Tag: London

Gaza humanitarian crisis: Hundreds of thousands call for ceasefire

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist issued a statement last night updating on the significant policing operation taking place in London on Saturday:

This operation took place in unique circumstances, against a backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, on Armistice Day and following a week of intense debate about protest and policing. These all combined to increase community tensions.

The extreme violence from the right wing protestors towards the police today was extraordinary and deeply concerning.

They arrived early, stating they were there to protect monuments, but some were already intoxicated, aggressive and clearly looking for confrontation.

Abuse was directed at officers protecting the Cenotaph, including chants of “you’re not English any more”.

This group were largely football hooligans from across the UK and spent most of the day attacking or threatening officers who were seeking to prevent them being able to confront the main march.

Many in these groups were stopped and searched and weapons including a knife, a baton and knuckleduster were found as well as class A drugs.

Thanks to the considerable efforts of our officers, who put themselves in harm’s way, nobody was able to reach the Cenotaph, which was protected at all times.

Nine officers were injured during the day, two requiring hospital treatment with a fractured elbow and a suspected dislocated hip. Those officers were injured on Whitehall as they prevented a violent crowd getting to the Cenotaph while a remembrance service was taking place.

While the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march did not see the sort of physical violence carried out by the right wing, we know that for London’s Jewish communities whose fears and concerns we absolutely recognise, the impact of hate crime and in particular anti-Semitic offences is just as significant.

At the end of the PSC march, we once again saw breakaway groups behaving in an intimidating manner.

Officers intercepted a group of 150 who were wearing face coverings and firing fireworks. Arrests were made after some of the fireworks struck officers in the face.

There were also a number of serious offences identified in relation to hate crime and possible support for proscribed organisations during the protest that we are actively investigating.

Locating and intercepting suspects in a crowd of the size we saw today will always be challenging, but we were further limited in our ability to do so due to the number of officers we had to deploy, from early in the day, in response to violence from the right wing groups in central London.

We will soon publish images of some of those we suspect have committed these offences and as we have shown in recent weeks, we will pursue all available lines of enquiry to identify suspects and take action even after the conclusion of protests.

As I write, there are many officers still deployed across central London responding to any outbreaks of disorder and ensuring key sites are protected ahead of tomorrow’s remembrance events.

Many more are working in custody suites dealing with the 126 people who have been arrested so far.

I am extremely proud of what our officers have achieved in challenging circumstances, including the many officers who came from across the country to help us keep London safe.

PM statement on Armistice Day protests: 11 November 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also released a statement last night:

I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine. The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully. 

Remembrance weekend is a time for us to come together as a nation and remember those who fought and died for our freedoms. What we have seen today does not defend the honour of our Armed Forces, but utterly disrespects them. 

That is true for EDL thugs attacking police officers and trespassing on the Cenotaph, and it is true for those singing antisemitic chants and brandishing pro-Hamas signs and clothing on today’s protest.

The fear and intimidation the Jewish Community have experienced over the weekend is deplorable. 

All criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law. That is what I told the Met Police Commissioner on Wednesday, that is what they are accountable for and that is what I expect. 

I will be meeting the Met Police Commissioner in the coming days.

EDINBURGH’s tram service was suspended for two hours yesterday afternoon ‘due to a large protest in the city centre affecting trams in both directions’.

WWE arrives in London for premium live event, MONEY IN THE BANK

WWE Superstars Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bianca Belair and Ridge Holland have arrived in London ahead of Money in the Bank, WWE’s first Premium Live Event in the capital in over two decades, taking place at The O2 Arena tonight (Saturday 1st July).

Pictured atop an iconic London open top bus, the Superstars will this evening be entertaining thousands of fans at The O2 at SmackDown – which is the first time ever this event has been broadcast live from the UK – before they appear at Money in the Bank on Saturday night.

Money In The Bank will feature WWE’s biggest Superstars and bring its signature ladder matches to the UK for the first time in history, with each winner receiving a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match at a time and place of their choosing anytime within the next year. 

