15.45 04.07.2007 the purpose of the trip to London was to attend the concert for Diana, held on July 1st what would have been her 46th birthday, and arranged by her two sons, the future King of the British Islands, and his brother. The added bonus was that the concert was to be held at the rebuilt national Stadium at Wembley.
The first occasion that I visited the old stadium with a team I supported I was at the point of tears with the emotion of the experience. This did not blind to the faults of inadequate seating, inadequate facilities especially the toilets and the difficulties of getting to the stadium and getting away within a reasonable period of time. There has been much controversy about the decision to recreate a stadium on the same site as the old one.
The holding of the concert was also not without controversy. The intention was that the concert would be held after the formal British Inquest into her death, ten years ago, and preliminary enquiry as to whether there was evidence to substantiate allegations of a conspiracy and cover up. The understandable objections of the father of her lover who also died with her, has resulted in postponement and a change in the Coroner and in the decision that the hearing should not be held without a citizens jury. The former Princess has also had a bad press over recent years, some of it designed to avoid her deification and establish that she was a flawed genius and a brilliant opportunist who came to use the media both to present her own cause and the causes which she wished to support. There was also the problem that her former husband and future King wished to marry his first and perhaps only real love and to want her to be accepted not just as his wife but as his partner in the role he was required to play because of his birth. Whatever individual feelings there are about former Princess Diana, her death, the role of her former husband and his present wife, the plight and position of their two sons is something everyone should treat with understanding, sympathy and support.
At one point in the concert the two banks of cameras on either side of the stage, at least 100 long lenses cameras, switched from the stage to focus on the Princes, and their friends and remained their capturing very nuance of behaviour and interaction with others. Prince Harry appeared the more relaxed and I am going to enjoy and be myself of the two. As a consequence there is a picture of him kissing his girl friend Chelsea Davy and stomping away with his friends. He also made it clear that he had wished to join his men and colleagues in Iraq, regardless of the threat to his own welfare. Prince William as next in line after Prince Charles already seems to have understood and accepted the nature of a role performed so brilliantly by his grandmother, knowing that cameras await any instance of being off guard with eager beaver sub editors with draw loads of catchlines at the ready. Many spent the whole concert trying to photo the Prince and Kate Middleton, sitting a few feet away from him, looking at each other. Only one source has mentioned the Diana's brother was also present.
Once upon a time the 'London Season' was the occasion when suitable young women of good families of appropriate breeding and wealth were presented to the Monarch and to the available bachelors with a view to establish a liaison for life. Falling in love with each other was bonus, but the main objective of the considerable expenditure involved on hold a party, providing the clothing and accessories, the transport and the entrance fees to the required events (Henley, Wimbledon, Ascot, Burley, the British Grand Prix, Cowes and perhaps a day at a Lord's Test, some Polo and some fox hunting, shooting of grouse on a Scottish moor, a cruise party to somewhere discreet, a Royal houseparty etc) was that someone would be able to provide the lifestyle to which their daughter had become accustomed. Everything changed with the sixties and with Thatcher, but the one aspect of Blair, despite the Fox Hunting Ban is that after the near republican revolution at the time of her death, here has been an attempt to go back to the good old days when the upper classes could do what they liked as long as it was done in private and could put on a great show for the proletariat who always knew how to have a good time, and to ensure the middle and increasingly educated and often boring classes were not offended. It may be a premature judgement but the concert may not only have secured future Kingship for William, but also for his father, and step mother,
I begin with Wembley, the stadium. The maximum security alert situation was not the occasion to go on an explore so my experience is limited to have tried several approaches from the main line and Wembley Central town area to Wembley Park and Wembley Way, between a third and half the way round; to walking round the main entry level concourse and to having a seat on the playing surface which enabled a good view of the inside of the stadium. It is impressive and I would venture terrorist proof, except for a lone gunman or a very long distance guided missile. The former was dealt with by full body searches and examination of all baggage. The latter is unlikely. Otherwise it seemed to me that the security thinking of the site design was brilliant
Another impressive aspect is the way the crowd, some sixty thousand were managed out of the stadium, at the concert end, along Wembley Way, controlled by strategic rows of mounted and foot police, direct access into the station and to platforms and on to fast trains into London. The majority of the audience had left the stadium before me because I had difficulty in finding my train and motel entrance ticket, until I remembered that I had changed shirts.
And so to the concert. We the audience were part of a function with a number of purposes. The most important was to remember a rare life, someone who was shy and an idealist who quickly learnt something of the realities of life and how to turn adversity and unwanted situations to their own advantage and to the benefit of others. Popular with the public, desired by men, it would have been so easy to have to have used the opportunity for personal gain and personal pleasures, but then she recognised in herself a unique gift of healing and bringing hope, of transforming lives, and of achieving what was thought impossible. The music was OK and sometimes very good, but what was important, was the sequence of films by those whose lives she altered, who never forgot the kindness, the affection and the time. I cannot think of anyone else who achieved so much when they did not have or need to do it. This is why those who draw attention to her flaws do not understand, that it was the combination of human frailty and beauty of spirit which we all continue to admire and mourn the loss.
