Places And Spaces At The Building Centre
I went to this exhibition this morning, which shows how the various stations on Crossrail will look.
It was certainly a good free exhibition and whetted my appetite for what is to come.
Why Would Anybody Have An Exhibition At Olympia?
The only time in recent years, when I’ve seen any class at Olympia, was when I stood on a stand at a telecoms exhibition next to someone, who is now a peer of the realm.
Today, I went to The Allergy Show, but my troubles started before I even arrived. I just missed the Overground train at Highbury and Islington, so instead of waiting half-an-hour for the next train, I decided to go via Victoria and Earl’s Court. I got to Earl’s Court in reasonable time, but then there was no shuttle train to Olympia. So I hsad to get a replacement bus, which somebody had saved from the scrapyard. At least it was clean.
When I eventually got to Olympia, there was an air of dereliction about the place. But it wasn’t any worse than I remember it, when we took the boys to the Christmas Horse Show in perhaps 1971.
John Betjeman would be summing up a friendly bomb.
At least I got home easy enough, but then leaving Olympic is much better than going!
Crossrail Are Running Another Archaeology Exhibition
Last year Crossrail showed off all of their archaeological finds. now they are running another exhibition, to show the latest discoveries.
If it’s half as good as last year’s event, it will be unmissable.
Going Underground
I saw this poster on the Undergound.
Going Underground
I think it will be worth seeing, as a glimpse into the future.
Good Riddance To Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Earls Court is an exhibition centre, whose sell-by date was decades ago. I can remember going to events there like The Motor Show in the 1960s and it wasn’t the best then. I can also remember being at the NEC in Birmingham about 1980, talking to one of the top people in Hewlett-Packard, where he reckoned at that time the NEC was one of the best places they exhibited.
So what has Earls Court done in those intervening years? Absolutely nothing! Read about the NEC and it is a story of continuous development and updating.
If ever a building was saying “Please knock me down!” it’s Earls Court.
So I’m now pleased to see that this is going to happen. It’s reported here on the BBC. But as ever there are those, who want to turn the clock back. Two housing estates will be incorporated into the scheme and the report says this.
But tenants and leaseholders on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green housing estates who will have to be re-housed have called for a judicial review on the grounds that the plan is contrary to Hammersmith and Fulham’s local planning policy.
As ever, selfish people seem determined to not co-operate for the good of the many. So be prepared for a long and expensive fight which will only delay the inevitable.
On a personal note, I’ve only visited Earls Court once in recent years. I try to avoid the place, as it is one of those places where I can’t find anything to eat.
Now we have the problem of what to do with Olympia. After all with Excel and the O2 Dome we have made a start on providing alternative venues.
The Anonymous Widower 