The announcement follows the huge success of WWE’s record-breaking Clash At The Castle® in Cardiff in September 2022, which was the first major WWE stadium show to be held in the UK since 1992 and the most-watched international premium live event in WWE history, with the largest European gate ever. 

WWE brings Money In The Bank to The O2 in London on Saturday 1st July. To watch, fans can tune in to the WWE Network: https://watch.wwe.com/

Edinburgh-based Trevor Jones new artwork: EthBoy takes over Oxford Street in London for a day

The latest chapter in a unique programmable art project by NFT leading artist, Scottish-based Trevor Jones is due to drop tomorrow. (January 31, 2023) 

Already a pioneer of NFTs in the art world, he initially painted Ethereum Boy, a play on Picasso’s Paul Dressed as Harlequin the image, as part of an exploration of crypto cubism in tribute to Picasso’s creative genius. 

Trevor then partnered with crypto artist Alotta Money and digital artist, producer and DJ Don Diablo to create the precedent-setting ETHEREAL Collection for a programmable Async Art project. This was the first drop to be included in a ten-part series with the concept that the painting changes daily in response to uncontrollable outside variables such as Ethereum price fluctuations, gas fees and even the birthday of Vitalik Buterin, founder of the Ethereum network whose baby face features in the painting. 

The experiment, with the programmable accessories layer, follows Vitalik as he experiences life’s highs and lows with each new chapter released as an NFT every six months over five years, meaning each animation consists of approximately 182 days of changes.

Tomorrow sees the launch of the fourth chapter of the initiative, featuring guest musical artist, world-renowned DJ Sasha. 

And, to mark the partnership and Vitalik’s birthday, EthBoy will today take over the prestigious space in the windows at luxury store Flannels, 167 Oxford St, London, for this unique collaboration between art and music to be enjoyed from this famous location for a one-day exclusive. 

DJ Sasha comments:“ Trevor was one of the first artists that I noticed and was inspired by when I first became aware of NFTs.  

“After dipping my toe into the space with the LUZoSCURA and most recently the TEN drop, the chance to collaborate with Trevor came up – and of course, I jumped at it. I love the story that ETH Boy tells – continually documenting the events happening in this brave new digital art world. I wanted the audio accompanying the piece to capture the highs, lows and bittersweet turbulence of ETH Boy’s last 6 months. “ 

The artwork is a 1/1 and collectors of previous Chapters featured in the series will also receive ownership revenue, with portions of the profits allocated to all purchasers, thus symbolizing future stakes in the work of not only Trevor Jones himself, but all collectors involved. 

The owner of the EthBoy NFT will receive a signed, limited-edition print of the original oil painting. 

Trevor Jones, best known for his iconic Bitcoin Angel, based on his painting of Bernini’s baroque marble sculpture The Ecstasy of St Teresa, says: “In such a fast-paced and volatile space, having the opportunity to take the lead in an innovative, long term project with the late, great Alotta along with many of the biggest name musical artists exploring web3 is an honour and a privilege.  

“Many in the web3 community think in terms of months rather than years and therefore this half-decade-long collaborative project will undoubtedly become a historic work of art and a grail for the 10 collectors/partners involved.” 

Mark Dale, founder of W1 Curates says: “Our digital exhibition space is a one-of-a-kind public art platform dedicated to bridging the gap between digital art and the traditional art world.

“Located in the prime location of Oxford Street, London, our site offers brand new state-of-the-art floor-to-ceiling digital screens, providing a unique interactive experience for the viewer. It’s an honour to bring this unique art and music collaboration to Life. This project is all about connecting people through music and art, and we want to share it with as many people as possible”. 

A fine art graduate and traditional painter, Trevor has worked at the intersection of art and technology for more than a decade and experimented with QR code paintings and augmented reality (AR). When he invested in Bitcoin in 2017 it inspired a new creative direction, leading to his crypto-themed AR paintings and his passion for NFTs in art. 

