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Greenwich news and information

National Maritime Musuem Extension Unveiled

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Pictures of the proposed extension to the National Maritime Musuem have been unveiled. Designed by architects, C. F. Møller, the extension will house a large gallery for special exhibitions, as well as a new cafe and restaurant. The designers say that the introduction of a new east-west pedestrian route will bring the NMM into a “seamless integration with Greenwich Park”. Much of the new space will be below ground, and its roof will become a terrace overlooking the park.



The new wing has been made possible with a large donation by shipping magnate, Sammy Ofer, who also stepped in to help with funds for the Cutty Sark.

The Evening Standard has labelled the new wing a “toast rack” but that do you think of the new design?

Hat tip: Londonist

Win "A Year In The Life Of Greenwich Park"

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A Year in the life of Greenwich Park by Anthony QuineyA Year In The Life of Greenwich Park by Anthony Quiney (published by Frances Lincoln) that tells the story of London’s oldest enclosed Royal Park. The book uses the four seasons to create a narrative of the park through an informative text and top quality pictures.

You’ll learn about the park’s history, its buildings, its views and its trees. For such a recent publication, you may have expected a reference to plans to use the park for London 2012 but it steers clear of controversy.

Quiney himself knows Greenwich well, and was the Professor of Architectural History at the University of Greenwich.

If you love the Park, and frankly who doesnt, this is great coffee table fodder. It’s but Greenwich.co.uk is giving away a copy of the book…

Competition

To win a copy of Anthony Quiney’s A Year In The Life of Greenwich Park, simply answer this question:

What time of the day does Greenwich Park open to pedestrians?

Email your answer to rob@greenwich.co.uk. Closing date for entries is 1pm on Thursday 16th April. Winner will be announced on Friday 17th April.

We’re on Twitter

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Greenwich.co.uk is now on Twitter, so if you’re a member too, please follow here. 

I’ll be “tweeting” a headline feed of articles that have been posted to Greenwich.co.uk (well actually that will happen automatically), as well as flagging up other interesting Greenwich related stuff I see around the web and mini-stories which don’t warrant a full post on the site. 

Most recent “tweets” will appear in our sidebar on the right hand side.

If you’re not yet a member of Twitter and want to know what all the fuss is about, you can sign up here.

Easter Bonnet Parade 2009

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Easter Bonnet Parade, Cutty Sark Gardens, 12th April 1.30pm

An Easter bonnet parade will take place this Sunday in Cutty Sark Gardens, starting at 1.30pm.
Prizes on offer for the most creative bonnets include tickets to Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival, books and easter eggs. Free workshops have already taken place this week to help young people get their bonnets ready. 

Parade day will also feature the Gandini Jugglers, a Continental market and a showcase of greetings cars and pictures from Blackheath Arts Society, plus egg and spoon races for all ages.

If you’re stuck for ideas, have a look on Google Images for easter bonnets.  Good luck!

Public Debate on Public Private Partnerships 23rd April

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Debate on Public Private Partnerships, 23rd April, 6.30pm

The School of Business at the University of Greenwich is hosting a debate, open to all, entitled:

“Public-Private Partnerships: What future during Recession and Fiscal Retrenchment?”

David Heald, Professor of Accountancy at the University of Aberdeen, will be discussing a range of contemporary issues surrounding the UK public-private partnerships experience to date.

Topics covered will include:

  • The implosion of the banking sector;
  • What roles public-private partnerships might play in response to the paralysis of the banking system;
  • and Changes to the accounting system.

More info here

Monopoly Competition Update

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Thanks to all those that took part in the Greenwich Monopoly Competition. The confirmed list of squares on the Greenwich Monopoly board we are making is as follows:

Mayfair: Gloucester Circus
Park Lane: Crooms Hill
Oxford Street: Trafalgar Road
Bond Street: Greenwich Market
Regent Street: Nelson Road
Whitechapel: Salutation Road
Old Kent Road: Tunnel Avenue
Fenchurch Street: Greenwich Park
Liverpool Street: Cutty Sark
Marylebone: National Maritime Musuem
King’s Cross: Royal Observatory
Strand: Royal Hill
Fleet Street: Hyde Vale
Trafalgar Square: Diamond Terrace
Leicester Square: Greenwich High Road
Coventry Street: King William Walk
Piccadilly: Greenwich Church Street
Bow Street: Burney Street
Marlborough Stree: King George Street
Vine Street: Stockwell Street
Pentonville Road: Pelton Road
Euston Road: Old Woolwich Road
Angel: Ballast Quay
Pall Mall: Romney Road
Whitehall: Peyton Place
Northumberland Avenue: Roan Street

We’ve now sent those details off to the official Monopoly factory in the UK and they are busy building this bespoke Monopoly set.

The draw to find out who will win this extra special prize will take place on Wednesday 15th April!

Cycles UK Opens in Creek Road

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New bike shop, Cycles UK, opened for business in Creek Road on Saturday morning. The new branch is intended to be the flagship store for the independent chain, and will stock bikes and accessories from leading brands such as Specialized, Marin, Trek, Wilier and Cube.

The opening was nearly derailed by the recent break-in and theft of eight cycles, but thankfully everything went ahead as scheduled.

On Thursday night, local cyclists were invited down to an “open night” to see what the shop had to offer and enjoy a drink and a chat with the staff. Peter Skelton from Cycles UK tells me that the store’s dedicated women’s cycling area received particular praise from the female cyclists in attendance.

Related Link: Hybrid Bike

Greenwich To Host World Cup Matches?

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Greenwich.co.uk understands that Greenwich is set to play a vital role in England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Confidential documents passed to this website show that sporting insiders reckon the predicted boost to the area following the 2012 Olympics will see Greenwich, and Greenwich Park specifically, emerge as one of the country’s leading sports venues.

The idea is still in the speculative stages but we have obtained the confidential image below which planners have had drawn up to show that Greenwich Park could easily fit a stadium the size of Arsenal’s “Emirates” in to it. One insider who is involved in the project told us, “We believe we can build a premier football stadium in Greenwich Park, without harming any of the trees, other than the ones in the way”.

If the plans did go ahead, one suggestion is that Charlton Athletic could relocate to the stadium after the World Cup. An Abu Dhabi based consortium is believed to have offered to finance the building of the stadium if they are granted as 99 year lease on the park by the Royal Parks Agency.

Related link: Save Greenwich Park blog

UPDATE: Ahem… Was anyone fooled??