Doing the Lambeth Walk.

This photograph is of the S.O.E memorial that was unveiled on 4th October 2009 by the modern day Duke of Wellington. It is situated on the opposite side of the Thames river to Parliament and is outside Lambeth Palace and near to Lambeth Bridge.

The statue depicts Violette Szabo (G.C) and is by the sculptor Karen Newman.

Violette Szabo was but one of many brave women (and men) who fought for this country in the Second World War. For me one of the most striking facts about the S.O.E is that many were foreign born but happily embraced the way of life in Britain and willingly volunteered to fight against the dark shadow of Nazism that threatened to envelope Europe at that time. Unlike Anjem Choudary and his group Islam4UK who are planning to hold a march in Wooton Bassett, the town near RAF Lyneham where the bodies of British soldiers who have been killed in conflict are flown back to.

Hearses, bearing 'our glorious dead' are driven at a respectable pace through the town and many British people line the streets in reverent silence. Although I consider that Choudary has a point about innocent muslim men, women and children being killed. I do not think it will do him or his group any credit to stage such a demonstration in this town. I think that the patience of the British people are starting to wear thin and if he does try to go ahead with this demonstration he is likely to be met with some resistance.

Next time you are in London, take a walk along the riverbank and enjoy views of the Houses of Parliament. Take a closer look at the lamp posts that stand on the river bank here. What fish is entwined on each post? Some guide books will tell you that they are Dolphins (not a fish) but if you look closely I believe you will find that they are in fact Sturgeon. Yes, sturgeon at one time used to populate the Thames in rare numbers and in the middle ages it was declared to be a Royal fish by Edward II. There is at least one reference to a recipe for sturgeon from a fifteenth century paper found in the Library of Mr. Samuel Pepys:

“Take and lay hym in Water over nyght seth hym and let hym kele and lay hym in vyneAger or yn Aysell that sauce in kyndely ther to serue hit furth”.

See MS Pepys 1047 (n.d.) (dated by British Library to the Fifteenth Century)

I gleaned the above fact about sturgeon from a fascinating paper, Like a Sturgeon?: Royal Fish, Royal

Prerogative and Modern Executive Power by Jonathan M. Gutoff

Talking of fish I've often enjoyed lunch at the Masters Super Fish Restaurant at 191 Waterloo Rd Waterloo, SE1. This is but a 15 minute walk away and although first impressions regarding the decor might be a bit off putting, don't be fooled as you will probably get the best Fish and Chip lunch in London here for less than £10. The fish is fresh and consequently this place is not open on a Sunday or a Monday.