His Art Angels podcast, on which he features various internationally based digital artists, has also been responsible for hugely boosting the earnings of those he has chosen to promote. 

All children aged 1 to 9 in London to be offered a dose of polio vaccine

As further poliovirus has been detected in sewage, JCVI recommends that polio vaccine booster doses should be offered to children across London.

Following the discovery of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus in sewage in north and east London, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that a targeted inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) booster dose should be offered to all children between the ages of 1 and 9 in all London boroughs.

This will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis and help reduce further spread of the virus.

Nationally the overall risk of paralytic polio is considered low because most people are protected from this by vaccination.

Many countries globally provide an additional dose of polio-containing vaccine as part of their childhood vaccination schedule. The NHS in London will contact parents when it’s their child’s turn to come forward for a booster or catch-up polio dose – parents should take up the offer as soon as possible.

The programme will start with the areas affected, where the poliovirus has been detected and vaccination rates are low. This will be followed by rapid rollout across all boroughs.

This booster dose will be in addition to the NHS childhood vaccination catch-up campaign across London, where childhood vaccination uptake is lower than the rest of the country. It’s important all children aged 1 to 9 – even if up to date with their vaccinations – accept this vaccine when offered to further strengthen their protection against the poliovirus.

Following the findings earlier this year of type 2 poliovirus (PV2) collected from the Beckton sewage treatment works, further upstream sampling undertaken by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now identified at least one positive sample of the poliovirus, currently present in parts of the following boroughs:

  • Barnet
  • Brent
  • Camden
  • Enfield
  • Hackney
  • Haringey
  • Islington
  • Waltham Forest

The sampling has also detected the virus in lower concentrations and frequency in areas adjacent to the Beckton catchment area to the South (immediately below the Thames) and to the east of Beckton. However, it is not clear whether the virus has established itself in these areas or if the detections are due to people from the affected area visiting these neighbouring areas.

The level of poliovirus found and the high genetic diversity among the PV2 isolates suggests that there is some level of virus transmission in these boroughs which may extend to the adjacent areas. This suggests that transmission has gone beyond a close network of a few individuals.

A total of 116 PV2 isolates have been identified in 19 sewage samples collected in London between 8 February and 5 July this year, but most are vaccine-like virus and only a few have sufficient mutations to be classified as vaccine derived poliovirus (VDPV2).

VDPV2 is of greater concern as it behaves more like naturally occurring ‘wild’ polio and may, on rare occasions, lead to cases of paralysis in unvaccinated individuals.

UKHSA is working closely with health agencies in New York and Israel alongside the World Health Organisation to investigate the links between the poliovirus detected in London and recent polio incidents in these 2 other countries.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low.

“But we know the areas in London where the poliovirus is being transmitted have some of the lowest vaccination rates. This is why the virus is spreading in these communities and puts those residents not fully vaccinated at greater risk.

“Polio is a serious infection that can cause paralysis but nationally the overall risk is considered low because most people are protected by vaccination. The last case of polio in the UK was in 1984, but decades ago before we introduced the polio vaccination programme around 8,000 people would develop paralysis every year.

“It is vital parents ensure their children are fully vaccinated for their age. Following JCVI advice all children aged 1 to 9 years in London need to have a dose of polio vaccine now – whether it’s an extra booster dose or just to catch up with their routine vaccinations. It will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis. This may also help stop the virus spreading further.”

Jane Clegg, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London said: “While the majority of Londoners are protected from polio, the NHS will shortly be contacting parents of eligible children aged 1 to 9 years old to offer them a top-up dose to ensure they have maximum protection from the virus.

“We are already reaching out to parents and carers of children who aren’t up to date with their routine vaccinations, who can book a catch-up appointment with their GP surgery now and for anyone not sure of their child’s vaccination status, they can check their Red Book.”

UKHSA, working with MHRA, has already increased sewage surveillance to assess the extent of spread of the virus and are currently sampling 8 sites across London.

A further 15 sites in London will start sewage sampling in mid-August, and 10 to 15 sites will be stood up nationally to determine if poliovirus is spreading outside of London.

