David with Arcade manager, Rita

Hungerford Arcade staff and staff and stallholders always enjoy hearing customers’ stories about what they do for a living.  David Hattersley and his lovely wife, Joyce came shopping at the Arcade and when they reached the counter, he saw that another customer had a beautiful swan that she was going to purchase.  David looked at the swan and told us what breed of it was modelled on.  Enquiring where he got his knowledge from, he told us that he is one of HM Queen’s Royal Swan Uppers.  Wow, David had our full attention.

The Queen owns and cares for all the Mute Swans on the River Thames and employs Swan Uppers to look after them.  A census of the Swans is carried out once a year when young cygnets are examined and tagged with a lightweight ring which is linked to a database.

The adult Swans are checked for injuries and any health problems.  Swans that need treatment are taken to the Windsor Queen’s Hospital.  Those left with a disability are taken to a new home at Blenheim Palace.  Her Majesty will never have a Swan destroyed because it may have lost an eye or is disabled in any way.  They all live long, happy, healthy lives.

Colin Smith / Swan Uppers in Sunbury Lock.

Bfore David retired and became a Royal Swan Upper, he worked for the Royal Mail and delivered The Queen’s personal mail to her at Buckingham Palace.

This short poem was found in a late Victorian copy of Evelina by Frances Burney which was purchased at the Hungerford Arcade on the 18th of August 2018  

May’s Poem

To Mistress Punctuality

I offer most shamefacedly

A present which will come so late

I dare not write the intended date

Nor will I add the givers name

It matters not from who it came

If only it shall win her praise

And forever read here that

This is May’s

Happy Hunting

Stuart Miller-Osborne 

Hungerford Arcade co-owners, Adrian and Hazel, Managers, Staff and Stallholders wish Manager, Alex, partner Tania and daughter, Polly all our best wishes and many congratulations on their marriage which took place on this glorious day, (Saturday) in the beautiful Town Hall at Hungerford.

Tania & Alex signing the Register and witnessed by daughter, Polly

As you will see from our amateur photographs, (taken by stallholder, Ian Spuffard) it was a beautiful wedding and the evening reception was just fantastic.  With Arcade stallholder,  Adam Thompson as the DJ, the dance floor was packed all night!  The music was brilliant.

Handsome Alex awaiting his gorgeous Bride

Tania looking stunning as she arrives for her Wedding with her brother

Tania & Alex now Husband and Wife

Alex’s family L-R Adrian, Colin, Liz and Mum, Louise holding Polly

Some of the many guests at the Wedding

Ann’s Beautiful Spencer all dressed up and wearing his bow tie. He had his own personal invitation to attend the Wedding.

Mr. & Mrs. Rogers drive off in their beautiful chauffeur (John) driven 1950’s VW Beetle

All the love and happiness in the world to Alex, Tania & Polly from us all.

Hungerford Arcade love meeting our visitors from overseas and finding out where they live in their country.  Well, Charlotte Savage accompanied by two wonderful Japanese ladies, Hideko and Yuka came shopping and when they told us about the beautiful place where they lived, we were amazed. 

Hideko, Arcade co-owner, Adrian, Yuka and Charlotte

This is where Hideko and Yuka live.  Beneath Mount Fuji.  The building on the left is the Fuji Lake Hotel.  Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Japan.  What a stunning sight to wake up to each morning!

We enjoyed meeting you, Hideko, Yuka and Charlotte very much.  Thank you for your visit.  Rita

Hungerford Arcade is full of very interesting people like stallholder Liz Browne (Unit 26E) and her partner Colin.  Colin and Liz have an amazing microlite aeroplane.  They have been to France for lunch and holidayed in Mediterranean.  They take all their camping gear and luggage on this wonderful plane and are able to take off and go anywhere the mood takes them.

Colin doing final flight checks

I was very lucky because on Tuesday evening I got a call from Liz asking if I would like to go for a flight with Colin on Wednesday afternoon.  I jumped at the idea and was thrilled to be asked.  When I thought about it, butterflies ran circles around my tummy.  I am terrified of heights and suddenly, I was very scared.  Nonetheless, it was an opportunity not to be missed so I psyched myself up and the next day, my husband Jeff and I travelled to Marlborough to meet Liz at her house.  Colin was already at the airfield preparing the microlite for the flight.

Here we go. Liz in the background trying to stop her hair blowing away!

When we got to the Airfield, Colin was almost ready.  There are many pre-flight checks that have to been done which in itself is fascinating.  When I saw the microlite, it was so beautiful and I did not feel any fear at all, which surprised me.  Colin told me all about it.  It has a 1300 engine and can do 120 mph although Colin prefers to cruise at 100mph for comfort and the chance to see everything.  Colin knew that I was afraid of heights and was very re-assuring.  He said that there are many people who are afraid of heights but it doesn’t affect them when flying.  I felt great after hearing that.

Me waving goodbye as I go on my great adventure!

