"It's June 18th 2015," said Mr N, "Should we celebrate?"
"I certainly hope so!"
"200 hundred years since that great day."
"Well none of us is getting any younger, but that's a bit insulting."
"It's 200 years since England won the battle of Waterloo, dear."
"AND my birthday. Even though I'm a pacifist, I have an appropriate day out in mind. The Royal Armouries in Leeds have some interesting Waterloo stuff on show, including a painting of the battle by Lady Butler. I used to know a boy who wrote a book about her..."
" Very funny! And that "boy" will be a grizzled pensioner by now."
"Scotland Forever!" by Lady Butler.
The fantastic Waterloo Cartoon is part of the exhibition. This is a huge preparatory drawing for "The Meeting of Wellington and Blucher" by Daniel Maclise. It measures over 13 metres wide.
No cause for celebration
Outside there was to be a military parade...
...if only they could remove the bollards.
Here they go!
The afternoon ended on a jolly note.
***
Fascinating post and pictures. I wonder what the men that fought at Waterloo would make of the exhibition - and its environment (which they helped to create). A very happy (belated) birthday to you! "Bit of a skirmish" indeed!
ReplyDeleteAmazing blog and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Nilly.
ReplyDeleteHope it was a great birthday Nilly. There seemed to be plenty of Waterloo commemorations here in France.....maybe they have a different version to us....Jx
ReplyDeleteInteresting and amusing, as usual, Nilly. Must get over to Leeds asap.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting dear Germy - your ever-loving bro' Germolloyd sends his love!
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