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 A Day Trip to London.

Saturday 10^th November 2007.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Many people may question the existence of a guy called Oliver Craven, as he keeps giving his apologies to CAMRA meetings in Leicestershire.  A few persons know the secret and those chosen few went to meet him. We met our Loughborough chums on the 8.35am train at Leicester. The journey was delayed here to allow a faster train to overtake us. A further delay was caused by some brain donor forgetting to get off at Luton, who then pulled the emergency cord. Upon arrival at St Pancras we met this mythical character Ollie. We were also impressed by the restoration work to change the station into the new Euro Terminal.

Eleven strong we got onto the 91 bus and headed off to Trafalgar Square where we walked along Whitehall to a building known as the Foreign Office. After a couple of attempts to gain access we passed through security with the help of our mythical friend and entered this rather grand building. The fine paintings, staircases, marble columns and general atmosphere of this almost palatial building are beyond words. No 10 Downing Street is, of course, adjacent it.

We stood in the Ambassador’s Waiting Room where ambassadors wait when summoned in to see the Foreign Secretary. We went to the Map Room where maps of the British Empire are stored. One drawer contains a map not of Great Britain but of World Britain. (Is this something we don’t yet know about?) This room is also famous as the place where Wellington and Nelson held their one and only meeting.

Later we stood a couple of balconies down from where HM the Queen was to overlook the Remembrance Parade. We were privileged to see the many wreaths of the High Commissioners for the Commonwealth. Next day, being Remembrance Sunday, they would be laid at the Cenotaph in respect of the fallen. We also saw the wreaths that our political masters would lay - complete with their hand written cards. Nearby we saw the splendid Locarno Meeting Room and Dining Rooms that were being made ready for receptions. This was truly a memorable experience.

Any way, another part of our trip was to visit London pubs; our first was St Stephens where Sussex Best Bitter and Badger Bitter were consumed. The price was around the £3 mark. From here we had a great view of the newly renovated Big Ben.  Next we made our way to The Red Lion in Whitehall for a pint of Deuchars IPA and Winter Warmer. In this pub, the Division Bell can be rung, calling MP’s back to Parliament when they are required to vote. It is also believed that many Government deals are done in here. Indeed, 24 hour opening was apparently announced from this pub – rather than from the House! We then hopped onto a bus up to Trafalgar Square and did a short walk to the Tom Cribb. Here we drank a selection of Shepherd Neame ales and some of us practised the social skill of speed dating. The things we will do with a good pint!

Another short walk and a “free hug” later we stumbled across the Red Lion in St James. (The Free Hugs Campaign advocates hugging complete strangers in public and the author saw no reason not to have a go!) Campaigning next for real ale, some good Adnams was consumed along with an excellent late lunch. Next we hopped onto the Underground to High Holborn to visit the Cittie of Yorke. Some people could not believe that for £10.28 you could get 6 pints of Sam Smiths beer in London - well you can! From here - via a route march which took us to locked gates (and very nice they were too) - we visited The Lamb on Lamb’s Conduit Street where Young’s bitter was consumed.

Two of our contingent left at this point as I think they were full. I have spoken to them and they arrived home safely. A third member of our group also left early. When asked if he would be OK on his own, he began to recite his Army service number. (We do not think he went missing in action.) The remainder of our party said our goodbyes to Ollie, and took the tube back to St Pancras. Would you believe it, we again saw Ollie, who had somehow managed to walk to the station quicker than we had on the tube. We again said our goodbyes and caught the train back to good old Leicester. The night was rounded off with our Loughborough chums in the Out of the Vaults. The nostalgia continued as the remaining three from Hinckley caught the very last ever Central train out of Leicester.

Really big thanks must go to our mythical character Ollie, because I really do believe that he exists – as we have now all seen his office and the priceless view he has out of his window!!
 

Words by Phill Wholton
Most Photos by Steve Colbourne

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