I put on a warm jumper which Liz kindly gave me to wear as she said it can be very cold up there although its very hot down on the ground.  Next, I was helped into a flying suit which was very cosy and got settled in the plane.  I put on my helmet which was brilliant because I could hear Colin and also speak to him.  I was so well strapped in, very comfortably and I felt totally relaxed.

Colin got clearance to taxi down the runway.  As we waited to depart, the engine was roaring away.  Then came take off.  The speed was phenomenal!  I thought I would be sucked out of my flying suit (not literally)  as we climbed higher and higher.  I held onto the back of Colin’s seat with my knuckles pressing into his back.

© Copyright Peter Wasp and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

When we straightened and out slowed down, what I saw around me was out of this world,  I felt only excitement and pleasure.  We could see the Isle of Wight and then the mountains in Wales and everything in between.  We saw where the ancient settlements had once been and I learned that Silbury Hill was once all white chalk.  It was an important landmark for the stoneage people who used it to navigate their way to Avebury and Stonehenge.

By T Young [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

We then flew on to Avebury and saw the magnificent stones.  They look even more beautiful from the air.  I didn’t know, but the stones at Avebury were all locally sourced and as we flew around the area, you could see many, many stones lying on top of the ground  A lot of these stones were also used to build Stonehenge.

© Copyright Dave Price and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Everyone knows the White Horses of Wiltshire.  Well seeing them from the air is totally different.  They are magnificent and filled me with excitement.  I could not have been happier.

Towards the end of the flight, Colin flew us over the Hungerford Arcade owners’ house.  To my surprise, Adrian and Hazel (Liz is Hazel’s daughter) were in their garden waving at us.  We went around twice it was so brilliant.  We were so low, I was waving like crazy and calling out.  I must have deafened Colin (sorry Colin).

I couldn’t believe it when we next went to Hungerford and flew around Hungerford Arcade.  It looks stunning from the air.  My goodness, I was on such a high, I didn’t want it to end.  

Then it was back down to earth.  When we approached the airfield, Colin slowed the engine right down and waited for clearance to land.  The runway looked very small from up in the air, but I knew it was very big.  

Colin got clearance to land, lined up with the runway and down we came.  I think Colin said that we landed at 60mph.  It was fantastic.

When I got out, Colin said, “I don’t think you realised that when we went over Adrian and Hazel’s house you were sitting horizontal to the ground”.  Wow!  I was so excited I didn’t even notice.  That’s how great it was.

Colin is a first rate pilot and navigator.  Not to mention a fantastic guide.  He seem’s to know every inch of land.  

I would recommend this way of flying to everyone.  It’s much better than being in a closed in plane because you can see and feel everything.  The plane can slow right down to almost hovering over the sites then in a flash, you’re back up high again.

I didn’t get to take any photographs of my flight as I know that I would have dropped my phone and lost it forever!  However, I hope these photos taken by Jeff stir your imagination!

Thank you very much Colin for giving me the trip of a lifetime and thank you Liz for thinking of me.  Rita x 

One thing that I often notice is how many paintings are to be found within the Arcade.  They come in all shapes and sizes and most are very interesting to study.  Yesterday when I was in the Arcade, I noticed a work by the now almost forgotten Lady Victoria Manners.  To be truthful, although I am very interested in art history, I cannot say that I had really heard of Lady Victoria.  The work was a careful study of the garden and her house Plas Newydd  which is situated on the north bank of the Menai Strait in Llanddaniel Fab in Anglesey.  I had heard of the house when swotting up on National Trust properties but until yesterday, I had not realised that Lady Victoria had lived there.  Plas Newydd also had connections with Rex Whistler (1905-1944), an artist that I greatly admire who as with Eric Ravilious (1903- 1942),  died tragically during the Second World War.

By Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland (1856-1937) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Lady Victoria was born on the 20^th December 1883 and was the eldest daughter of Henry Manners the 8^th Duke of Rutland (1852-1925) and his wife Violet Manners the Duchess of Rutland (1856-1937) who was a noted artist and sculptor.  One of Lady Victoria’s sisters was the much remembered Lady Diana Cooper (1892-1986) whose life has been the subject of a couple of recent books.  As with her mother (who was painted by Watts and other artists) and her sister Diana, she was a noted beauty and moved easily within her aristocratic circles.

Portrait of Violet Manners by Herbert Rose Barraud

Looking at the painting of Plas Newydd, Lady Victoria certainly inherited some of her mother’s artistic talent (her mother had exhibited at the RA and at the famous New Gallery in Regent Street which existed there between 1888 and 1910).  If you are interested, the building that once housed The New Gallery is now the large Burberry store in Regent Street.

But let’s get back to Lady Victoria who although a gifted artist, is better known for her writings on art and her work as an illustrator.  In the 1920s, she co-wrote with G.C.Williamson (the noted art historian), studies of both Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) and Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807).

