St Paul's Cathedral

After many years of vigorous cleaning, the Cathedral is now free of scaffolding. On Tuesday 21st June The Dean and Chapter celebrated its 300th Anniversary with a Service of Thanksgiving in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. 2500 invited guests: The Duchess of Gloucester, The Lord Mayor of London preceded by The Sword of State and Mace, and other dignitaries. The rest of the congregation mainly comprising the staff and their families, Friends of St Paul's and a few others, and I was there! It was uplifting and glorious. Including wonderful music and imaginative readings from The Bible (obviously) but also the Diary of John Evelyn who witnessed the devastation of the Old St Paul's after the Fire of London in 1666. The Dean, The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles gave the sermon, offerings insights into the fabric and purpose of the Cathedral and reminding us that worship has been made continuously on this site for over 1000 years. It is a certainty that most of the people there had never sung the National Anthem in the presence of Our Gracious Queen before.

Blue Anchor Lane Artists SE16 3UL

ZEBRA DIPTYCH 2011

Jodie Glen-Martin

Open day at Blue Anchor Lane Studios - tonight and all weekend. See some interesting and arresting pictures for sale. More by this artist and many others.

Nearest Tube: Jubilee Line Bermondsey

Buses: C10, 381,188 or 47

Being Untouchable

Being Untouchable is not a concept with which we are comfortable in Western Culture, and indeed no one should feel comfortable with this, however the concept is based on a culture which is bedded in antiquity and we should beware of too easily condemning something we do not really understand.

I went to the first viewing of this exhibition at St Paul's Cathedral. This is not poverty chic or in any way voyeuristic - the photographs by Marcus Perkins radiate a spectacular power, not just of shock but also of wonder.

I urge others to go and to contribute generously to the fund set up to help combat the misery, poverty and deprivations of the Dalit and Leper communities in aid of which this Exhibition is mounted.

www.stpauls.co.uk/News-Press/Latest-News/Being-Untouchable-photography-exhibition

archive.marcusperkins.com/page1

Brett Lesage Away Day No 1: Stanley Spencer

The more you put in the more you can put out:

Brett Lesage have a new drive to visit interesting places and things and our first visit took in the Stanley Spencer World War I paintings at Burghclere in the Sandham Memorial Chapel and the World War II paintings of the Glasgow Shipbuilders series now on show at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham. I strongly recommend both - the drawings are on show at the Gallery as well and the astonishing power and skill is remarkable and awe inspiring. www.stanleyspencer.org.uk

Brett Lesage @ Wimbledon

We are not actually at Wimbledon BUT Deutsche Bank have ticket wallets designed by us. We do hope that they are all enjoying themselves, in spite of the rain, and that the strawberries and cream are being 'responsibly' washed down with champagne.