At the same time, he feels there may be certain Sri Lankan missions overseas that do not require diplomatic cadre with a business background. “I also feel that representation in some countries is pointless, because they do not add value to our economic cause. There are also sensitive postings – in Washington D.C., for example – that should, perhaps, be headed by experienced career diplomats,” he emphasises.
AJIT JAYARATNE
DATE OF BIRTH: 30 April 1940.
ALMA MATER: Royal College.
STRONGEST BELIEF: “Live a good, clean life.”
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: “Being appointed a diplomat, because it was different from what I’d been used to.”
HOBBIES: Reading biographies and news publications; playing with his grandchildren.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: The capacity to adapt to varied career genres.
ROLE MODEL: His father – “a senior civil servant and former diplomat, whose administrative prowess, values, integrity and ethics should be emulated”.
ROLE MODELS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE: “In recent times, Omar Kamil, Rosy Senanayake and Devinda Subasinghe, whose exemplary work gave Sri Lanka an immense boost.”
MOST RESPECTED SRI LANKAN BUSINESS LEADERS: Deshamanya Ken Balendra and Deshabandu D. S. ‘Lal’ Jayasundera, for transforming John Keells and Hayleys respectively.
MOST RESPECTED BUSINESSES IN SRI LANKA: John Keells, Hayleys, Aitken Spence, DFCC Bank and HNB – “because they are comparable to any global business entity”.
MOST ADMIRED YOUNG BUSINESSPERSONS: “Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya – for his vision for Dialog Telekom; Hiran Hewavisenti – who, despite numerous challenges, especially at the beginning – has placed LMD at the helm of business publications.”
MOST ADMIRED LEADER: “Lee Kuan Yew – for building one of the most pragmatic nations by judging his people accurately, knowing their weaknesses and using the concept of guided democracy with more emphasis on discipline… and getting away with it, due to visible progress.”
And he cites former Sri Lankan High Commissioner for Malaysia Rosy Senanayake and former Ambassador to the US Devinda Subasinghe as good examples of appropriate appointees being sent to strategic postings. “Neither of them were career diplomats, but what they did for Sri Lanka during their respective tenures was exemplary. I was in Singapore at the same time that Rosy was in Malaysia and the feedback I received about her work as the high commissioner was impressive. But because they were political appointees, they were removed with the change of government. This is another aspect that needs to be looked at with these appointments – meritocracy on a case by case basis, rather than who appointed whom,” he urges.
Where the head of a mission should be a businessperson, all others from the next rung onwards should be from the diplomatic service, being trained in the requisite competencies. Jayaratne refers to his father, who was Sri Lanka’s ambassador in Washington and the UN, as another good example of a non-career diplomat whose tenures were advantageous to the country. “And even though I didn’t know many of the diplomats personally, because my stint in the service was short, there have also been career diplomats such as Shirley Amerasinghe and Neville Kanakaratne who have been exemplary,” he affirms.
He cites former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s visit to the World Economic Forum – where Jayaratne had the privilege of sitting in on her meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and accompanying the Prime Minister of Singapore on a state visit to Sri Lanka – as highlights of his diplomatic career. He avers that Singapore today perceives Sri Lanka with pity. “We are considered a country that has ‘missed the bus’ politically and economically. They feel Sri Lanka should have been where they are now or even ahead; but unfortunately, we have made a mess of things,” Jayaratne says. However, he commends efforts by Sri Lanka’s business leaders who have done their best to promote the positive attributes of Sri Lanka. “Some of our big businesses are doing extremely well and their plans of venturing offshore are visionary. They have divorced themselves from local politics and are marketing Sri Lanka well. That effort can be enhanced by a good head of mission who will understand the complexities of the business world,” he opines.
Given abundant rainfall and warm sun, nearly everything grows here. You can literally eat the snap green beans right off the stalk.
Today Worcester was given the honour of a march through the city by the Grenadier Guards. After a service at the Cathedral the 40-strong regimental band led 100 guardsmen plus some former soldiers on a march through the centre or Worcester.
The parade contained about 300 bandsmen, guards and former soldiers and they were marching to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the regiment. The Grenadiers were also exercising their freedom of the city which was granted in 1999.
The celebrations of the anniversary are taking place in only four cities which are Birmingham, Manchester, Bruges (yes that's in Belgium) and Worcester. The Grenadier Guards was established in Bruges as part of the exiled King Charles II's bodyguard.
The police officer is ordering people our of the way.
The F-86L was the designation given to late-1950s conversions of existing USAF F-86Ds to use the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) datalink system.