The fine study of Zoffany was seen as the first in-depth study of the German born artist whilst her work on Angelica Kauffman, was set in motion when manuscripts written by the artist were discovered in the RA archives.  This discovery and the study in general helped to identify what was Kauffman’s work and what was not.

She also wrote a study of William Peters (1742-1814) an almost forgotten English artist who later became an Anglican clergyman and chaplain to King George the Fourth.  Peters had been quite well known for some of his early erotic works, a fact that he later regretted during his time in the church.  He was an interesting artist who I first came across when I was at college and is well worth looking up.

Lady Victoria also wrote articles for The Connoisseur, a fine arts magazine which only ceased publication twenty-five years ago (I remember this magazine well).  She was also involved in illustrating Alicia Amherst’s London Parks and Gardens during the first decade of the century.  A fact that did surprise me during my researches is that both the studies on Kauffman and Zoffany are easily available on line should you want to read them.

Victoria_Marjorie_Harriet_Paget_(née_Manners),_Marchioness_of_Anglesey_by_George_Charles_Beresford_(1900s) George Charles Beresford [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The connection with Anglesey and from that, the subject of the painting that I am about to discuss, came through her marriage in 1912 to Charles Paget the 6^th Marquess of Anglesey (1885-1947).  Initially they lived in Staffordshire, but in 1920 moved to Plas Newydd and later the 6^th Marquess commissioned Rex Whistler to undertake the now famous murals in the house.  Whistler also completed a number of Trompe l’oeil paintings as well as portraits and a life study of Lady Victoria’s daughter, Lady Caroline Paget (1913-1973).  It appears that Rex fell in love with Lady Caroline during his time at Plas Newydd although she later married someone else much to the artists

dismay.

I am led to believe that some of these paintings are part of a permanent exhibition of Rex Whistler’s work and ephemera at Plas Newydd.  If this is the case, I will try to visit the house when I am again in North Wales.  The panting which was recently for sale at

Rex Whistler [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

the Arcade is a watercolour which was painted between 1920 and 1946 and shows part of the fine gardens and the house at Plas Newydd.  It appears to have been painted in the late afternoon of a summer’s day as the shadows are long on the grass and the roses are in full bloom.  It is a luxurious study of high summer and of Lady Victoria’s much loved house and in my view is one of the more interesting paintings to have arrived in the Arcade recently.  As with a great number of the paintings, etchings and drawings, I found it in the organised chaos of the Junk Shop.  This unit can be found in the right hand passage and is the only unit with a basement (do visit it as there is so much to see).   If Lady Victoria’s work is no longer there when you next visit then there are a host of fine framed works to look at and maybe buy.

On occasions. I have seen works which I have thought might have been completed by an artist of note, but by the time I have researched the artist the work has usually been sold.

Common sense denotes that you are not going to find a painting that you are going to retire with, but there are so many artists whose work will occasionally show up in places such as the Arcade.  This is the fun of looking at paintings and the like, you are never sure what you are likely to find.  And one must remember that not all the works by Richard Dadd are accounted for.

Happy Hunting

Stuart Miller-Osborne

Hungerford Arcade enjoyed a great day’s filming here recently when the BBC filmed their new television programme “Make Me A Dealer”.  Now, you can have your chance to take part in this show and Series Producer, Amanda Lowe explains the rules below and how you can apply.  Good luck!

Do you enjoy dabbling in antiques – do you like occasionally buying and selling interesting items in the hope that you can make a profit.  Well The BBC are making a brand new series Make me a Dealer presented by Paul Martin and we are looking for wannabe dealers to take part in the shows.  We are not after actual dealers but more people who are keen to learn how to be one and we want you to use your own money to buy items at auction and then sell them on to make yourself a profit.  We would like

people who have £150 plus to spend – the bigger the commitment the bigger the profit.  Paul Martin will give you lots of tips and guidance along the way and hopefully you will make yourself some good money in the process.  If you would be interested then do please email us with your contact details to Julia.kennedy@bbc.co.uk.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Amanda Lowe 

Series Producer -Make Me A Dealer

Hungerford Arcade is very proud to get involved with our military on Armed Forces Day.  As you will see from the pictures, everyone was happy and smiling, celebrating our wonderful service men and women.

Union flags adorned the High Street to mark this year’s Armed Forces Day in Hungerford. Hundreds of people turned out to watch the service men and women of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers march through Hungerford as part of the celebrations at the end of the month.  The band were incredible – so perfectly in time and in tune and just sounding great.  There wasn’t a foot out of place in the marching formation as they turned “Eyes LEFT!” to salute the superior officers and veterans standing on the dias.  I’m not an emotional person but it was really quite a powerful few minutes. 

                             L-R CFN James Chadwick, Adrian and Cpt. Paul Simpson

                                                     Just look at the size of this vehicle! (Support Vehicle Recovery)

Adrian with Pte Bradshaw

Arcade co-owner, Adrian Gilmour with soldier, Keeley Bishop