What are Low Emission Zones? Car insurance expert explains all

The brand new ​​E10 fuel has been introduced in the UK, designed to cut CO2 emissions by quite a considerable amount, however, it still won’t affect whether cars have to pay an emissions tax.

Recently, Google Maps introduced notifications to drivers hat they’re about to enter a low-emission zone that could incur a hefty fine.

Several major cities in the UK have schemes in place, but where the zones begin is often unclear – and can catch drivers out. Alex Kindred, car insurance expert at Confused.com explains what they are, where they are, and how you can avoid an accidental fine. 

What are Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Clean Air Zones (CAZ)?

A Low Emission Zone (LEZ), or Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is put in place with the aim of reducing pollution levels and to improve air quality in the area – usually towns and cities. 

In most cases, you’ll only pay to travel through these zones if your vehicle doesn’t meet minimum emissions standards. If you don’t pay the fee, you may have to pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). 

Why do we have Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Clean Air Zones (CAZ)?

The latest IPCC report has been named a ‘code red for humanity’, meaning our attempts to tackle CO2 emissions are vital in order to keep the rise in global temperatures well below 1.5C in the next century.

The report shows that humanity emits approximately 40 billion tonnes of CO2 every year. 

With such high numbers, the IPCC report authors believe we are destined to hit a global temperature increase of 1.5C by 2040 if emissions aren’t slashed in upcoming years, highlighting the importance of measures such as Low Emission Zones. 

Will my vehicle trigger a fine? 

Most fees apply to diesels built before September 2015. Usually these vehicles don’t meet emissions standards and in some cases the fees don’t apply to petrol cars built after January 2006. 

Which cities are creating Low Emission Zones?

Birmingham, London, Oxford, Bristol and Scotland are all planning to have Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in the near future. 

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone

On 1 June 2021, Birmingham launched its Clean Air Zone. It’ll operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

You can enter the zone with no charge if your vehicle is one of the following:  

  • A moped or a motorcycle
  • A diesel vehicle minimum standard Euro 6A 
  • A petrol vehicle minimum standard Euro 4
  • A vehicle with zero emissions (electric, hydrogen)
  • A low emissions vehicle 

You can check your vehicle here. 

The charge: 

  • Cars that don’t meet emissions standards will pay £8 per day. 
  • Residents with a car registered within the CAZ will be exempt from the charge for two years. 

Support available: 

  • The Birmingham local authority has support available to help people adjust to the CAZ. For example, a £1,000 mobility credit or £2000 scrappage scheme.

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is in central London within the same area of the congestion charge zone and it covers all vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards.

In 2020, they announced that the ULEZ would extend to create a single larger zone bounded by the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205).

The charge: 

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the emissions standards, then you’ll receive a daily fee. This can be up to £200 for some vehicles. 

Is my vehicle exempt?

Check if your vehicle meets emissions standards on the Transport for London website here.  

Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone

Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone will now run in summer this year. The zone will cover five streets in the centre of Oxford to begin with and a larger Green Zone will expand and cover the rest of the city centre. 

You can enter the zone with no charge if your vehicle is one of the following:  

  • A cars that emits 50 g of CO2/km and can drive 70 miles without any emissions 
  • A van that emits less than 75 g of CO2/km and can drive 10 miles without any emissions
  • Motorcycles and mopeds that don’t emit any CO2

The charge: 

  • Vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards will face a charge of £10 between the hours of 7am and 7pm. 
  • There’ll be a discount for blue badge holders until December 2024. 
  • Oxford residents will receive a 90% discount until 2030.

Bristol’s Clean Air Zone

According to Bristol.gov.uk, 71% of vehicles in Bristol are already compliant and so only a minority of vehicles driving in the CAZ could be charged. The scheme implemented in Bristol is exactly the same as the one in Birmingham, which means you can use the tool here to check your vehicle’s registration.  

