Harrow Special Feature – Live Rolling News All Day

Today we are pleased to announce a very special edition of The Quickie.  We will be revealing six exclusive stories of local importance and will be running them with live updates.  

The first update will be at 12.00.

Team Quickie x

12.00 update…

Below is a list of the stories that will be covered in The Quickies first ever live ‘Harrow Special Feature’:

• Is snow to blame?
• The long road to an easy degree?
• Abandoned abroad?
• Is university campus a credit crunch haven?
• Does Wesminster University need Jamie Oliver’s help?
• Expressing yourself, or out of control? Fashion at Westminster University.

We will be bringing you more news as we receive  it. TQ x

Is Snow to blame?

What is going on with London Transport?

The usual surge of people flooded out of Northwick Park Station this morning.

However, many of the students and lecturers at the University of Westminster were running up to an hour late because of the train delays on the Metropolitan line.

After last night’s snow, travellers were quick to blame the cruel weather for their delayed journeys.

One irate 3rd year student exclaimed “I’m an hour late. It’s ridiculous!”

The Long Road To An Easy Degree

While students across the country struggle to cope with tuition fees, work and life, major public figures are being gifted with free honorary degrees.

Among the list of Westminster University honourees are civil liberties activist and broadcaster Shami Chakrabarti CBE and Time Bevan CBE, to name a few.

Is it fair for students to have to pay so much for degrees, when the university hands them out for free.

Abandoned abroad

On hearing the conclusion of the first trial in the Meredith Kercher case, students worldwide have begun to wonder whether they are at risk in a foreign land.

After interviewing a handful of international students at Westminster University, some details are coming together of how safe they feel in the UK…

Is university campus a credit crunch haven?

While the whole country seems to be in financial meltdown, the Students of Westminster University are still living the high life.

Why are they not affected?

The majority of students have made no changes to their spending whatsoever, although it seems to be because they have jobs as well as loans to fund them.

 

 

 

Top 5 Student Splurges

• Alcohol
• Clothes/Shoes
• Takeaways
• Renting DVDs
• Petrol

 

by A. Murphy

alexandra.murphy@my.westminster.ac.uk

Expressing yourself, or out of control? Fashion at Westminster University.

Do Arty Universities, like Westminster, set new trends?

Westminster has an eclectic mix of styles inspired by young edgy designers like Henry Holland, magazines and other students.

The styles range from the original to the Avant-Garde. Most students dress for themselves and according to how they feel.

The campus is full of new trends waiting to be discovered. We are going on a fashion reporting tour today. More coming soon.

by Anastasia Porret

Does Westminster Uni need Jamie Oliver’s help?

Student nutrition

 

Most students spoken to at Wesminster University agree that they try to keep healthy by watching what they eat. The 5 fruit and vegetables a day target is a common aim. However is the canteen at the University doing enough to make healthy eating possible?

What seems to be preventing them from success, is the expense and variety of food available.

Laura James – laura.james@my.westminster.ac.uk

Congo Crisis Background

The Democratic Republic of Congo is trying to recover from its five year long war, dubbed “Africa’s World War,” which involved seven countries and devastated the entire region.

The war officialy ended in 2003, however peace  talks seems to have had no affect on the rebel forces continuing to kill thousands of people, resulting in one of the worst humanitarian crisis’ the world ever witnessed.

The war is directly connected to the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994, where nearly 800,000 Tutsi and some Hutu were slaughtered by the Hutu government.

Rwanda’s post war Tutsi government then invaded Congo in 1996 to pursue the Hutu militia. Rwanda then installed the rebel leader Laurent Kabilaas president, who then started stirring up hatred for the Tutsi in Congo.

This triggered off the war which raged from 1998 to 2003, and involved Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda.   

Peace Talks

In 2001 Kabila was assassinated, his son Joseph gained power and soon began peace talks, which are still in place today, but are on very unstable with talks of outbreaks of violence across the Congo.

The largest UN peacekeeping force is stationed in Congo with 17,000 troops, and the International Criminal Court in The Hague launching inquiries into investigating war crimes.

The task of keeping control in country the size of western Europe,  lacking even the most basic infrastructure and troops having to use jungle paths and rivers as their paths.

Also with dozens of groups, heavily armed, and some reportedly being backed by the Rwandan or the Ugandan governments or powerful politicians, it seems almost impossible to keep the peace.

Humanitarian Crisis

According to the International Rescue Committee, since the start of Africa’s War, some 5.4 million people have died from violence or war related illness since 1998.

