I came away with the feeling that Stratford is very different to the place I remember, but then equally it is very much the same. It’s a hard feeling to describe…aesthetically, on the surface, it is a very different place. A multitude of new residential buildings seem to have sprung up in every available space, radically altering Stratford’s horizon. and general appearance as you enter the area. However, turn down any corner or back street, and the Stratford of ‘old’ is never far away. The new tower blocks surround the old council estates, almost swamping them with their slick modernist facades…but nothing can hide the fact that they are still there. I am not saying by any means that those estates should be removed, but Stratford almost seems to be trying to paper over its own cracks rather short sightedly instead of thinking about long-term planning for the future.

It will be interesting to see how the area changes again, as July creeps ever closer – it seems that there is still a large amount to do to make Stratford into the ‘Olympic City’ it is being touted to be.

JANUARY 2010

JANUARY 2012

New footbridge spans the road into Stratford. I think that this is part of the redevelopment of the ‘Greenway’ walkway which allows people to walk directly alongside the Olympic stadium.

This is the corner of the road I used to reside on, and both of these buildings were not there one year ago.

The derelict building opposite my old apartment is STILL there, but now surrounded entirely by new builds. The Anish Kapoor Olympic sculpture can also now be seen in the distance.

Anish Kapoor sculpture [The "ArcelorMittal Orbit"]

The last time I saw this site, it was a garage.

Demolition of the canal side factory buildings in progress.

“On May 1st, 1839 two Polish immigrants, Antoni Patek (Businessman) and Franciszek Czapek (Watchmaker) joined forces to found « Patek, Czapek & Cie » in Geneva. In 1844, Mr. Patek met the French watchmaker, Mr. Adrien Philippe in Paris where the latter presented his pioneering  stem winding and setting system by the crown. In 1845 when Czapek decided to leave the company and to continue his activity on his own, the company name changed for « Patek & Cie ». Later on, in 1851 when Mr. Philippe officially associated with the company, it  was rebaptised « Patek Philippe & Cie », before changing once more in 1901 for « Ancienne Manufacture d’Horlogerie Patek Philippe & Cie, S.A. ». In 1932, the company was purchased by Charles and Jean Stern, two brothers owners of a fine dial manufacture in Geneva. Since then, « Patek Philippe S.A. » remains a family owned firm. In 2009 the company presidency was officially transmitted from the 3rd to the 4th generation : Mr. Thierry Stern became president and his father Mr. Philippe Stern, Honorary president.”

The collection at the museum contains not only Patek Phillipe watches, but also a good range of general historical watches. It is interesting to see how watches moved from being pieces that denoted only the hours, to the chronographs and extended editions that are available today. Patek Phillipe themselves invented the self winding system for watches – prior to this, all timepieces required a separate key to be carried in order to wind them up daily to keep them going. This is why when people are seen to be wearing pocket watches in historical imagery, the chain usually has two sections – one for the watch and one for the key. In the late 1800s, the enamel painting technique became very much in Vogue, as watches became more a symbol of status and wealth than actual items for telling the time.

Wrist watches only became popular in the early 1900s, but were mainly the preserve of women, and not seen as manly at all. However, during the First World War there was a move towards wrist watches for men, as soliders’ found a pocket watch to cumbersome and impractical to use during battle. In the present day of course, men are rarely seen to be wearing pocket watches. It will be interesting to see what happens to the humble watch as mobile phones, iPads and other electronic equipment all become the first port of call for obtaining the time. I have seen an ‘app’ that actually gives your iPod/iPhone etc a clock face, removing the need to carry a separate watch at all.

The Patek Phillipe Museum is in Geneva, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, Switzerland.

The collection has been under wraps over the last year whilst brand DNA was established, business plans formulated and ultimately the garments themselves took shape. I knew that the end product would be of the highest calibre, but I have to say now that I have seen the brand come together as a whole, it surpasses even my expectations.

It has been great to be involved with the project from the start, and really watch it grow and became a ‘real’ fashion brand. I am full of admiration for Duncan and Belinda and it has been great to watch them pool their resources from around them and really submit themselves to something they truly believe in.

Selected to show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout during Fashion Week, the MASC team will be there until September 20th and I highly recommend taking the time to go and see what they have achieved whilst they are still on such a small scale.

More information can be found at www.behindthemasc.com.

“The BFI  promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture. Established in 1933, the BFI cares for the world’s richest and most significant collection of film and television, preserving almost one million titles.”