You can enter the zone with no charge if your vehicle is one of the following:  

  • A moped or a motorcycle
  • A diesel vehicle minimum standard Euro 6A 
  • A petrol vehicle minimum standard Euro 4
  • A vehicle with zero emissions (electric, hydrogen)
  • A low emissions vehicle 

The charges: 

Non-compliant vehicles would only be charged once in each 24-hour period, and they would apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • Private petrol cars: £9 per day
  • Private diesel cars: £9 per day
  • Taxis: £9 per day
  • LGVs: £9 per day
  • HGVs: £100 per day
  • Buses: £100 per day
  • Coaches: £100 per day

Scotland’s Low Emission Zones

LEZs were proposed for Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow but these plans have been delayed due to coronavirus. All being well, the zones should go ahead between February and May 2022.

Edinburgh’s plans

The Edinburgh LEZ will apply to the city centre for all vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards. 

Glasgow’s plans

Glasgow introduced a LEZ in 2018, but it only applies to local service buses. In 2022 it’ll apply to all vehicles entering the zone that don’t meet emissions standards.

Aberdeen’s plans

Currently Aberdeen are still consulting the public on their Low Emission Zone, but more progress will be made this year. 

Dundee’s plans

Dundee’s low emission zone should be implemented between February and May 2022. It will apply to all vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards.

Worried about getting an accidental fine for driving into a low emission zone? Alex Kindred, car insurance expert at Confused.com has provided these three tips for motorists to ensure they don’t get a hefty bill in the post: 

  1. Upgrade to a low-emissions vehicle using a manufacturer scrappage scheme to help with the cost

“Upgrading to a newer vehicle that meets the standards could mean opting for an electric vehicle. The government no longer runs an official scrappage scheme to encourage drivers to upgrade to a low-emission vehicle, but many car manufacturers do, including Citroen, Dacia, Hyundai, Kia, Renault and Toyota. 

  1. Consider retrofitting your current vehicle, but this can be costly

“Some older vehicles may be able to be retrofitted with emissions reduction technology such as selective catalytic reduction (which reduces NOx emissions) or even converting the vehicle to electric power. 

“But any retrofitting would have to be approved. If you’re able to show a booking with a CVRAS-approved fitter or an approved retrofit solution, you get a three-month grace period and might not have to pay the LEZ driving charge if driving in the zone

  1. Use Google Maps as your SatNav

“Google Maps will now notify drivers that they’re about to enter a low-emission zone that could incur a hefty fine. So if you’re driving in one of the areas that has emission zones in place, it’s worth having this installed and working to alert you if you’re close to a zone.“

‘This city needs me’: Cities light up with Bat-Signal for Batman Day!

To honour Batman Day 2021, the iconic Bat-Signal shone a light on imposing buildings across the UK last night. The participating cities – London, Liverpool, and Glasgow – had been revealed in advance, but the exact locations were shrouded in mystery. 

From sundown on Batman Day, the huge and instantly recognisable Bat-Signal travelled up the country, being projected onto Odeon Luxe Leicester Square (London), St George’s Hall (Liverpool), the City Chambers (Glasgow) and DC inspired restaurant Park Row (London) along the way.

Eagle eyed fans who spotted the building and came to the Bat-Signal were also in with the chance of being surprised with Batman themed rewards, as the first ten people on site who approached event organisers and declared “I love Batman” won the recently released Batman: The World Anthology and Batman Anthology 4k/blu-ray/dvd collection.

Thomas, 6, from Glasgow says: “I love Batman. He’s the best superhero there is!”

Deborah, 30, from Liverpool says: “I just knew Batman coming to Liverpool would be an occasion not to be missed… and it feels great to be right”

Steven Daytes, 44 from London says: “We ran all the way to be the first people to see the signal in London! We’re huge Batman fans”

The exact locations were teased on Instagram and Facebook by DC GB Facebook and DCUKComics on the 18th to give Bat-Signal seekers a head start.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s September Gathering events

The world’s most entertaining whisky club honours its members in style with events and tastings across the UK for their annual September Gathering.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) celebrates its annual September Gathering by showcasing a range of whisky tasting events across its signature UK venues.

