Built in 1848, The Widow’s Son is a historic grade II listed pub in Bow, East End London. It had a strange tradition of "The widow's son bun ceremony".
The story goes that a Widow living on the site of this pub received a letter from her son, asking for a fresh hot cross bun for when he returned for Easter.
Sadly the widow’s son never returned but dutifully his mother every year produced a new hot cross bun, and when her house was demolished to make way for the pub, a store of these buns were discovered.
Under the former owners of The Widow’s Son many of these varnished buns hung in a net over the bar. Every year a new one – with the date baked into the top was added by a serving member of the Navy.
Sadly it appears the pub is now permanently closed.
Spoilers ahead for the season three of Star Trek: Picard...
Let's talk about how the show introduces us to Captain Shaw. Eating alone, giving a perfunctory invitation to Picard to eat with him that is more insult than offer. This, the show lets us think, is a man who has some kind of grudge. He's probably just a bad captain the show lets us think. Let's all hate this guy, the show positively encourages... The show is being a little smarter than that of course.
Normally, within the world of the show a Star Fleet Captain dines in the ward room with his officers, because it is based on US Naval traditions. This is something that Trek has used comprehensively, showing the Captain dining with his officers as part of the narrative.
So with Shaw, we're set up to be expecting him to have dinner with his officers before the departure of his ship from dock. But he is not. And we're left to assume he choses not to.
Of course, he is not because he has a visiting Admiral. So he now he is required to invite them to dine alone with them. Not only is it a visiting Admiral, it is one he knows is going to ask him to do something he does not want to and by the regulations should not do. Not only is it a visiting Admiral, but it is a retired one who never the less feels like he can order him around. Not only is it a visiting Admiral, it is one who has a history of collateral damage. Not only is it a visiting Admiral, it's someone who's face is the face you see when you remember the battle of Wolf 359.
And you're all wondering why he's sour. The show set's Shaw up with expectations, in a way that make cohesive sense within the world it presents, all in order to subvert and reflect them back on us when we find out more about Shaw.
Go back and rewatch this scene knowing what we now know about Shaw, and that Todd Stashwick's performance is informed by this.
A custom that is still practised in the Royal Navy. In the 18th and 19th centuries, British warships hoisted a garland of evergreens in the rigging to indicate that discipline on board had been relaxed and consequently women were allowed on board.
Exporting Cattle not Insurance - the bum-boats swarm, by William E., early 19th century (x)
But not only the married real wives, but also the light ladies from the pleasure craft. However, as only married women were allowed on board, the men on board were spontaneously married for a day thanks to the garland in order to fulfil the rule. Incidentally, if the ladies left the ship again, the men were unmarried again.
The garland was also hoisted on the day a member of the crew was sent off to war, and this custom has survived to this day.
The most likely origin of the term goes back to the wooden decked ships of the Royal Navy during the late 17th or early 18th century. Barefooted sailor had to stand at attention for inspection and had to line up on deck along the seams of the wooden planks, hence to "toe the line". Today it means to conform to rules or standards.
Henry VIII ordered that "no captain shall take the wind from his admiral", by which was meant that the junior officer should pass his superior to leeward so as not to inconvenience him by taking the wind out of his sails.
Similarly, it has long been customary to ask permission to cross the bow of the superior officer, although the need for such a manoeuvre should be avoided if possible, as it could force the superior officer to shorten sail or reduce speed to avoid a collision. Officers observe this seamanship practice in the mess: When reaching in front of another officer, they say, "May I cross your bow?"
Old nautical custom in which those sailors present were paid a glass of grog by first time visitors to the main topgallant masthead, an action that placed one on good footing or standing with his fellow shipmates.
The privilege of the Royal Navy to remain seated while drinking to the health of the Sovereign is traditional, but has an obscure origin. There are three popular theories:
1. that King Charles II (1630-1685) bumped his head on board the Royal Charles when he rose to return the toast; 2. that King George IV (1762-1830) as Regent and dining on board one of His Majesty's ships, said when the officers rose to toast the King's health, "Gentlemen, please remain seated, your loyalty is above suspicion"; 3. that King William IV (1765-1837), as Duke of Clarence (Lord High Admiral), bumped his head when he rose at dinner on one of His Majesty's ships.
“To wives and sweethearts- may they never meet”
On many wooden ships it was almost impossible to stand upright between decks when expecting the deck beams. Even on ships with a pronounced "tumble-home" (i.e. steeply sloping sides), it was difficult for anyone sitting close to the ship's side to stand at all. This privilege of remaining seated did not apply to the naval messes ashore. On board, it was customary for the president of the mess to give the toast and then ask the youngest member of the mess present to return the toast.
It is the custom for H.M. ships, when about to leave a harbour in which a senior officer is present, to ask for "permission to proceed". This custom is carried out in spite of the fact that the officer to whom the request is addressed may have no authority to refuse.
There is one incident recorded in which an officer who was discourteous enough to proceed without asking permission was ordered to return to the anchorage, the senior ship going to "Action Stations" and threatening to open fire unless the junior obeyed the order. The senior ship was commanded by an officer of the same rank and only a few days senior to that of the other commanding officer, but that was sufficient to entitle him to act as he did.
