Real Britain Company News…

It is that time of year again for the World’s oldest civic procession, from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice. The procession starts at 11am and the the day ends with a firework display from a barge on the Thames at 5pm. For the best view head down to Victoria Embankment.

We are often asked to take people to places associated with books or television series. Just lately, with the second series on air, there has been an interest in Downton Abbey. Well it is actually Highclere Castle. Not so much a castle as a grand Victorian manor house, the present day Castle was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect also responsible for building the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. They do look remarkably alike!

The 55th BFI London Film Festival will run from now until 27 October.

Yes conkers! That game played by school children throughout the ages, with the fruit of the Horse Chestnut tree attached to string, has an annual international championship! It originated in 1965 in a village in Northamptonshire when a group of regulars at the local pub were thwarted by bad weather in their attempt to organise a fishing expedition, so played conkers instead.

Not to be confused with the Cheltenham Festival, which is a horse racing event, this major book festival returns for a 62nd year. The line up is quite impressive. Take a look: Cheltenham Literature Festival

Horse of the Year Show, the ‘World’s Most Famous Horse Show’, returns to Birmingham’s NEC in 2011 for a 6 day event. The UK’s biggest indoor equestrian event and the finale to the showing year.

If you are planning to come to the Olympics in 2012 why not extend your stay and see some more of Britain while you are here? Now is the time to be making plans and booking before the rush starts after Christmas! See our enquiry page for a personal tailored itinerary.

The British lawn Mower Racing Association organises a series of events and competitions throughout the year. Today sees the season reaching its climax in the world-renowned annual 12 Hour Race. The ultimate test of endurance for both man and machine this gruelling event requires teams of three (male and female) to drive throughout the night.

How often have I murmured this when the first misty day appears and I notice the trees are now trully wearing their Autumn colours. A bitter sweet sort of feeling. However, although I know this is the opening line of a poem by Keats I knew no more until I came across it in a magazine recently. So, guessing that not many of my readers will know it either, I will share the full poem with you.

Ode to Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’erbrimmed their clammy cells.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, –
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing, and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Now isn’t that just beautiful?

If you would like to attend an event at this years 55th BFI London Film Festival you can book online or by telephone from today. I hear George Clooney’s coming!