Throughout the month the Society is hosting a series of events for members and non-members, with one exciting activation every weekend across each of their four UK locations; Glasgow, London, Edinburgh Queen Street, and The Vaults, Leith.

The Gathering 2021 launched at The Vaults on Friday (4 September) and ends with a virtual tasting on Thursday, 30 September.

As part of the Gathering, the Society has partnered with Linn Products, creators of some of the world’s finest music systems.

Founded in Glasgow in 1973, Linn goes to extremes to pursue musical perfection and designs and manufactures premium music systems that bring consumers closer to the music that they love.

The partnership will feature Linn Lounges at Society’s London and Glasgow venues, offering both members and non-members the opportunity to taste whisky whilst enjoying music from some of the worlds most decorated bands.

Other key events in this year’s programme include The Gathering’s take over at Glasgow’s WEST Brewery, which includes a three-course dinner and a five-dram tasting event hosted by Master Ambassador, John McCheyne and, a spectacular festival of whisky in Edinburgh’s Queen Street Gardens, featuring dram bars, culinary delights from local producers and a live DJ performance from long-standing BBC radio presenter, Vic Galloway.

Helen Stewart, Head of Marketing and Membership at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “For this year’s Gathering we have taken advantage of our four stunning Members’ Rooms to celebrate the love of whisky with our members.

“The 2021 Gathering line-up features a wealth of exciting events, which encourages our members to share their passion for whisky and offers the chance for new guests to explore the Society’s flavour profiles and what our Members’ Rooms have to offer.

“From a colourful festival of music and whisky to dram tastings and Society suppers, each occasion is incredibly unique and this year we look forward to welcoming our members and their guests to this annual celebration of our whisky community.”

For members ‘afar’ there will also be an immersive programme of home entertainment and virtual tastings, to bring ‘the spirit of The Vaults’ to members, no matter where they are.

Joe Rodger, Linn International Brand Manager, added: “The parallels between good whisky and good music run more than skin deep. Music is the soundtrack to the best times of our lives, and when it’s done right, we savour the difference.

“We are both proud and excited to be partnering with the SMWS. The meticulous focus on quality and provenance of Scotch whisky aligns beautifully with our own mission; we know our music systems are in good company, alongside whisky, as Scotland’s finest exports.”

For details on all the events and to buy tickets, visit: https://cutt.ly/SMWS-The-Gathering-2021

September Gathering Programme

Edinburgh, The Vaults – 4th September:

  • 4th September – The Gathering in the Courtyard. Members had the opportunity to purchase a ticket for a tasting session throughout the day. These included a rum tasting with Society ambassador Olaf Meier and an in-depth tasting session featuring this year’s Gathering exclusive releases hosted by The Vault’s own Dean M.

Edinburgh, Queen Street – 11th September:

  • 11th September – Gathering in the Gardens. For an extra £20, members will be able to take part in a signature one hour Gathering tasting masterclass, taking place at 3.30 pm and 7.00 pm.

London, Greville Street – 17th September – 18th September

  • 17th September and 18th September – Greville Street: Linn Lounge – Fleetwood Mac Whisky and Music Experience.

Glasgow, Bath Street – 24th – 25th September

  • 22nd September – Bath Street: Linn Lounge – Led Zeppelin Whisky and Music Experience.
  • 25th September – The Gathering goes West.
  • 29th September – Bath Street: Linn Lounge – Pink Floyd Whisky and Music Experience.

For more information about The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership click here.

‘Grief is the price we pay for love’

Remembering 9/11 at London ceremony

On September 11th, 2001 families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks in the USA will mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day.

This will include a private gathering organized by the September 11 UK families support group (S11UKFSG) at the September 11th memorial garden in Grosvenor Square, London.

The September 11th UK families support group represents relatives of both the 67 British victims and other nationals with strong links to the UK.

The memorial garden (above) is the only UK memorial specially designed in consultation with the bereaved families.