Militias regularly target civilian men, and women, children and thousands of families are in a constant battle for their lives.

Aid agencies say rape is endemic in regions where militias are a constant occurrence. They live to brutalise villagers and loot, and the very old an very young are the worst affected.

More than 340,000 Congolese are displaced from their homes and have taken refuge across the region, although some are beginning to make their way home.

Sarah Nicholas (s.nicholas@my.westminster.ac.uk)

For the main article click here:  https://therealquickie.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/congo-refugees-promised-help/

Fashion Politics: the First Ladies who led the way

Style reflects politics. White House fashion has led the way for more and more daring yet respected, styles. Let us look at three influential First Ladies who have preceded Michelle Obama on the First Lady of Fashion list.

The personal style of a president’s wife has become a major part in establishing his likability and power, the Telegraph has reported after the elections.

Keren Eldad, New York fashion manager of the Los Angeles Times, commented on Mrs Obama’s style saying: she “gets it. She IS a modern woman, she has fun with fashion, she embraces life with fury and grace”.

Who led the way:

 

• Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy Onassis (1921-1994) was the first celebrated political fashion icon. She became, at 31, one of the youngest First Ladies in history.

Respected for her grace and glamour, she effortlessly created a signature look that has inspired the White House ever since.

Jackie Kennedy’s style has been constantly referred to, during the last American elections, with many suggestions that Mrs. Obama has been paying a fashion homage to some of Mrs Kennedy’s iconic styles.

• Nancy Reagan

The wife of optimistic President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) reflected through grace and style, the Reagan politics of the 1980s.

Although favoring a very traditional and sober style, Mrs. Reagan went on to become an American Couture style icon.

The first lady’s famed pieces include dresses by Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent.

Her refined style was celebrated last year in an exhibition at the Reagan Library in California, recounting the Reagan legacy through Nancy’s elegance.

• Carla Bruni

The First Lady of France has been widely talked about after she married President Nicolas Sarkozy, in February 2008.

The 40 year old, ex-model and singer is known for her sophisticated taste and fashion style.

She has been voted one of the best dressed women of the year by Vanity Fair, and was heralded a new princess Diana by Gordon Brown, during a state visit to London in April of this year.

The Italian-born Mrs. Sarkozy epitomizes a young, yet refined style that breaks with the cautious fashions previously favored by First Ladies.

by Anastasia Porret, amadeo_ld@hotmail.co.uk

Click here for main article on Michelle Obama’s First Lady fashion

 

Background to Paula Radcliffe: Highs and Lows

 

 

 

Paula Radcliffe impressed us all with her win at this years New York Marathon.

 

Competing on one of the toughest marathon courses, her 3^rd New York City title was a positive result after her set-back at the Beijing Olympics.

 

Since the win she has shown a new craving for the London 2012 Olympics, admitting, “I know the odds probably get less each time, but my whole philosophy is ‘keep trying, keep persevering and keep going back there’”.

 

Past it?

 

She will be 38 years-old when the London Olympics come around but refuses to accept that she is too old to compete for medals, “I do believe that I still have the chance to have another shot in 2012.”

 

Many have speculated that she has had her running hay-days. After all, she has achieved nearly 20 gold medals since she began her running career in 1992 and is planning to have her second child by 2011.

 

Mary Wittenberg, the race director for the New York marathonbelieves that Radcliffe is an asset to the sport, “Last year Paula’s win, after having Isla only 10 months before, had a ripple effect throughout New York City and beyond.”

 

However, there have been occasions where her turbulent career has led to doubt among her of her British fans.

 

The criticism she faced from the media, especially after she retired from a race at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took aback.

 

In an interview with the Independent she reflects back on the negative attention, “it helped me to toughen up and not to waste time and energy worrying about what critics think and say.”

 

Highs and Lows

 

Her determination has always been indisputable, with her significant victories in winning eight marathons over-shadowing her failures to medal in track events during the last decade.

 

However, her achievements at world-class level have been blighted by discouraging performances that have seen her miss out on medaling.

                                                                                                                                     

Radcliffe in Tears at Beijing. Courtesy of Daily Mail.co.uk

 

Pivotal Defeats

Missed out on an Olympic medal coming 4th in the 10000m at Sydney 2000

Failed to finish at Athens 2004

Failed to medal in Beijing 2008, 23rd place in 10,000m

In the past, photographs of the tear stained long-distance runner have emerged, capturing Radcliffe’s defeat, but the London 2012 Olympics can expect to forget them.