It is because of that we can also forgive her sons being normal young men, doing what normal young men do, but who are also showing every indication of also possessing the qualities demonstrated by both parents throughout their lives, qualities which the conventional establishment, and those who want one dimensional role players, detest.
The concert was also the opportunity to remind the world, that faced with a threat to our existence, our way of life, we do not panic, we refuse to adopt the measures and the behaviour of those who would do us harm and make us be different, and we know how to organise, how to put on a good show and how to enjoy ourselves. We also know how to look out for each other.
show girls, or Brian Ferry singing while a dozen models strutted the across the stage to parade before the Princess and to the fully orchestrated full company of the National Ballet performing a segment of Swan Lake or a full concert performance of some the most well known numbers from the shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber, not one corner was cut or compromise made for such a diverse and large audience, other than a reduction in numbers because of the insistence on performance quality and the audience participation.
The treats was the appearance of those flown from across the Atlantic or rounded up from home to introduce the performers, Dennis Hopper of the James Dean films and Easy Rider, now a grey haired elder of Hollywood and TV, Gillian Andersen of the X Files and Kieffer Sutherland of 24. Boris Becker and John McEnroe, and David Beckham among others of less enduring fame, although I have always liked Patsy Kensit.
In terms of the individual performances this is obviously a matter of personal taste, but there were for me several surprises and few disappointments, mainly caused by some artists being restricted either because they performed what they had been told were special favourites of Diana, or of her sons, who it is said had a major say in those invited. I have Brian Ferry, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Status Quo records and seen them all perform live and they met all my expectations, as did Tom Jones, especially for the party of Welsh housewives sitting behind me offering their knickers. I had never heard of Lily Allen until seeing her performance at Glastonbury, and she along with Nelly Furtardo. Orson, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and P Diddy all seemed highly professional creatures of the moment unlikely to be known or remembered by anyone at the next such gathering whenever it occurs. I suspect Natasha Bedingfield and Joss Stone will have greater longevity but one surprise for me was Fergie, an ex of the Black Eyed Peas. My first reaction was that she was one of those stars who make it because of their looks and presentation, but with her second number she demonstrated that she can sing. Will Young has continued also to surprise with the quality of his writing and the ability to act. I like James Morrison, and I have someone living next door who sings as well as him and Damon Rice. I was never into Supertramp and Duran Duran and Take That were of a younger generation, but they did not fail, but my lasting memory is of the young woman in my immediate front who had an energy, technique and style of dancing which took back to those days standing against the wall of the Cy Laurie Club wishing I had someone like her to dance with.
The first occasion that I visited the old stadium with a team I supported I was at the point of tears with the emotion of the experience. This did not blind to the faults of inadequate seating, inadequate facilities especially the toilets and the difficulties of getting to the stadium and getting away within a reasonable period of time. There has been much controversy about the decision to recreate a stadium on the same site as the old one.
The holding of the concert was also not without controversy. The intention was that the concert would be held after the formal British Inquest into her death, ten years ago, and preliminary enquiry as to whether there was evidence to substantiate allegations of a conspiracy and cover up. The understandable objections of the father of her lover who also died with her, has resulted in postponement and a change in the Coroner and in the decision that the hearing should not be held without a citizens jury. The former Princess has also had a bad press over recent years, some of it designed to avoid her deification and establish that she was a flawed genius and a brilliant opportunist who came to use the media both to present her own cause and the causes which she wished to support. There was also the problem that her former husband and future King wished to marry his first and perhaps only real love and to want her to be accepted not just as his wife but as his partner in the role he was required to play because of his birth. Whatever individual feelings there are about former Princess Diana, her death, the role of her former husband and his present wife, the plight and position of their two sons is something everyone should treat with understanding, sympathy and support.
At one point in the concert the two banks of cameras on either side of the stage, at least 100 long lenses cameras, switched from the stage to focus on the Princes, and their friends and remained their capturing very nuance of behaviour and interaction with others. Prince Harry appeared the more relaxed and I am going to enjoy and be myself of the two. As a consequence there is a picture of him kissing his girl friend Chelsea Davy and stomping away with his friends. He also made it clear that he had wished to join his men and colleagues in Iraq, regardless of the threat to his own welfare. Prince William as next in line after Prince Charles already seems to have understood and accepted the nature of a role performed so brilliantly by his grandmother, knowing that cameras await any instance of being off guard with eager beaver sub editors with draw loads of catchlines at the ready. Many spent the whole concert trying to photo the Prince and Kate Middleton, sitting a few feet away from him, looking at each other. Only one source has mentioned the Diana's brother was also present.