It was created in memory of all those who lost their lives in the atrocity and houses a pergola with the inscription: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Service of Remembrance

On Saturday September 11th 2021 families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks in the USA will mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day with a special Service of Remembrance for bereaved families.

This private gathering organised by the September 11 UK Families Support Group (S11UKFSG) will take place at the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square, London.

The focus of our commemoration will be the reading of the names by family members and  the laying of white roses on the inscription stone within the Garden. We shall observe a one minutes silence during the service.

Candlelight Memorial

After sunset on September 11th 2021, an installation of 67 LED candles will be lit within the September 11 Memorial Garden in memory of the 67 British victims who perished that day. ‍

We shall remember the lives of those taken, mourn the beautiful souls no longer with us and celebrate the love they brought into our lives.

The Square will remain open until 8pm.

The memorial garden will be closed to members of the public from 1pm – 5pm on September 11th . Outside these hours the garden is open to the public as usual.

London Calling!

Why the UK’s families are heading away from the beach and into London this summer

  • Over a third of parents (37%) are not organising their usual summer family holiday due to pandemic uncertainty
  • Almost half (47%) stating they would consider a London city break over their usual beach holiday
  • 70% of parents cited ‘keeping the kids entertained’ as the number one challenge faced during the school holidays
  • Mayor joins with his new Mayors of Play to launch a reimagined version of the iconic London Tube map at ZSL London Zoo today to showcase the abundance of family-friendly indoor and outdoor events and activities across central London
  • Map has been curated by the new Mayors of Play – five lucky youngsters who are helping the Mayor to spotlight London’s family-friendly offering this summer 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, yesterday visited ZSL London Zoo to unveil a reimagined Tube map co-curated by his five new Mayors of Play to encourage families from across the UK to spend their summer in the capital.

The map launches as new research reveals the pandemic has left many parents unable to plan summer holidays as they usually would, with over a third (37%) of parents stating that they’ve not organised anything this summer due to pandemic uncertainty. As a result, London, with its abundance of activities and experiences is a must-visit destination for families everywhere.

And, with the same research showing that one in ten (14%) Brits have never visited London, 26% citing it is because they’ve never got round to it – this could be the summer where Brits choose the bright lights of the capital over often crowded coastal destinations.

Across the UK, parents in the North East are most likely to venture into London this summer, with 56% saying they’d consider a holiday in the capital. Parents in this region have stated that the vast choice of family friendly activities (18%), mix of outdoor and indoor activities (12%) and the city’s accommodation (10%) as the top three reasons for their city jaunt.

Sadiq’s Family Fun season is part of ‘Let’s Do London’, the biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital has ever seen. The season showcases the abundance of activities on offer for all families of all ages this summer and celebrates London’s status as Britain’s biggest playground.

The reimagined Tube map has been curated ‘for kids, by kids’ with the help of his newly appointed Mayors of Play. Following a hotly contested competition, the five winning Mayors of Play – Maya, 8, Elliott, 9, Mateo, 9, Narumukai, 10, and Nevaeh 11 – attended a summit at City Hall in July to help select a raft of thrilling, family-friendly activities in the heart of the capital.

The unique and vibrant guide invites families across London and nationwide to plan a day trip, mini break or a longer staycation in the city as it bursts back to life.

The new map focuses on Central London and features a mix of permanent and new accessible experiences indoors and outdoors that are open to families this summer – from firm favourites such as ZSL London Zoo, to the hottest new tickets in town including Sketch on the Square by the National Gallery and Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser at the V&A.

Both a mix of free and ticketed events are present, accommodating all family budgets, which will undoubtably please parents given the strain of entertaining the family over the lengthy holiday period.

Across London, children under five travel free with a fare-paying adult, Children under 11 can travel free on buses and trams at any time, and on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and some National Rail services with a fare paying adult. Visitors to London can travel easily and conveniently by using pay as you go with contactless or Oyster. 

When surveying the nation’s parents, the key challenges which emerged during the summer break included the cost of keeping children entertained (45%), finding fun activities to suit the whole family (33%) and children saying they were bored (33%).

