Dateline

Westminster, London

Dispute at Westminster as Lawmakers Jump the Queue

[caption id="Dateline_img1" align="aligncenter" width="961"]

Ah yes, the British have a long tradition of queuing politely without favor.[/caption]

IT’S AS BRITISH AS THE QUEEN, afternoon tea and real ale. The queue. Anywhere there is a crowd, the British have an age-old obsession with waiting patiently in line. Jumping a queue is just not, well, cricket. Now, new rules at the Houses of Parliament, approved by the House of Commons administration committee, direct that MPs don’t have to stand in line at House restaurants, restrooms and elevators.
The nearly 10,000 workers in Parliament—clerks, aides and support staff—are livid at the action. House staff feel that they have been ranked as second-class citizens by the elected members. Kevin Flack, a labor union representative for workers, reports: “People are outraged. They are shocked by the attitude behind it as much as anything.” Of course, MPs do retain a variety of ancient privileges, including the right to collect a pinch of snuff from the doorkeeper and a reserved place to hang their ceremonial sword.

Buckingham Palace, London

Grandmother Honors Zara with an MBE

[caption id="Dateline_img2" align="aligncenter" width="723"]

Honored royal equestrian Zara Philips[/caption]

FOR HER SERVICES to equestrianism, Zara Philips, daughter of Princess Anne, was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) by her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Philips’ gold at the World Equestrian Games last summer made her only the third rider in history to hold both the European and World titles at the same time. The Queen’s granddaughter became the first senior royal to receive such an honor.

And Just in Passing

CAPTAIN KIDD’S PIRATE SHIP FOUND

Treasure hunters have sought it for centuries. Now the 300-year-old remains of a ship believed to be that of the notorious English pirate Captain Kidd have been found. An underwater archaeology team from Indiana University announced on December 13, 2007, that the wreck of the 400-ton Quedagh Merchant, with cannons and anchors intact, was located in shallow water off Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic. Kidd himself was hanged in London in 1701.

[caption id="Dateline_img3" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

The notorious Captain Kidd[/caption]

ANOTHER MARK FOR HER MAJESTY

The Queen this winter became the oldest monarch in the history of the nation. Queen Elizabeth, whose 82nd birthday is in April, attained the honor by living longer than her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who died in 1901 at the age of 81 years, 7 months and 29 days after reigning for more than 63 years. The Queen, who ascended to the throne in 1952 and was crowned a year later, continues to carry out nearly 450 official engagements a year and shows little indication of slowing down.

[caption id="Dateline_img4" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

Britain’s oldest monarch ever[/caption]

THE ANSWER, MY FRIEND, IS WIND

Winds blowing around the coast of Britain are expected to generate enough power to light every home in the UK by the year 2020. Under plans revealed by John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, some 7,000 wind turbines could be set offshore around the island’s coast. There are wind farms already in the Thames Estuary and the Wash.

[caption id="Dateline_img5" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

7,000 wind turbines coming[/caption]

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND

Passengers arriving at Scottish airports are now being greeted by the country’s exciting new slogan: “Welcome to Scotland.” The large promotional posters, accompanied by various images of Scotland, also render the phrase as “Failte gu Alba” for monoglot Gaels in passing. The SNP administration spent six months and £125,000 to come up with the new slogan. Hmm.

St. Pancras, London

A Rail Center for the 21st Century

[caption id="Dateline_img6" align="aligncenter" width="944"]

Europe’s longest champagne bar graces St. Pancras Station.[/caption]

EUROSTAR, WHICH REVOLUTIONIZED RAIL TRAVEL to continental Europe when it began service in November 1993, has a new London terminus with the opening of the International Terminal at St. Pancras Station in November 2007.
One of the preeminent Victorian architectural gems in London, St. Pancras now boasts not only a 21st-century extension, but a 21st-century ethos as well: The station aims to provide “an experience” for international travelers passing through and for Londoners alike. A daily farmers’ market and arts & crafts bazaar accompany a variety of retail outlets—both “chain” stores and independent boutiques. Fine dining options, a gastro pub and high-end “food to go” are all available. The chic new St. Pancras also boasts Europe’s longest champagne bar.
The new international platforms are among the longest in the world, too—to accommodate the 1,300-foot Eurostar trains. The Channel Tunnel Link (or High Speed 1 as it is called) connects London to Paris, Lille and Brussels. It is 68 miles long and will allow Eurostar to travel as rapidly through the Kentish countryside as it does in France—at maximum speeds of 186 mph. The journey time from city center London to city center Paris is now just 2 hours and 15 minutes, and Brussels is a breeze.
For additional information or to purchase Eurostar tickets, go to www.BritRail.com.