Along with film and television DVDs, they also publish books, show films at their own sites, and run the annual London Film Festival. One particular area of interest to me is their archive of ‘public information films’ which are basically collections of short films that were shown across Britain offering information on a wide range of topics as far-reaching as public health, safety and making journeys. I find it such a good insight into ‘how we were’ so to speak.

I picked up a collection of four films by John Krish titled ‘A Day in the Life: Four Portraits of Post-War Britain’. Krish has worked as both a director and a writer of films, and is mostly known for his documentary film making, but has also written and directed a number of feature-length films. The first film is ‘The Elephant Will Never Forget’ and revolves around the removal of the tram system from service in London in 1952. The name is taken from the Elephant & Castle former depot.

The story goes that Krish was asked by British Transport Films to attend the closing ceremony to shoot a short piece of film showing the final tram pulling into the depot and capture the moment the Chairman of London Transport shaking hands with the driver. However, Krish felt that there was an opportunity for something a little more celebratory given the event, so ‘borrowed’ multiple reels of stock film depicting trams in operation, and shot 8 more reels of film 5 days prior to the last tram ceremony showing the contribution that the trams made to London life. Seeing the result, Edgar Anstey [Chairman of British Transport Films] actually sacked John Krish! In the years that have followed though, the film has come to be known as something of a cult film, and much more than a simple information film. Some of the shots are brilliant, and the narration is perfect. Krish has managed to make me somehow sort of miss the London Tram, even though I have never had the opportunity [nor will I] to use them. It’s actually quite incredible to see the journey of the last tram – 20,000 Londoners came out on the streets to see and salute it. I find it difficult to imagine that sort of community spirit would occur in today’s world..

Here are some stills from the film, but I would try to view it [I'm sure it's online somewhere] if you ever find yourself with a spare 20 minutes or so.

It seems to be a little bit of a grey area as to why the trams were actually put out of service, but there are some interesting points here.

Homepage for the BFI is here.

]]> http://isabellapepper.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/the-elephant-will-never-forget/feed/ 0 isabellapepper Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.41.12 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.41.44 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.42.58 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.43.34 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.44.27 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.47.08 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.45.11 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.47.52 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.48.52 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.51.38 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.53.23 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.53.49 Screen shot 2011-09-04 at 21.55.35 http://isabellapepper.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/the-museum-of-broken-relationships/ http://isabellapepper.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/the-museum-of-broken-relationships/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:09:44 +0000 Isabella Pepper http://isabellapepper.wordpress.com/?p=1769 ]]> Last night I went to see the recently opened exhibition titled ‘The Museum of Broken Relationships’ hosted by the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden. Set across two venues, the exhibition is put simply a collection, or documentation of failed relationships through symbolic items / artefacts. As sombre as this may sound, it made for quite an interesting evening, with a very varied mix of items displayed, each with equally varied stories about what the symbolised of the ruined relationship. Some items seemed to be there in order to get a laugh, but others were genuinely touching [for example one lady donated her entire album of Wedding photographs...]. All items are donated for free by individuals, either anonymously or with as much detail as they are willing to go into.

From the official website: “The Museum of Broken Relationships grew from a traveling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins. Unlike ‘destructive’ self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation: by contributing to the Museum’s collection. Conceptualized in Croatia by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, the Museum has since toured internationally, amassing an amazing collection. Although often colored by personal experience, local culture and history, the exhibits presented here form universal patterns offering us to discover them and feel the comfort they can bring. Hopefully they can also inspire our personal search for deeper insights and strengthen our belief in something more meaningful than random suffering.”

Admittedly, there is an air of ‘teenage angst’ surrounding some of the items, but if you want to see something different of an evening, I definitely suggest a visit. it is open until 10pm most evenings, and runs until September 4th.

More information here.

The exhibition itself is actually worth the entry fee, spread throughout many rooms, and containing a large variety of interesting items to read and look over. Photography is not permitted anywhere within the exhibition [I got scolded by the 'security' guards a few times just for having my mobile phone out let alone for taking photographs]. However, that said I did manage to get a few photographs in. It’s quite amazing what they have actually managed to rescue from down there. There are linen handkerchiefs that have been on the sea bed for over 80 years, that still look somehow in pretty good condition. Probably still blow my nose on it today if I am honest. Along with this, there are so many personal possessions that have somehow been tracked back to their owners, creating small case studies of the passengers that travelled on the one and only voyage.