The SAGE system was developed during the early 1950s by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory. It was based on the use of a large, high-speed ground-based computer to handle and coordinate air surveillance data from various ground radar installations. This information was transmitted in real-time to a special data receiver aboard the interceptor, and an on-board system converted this data into heading, speed, altitude, target bearing, and range information that would be used to guide the pilot in his interception. No voice instructions were used, and the interceptor was automatically positioned for a lead-collision attack with its own E-4 fire control system.
In the mid 1950s, it was decided to adapt the F-86D to the new SAGE system, and in 1956, 2192 conversion kits were ordered for the F-86Ds of the Air Defense Command (ADC). Under a project code-named Project Follow-On, starting in May of 1956, certain low-time F-86D interceptors were withdrawn one-by-one from service and fitted with the upgrade. This work was done at North American plants in Fresno and Inglewood, California. Following the upgrade, they were redesignated F-86L. All F-86L block designations were changed to reflect their original F-86D block numbers. The F-86D-10 to F-86D-45 became F-86L-11 to F-86L-46, but blocks 50, 55, and 60 just changed the type from D to L, that is, the F-86D-50 became F-86L-50.
When F-86Ds were upgraded to the F-86L configuration, an AN/ARR-39 datalink receiver was fitted, which had a blade-like antenna sticking out of the fuselage just forward of and below the starboard wing. The AN/ARC-27 command radio of the F-86D was replaced by an AN/ARC-34 set. An AN/APX-25 identification radar was added, and a new AN/ARN-31 glide slope receiver was provided.
All Follow-On aircraft were brought up to F-86D-45 standards before starting with the electronics upgrades, including the installation of the drag chute in the tail. In the F-86L, two protruding cooling air intakes were added to the fuselage sides just aft of the wing, replacing the older recessed cooling ducts. The same J47-GE-33 or J47-GE-17B engine of the F-86D was retained, but the F-86L was fitted with the F-86F-40 wing, with twelve-inch wingtip extensions and "6-3" leading edge extensions with slats. The wingspan and wing area were 39.1 feet and 313.37 square feet respectively. The new wing improved the handing ability and provided better turning at high altitudes. The reconditioned F-86Ls retained the armament of twenty-four rockets of the F-86D.
The first flight took place on December 27, 1955. That particular aircraft had just the SAGE equipment installed, and the first conversion incorporating all of the Follow-On changes did not fly until May of 1956. A total of 981 F-86Ds were modified to the F-86L configuration. After conversion in 1956-57, F-86Ls were issued to most of the ADC wings that were using the F-86D. First to receive the F-86L was the 317th FIS at McChord AFB, which first received the planes in late November of 1956. The service of the F-86L with the ADC was destined to be quite brief, since by the time the last F-86L conversion was delivered, the type was already being phased out in favor of the Convair F-102A and F-106A delta-winged interceptors. The last F-86Ls left ADC service by 1960.
As F-102A and F-106A interceptors became available to the ADC, the F-86Ls were transferred to Air National Guard units beginning in late 1957. The first ANG squadron to receive the F-86L was the 108th, based at O'Hare Field in Chicago. The following ANG squadrons got F-86Ls: 108, 111, 124, 127, 128, 133, 146, 147, 151, 156, 156, 158, 159, 173, 181, 182, 185, 187, 190, 191, 192, 194, 197, and 199.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, six ANG F-86L squadrons were on alert. The last F-86Ls were withdrawn from ANG service during the summer of 1965.
In 1964, seventeen F-86Ls were supplied to the Royal Thai Air Force. So far as I am aware, Thailand was the only foreign user of the F-86L. They served with No. 12 Squadron at Don Maung Airport until they were finally retired in 1976.
Specification of the F-86L:
Engine: One General Electric J47-GE-33, 5550 lb.st. dry, 7650 lb.st with afterburner. Performance: Maximum speed: 693 mph at sea level, 616 mph at 40,000 feet. Initial climb rate was 12,200 feet per minute, and service ceiling was 49,600 feet. Dimensions: wingspan 39 feet 1 inch, length 40 feet 3 inches, height 15 feet, wing area 313 square feet. Weights: 13,822 pounds empty, 18,484 pounds gross.
unedited-cropped
I had the opportunity to shoot one of the more impressively fitted BMW's out there a few months back, belonging to a fine gent named Jeremy. While the photos definitely do the talking, given the presence that the car emits, for those unfamiliar, it's an E60 BMW 545i on Rotiform BLQ Concave Splits. This was one of Rotiform's first trials of the BLQ split, and if I say so myself, the chrome lips, polished windows, and silver faces...well...it's fucking timeless.
