A Walk in Hyde Park

Tuesday 16^th June 1998

Looking for a likely picnic spot

Okay folks, I did the promised recce of Hyde Park this afternoon and boy am I tired now!

It's years since I've had the opportunity to wander aimlessly around the park. It's quite surreal in some ways. For one the big fat colourful wood pigeons outnumber the grey urban variety but its depressing to realize that even these have come to recognize a McDonald's bag as a visual cue to an effortless meal. But the squirrels are charming, if grey. I saw a family of swans with seven cygnets and innumerable geese.

Things being stacked up give me the impression that the Capital Radio shindig on the Sunday is up the Speaker's Corner / Marble Arch end. So that's out. So I went trolling around looking for other landmarks.

The Lido is being suggested by the Pink et al. There is not that much space there and I reckon it's going to be about the worst place to be!

There are innumerable dells and quiet corners that would suit, except that no one would find them and some couldn't get to them if the arrived near the right spot, so secluded is out.

The most delightful spot in the park is The Dell, below the weir at the fat end of the Serpentine. Alas the gates to this little paradise are firmly locked. The rose garden is nice, but too near the roar of the trafic at Hyde Park Corner. Achilles' statue is even closer to the motors so any budding Patrocles will have to go alone.

There's a nice lawn outside the Parks Constabulary police station; but perhaps that's just tempting fate.

The Italian Fountains at Marlborough Gate, the end of the Long Water, are attractive but once again the nearby traffic is too intrusive. What's more, it says "no dogs".

I did consider going behind Peter Pan, but refrained for fear of the thread that would ensue and in any case the garden there has become a groundsman's dump.

Speek's Monument is pink and phallic, but otherwise unappealing. While the Physical Energy Statue is cute I dread the the discussion on wether a bronze can, technically, be hirsute.

The Albert Memorial is the acme of camp, but surrounded by scaffolding and wrapped in plastic it is rather sad at the moment.

And yes Chris, I did check out the "big tree by the serpentine gallery" - all of them.

The Round Pond is, well round, and frankly boring. There the War memorial which would be too bellicose for some and a couple of bandstands that have promise along with a similar shelter across the Long Water from Peter pan but it's a bit out of the way.

The finally I found it. The one place, indeed perhaps the only place to gather: _The_Queens_Temple_, where else?

It's half way between the Physical Energy Statue and the road bridge over the Long Water, north of and within sight of the Serpentine Gallery. Not too far from the Lido and to my surprise with parking close by. (It's not on my map until I get back to work and make an amendment!).

So, is this suitable people?

Regarding the park itself:

There are no less than eight tube stations on the periphery of the park; Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Lancaster Gate, Queensway with Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington only a couple of minutes away.

There is parking on both the north and south side of where West Carriage Drive crosses the Serpentine / The Long Water (pay and display). More Parking at High St. Ken, Kensington Market, Princes Gate, Knightsbridge, Hamilton Place, Park Lane (The underground NCP), Reeves Mews, Cumberland Gate, Lancaster Gate/ Bourne Street, Lancaster Gate/ Craven Terrace, Queensway, Bayswater and Notting Hill Gate.

Public Loos at; Palace Gate, Outside the Bowling Green at Alexandra Gate, Hyde Park Corner, Cumberland Gate (in the underpass), at Lancaster Gate by the Italian Fountain, Inverness Terrace Gate and Queensway and one in the middle of the wastern section midway between the Park Avenue Fountain and the Police Station.

There are at least four tea houses (no comments about US slang please) and I saw 3 trailer type affairs, but quite up market and established looking.

So...

This is the plan... is it?

• Friday, Tigran's Meet, 8.30, BUT IN WHICH BAR!! Discuss...
• Saturday (What time is the march due to set out?)
• 10.00 am (10.30?) The South West corner of Oxford Circus.
• Join the march gathering which I understand to be on SOUTH carriage drive this year.
• 2pm and onwards, picnicking (with or without food etc) at the Queen's Temple.
• 7pm Restaurant Dinner - I really really need to know who wants to do this so that I can make a booking. The last time we did this it came to about 18 quid each I think.
• 9pm Last chance saloon, again WHICH BAR??
• Later: well folks the later is up to you :)

So far I've managed a map on my web site http://www.calmeilles.demon.co.uk/pride/map.html there are two links, "The Plan" is where I'll write up what's agreed and any info people would find useful "Map" is the map, but be warned it's 270K, I don't know how to make it smaller and still readable. ("UP" just goes to my home page, nowt interesting there I'm afraid).

Important: Tell everyone you can think of what's going on - very much the more the merrier <insert slogan of choice here>.

Love'n'hugs

Matthew