Below is what I managed to take photographs of, but there is so much more and I highly recommend paying it a visit if you have time between now and August 29th.

These are the floor plans of the various levels that made up the Titanic. Apparently it was the first vessel of its kind to feature a revolutionary three propeller system.

Draughtsmen working on the layout of the Titanic

This is a recreation of how a room would have looked on the First Class deck

This is a tap from the First Class bathroom suite, set into marble. Apparently all the taps had a spring back mechanism to ensure that water wasn’t wasted on board.

Fixtures and fittings used for handrails etc

Wine and Champagne bottles. This bottle here still contains Champagne, and hasn’t been uncorked since it was recovered.

This is the actual signal wheel used to send messages down to the engine room, and popularised by the film ‘Titanic’ etc. Think ‘FULL SPEED AHEAD’ and other commands.

Adolphe Saalfeld carried perfume vials on board as he hoped to take them to America in order to sell the scents. Amazingly, the vials survived and the scents can still be smelled today. The box that these were in had holes cut into it so that you could ‘sample’ them.

John Player Cigarette Cards: Film Stars Series One & Three [undated]

When I was a little younger, my Granddad gave me a collection of Cigar cards he had collected whilst Landlord of a pub. I swiftly got my Crayola crayons out and set about defacing them, much to everyone’s dismay [including my own many years later]. These complete collections below will be taken much better care of.

Check out Ralph Lynn – what a gent!

Swimming: Short & Long Distance by Jabez Wolffe [undated]

I used to be a keen swimmer as an adolescent, but one day gave it all up [I am still unsure as to why...]. This book is absolute genius, or rather Jabez Wolffe is; sample quote, “I have often been asked if it is possible to learn to swim on dry land. Certainly it is, though there are many drawbacks not encountered in the water. For instance, if you lie full length on the carpet you cannot get quite the proper kick for the legs, which (in the water) must be somewhat downwards. I have known people lie across a chair or a hassock, but I cannot believe that this can be good for the digestive organs.” Amazing.

Bowling by M S Nichols [Blackie's Sports Series, 1937]

Continuing the sporting theme, I also picked up this highly informative book on bowling (in the Cricket sense of the word). I do not have a particular interest in Cricket, but I was drawn to the aesthetics and layout of this book. In each of the four corners, there is a small thumbnail photograph of a man bowling. When the book is flicked through quickly (in flick-book manner) the images become a film illustrating the bowls described in the text. Clever.

Vintage Spectacles [undated]

I purchased these purely out of interest of the materials and the shape of them. I have a feeling that they are late 1950s / early 1960s [but don't quote me on that] – they look like a series of NHS type spectacles known as ‘Panto’ style frames. Panto comes from the term Pantoscopic which means seeing everything, or wide view. The hinges look like they are hand made to me, which is quite interesting to see on a pair of frames like this. The base [curve of the frame] it also pretty amazing – completely the opposite way to how most conventional frames curve today.

Keep an eye out for something similar in next years Burberry Optical range [maybe..!]

Stationary Tidy [undated]

If this were made in the UK, it would be sheer perfection in my opinion. However, it is still pretty fantastic! A series of small matchbox-like structures containing all those essential elements needed for the successful running of a day-to-day office space. And better still, all the original elements are still in the boxes. I have no idea how they have not disappeared with time, but this will certainly be a useful addition to my desk.

Tie pins / Brooches

My collection of tie pins has rapidly diminished recently as I seem to keep losing them somehow…but I found a few today which will do nicely for the time being. The slimmer piece also has a chain detail which is something I have never had before, so pretty exciting eh!? I chose the brooches as I am always drawn to umbrellas in any form, and I am hoping to marry someone called Priscilla.

I managed to pick up some old photograph albums for £3 a piece (in London I have looked at similar items and they prefer to charge ‘by the photograph’), a small notebook from the early 1900s which has many blank pages in (definitely going to use this) and some “sleeve braces” unworn in the original box. I also snapped up the hilarious ‘penny farthing’ wall hanging which features both an old penny and a farthing mounted in it, for the princely sum of 50p.

The albums are pretty amazing – I am really intrigued as to who the people in them are, and what they are doing (particularly in the first album – so many white, casual suits).

Recently, I had contact with local journalist Marc Johnson who wanted to write a short piece on the state of the school. His initial comments are below:

“My names Marc I’m a reporter at the Coalville Times newspaper. I’m not sure whether or not the subject of the email has given you any ideas what this is about, but I’ll try and explain.