You can also find Jeremy's killer BMW in More Than A Drive, a breakthrough cinematic experience about more than just the cars. The people, the lifestyle, the enthusiasm, the party, and the Leavenworth Drive.
We have been given an assignment / challenge by Jonathan when we arrived (at the Mon Tribe/Village) in Sangklaburi, Thailand..
The assignment was to create a story focusing on the daily activities of the Mon village people, wherein the starting point of the story should be the bridge, which connects the Mon Village to the township of Sangklaburi..
We only have to choose five photos.. And those five photos should have a travel magazine 'quality'..
It was a cool assignment, but I had a hard time creating a story line.. So I thought 'what the heck, I could document whatever things that I see along this bridge'..
I took a couple of shots of the Mon people passing and walking along the bridge.. strangely, most of my shots were only their feet and it made me excited.. i think i already have a strange story!!
This photo was taken at the Mon Village, Sangklaburi, Thailand
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To anyone who's interested of his photography styles, tips, techniques and his photojournalism/journalism stories, book a workshop with him.. It's worthwhile!! Trust me! I've learned a lot from his workshop! Do visit Jonathan's Photography School Asia..
"Life is hard for us. We struggle to make enough money to survive."
As the head of the household in Gwange, Maiduguri, Mallam provided livelihoods and economics assessment teams with valuable information that will help define the support that is given to vulnerable communities.
(Photo, UNDP Nigeria/Lesley Wright)
Given that I am a medic, the anatomic heart is more appropriate.
I haven't been a fan of valentines day in 15 years, when we used to get carnations in school.. It would be nice to enjoy it again... sigh
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Given the often posh, WASP-like depiction that I usually give of New England, I figured some shoefiti was in order.
Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
1885 Book of Common Prayer
Day 1 of the WTO's Ministerial Conference, Bali, 3 December 2013. (Photos may be reproduced provided full attribution is given.)
Given for Charitybuzz auction. Authenticity from Hutch Parker... These Hugh Jackman & Bryan Singer signed Wolverine Claws of X-Men: Days of Future Past are not screen used, but were on set if needed.
The X symbols on the clamp plates & signatures are fantastic!
Given location, this should be M.m. maxima. This is a huge Song Sparrow, with a tendency to run across parking lots and rocks, bringing to mind a thrasher-turned-sparrow (or is it sparrow-turned-thrasher?)
17/01/2012 Ladies European Tour 2011, Final Stage Qualifying School, La Manga Club, Spain, Jan 15-19. Eleanor Givens of England during the third round on the South Course. Credit: Tristan Jones
Given to me on my birthday by a good cyclist friend . i called in.Grubb agood friend ,he has done initial research and thinks its a1930's Raleigh a Sport model, note the radical radial spoken front wheel!!! whats that all about?? i have since stripped it and itsheading to the blaster then to my painter for a drop of maroon 2 pack. With a pair of stainless wheels it'll look good in Chris 531's black bike rides in 2008
Falls CRJI held successful Community Safety Event in Clonard Hall, this was around Fire Safety - in the home / bonfires, Presentation given by Darrel Smith (NIFRS), Info packs handed out to all in attendance - youths were also shown around Fire Tender and given demonstration on equipment.
YORK, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: during an i2i Soccer Academy Training Session at Haxby Road on April 11th 2023 in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Appleby)
Debbie's Perfect Day in Orange County We'd head out to Laguna Beach for breakfast at friendly local spot White House (they have killer omelets). Then we'd drive up to Top of the World for gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, and afterward spend the day at Treasure Island
www.rebelmouse.com/mom_aboard/family-trip-planner-vacatio...
Given that I was so close to him, I have no idea how he did not know I was taking his picture. So, this is my grandfather. He is one of the greatest men I know. Conversely, he is one of the most insufferable SOBs out there! He is quite a combination.
There is nothing he would not do for you, or anyone you know. He is a genius with anything mechanical. If there is something he does not know about, he will look it up, and figure it out very quickly.
Everyone who knows him loves him and we all roll our eyes when he gets into one of his moods, and we mutter, 'That's just Pa, you know how he is'.
If I can ever amount to be half the man he is, I will consider myself lucky.
In July 1888 Samuel Woods was summoned to appear at the Liverpool Assizes to answer a charge of libel arising from a speech given by him as miners' agent for the Ashton, Haydock and Bryn district in January 1888 and subsequently printed -by invitation, on a resolution of those present- in the Bolton Evening News. He had cited 18 cases of dismissal from employment by the Garswood Coal & Iron Co Ltd which, he said, were “the result of either political or other petty spite by the underground managers”: “The district has several times during the year had to threaten or take out summonses against this company in defence of the men through being discharged without notice... [The] colliery managers [are] a large and efficient body of gentlemen in many instances, but unfortunately for the workmen, intermixed here and there with a few unpleasant cumbersome weeds”.