 

BBC commentator Brendan Foster agrees with Radcliffe, “I believe she could be Britain’s best hope for a gold medal in 2012.”

 

Foster realizes her last two Olympic performances were heartbreaking, but sees her lack of racing in athletic events as a bonus.

“She’s barely raced in the last three years and I think this could be a blessing in disguise.”

 

Proving them wrong

 

Radcliffe is determined to maintain her world-class status by focusing all her energies on preparation for 2012.

 

Ingrid Kristiansen, the former Norwegian record-breaking marathon runner warns of the dangers in ‘over-training’, advising “If she wants to win in London, I am afraid she cannot keep going with so much training for four more years without having a lot of injuries”.

 

Radcliffe has spent her life proving people wrong; this years New York marathon, in the world championships in Helsinki, in New York three years ago after the disaster of the Athens Olympics.

 

Hopefully 2012 will bring the success the MBE athlete craves.

Elinor D. Davies (elinor.d.davies@my.westminster.ac.uk)

 

Main Article

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is the BBC using licence fee payer’s money correctly?

Russell Brand resigns from Radio 2 and apologises for leaving abusive messages on Andrew Sachs’ answerphone:

 

In recent weeks the BBC has suffered something of a public relations disaster.

Following ‘Sachsgate’, Russell Brand and Lesley Douglas both resigned from their jobs at Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended.

Complaints made to Ofcom, after Brand and Ross left abusive messages on former Fawlty Towers actor, Andrew Sachs’ phone, have now risen above the 30,000 mark.

The incident has sparked a debate around the BBC’s rules regarding self-regulation and the organisation’s use of licence fee payers’ money.

Plan for local websites comes under fire

Criticism has also been aimed at the corporation after lawyers representing the local UK press organisation, the Newspaper Society, wrote to the BBC Trust and Ofcom to ask for the review into a new website scheme to be suspended.

The BBC’s proposals to develop 60 local news websites, at an estimated cost of £68 million, are considered to pose a serious threat to local newspapers.

Neil Benson, editorial director for Trinity Mirror’s regional titles, told the journalism industry website, Journalism.co.uk: ‘It’s going to seriously distort the market place the fact the BBC are ploughing extra millions upon millions of pounds of licence fee payers’ money into an area that we feel is already well served.’

The journalism industry website, Press Gazette reports that the Head of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons responded to criticism by saying that whilst the ‘rising noise and anxiety’ from the BBC’s commercial rivals was understandable, ‘there’s nobody who can be satisfied with the quality of local news in most parts of the United Kingdom.’

Lyons also dismissed the idea of the BBC sharing its licence fee with other public service news provider, such as ITV and Channel 4, and urged commercial rivals to come up with their own proposals about how to save the future of journalism.

Is Ross worth ‘1000 BBC journalists’?

Much of the debate about the BBC’s use of the licence fee has focused on Jonathan Ross’ three-year, £18 million contract.

Last year, whilst hosting an annual comedy awards ceremony, Ross joked, ‘I’m worth 1,000 BBC journalists’.

As reported in The Independent, this comment angered many in the industry, and provoked a response from Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), ‘Jonathan Ross’s comments were obscene at a time when thousands of his fellow BBC colleagues are facing losing their jobs.’

‘It also brings into question the BBC’s priorities, which should be about quality news and journalists, first and foremost, but is not really reflected in salaries. They seem to think that having one light entertainment presenter is better than having 600 broadcast journalists.’

The fallout

The video journalist, Michael Rosenblum wrote in his blog, ‘is it right to oppose any investment in local journalism? Should we stand back and watch papers down-size and yet deny the rights of an alternative news-provider to step into the vacuum?’

Much has been made of The Daily Mail running the Brand and Ross story on the paper’s front page for four consecutive days, adding a new strand to the private versus public sector broadcaster debate.

In an article in The Guardian, Peter Wilby wrote, ‘not for the first time, the Mail showed that, in this country at least, newspapers can still lead the news agenda and alter the national mood.’

Wilby also said, ‘if they are to survive, British papers need to preserve and develop their individuality. The Mail, in the past week, has shown them how.’

Indeed, this debate appears to be turning into one about identity and how best to preserve it.  The financial crisis is having an obvious impact on proceedings and the future remains very much unclear, not just for smaller newspapers, but also for the BBC.

