Powell for PM, 2012

London. 2012. Olympic fever is at a peak.

On a residential street, barely two miles from the Olympic Park, graffiti has appeared calling for the elevation of Hope Powell, the Head Coach of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland women's football team, to high office.

After an impressive start to the tournament, only time will tell whether Powell's successful stewardship of the national team will ignite her political career.

A nation waits - and hopes.

Supporting London's sex workers, 1971

Working in the sex industry is a dangerous and frightening business.

Sex workers all over the world ply their trade under threat of constant violence: from their clients, their pimps and, on occasion, from other girls. Many prostitutes are addicted to hard drugs and a high proportion of them will die young and, often, in violent circumstances.

Lord Morriston of Lambeth (1901-79), a Conservative member of the House of Lords, was a friend to and tireless campaigner on behalf of the rights of prostitutes working in London.

Morrison (seen here in his car) was a familiar figure in London's red light districts driving his car very slowly and stopping frequently to talk the girls. Such was his concern for their welfare, he would often invite them into his car for a chat and offer them money. So concerned was he to ensure that he did insult them by his offer of money, he would often engage in sexual intercourse with the girls.

Royal Wedding celebration, 2011

 

Britons through the ages enjoy nothing more than an excuse to join together in a communal celebration. Food, drink (preferably alcoholic), music and the company of family and loved ones are the essential ingredients. Any excuse will do: victory on the battlefield, a rare sporting triumph or a Royal Celebration.

April 2011 saw the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. A nation rejoiced and this photograph, taken in somewhere in the north of England, shows Britons young and old alike toasting the happy couple.

Feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square, 1956

For many years, one of the most popular tourist sights in London was the feeding of the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

This woman, Mabel Barnes, was employed by Westminster Council to distribute poisoned bird seed to keep numbers down. The bird seed used by the Council was designed to cause the pigeons a slow and agonising death.

During her career, Mabel was personally responsible for the deaths of many thousands of these unwelcome and disease-ridden pests. Her service to Westminster saw her awarded the freedom of the borough.

Sadly, shortly after this picture was taken, Mabel was pecked to death by these birds.

A campaign to erect a statue of Mabel on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square was recently announced by the Council.