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “After a long period which has seen children in particular miss out on so much fun and play due to the pandemic, there’s no time like the present to explore our city and enjoy all the fun and accessible activities London has to offer families this summer.

“The young Mayors of Play were tasked with helping me showcase the very best of family fun in London, and I’m delighted with the outcome of their hard work. This reimagined edition of our iconic Tube map showcases the breadth of the capital’s offering through the eyes of little Londoners – it’s for kids, by kids.

“With 70 per cent of families struggling to keep their children entertained during the school holidays, London – with its abundance of free things to do and exciting places to see – is an ideal holiday destination this summer and beyond.”

Kathryn England, Chief Operating Officer at ZSL London Zoo, said: “We’re delighted to welcome families back to our zoo this summer. Our hard working and passionate zookeepers, alongside our vast wildlife truly make this zoo a must-visit attraction in London – we’re thrilled the Mayors of Play agree!”

Mayor of Play, Elliott, 9, said: “It was really tricky choosing what to go on the Tube map – there’s so much fun stuff to do in London!

“Hopefully it will help other kids and their families explore this magical city this summer.”

Eve De Haan shines a light on London’s dark and unsafe streets in urban exhibition

Neon Artist Teams with Zebra One Gallery and Reclaim These Streets for ‘Text Me When You Get Home’ charity campaign

 

Celebrated neon artist, Eve De Haan will shine a light on London’s streets and women’s safety issues, tonight (April 15), with an illuminated billboard campaign curated by Zebra One Gallery, promoting Reclaim These Streets’  ‘Text Me When You Get Home’ campaign, with all profits donated to make the UK a safer, fairer place for women.

The billboards in places including Shoreditch, Fulham,  Peckham and Dalston will display Eve’s art – an image of a  deserted street after dark, with the poignant, glowing words,  ‘Text Me When You Get Home,’ a familiar phrase which often  replaces ‘goodbye’ for women, representing how  safeguarding and safety fears have become a routine way of  life for females after dark.

As well as illuminating the dark streets, the urban exhibition  marks the start of the Reclaim These Streets movement’s  new campaign, which aims to use legislation, education and  community action to ensure no woman has to be asked to  ‘Text Me When You Get Home’ again. 

Four original prints, including the piece displayed on  billboards, will be on sale through Zebra One Gallery with  ALL profits raised going to Rosa, a grant-making charity  that funds grassroots women’s organisations to help make  the UK a fairer, safer place for women. 

Eve says: “Many of my pieces celebrate the unique strength  of women. The tragic circumstances of Sarah Everard’s  murder and similar stories of attacks and harassment  towards women around the world, shows that we still have  such a long way to go before we can feel safe.  

“I wanted to share these pieces in a public setting to show  support for women and to remind people that a message  like, ‘Text me when you get home,’ has become a part of our  everyday lives, and that shouldn’t be the case.” 

Reclaim These Streets was formed in the aftermath of Sarah  Everard’s tragic murder, with the simple idea of holding a vigil. But after the event was cancelled, more than £500,000  was donated to the cause by supporters, leading to a  partnership with charity Rosa.  

Having already testified to the Home Affairs Committee,  Reclaim These Streets are now working with cross-party MPs  on amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts  Bill to outlaw street harassment and kerb crawling.  

Jamie Klingler, one of the founders of Reclaim These Streets, says: “We are thrilled to be working with Eve. We need to  shine a light on all of the places where women are unsafe in  public spaces and Eve’s way of illustrating the plight of all  women will spark conversation and interest, which ultimately translates into change.” 

The billboards for the campaign were generously subsidised  by Brotherhood Media and are expected to remain in place  for two weeks.  

Zebra One Gallery owner and curator, Gabrielle du Plooy  adds: “As a woman, this is an issue close to my own heart.  

“I’ve lived in London my whole life and – like most women –  have had personal experiences which have made me feel  unsafe. So I’m delighted that we are able to help with such  an important campaign through our art.”