 

Will Drysdale (willdrysdale@hotmail.co.uk)

Main Article

Will BBC websites spell the end for local newspapers?

 

Will local papers soon be a thing of the past?

After scrapping plans for an ‘ultra-local’ TV service in October 2007, the BBC has announced that it intends to develop a network of local, news-on-demand websites.

The proposals, to develop 60 websites at an estimated cost of £68 million, are currently being reviewed by Ofcom and the BBC Trust.

Should the plans be approved, local newspaper reporting as we know it, could come to an end.

A spokesperson from the BBC told the journalism industry website, Journalism.co.uk, ‘If approved, our proposal to put new video onto our existing local BBC websites will directly contribute to the public purpose of the BBC by better reflecting the nations, regions and communities of the UK.’

The video journalist, Michael Rosenblum, explains, ‘At present, the BBC websites each have staffs of four people. The proposal is to increase staffing by five per site over a five-year period. These new employees will be video journalists (VJs) whose task, rather obviously, will be to increase the video content.’

‘Struggle to compete’

As reported in Journalism.co.uk, ‘representatives of several major regional newspaper publishers said the plans showed a disregard for their industry and its achievements online.’

A Bournemouth blogger and Daily Echo journalist wrote, ‘I have no idea what the BBC Trust will decide. But with ITV cutting back, there is obviously an argument that local news needs a boost.’

The blogger explains: ‘The sad truth is that the BBC is so far ahead of most local newspaper’s websites that we’ll struggle to compete.’

Unclear future

In the latest twist to the story, lawyers representing the local UK press organisation, the Newspaper Society (NS), have written to the BBC Trust and Ofcom asking for the review to be suspended.

The BBC Trust’s involvement with the review into the websites, raises questions about the BBC’s self-regulation policies.

David Newell, NS director, told Journalism.co.uk: ‘The BBC Trust cannot be the chief cheerleader for the BBC, encouraging it to extend local services out of more and more taxpayers’ money, at the same time as being the independent regulator determining the public value of those services and their impact on local media.’

The future of local newspapers and the BBC’s ability to regulate itself, especially in light of ‘Sachsgate’, remain unclear.

The results of the review by the BBC Trust and Ofcom into the website proposals are due on the 27^th November.

 

Will Drysdale (willdrysdale@hotmail.co.uk)

Background Article

Jamie Oliver fights for a “Minister of Food”

The obesity and related health problems in Britain has been surfaced again by Jamie Oliver, but this time he wants a solution that will make a difference.

During a 90 minute parliamentary inquiry he powered his way through questions to describe the “bloody emergency” he says Britain is in, according to the Independent newspaper.

He told MPs that he would be happy to find a suitable “minister for food” to tackle the unhealthy eating that has swept across the country.

It was added a Food Minister would need approximately £6.5bn to make an impact.

Oliver emphasised that the current health crisis and the decisions to be made over the next 10 years is incredibly profound

Jamie Oliver wants everyone eating nutritious meals.

Star Insight 

His views followed with:

“There is a new poverty I have never seen before. This isn’t about fresh trainers or mobile phones or Sky dishes or plasma TV screens – they’ve got all that. It is a poverty of being able to nourish their family – in any class.” 

He also added that the country lacked cooking skills and the economic downturn could make it worse. The reasoning being that many people lack the knowledge to prepare healthy and nutritious meals for less money. 

Enthusiastic

In the TV shows Jamie’s School Dinners and Jamie’s Return to School Dinners in 2006 and 2007 respectively, Oliver campaigned for healthier meals in schools. However, despite these major shows and new government nutritional standards in schools, figures have since shown a decline in the take up of school dinners, the Independent newspaper finds.

However, according to the Metro newspaper Jamie Oliver told the Commons Health Committee that he remained optimistic with: “I believe radical change is quite easy”.

As said by the BBC , some of the cross –party group were unhappy about the famous chef coming to visit. However Mr. Barron, the MP for Rother Valley, who invited the celebrity, said:

“As we have seen, Jamie Oliver has had quite a powerful impact on this agenda. I think it was important to find out about his perspective.”

The TV chef’s efforts continues from the four part series of a campaign that was televised and called, “Jamie’s Ministry of Food”. It was broadcast recently and aimed to make Rotherham in South Yorkshire the “culinary capital of the United Kingdom”.

By Laura James – laura.james@my.westminster.ac.uk

Click here for background piece.

Eat Healthily and Save Pounds in Money and Weight: Is it Possible?

