Met up with my publisher at the London Book Fair and a walk through the Royal Parks of London

Heading for the London Book Fair on Tuesday at Earls Court we decided to walk part of the way there as the morning was sunny and crisp. From the Union Jack Club at Waterloo we walked along the Embankment and past many of the sites of London that we in the UK take for granted, the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, The Mall and Buckingham Palace.

  
But it was the walks through  some of the Royal Parks that delighted the most.

First up was St James's, and then into Green Park and finally into a small corner of Hyde Park where we caught the tube to Earls Court. But there was also one other Royal Park that it was a sheer delight to visit and which we stumbled on almost by accident over a lunch break from Earls Court and that was Brompton Cemetery, the only Crown Cemetery in the UK.


 Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery covers 16.5 hectares and is one of the finest cemeteries in the country. It was vibrant with bluebells, daffodils and birds but it was also a peaceful oasis from the hurly burly traffic and rush of London. I intend to return to study the graves (and find Emmeline Pankhust's grave) the wonderful mausoleums. The chapel on the Fulham Road side of the cemetery was used in GoldenEye (1995), Pierce Brosnan's first Bond movie and the cemetery has been featured in lots more movies.  I'm not surprised. It's Gothic beauty is splendid and it's packed with atmosphere.

But it was on with the business of the day and the London Book Fair. 


The chapel on the Fulham Road side of the cemetery was used in GoldenEye (1995), Pierce Brosnan's first Bond movie. - See more at: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/brompton-cemetery/the-park-is-the-star#sthash.7fSebeLI.dpuf

Pauline Rowson arriving at the London Book Fair 2014

It was great to catch up with my publisher, my oversea agents and my friends and colleagues in the book trade. The fair was pretty busy though I didn't think as busy as in previous years.

Pauline Rowson with Chairman of Severn House Publishers

Next year the London Book Fair moves to Olympia as Earls Court is to be demolished and replaced with housing. I'm sure the new residents will appreciate the beauty and quietude of Brompton Cemetery on their doorstep.


Brompton Cemetery covers 16.5 hectares and is one of the finest cemeteries in the country.
Brompton Cemetery is managed by The Royal Parks under contract from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Located in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it is the only Crown Cemetery.
- See more at: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/brompton-cemetery#sthash.ccUSyr7P.dpuf

Comments

Rena George said…
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Pauline. A few years back my spouse and I were invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace (just saying) and took a short cut through Green Park. We were in out finery and I can remember new shoes that pinched like the devil. The buffet was good, though. Rx
Pauline Rowson said…
A Royal Garden Party at Buck House, eh? That tops me except for the fact that I've been to a wedding in the chapel in St James's Palace, yes where Prince George was christened, and to the reception after the wedding held in one of the sumptuous private rooms in the Palace (just saying!!)

Popular posts from this blog

If you like Peter James, John Harvey, Ann Cleeves and Peter Robinson you'll like Pauline Rowson's crime novels

Marvik is about to face his biggest challenge in mystery thriller FATAL DEPTHS, no 4 in the series.