Poppy wreaths yesterday began their journey from London to France to commemorate the involvement of British forces in World War I a century ago.
The Western Front Association charity is recreating the journey of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France at the outset of the conflict by transporting 85 wreaths across the Channel, where there will be a series of ceremonies. The wreaths, which represent the 85 regiments and corps forming the Land Force of the BEF, began their journey at Hyde Park Barracks, South Carriage Drive.
From there they were carried on an original WWI general service wagon drawn by two horses supplied by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. They will eventually be taken on to France where there will be three ceremonies on Wednesday.
‘Peggy Sue’ guitar worth a million
A guitar bought for Alvin Stardust for just over £1, when he was a 12-year-old boy, is now worth more than £1 million.
The budding pop star took his three-quarter-sized Spanish guitar – nicknamed Peggy Sue – everywhere and had it signed by such famous names as Buddy Holly and The Crickets, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Chuck Berry – among many others.
The 71-year-old star will be talking today through its history in the BBC Radio 2 programme entitled Peggy Sue – The £1 Guitar That Is Worth A Million.
Repayment better late than never
Singer-songwriter Jon Allen has offered to pay Rod Stewart back after feeling guilty for years over the theft of an album when he was a penniless teenager.
The musician – whose latest release Deep River has been Radio 2’s album of the week – swiped a copy of a £6.99 compilation cassette by Stewart and his old band The Faces in 1990 from Woolworths.
Folk-rock artist Allen said: “I didn’t have the money so I nicked it. But now that I’ve sold a few records of my own and have a few quid I’d really like to finally pay Rod for that cassette. Also, I’d like to apologise to Woolworths for helping to put them out of business.”
Recipe for the perfect relationship
The secret to a perfect relationship consists of a three-and-a-half-year age gap, five kisses a day and sex twice a week, according to a British study.
Sharing two hobbies, saying “I love you” at least once a day and regarding your partner as your best friend are also signs of a lasting liaison.
Three-quarters of the 2,000 adults polled for the newly launched Two Together Railcard said that for a relationship to be perfect the couple didn’t necessarily have to be married.
RideLondon couple get married
Yesterday’s mass cycle RideLondon was a road to romance for one couple. Gary Watson, 44, and Lisa Russell, 41, took a breather during the 86 miles of the RideLondon-Surrey Classic so they could get married.
The couple, from Raynes Park in London, were pronounced husband and wife in the morning at Richmond Park’s Pembroke Lodge and began their new life together by cycling the rest of the way to the finish line on The Mall.
The keen cyclists, who have a five-year-old daughter named Betsy, had forgone a suit and wedding dress in favour of lycra and bike shoes.