Once upon a time the 'London Season' was the occasion when suitable young women of good families of appropriate breeding and wealth were presented to the Monarch and to the available bachelors with a view to establish a liaison for life. Falling in love with each other was bonus, but the main objective of the considerable expenditure involved on hold a party, providing the clothing and accessories, the transport and the entrance fees to the required events (Henley, Wimbledon, Ascot, Burley, the British Grand Prix, Cowes and perhaps a day at a Lord's Test, some Polo and some fox hunting, shooting of grouse on a Scottish moor, a cruise party to somewhere discreet, a Royal houseparty etc) was that someone would be able to provide the lifestyle to which their daughter had become accustomed. Everything changed with the sixties and with Thatcher, but the one aspect of Blair, despite the Fox Hunting Ban is that after the near republican revolution at the time of her death, here has been an attempt to go back to the good old days when the upper classes could do what they liked as long as it was done in private and could put on a great show for the proletariat who always knew how to have a good time, and to ensure the middle and increasingly educated and often boring classes were not offended. It may be a premature judgement but the concert may not only have secured future Kingship for William, but also for his father, and step mother,
I begin with Wembley, the stadium. The maximum security alert situation was not the occasion to go on an explore so my experience is limited to have tried several approaches from the main line and Wembley Central town area to Wembley Park and Wembley Way, between a third and half the way round; to walking round the main entry level concourse and to having a seat on the playing surface which enabled a good view of the inside of the stadium. It is impressive and I would venture terrorist proof, except for a lone gunman or a very long distance guided missile. The former was dealt with by full body searches and examination of all baggage. The latter is unlikely. Otherwise it seemed to me that the security thinking of the site design was brilliant
Another impressive aspect is the way the crowd, some sixty thousand were managed out of the stadium, at the concert end, along Wembley Way, controlled by strategic rows of mounted and foot police, direct access into the station and to platforms and on to fast trains into London. The majority of the audience had left the stadium before me because I had difficulty in finding my train and motel entrance ticket, until I remembered that I had changed shirts.
And so to the concert. We the audience were part of a function with a number of purposes. The most important was to remember a rare life, someone who was shy and an idealist who quickly learnt something of the realities of life and how to turn adversity and unwanted situations to their own advantage and to the benefit of others. Popular with the public, desired by men, it would have been so easy to have to have used the opportunity for personal gain and personal pleasures, but then she recognised in herself a unique gift of healing and bringing hope, of transforming lives, and of achieving what was thought impossible. The music was OK and sometimes very good, but what was important, was the sequence of films by those whose lives she altered, who never forgot the kindness, the affection and the time. I cannot think of anyone else who achieved so much when they did not have or need to do it. This is why those who draw attention to her flaws do not understand, that it was the combination of human frailty and beauty of spirit which we all continue to admire and mourn the loss.
It is because of that we can also forgive her sons being normal young men, doing what normal young men do, but who are also showing every indication of also possessing the qualities demonstrated by both parents throughout their lives, qualities which the conventional establishment, and those who want one dimensional role players, detest.
The concert was also the opportunity to remind the world, that faced with a threat to our existence, our way of life, we do not panic, we refuse to adopt the measures and the behaviour of those who would do us harm and make us be different, and we know how to organise, how to put on a good show and how to enjoy ourselves. We also know how to look out for each other.
show girls, or Brian Ferry singing while a dozen models strutted the across the stage to parade before the Princess and to the fully orchestrated full company of the National Ballet performing a segment of Swan Lake or a full concert performance of some the most well known numbers from the shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber, not one corner was cut or compromise made for such a diverse and large audience, other than a reduction in numbers because of the insistence on performance quality and the audience participation.
The treats was the appearance of those flown from across the Atlantic or rounded up from home to introduce the performers, Dennis Hopper of the James Dean films and Easy Rider, now a grey haired elder of Hollywood and TV, Gillian Andersen of the X Files and Kieffer Sutherland of 24. Boris Becker and John McEnroe, and David Beckham among others of less enduring fame, although I have always liked Patsy Kensit.
In terms of the individual performances this is obviously a matter of personal taste, but there were for me several surprises and few disappointments, mainly caused by some artists being restricted either because they performed what they had been told were special favourites of Diana, or of her sons, who it is said had a major say in those invited. I have Brian Ferry, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Status Quo records and seen them all perform live and they met all my expectations, as did Tom Jones, especially for the party of Welsh housewives sitting behind me offering their knickers. I had never heard of Lily Allen until seeing her performance at Glastonbury, and she along with Nelly Furtardo. Orson, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and P Diddy all seemed highly professional creatures of the moment unlikely to be known or remembered by anyone at the next such gathering whenever it occurs. I suspect Natasha Bedingfield and Joss Stone will have greater longevity but one surprise for me was Fergie, an ex of the Black Eyed Peas. My first reaction was that she was one of those stars who make it because of their looks and presentation, but with her second number she demonstrated that she can sing. Will Young has continued also to surprise with the quality of his writing and the ability to act. I like James Morrison, and I have someone living next door who sings as well as him and Damon Rice. I was never into Supertramp and Duran Duran and Take That were of a younger generation, but they did not fail, but my lasting memory is of the young woman in my immediate front who had an energy, technique and style of dancing which took back to those days standing against the wall of the Cy Laurie Club wishing I had someone like her to dance with.
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