Julia Mary “Julie” Walters, (born 22 February 1950) is an English actress and novelist.

As an actress her unquestionable talent can be reflected through her impressive collection 7 BAFTA awards, a Golden Globe, an Olivier and 2 international Emmys. Walters’s filmography begins in 1975 and continues right through to today leaving her with an impressive show reel and an array of characters ranging from a young wife determined to complete her education, the mother of a young wizard and a tap dancing hero.

Image credit: rbd995599

 

London’s black cabs are an icon of the city, like their sister yellow cabs across the pond in New York.

More formally known as a Hackney Carriage, all of the taxis’ drivers have passed ‘The Knowledge’ – 2 years of studying and memorising 25,000 London Streets within a 6 mile radius – making them an authority on the city.

Hackneys have been transporting people all over London for centuries, the ‘Hackney Coach’ a forerunner of the Hackney Carriage first operated in London in 1621.

Black cabs are re not limited to London, nor are they all black – to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, 50 golden cabs were produced to mark the occasion.

Image credit Sammy and the Light

Luke Campbell Donald MBE (born 7 December 1977) is the current World Number One professional golfer according to the Official World Golf Ranking.

Hailing from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, Donald had an exceptional year in 2011 winning several tournaments and awards and creating many world firsts. These include:

– Becoming the first golfer to win both the PGA Tour money list and European Race to Dubai in the same year

– Being the first Englishman to win the coveted PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year titles

– The first Englishman to lift the PGA Tour’s Vardon Trophy

For these achievements, and many others, Donald was awarded honorary life membership of the European Tour; he was also awarded an MBE for services to golf.

Donald returns to Castle Stewart to start the defence of The Scottish Open today.

Image credit:  TourProGolfClubs

Manchester Town Hall is a neo-gothic, listed building which was designed by renowned Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse.

Completed in 1877, and extended in 1938, the building still functions as the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments.

The building faces Albert Square in the city’s centre and contains a number of offices and ceremonial rooms. The Great Hall is decorated with the Manchester Murals by Ford Madox Ford which illustrate the history of the city.The exterior of the building is dominated by the clock tower, it reached 87 metres (285 feet) in height and houses the clock bell, Great Abel.

Image credit: Tim Green aka atoach

The New Forest National Park was created in March 2005 and the New Forest National Park Authority took up its full powers in April 2006.

Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free. The National Park features majestic woodlands, rare heathland and a spectacular coastline which all provide fabulous opportunities for quiet recreation, enjoyment and discovery.

The National Park Authority’s purposes are to:

Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park – Protect

Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities – Enjoy.

It also has a duty to:

Seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park – Prosper.

If you are planning on visiting, the National Park lies mainly in south-west Hampshire – from east of the Avon Valley to Southampton Water and from the Solent coast to the edge of the Wiltshire chalk downs.

 

Thanks to the New Forest National Park Authority for words and image.

Strawberries and cream. What could be more British than strawberries served with lashings of cream at Wimbledon?  The bright-red juicy fruit signals the arrival of our summer and traditionally disappeared before the onset of autumn, but our love for the common garden fruit means our farmers have invested time and energy into extending the short-season well into November.

Although wet weather has severely affected this year’s crop, the strawberry will continue to thrive in rain-soaked Britain due to its versatility and inextricable association to Britain and Wimbledon.

Wimbledon’s love affair with our favourite fruit reaches epic proportions with close to 9,000 punnets consumed a day, which means 28,000 kg of strawberries is consumed during the two-week tournament.

And did you know, to ensure the the strawberries are as fresh as possible they aren’t picked until the day before they’re served!

So why not serve up a winning strawberry in your classic British dessert, it’ll be ace!

 

Image credit: Flickr; Clarity