Master John of Hever

An old fashioned English gentleman with some unusual interests!

[master-john-uk]

Goodnight.

[master-john-uk]

Royal Navy air crew killed in Devon helicopter crash named

Tributes are paid to Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, 42, Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24.

This was a very tragic incident. I hope the cause is discovered quickly.

I have met Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson in the past. He was a lovely, and knowledgeable man. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all three of the personnel who lost their lives on Wednesday.

[master-john-uk]

Morcambe and Wise 1962 - Cossacks!

[magicaloxford]

The old and new Muses of Oxford🎶! For centuries lead statues of the ancient Greek Muses have looked over Oxford from their lofty perch on Broad Street. However, for centuries they have also occasionally flown down from their perch, as it were, and struck the ground. Due to this habit, Oxford has been lacking several watchful Muses. Now new statues of the Muses have been made and are on display in the Weston Library. I took a picture of them before they are elevated to their high positions. I hope none decide to fly off! (After one of the Muses fell down in the early nineteenth century, an Oxford wit wrote: 'Look out, Oxonians, one and all, For here the Muses are of lead; And when such heavy ladies fall, ‘Tis time for each to mind his head.')

[grandmaster-anne]

4 June 1945 Princess Elizabeth at Cardiff Girl Guides meeting, Wales © Mirrorpix

[vintage-london-images]

With traffic in London increasing and with it congestion and parking issues, the Police and Police Constables on the beat had jurisdiction over all things traffic, to directing traffic and parking to also dealing with injury and non injury accidents alike. In April 1960 the first Traffic Wardens were introduced in the Westminster area to take the pressure of the Police.

Double yellow lines and parking meters had both of course been introduced in London during the late 1950s, and after the Westminster experiment, wardens were rolled out across London in September 1960. They were employed by the police to enforce parking restrictions, and had powers of enforcement over parking and traffic management such as directing traffic.

It's interesting that because parking was delt with by the Police via wardens, it was actually a criminal offence. The process for challenging a ticket was to go to a Magistrates Court and be tried, risking a far bigger fine if found guilty, and ignoring a ticket could actually lead to a prison sentence (not directly, but via contempt of court for not paying a fine). 

The Road Traffic Act of 1991 eventually decriminalised parking enforcement, and this allowed councils to apply for the power to enforce some of the restrictions themselves, and to encourage them to do so, it allowed them to keep the money raised. So eventually traffic wardens employed by the Police were phased out, with parking jurisdiction passing to Councils as today. But interestingly some traffic jurisdiction passing back to the police to enforce. This film from 1967 gives us a little insight into a 60s London wardens duties.

Please check out other posts with hashtag #video on @vintage-london-images

[master-john-uk]

Many, or perhaps most drivers do not know that it is still a criminal offence to park a vehicle in certain places... The zig-zag lines on the approach to a pedestrian crossing is one example.

To be honest, I have my doubts if many police officers know this. The number of times I see vehicles "obstructing vision" of pedestrian crossings has increased in the last three years. If a police officer ignores such an incident, he or she is guilty of failing in their duty to uphold the law!

While many parking restrictions are ridiculous, and are simply designed to raise revenue for local councils... obstructing a pedestrian crossing raises safety issues.

[vintage-london-images]

Londoners welcome John F Kennedy on his first visit to the UK as President on the 4th June 1961. The President is seen here with the Priminister Harold Mcmillan as crowds of well wishers look on.

[master-john-uk]

4th June 1738 - King George III was born at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London.

Throughout his life George III suffered bouts of mental illness, which became more frequent and extreme as he grew older until he was declared insane in 1811.

Before the madness of King George became a problem, George III took a keen interest in Eton College, and was the schools greatest patron and benefactor. He would often visit Eton College and chat with the boys and masters, and also entertained students at Windsor Castle.

Eton College still commemorate George III with their annual Fourth of June celebrations, (although Fourth of June is no longer celebrated on 4th June.)

[gregorygalloway]

A Passage to India was first published on 4 June 1924.

Inspired by E.M. Forster's trip to India a decade earlier, and reviews at the time of its release criticized its favorable, optimistic depiction of the country and the friendship between the British Fielding and the Indian Dr. Aziz.

The Modern Library selected A Passage to India as "one of the 100 great works of 20th century English literature" and Time magazine placed it on its list of "All Time 100 Novels" in 2005.

[earthanthem]

(via Pin on UK) Painswick, Gloucestershire, England

[ginandoldlace]

King Charles lll meeting with Regional Chief Bobby Camron of the Saskatchewan Nation along with Indigenous Nation leaders at Buckingham Palace

[theroyalweekly]

The Princess of Wales during a visit to The Christie, NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. HRH began her visit by visiting the Oak Road Treatment Centre, and met with staff, and patients currently undergoing chemotherapy. 

📸 Andrew Parsons // Kensington Palace – ChristinZ

[camillasgirl]

Queen Camilla attends the Chelsea Pensioners Founder's Day at Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, 04.06.2026

[vintage-london-images]

A hot summer’s day in London 1959.

[master-john-uk]

A gentleman, probably a former British Army officer carries his furled umbrella… even on a warm, sunny day.

When attending a Memorial Parade, army officers in their bowler hats are not allowed to open their umbrellas, even if it does rain.

[vintage-london-images]

A policeman stops traffic, so pigs heading for slaughter can be herded across the road in Spittlefields 1928. Could you imagine this in modern day London.?

[master-john-uk]

At least the pigs obeyed traffic signals… unlike certain two-wheeled road users I encounter today!

The City of London was where all the main meat markets were located, and South London was largely rural 100+ years ago. As a Freeman of the City of London, I hold an ancient right to drive sheep across London Bridge. Something I have not done… yet!

[thegentlemanthinks-deactivated2]

The Original Gentleman 🤵🏻‍♂️🎩

A hundred years ago, a gentleman was a man of high social position and wealth. Even today dictionaries still retain this definition, as well as several others:

⚜️A chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man.

⚜️A polite or formal way of referring to a man.

⚜️A man of noble birth attached to a royal household.

⚜️A man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure.

⚜️A courteous title for a male fellow member of the House of Commons or the House of Representatives.

[master-john-uk]

Being a Gentleman is a matter of choice.

It has nothing to do with wealth, nobility or social standing... It is about how one behaves, and treats others!

[vintage-london-images]

Barrels of Portuguese sherry just unloaded at the London docks. Equivalent to 600,000 bottles. Cheers.

[master-john-uk]

That was probably Grandad’s delivery!