‘Journey time London to Paris is just 2 hours and 15 minutes’

Harlech, Gwynedd

Rare Lockheed P-38 Found in Surf

[caption id="Dateline_img7" align="aligncenter" width="794"]

Wales’ shifting sands uncover a World War II fighter.[/caption]

AFTER MORE than 60 years buried in the surf and sand, a U.S. World War II fighter plane has been found on a beach in North Wales. The rare Lockheed P-38 Lightning has apparently surfaced after all these years due to shifting beach levels. Only 27 of the 9,923 P-38s built are known to survive.
The plane was flown by 2nd Lt. Robert Elliott from North Carolina, who was forced to ditch on the beach at Harlech on September 27, 1942. American officials have inspected the plane (which still contains high octane fuel aboard), and the Gwynedd Council’s maritime department is protecting the site while plans are being drawn up for the plane’s recovery from the sand.

Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire

Robin Hood’s Forest Is Disappearing Tree by Tree

[caption id="Dateline_img8" align="aligncenter" width="461"]

The Major Oak gets constant care.[/caption]

WHEN ROBIN HOOD roamed, the storied woodland dotted with ancient oaks covered some 100,000 acres.
Today, Sherwood Forest is reduced to about 450 acres. The rest has been carved out for towns, farms, logging and such over the centuries.
The forest’s remaining 997 old-growth oaks, which can live up to 900 years, are each monitored closely for their health by rangers of the Forestry Commission.
Now, there are big plans to attempt the renewal of Robin of Locksley’s verdant home. More than a dozen organizations have banded to draw up a rescue plan for the forest. They were hoping to win the Big National Lottery grant of £100 million awarded this winter.
Having lost, supporters are hunting for new ways to fund the project as a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to revive the legendary forest.

Edinburgh, Midlothian

Prince Made Royal Patron of Scots Clan Gathering

[caption id="Dateline_img9" align="aligncenter" width="714"]

The Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles[/caption]

PRINCE CHARLES WILL SERVE as royal patron of the largest assemblage of Scottish clans in almost 190 years, set for Edinburgh in July 2009. Billed as The Gathering, the event is part of Homecoming Scotland celebrations planned by the Scottish Government during 2009 to honor the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth. As Duke of Rothesay and Lord of the Isles, Prince Charles represents an ancient connection between the monarchy and the clans. The culminating event of The Gathering is to be a parade of clans up the Royal Mile to a pageant on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

[caption id="Dateline_img10" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

Faberge fetches fabulous figure.[/caption]

EGG SETS MULTIPLE RECORDS

Christie’s auction house in London sold for $18 million this winter a Faberge egg made for the Rothschilds in 1905. One of just 12 such Faberge eggs in private hands, it was by far the most expensive sale ever of such a bauble. The gold-and-pink egg has a clock for a face, making the Christie transaction also the most expensive timepiece ever sold. And, it became the priciest-ever Russian object of art.

[caption id="Dateline_img11" align="aligncenter" width="453"]

Bamborough Castle on the block[/caption]

TURNER FETCHES A BUNDLE, TOO

Sotheby’s, meanwhile, has auctioned for $6 million a J.M.W. Turner watercolor that had not been seen in public since 1889. Described in 1837 as one of the finest watercolors in the world, Bamborough Castle depicts a storm driving a ship onto the rocks below the cliffside castle in Northumberland. The painting has been floating around the private collections of the Vanderbilt family since its last appearance.

“KILL HER BY FIRING SQUAD”

Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Khartoum calling for the execution of British schoolteacher Gillian Gibbons. Her crime against humanity was allowing her class of primary school students to name a teddy bear Muhammad as part of a lesson on animals and their habitats. She was originally sentenced to 40 lashes. Her plight drew an outcry across Britain. In the end, Gibbons was jailed for eight days and deported from the Sudan after her pardon was mediated by British Muslim peers, Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed. As it happens, the school where Gibbons taught was Unity High School.