During difficult financial times, we have to find ways of cutting down on expenses. One huge expense is the food we eat. Is it possible to keep it to a minimum cost and stay healthy?

Jamie Oliver has not released a book of cheap recipes yet, however there appears to be some tips already worth taking.

·     Protein to build muscle eg. mince meat

·     Carbohydrates for energy eg. rice, pasta, potatoes, beans

·     Fruit and vegetables for vitamins and minerals eg. broccoli, peas

·     Healthy fats to promote fat loss eg. fish oils, flax seeds, mixed nuts

·     Water for rehydration and recovery 

One theory is as long as this balance is kept, you can find cheap foods, which still fit the categories. For example, mince meats, such as ground beef can be made into different dishes. Jamie Oliver gives on example in the video below.

 

Cottage cheese, eggs (which are also high in vitamins) and tins of tuna are other cheap and healthy protein filled options.

Top Tips 

One “Get Rich Slowly” website promotes drinking tap water as an alternative to the other ways of rehydration. Bottled mineral water is not necessarily cleaner  and whether it tastes better is just a matter of opinion and adaptation.

Frozen fruit and vegetables, such as berries, beans and broccoli are a great way to save money, as they can be bought it bulk, stored for longer periods of time and are nutrient dense. In addition they take minutes to cook and don’t need to be peeled or chopped in preparation.

Nutritious and cheap

Buy all the food in one place, as traveling can add to the bill and so can time. And when it comes to buying the food it’s best to try not to impulse buy when walking past the bakery and sweets aisle by writing a list and sticking to it.

Then there is the obvious one. Eat less. Saves pounds in money and weight.

It is difficult sometimes to stick to new routines and get out of old habits, but with the determination, it could all be possible.

By Laura James – laura.james@my.westminster.ac.uk

Double Leading: the First Lady of American politics and fashion

Since the days of Jackie Kennedy there has not been such a strong fashion focus on an American First Lady. We investigate the wardrobe pieces of the wife of the first black American president.

The first lady-elect’s choice of clothing on the night of the elections yesterday, has sparked debate and divided opinions.

The Narciso Rodriguez black and red shift-dress, was a toned down version of the one that appeared on the Spring/Summer 2009 catwalks.

Michelle Obama did not adopt the sleeveless, plunging scoop-neck version, and teamed it with a black cardigan to to subdue the look.

The speckled red panels on the dress, however, were enough to catch the attention of the elect’s supporters.

The New York Times reported that many Americans viewed the look as a lapse of taste.

In spite of this, the stylish First Lady still had some heavyweight fashion fans. The fashion director of Barneys New York, Julie Gilhart, spoke in high terms of Mrs Obama’s choice: “That dress was unpretentious, it said, ‘Be who you are – don’t let someone else tell you how to be’” she told the paper.

Michelle Obama’s style has been scrutinised throughout the presidential campaign and she seems well on her way to become a fashion icon.

New York designer, Elie Tahari, praised for his quality ready-to-wear collections, told WWD: “’She will ignite the fashion industry. She is young, pretty, smart and well put together. These are a lot of great qualities.”

Presidential Trends

America’s First Lady is style-aware, and widely supported on the fashion front by influential names such as Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker.

She is making this year’s Vanity Fair best dressed list, and the leading Democrats couple are quickly becoming a favourite of the fashion world.

Jean Claude de Castelbajac centred his Spring/Summer 2009 collection around the controversial yellow Obama mini-dress. The dress received an encouraging ovation, as well as insult letters, the designer told the Daily Telegraph.

He added: “I’m pleased to see that fashion has become such a powerful medium.”

In the same spirit, Zac Posen encouraged people to vote blue in a video blog, last week. He told WWD: “I think blue obviously is the colour of choice, and red is a good accent colour,”

The 44 year-old, Michelle Obama is a Princeton and Harvard educated corporate lawyer. She has proved she enjoys spending her six-figure salary on fashion designer pieces, from Azzadine Alaia to Moschino.

With a taste for adventurous labels and sometimes theatrical accessorizing, her style is a departure from the conventionally austere fashion traditionally favoured at the White House.

And her fashion supporters seem to think it is for the better. In his video on FASHIONTHEVOTE.ORG, Zac Posen stated that voting and politics is “about people expressing their individuality.”

Michelle Obama is expected to apply his “look good doing it” fashion advice to the White House.