Three of the company's underground managers – Harold Gaskell Stock, William Clark and John Robinson – sought to recover £500 in damages. Stock (1858-1927) had by this time been underground manager with the Garswood Coal and Iron Co for 5 years, and had charge of two pits. William Clark (1861-1933), the son of general manager Christopher Fisher Clark, had been employed by the Company for 4 years and had charge of 3 pits. Robinson (1857-1930), who was about to leave the firm to take up an appointment as assistant mining engineer at Richard Evans & Co's Haydock Collieries, had charge of two pits.
The case was considered over two days, during which the defendant and plaintiffs were each cross-examined. Several former Garswood Coal & Iron Co employees appeared as witnesses on Samuel Woods' behalf. Christopher Fisher Clark also gave evidence. He and the plaintiffs each denied that their actions as managers had been motivated by politics or spite, and said that they had “no personal quarrel” with the defendant. John Robinson – who later occurs as the chairman of Golborne Conservative Association – claimed to be on the same “side” as Woods and to have “no political feeling against him”. Samuel Woods maintained that the claims he had made contained “a good deal of truth” but was forced to concede that “Personally, I do not know anything about it, only representatively”. He added that the district had, by resolution, agreed to pay his costs.
As reported by the Guardian-
“His Lordship, in summing up, said he looked upon trade unions when well managed as most valuable institutions, but he could not shut his eyes to the fact that at times they had been instruments of the greatest tyranny the world had ever seen. If the jury found the charges made against the plaintiffs to be untrue then the case was one for substantial damages. Looking at the facts he did not think the defendant had thoroughly appreciated the responsibility of his position as the director of an organisation. The defendant had said he was not responsible for the publication, but his was the hand which penned the alleged libel and he ought to have warned the men as to the serious step they were taking. His Lordship added that in every case of dismissal spoken to it was a question, according to the workmen's own showing, of dispute with the management as to the way in which they had done their work, and in no single case could it be said that they were discharged from political or from petty ill-will. The evidence of the defendant entirely failed, in his opinion, to substantiate the charges made.
The jury found for the plaintiffs, damages £150”.
Pictured above, left, Christopher Fisher Clark (1831-1898) was born at Long Benton, Northumberland. Learning his trade as an engineer and surveyor at the mining school in Newcastle-on-Tyne and afterwards at Willington Colliery, he rose to become an assistant manager at Willington before moving to Lancashire in 1854 to take a position as mineral agent for Sir Robert Tolver -later Baron- Gerard of Bryn. In 1873 he left that employment to become general manager of the newly-formed Garswood Coal & Iron Company. This brought him to the Park Lane area where, early in 1874, he and his family took up residence at Cranberry (or “Cranbury”) Lodge – afterwards the Cranberry Hotel and now, following its demolition in 2004, the site of Cranberry Court apartments. His appearance at the trial must have been particularly uncomfortable for Samuel Woods, given both men had participated in the laying of the foundation stones of the Baptist chapel at Bryn 18 months earlier.*
John Robinson was clearly still smarting from the “reflections on his character” when his colleagues assembled at the Company's offices in November to mark his departure:
“Mr Robinson said he felt unable to adequately express his thanks for the testimonial presented to him, or for the kind remarks Mr Clark had made on their behalf... He quite agreed with Mr Clark's opinions as to the good which should exist between all parties in a colliery, and had always endeavoured to foster that good feeling. That being the case, he was sorry that just before he left the Park Lane Collieries an outsider should have attempted to cast reflections upon his character. He looked upon that testimonial as tending to prove the untruthfulness of those base assertions. He would only add that if the colliers would only place greater confidence in their managers greater good would result to themselves, and he hoped that the officials who were at present working for Mr Clark and the company would continue in the future as they had been in the past to be faithful servants...”.**
He is seen (seated, holding the baby) with other members of the Robinson family in later years.
*As reported by the Wigan Observer, 4 August 1888: “[Counsel:] Though you may differ on other things, you are gentlemen who take an interest in the welfare of the neighbourhood and you have worked together on several occasions? [Witness:] Yes.... [Counsel:] Mr Woods is the representative of the miners, and he does his best to promote a good feeling between masters and men? [Witness:] That is unknown to me. I am inclined to think he fails in it. (Laugher)...”.