[caption id="Dateline_img12" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

Sudan flap at Unity School[/caption]

A NEW ROYAL BUNDLE OF JOY

The Countess of Wessex has given birth to a baby boy, weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces. The new Viscount Severn, as he will be known, is the second child of Sophie, 42, and Prince Edward. The Earl and Countess are much delighted. The baby viscount is the eighth grandchild of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

[caption id="Dateline_img13" align="aligncenter" width="440"]

The Wessexes’ baby viscount[/caption]

London

Rolls-Royce Revs Up Records

[caption id="Dateline_img14" align="aligncenter" width="758"]

The 1904 Rolls-Royce was the 4th Rolls ever made.[/caption]

THE WORLD’S OLDEST ROLLS-ROYCE was sold at auction in London by Bonhams for a whopping £3.5 million to a private British collector.
The 1904 model Rolls was only the fourth car produced by the new partnership between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, and is the oldest one still surviving.
The hefty purchase price set a record for a Rolls-Royce and for the greatest sum ever paid for a pre-1905 car.
A relatively compact 10-horsepower, open-topped two-seater, the phaeton is in perfect operating condition. On the basis of its pre-1905 date, it is the only Rolls-Royce qualifying to participate in the annual London-Brighton Veteran Car Run.
As it happens, the vintage auto has made the celebrated rally a number of times—making the run first in 1954.

‘This year the Scottish Government made serious strides toward turning St. Andrew’s Day into a full-fledged public holiday’

Dunbar to Stornoway

Scotland Celebrates St. Andrew’s Day

[caption id="Dateline_img15" align="aligncenter" width="473"]

First Minister Alex Salmond[/caption]

THE SAINT’S DAY of Scotland’s patron, Saint Andrew, has been traditionally noted by Scots in exile as a day to fly the flag and wear the kilt. Back at home, November 30 has long passed without much notice. That changed this year as the Scottish Government made serious strides toward turning the day into a full-fledged public holiday to celebrate the nation’s history and culture.
Thousands took the day off work for the first time; museums, castles and gardens from the Borders to the Northern Isles were open free of charge; live music events and ceilidhs were staged across the country. Officials encouraged people to take part in the nationalistic celebrations.
First Minister Alex Salmond called for St. Andrew’s Day to be celebrated as openly in Scotland as it has been by Scots abroad.

Grangemouth, Falkirk

Kelpie-Inspired Equines Win the Big Prize

[caption id="Dateline_img16" align="aligncenter" width="960"]

Sculptor Andy Scott with the models of the colossal equines.[/caption]

THE LARGEST AWARD ever given by the Big Lottery Fund to an individual project has been made to the Helix Project.
The £25 million grant will fund a new section of the Forth and Clyde Canal connecting the canal to the Firth of Forth. Some 20 miles of paths and cycle tracks, the planting of 750,000 new trees and the development of more than 600 acres of unused land is also planned over the next few years.
The centerpiece of the Helix Project is a massive pair of 100-foot-high steel equine sculptures.
The mammoth horse heads, designed by sculptor Andy Scott and inspired by Scottish myths of the kelpies (water-based spirits), will have a functioning role as part of a new boat lift at the entrance of the Forth and Clyde canal.
Project supporters believe they will be the biggest equine sculptures in the world.

Draper’s Gardens, London

Can You Dig Roman Artifacts?

[caption id="Dateline_img17" align="aligncenter" width="686"]

Trove of Roman vessels found in London well.[/caption]

THE GREATEST TREASURE of Romano-British artifacts ever collected in one place has been recovered during excavations at Draper’s Gardens.
Nineteen metal vessels, remarkably preserved in superb condition, were discovered at the bottom of a wood-lined well.
Dating from between AD 330 and 380, the trove may have been hidden by a wealthy Roman family fleeing the city under attack during Roman Londinium’s last days.
The pristine cache included wine buckets, a cauldron, dishes, jugs and nesting bowls in bronze and lead alloys.
Jenny Hall, the curator of Roman London at the Museum of London, enthused: “These finds are amazing. In size and scale they are simply unprecedented. Nothing like this has ever been found in London before, or anywhere else in Britain.”

EXCHANGE RATE TAKES ITS TOLL

Overseas visitors to the UK from North America and across the board fell 10 percent the second half of last year, according to a government report. Though the report did not analyze the findings, it is clear that the present strength of the pound sterling against the dollar makes Britain more expensive for American visitors than it has been in almost 30 years.

[caption id="Dateline_img18" align="aligncenter" width="453"]

The pound sterling tops $2.[/caption]

RED LADY LIED ABOUT HER AGE

Found on the Gower Peninsula in 1823, the bones known as the Red Lady of Paviland have long been thought to be the oldest human skeleton in Britain at, oh, say, 25,000 years. Scientists at Oxford using new dating techniques have pushed her age (actually a young boy) back another four millennia. The remains and the artifacts found with them are now believed something over 29,000 years old. The findings are said to be casting new light on human presence in western Europe.

[caption id="Dateline_img19" align="aligncenter" width="453"]

29,000-year-old bones?[/caption]