History but not as we knew it!
In his weekly Ward's World column, John Ward recalls a trip to London...
It was about this time some years ago I was in London taking part in a live telly link-up with the colonies (New York) as an American news and chat show ‘The CBS Night Watch’ was going ‘live from London with English guests’ for the first time – it was live but due to the time difference we did our stuff in daytime.
It also coincided with the annual Wimbledon tennis event hence there was also an English tennis player on the guest list but during my free, pre-show time I wandered about the Knightsbridge area where both the studios and Harrods, the world famous department store, are located.
Due to Harrods’ iconic standing it was attracting, as always, many folk there plus the usual battalions of foreign tourists ogling the building plus camera shutters clicking away as they put their families and whoever in the foreground.
You can learn a lot about the world by just standing there, taking in all the chatter from the various people who, in some cases, seem to look upon this store as some sort of – dare I say it – holy place in all but name.
They travel from all over just to see it and if worse comes to the worse they will buy the cheapest item they can find just to get it in a carrier bag with that famous name on it to take home to pose with amongst their friends and possibly nowadays, followers, if on social media.
One interesting verbal exchange was the following, which might give a clue to the intellectual mindset of some of them, as a lady who was really ‘on the ball’ was giving instruction to her daughter about what she should buy or be on the lookout for.
“You want a nice salt and pepper set for your Aunt Liz’s and Uncle Cliff’s anniversary, but one in chrome if possible – no, no – how many times have I to tell you, you don’t want a cruet, you want a salt and pepper set (?!) but at a reasonable price as you know how much they are in wotsit’s shop back home.”
My own ‘magical moment’ happened just after hearing that nugget, as I came across Harv and Della who came from Texas, also out in the colonies as in the U S of A no less.
Harve introduced himself then his good lady wife Della as he asked if I could take a photo of them standing outside a particular building: “But heck we are sure going to git in thar and buy some-thang to take back home to the folks, young fella!”
I liked Harve – or anybody that could call me ‘young fella’ – although to be fair I was at that time starting to cultivate my present hairstyle but to be honest I didn’t really have much control over the situation.
I took photos of them in assorted poses with ‘the building’ in the background at various points in front, from across the road – Harve assured me that he had a “mitey good few photographs taken in Trafalgee Square despite them thar pesky birds flying about”(pigeons) which he would be showing to the “folks back home”.
All this tended to give the impression they were seeing all the usual, traditional tourist landmarks in the capital on their list of things to see, but importantly to be photographed with, nearby or sitting on during their 20 day vacation.
Della asked why Harrods was called Harrods as Harve showed off his masterly wealth of knowledge thus: “Well, Della – that sailor fella Nelson who has a monument in his honour, where those pesky birds are flying about in Trafalgee Square, and it’s called a column with his statue on top because he won a battle, but he died doing it.”
Della seemed to be confused as she thought it was Nelson Riddle the orchestra leader and composer, who “did a lot with our Frank” (Sinatra) so why should he be in the middle of ‘Landdan town’ on a tall pillar thang but Harve put her right – wrong Nelson as she said she thought it was Nelson Riddle as there were lions at the base of ‘that column thang’ like at the MGM in Vegas. Simple enough mistake all things considered I thought.
However, more fascinating facts were to unfold as Harve continued: “So in Inkland they honour important folks who die in battle by naming places after them, but they have to be dead first, so this was named after the fella who got shot in the eye with an enemy arrow _ King Harrod at Hastings which is outside of Landdan but its purdy near the coast somewheres.”
I think I would have taken more of an active interest in history at school had Harve been our teacher.
Della seemed to be not very happy with his explanation – I was quite happy with it to be honest but wondered what his version of the World War Two might have included. II could see her eyes rolling about as she asked the following minor point.
“You mean this King Harrods guy was shot in the eye, with an arrow that was not his own, so not an accident so they named a department store in his honour?” as Harve added that was about it but he “was no expert”.
One can only consider it a missed opportunity that we – or rather he – didn’t get round to Cleopatra’s Needle (the ancient Egyptian obelisk) on the Thames Embankment in little ole Landdan but as she didn’t get killed battle-wise – unless Harv had insider information – but a thought was Della would or could perhaps include Elizabeth Taylor who was in the film ‘Cleopatra’.
History aside, I much preferred the quest for cruets – or salt and pepper sets in chrome – as I left them to it and back to the comforting insanity of the studio.