Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday, 5 May 2015

A day out in London

Today I had a day trip to London. It was a bright but blustery day and the countryside between Oxford and London lush with fresh foliage and blossom

I was struck by the fact that two days before a General Election there was such a lack of election posters - I noticed but one window sticker, two small billboards and one large one all way from Oxford to London and back again. Apathy reigns, the electorate are I sense bored and uninterested.

My purpose in going was to meet at the
British Museum a new acquaintance from California to discuss possible tours for US visitors here next year. I joined his tour group for a conducted introduction to the great collection of Assyrian sculpture, including the Royal Lion Hunt, and the Elgin Marbles, neither of which I had seen before I must admit. Then it was upstairs to visit the Mesopotamia displays from Ur. The guide brought out the Biblical links it being a church group.

I walked from the coach stop to and from the Museum, taking in the blue plaques and the architecture of the eighteenth century development of the Bedford estate, and the architectural mix that is Fitzrovia.

On the way back I went to the evening Mass at St James Spanish Place, one of my favourite Catholic churches.

A good day out, with a change of scene and new things to see.

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