**“Presentation To A Colliery Official”, Wigan Observer 14 November 1888. Robinson would afterwards serve on both the Golborne and Haydock Urban District Councils, and as a county magistrate.
... in front of the Boston Public Library.
Established in 1848, the Library was a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room.
23/07/2023. Ladies European Tour 2023. La Sella Open . La Sella Golf, Denia. Spain, 20 -23 July Ellie Givens of England during the final round. Credit: Tristan Jones / LET
Given a good pencil, I find it almost impossible not to doodle, even if the meeting isn't that boring. There's something very pleasing about the way the graphite flows onto the paper. I don't know if doodles are representative of the state of your mind, but if so I suspect my mind is disordered.
It was only after I took the photo that I noticed the mug I had been drinking out of all morning.
Given the way the school has torn down things this year, I'm a little concerned for these chandeliers.
Gloucester's east window has a claim to be the largest of medieval windows, a title usually given to that at York as the stained glass there fills the entire window, whereas here it comprises about two thirds of the overall space; however the window itself does fill the entire wall! It is an architectural landmark, the first great expression of the Perpendicular style and built on the foundations of the former apse, hence its unusual curved shape with the outer lights slanted towards the centre. It was glazed c1350 and features remarkably little coloured glass with red and blue backgrounds to the otherwise white figures and canopies (coloured glass was more expensive as it had to be imported, white glass was locally made and therefore cheaper to use, which was especially significant when the proportion of glazing was on such an unprecedented scale!).
The design is treated as a display of images, with figures under canopies filling the entire width of the upper three tiers of the window with a shorter row of angels as the head of the window narrows above (one is missing and has been replaced with a later Madonna & Child from elsewhere in the cathedral). The central group features the entrhoned figures of Christ & Mary at her coronation (the design now slightly confused by the patching of Christ's lower half with part of another figure). The rest features various apostles, saints and kings, some figures (particularly towards the south side) are heavily patched and confused, a few others suffer from unfortunately crude replacement faces (the 'ghost heads') and a couple of figures which appear taller than the rest may not even have originally belonged to the window but are perhaps remnants of the lost original glazing of the adjacent clerestories.
The lower half of the window is partially obscured by the adjacent Lady Chapel (which is entered through it) and mainly consists of plain glazing with a few pieces of heraldry and roundels (including the famous 'golfer').
Gloucester Cathedral is one of England's finest churches, a masterpiece of medieval architecture consisting of a uniquely beautiful fusion of Norman Romanesque and Perpendicular Gothic from the mid 14th century onwards. Until the Reformation this was merely Gloucester's Abbey of St Peter, under Henry VIII it became one of six former monastic churches to be promoted to cathedral status, thus saving the great church from the ravages of the Dissolution.
The most obviously Norman part is the nave, immediately apparent on entering the building with it's round arches and thick columns (the exterior is the result of Gothic remodelling). Much of the remainder of the building is substantially the Norman structure also, but almost entirely modified in the later Middle Ages inside and out, the result of the great revenue brought to the abbey by pilgrims to the tomb of the murdered King Edward II in the choir. It was this transformation of the Norman church that is credited with launching the late gothic Perpendicular style in England.
The gothic choir is a unique and spectacular work, the walls so heavily panelled as to suggest a huge stone cage (disguising the Norman arches behind) crowned by a glorious net-like vault adorned with numerous bosses (those over the Altar with superb figures of Christ and angels) whilst the east wall is entirely glazing in delicate stone tracery, and still preserving most of it's original 14th century stained glass. The soaring central tower, also richly panelled with delicate pinnacles, is another testament to the abbey's increasing wealth at this time.
The latest medieval additions to the church are equally glorious, the Lady Chapel is entered through the enormous east window and is itself a largely glazed structure, though the original glass has been reduced to a few fragments in the east window, the remainder now contains beautiful Arts & Crafts stained glass by Christopher and Veronica Whall.
The early 16th century cloisters to the north of the nave are some of the most beautiful anywhere, being completely covered by exquisite fan vaulting, with a seperate lavatorium (washing room) attached to the north walk as a miniature version of the main passages.
There is much more of interest, from 14th century choir stalls with misericords to the comprehensive collection of tombs and monuments of various dates, including the elaborate tomb of Edward II and that of Robert Duke of Normandy, eldest son of William the Conqueror. The stained glass also represents all ages, from the 14th century to the striking contemporary windows by Tom Denny.
Further areas of the cathedral can be accessed at certain times, such as the Norman crypt under the choir and the triforium gallery above.