On Thursday 11th June 2015, for one evening only, the Coca-Cola London Eye will be set to rotate much slower than usual, as part of a special tribute to the iconic adopted Londoners. Each of the London Eye’s 32 capsules will be transformed to feature a talk on 32 extraordinary Londoners including Margaret Thatcher, Joe Strummer and Vivienne Westwood. What was suppose to be a one-off event last year returns in a few days due to popular demand.
A few days ago I was attended the press preview and it was highly enjoyable right from the start. Curators Stephen Coates and Suzette Field talked us through and Sue Tilley (aka Lucian Freud’s muse) kept us entertained throughout the evening. My fellow guests and I could not quite take in how quickly the time zipped past because what was almost an hour felt more like twenty minutes.
London has a very long history of cultural history, with many iconic figures shaping the destiny of the capital city. This year will be all about those people who have made significant contributions towards London’s rich and diverse culture. Guests will be served a complimentary beverage courtesy of Aspall Cyder as they mingle and listen to expert speakers which will include Dan Cruickshank, Don Letts and Jennie Bond.
The price of each ticket is £40 and is available from: www.32londoners.com. You will get to spend 45 minutes on the Coca-Cola London eye and listen to a talk on chosen adopted Londoner while drinking away to a bottle of Aspall Cyder (non-alcoholic choice will be available). After the ride, guests will be invited to spend time at the Riverside Rooms to discuss the event over more drinks!
Can I go back and experience it again please? It’s not to be missed!
Below you will find the full list of the 32 Londoners and their speakers for the evening.
Capsule 1: King John by Stephen Church
Capsule 2: Dick Whittington by Tracey Hill
Capsule 3: Anne Boleyn by Tracy Borman
Capsule 4: Hugh Myddelton by Pete Berthoud
Capsule 5: William Shakespeare by Catharine Arnold
Capsule 6: Isaac Newton by Simon Werret
Capsule 7: Nicholas Hawksmoor by Iain Sinclair
Capsule 8: Madame Tussaud by Kate Berridge
Capsule 9: Isambard Kingdom Brunel by Dan Cruickshank
Capsule 10: George Gilbert Scott by Gavin Stamp
Capsule 11: Karl Marx by David McLellan
Capsule 12: Florence Nightingale by Natasha McEnroe
Capsule 13: Charles Dickens by Claire Tomalin
Capsule 14: Oscar Wilde by Neil McKenna
Capsule 15: Sigmund Freud by Carol Seigel
Capsule 16: Arthur Conan Doyle by Matt Brown
Capsule 17: Marie Stopes by Lesley Hall
Capsule 18: George Orwell by DJ Taylor
Capsule 19: Anthony Blunt by Miranda Carter
Capsule 20: Lord Kitchener by Anthony Joseph
Capsule 21: Lucian Freud by Sue Tilley
Capsule 22: Margaret Thatcher by Charles Moore
Capsule 23: Paul Raymond by Paul Willets
Capsule 24: Peter Cook by William Cook
Capsule 25: Vivienne Westwood by Ian Kelly
Capsule 26: Jimi Hendrix by David Stubbs
Capsule 27: Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Anne Jones
Capsule 28: Stanley Bowles by Robert Elms
Capsule 29: Laurence Olivier by Brian Robinson
Capsule 30: Joe Strummer by Don Letts
Capsule 31: Diana Spencer by Jennie Bond
Capsule 32: Julian Assange by Gavin MacFadyn