Now everyone waits to see if Michelle Obama will be the second ever First Lady to feature on the cover of Vogue, after Hillary Clinton in December 1998.

by Anastasia Porret, amadeo_ld@hotmail.co.uk

Click here for backup article on fashion-famous First Ladies

Intolerance – Cali Style

Proposition 8, which is California’s proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriage is not yet decided. According to a variety of sources there are over three million absentee and provisional ballots that have not been counted yet.

Intolerant Minorities

Prop 8 sponsors which includes the religious far right, and visual minority groups in California have declared victory on the issue of gay marriage. Yet, gay and human rights groups have said that there are too many votes still unaccounted before there can be a final decision made on the topic.

According to the The Washington Blade, Proposition 8 garnered “critical support from black voters who flocked to the polls to support Barack Obama for president. About seven in 10 blacks voted in favor of the ban, while Latinos also supported it and whites were split”. While Black and Hispanic voters may have made up the numbers for ballots, Mormons have emerged as the leading financial contributors on this controversial topic.

If Proposition 8 passes, marriage would be limited to hetrosexual couples. Although the same amendments were approved in Arizona, and Florida, this is the first time that a vote on same sex unions has taken place in a state where gay marriage have been legal.

Telegraph.co.uk  has said, “Similar bans had prevailed in 27 states before Tuesday’s elections, but none were in California’s situation — with about 18,000 gay couples already married. The state attorney general, Jerry Brown, has said those marriages will remain valid, although legal challenges are possible.”

Gays Were Targeted

Gay rights activists have had their work cut out for them on this election. The movement suffered further setbacks when it was decided in Arkansas that unmarried couples have been banned from serving their communities as either foster or adoptive parents.

Activists in Arizona, Florida and Arkansas made it clear that the gay community was their target for these changes.

Most Expensive Campaign EVER

California is America’s most populated state, with more people than Canada. For this very reason, California has been seen as the grand prize for activists.

A reported $74 million dollars was spent for and against Proposition 8. That makes Prop 8 “the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House” according to Times. Because of the size and population of California, activists for and against Proposition 8 saw spending huge amounts of cash key to bringing attention, and untilmately a win to their cause.

Just in time for Christmas

MSNBC reports that “Kate Folmar, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Debra Bowen, said initiatives typically take effect the day after an election, although the results from Tuesday’s races will not be certified until Dec. 13.”

So just in time for Christmas, the ballots will be counted, and it will be revealed if intolerance is this seasons must have viewpoint in the run up to the season associated with love, forgiveness, generosity, and kindness.

For further information on this topic, click here. (Background article)

By Quinn Gormley

quinngormley@yahoo.co.uk

What makes Britain British?

 According to the Telegraph, phone boxes are now generally unprofitable and out dated,  but they are by no means under cherished in Britain.

BT has plans to get rid of the majority of phone kiosks, but the fact that they have given people the opportunity to “adopt” or “sponsor” a phone box has come as a welcome surprise.

Conservative lawmaker Alan Duncan has put his full support behind the scheme with the view to protecting an “iconic image in Britain”

“It goes with black taxis and double Decker buses. Both in rural and in urban areas the red box itself is seen as part of the local streetscape”

Incidentally Mayor of London Boris Johnson is putting double Decker buses back on London’s streets, claiming they “were never suited to London’s streets” and “that will once again give London an iconic bus that Londoners can be proud of”.

 The iconic red phone box

Sir Gilbert Scott, a British architect, first designed the box in 1924.  It was adapted several times before it became the box we know today. The current design is known as the K6, (kiosk 6) and was produced in 1935 to comemorate the silver jubilee of King George V.

Sir Gilbert Scot wanted the new k6 booths to be silver with an inside of “greeny blue”  to emphasise their relation to the silver jubilee but the post office would not allow it. They insisted they were painted red. The official Post Office colour.

The only place where the boxes were not painted red was Kingston upon Hull. There the boxes were painted cream because they were managed and owned by the Corporation of Hull instead of the Post Office.

 Collectors items

At one point there were around 70,000 phone boxes in use, but after technological advances they were decommissioned. Many were scrapped but somewhere bought by collectors and ended up in galleries and peoples gardens. Three thousand phone kiosks have been give the status of listed buildings, and are therefore a permant part of Britain.

What makes Britain British?

Red Phone Boxes

Red Double Decker Buses

Red Post Boxes

Black Cabs

The changing of the guard

Roast Beef with Yorkshire Puddings

Rain, lots of it.

Main article

Alexandra Murphy

(alexandra.murphy@my.westminster.ac.uk)