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The Story Of St Katharine's
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Living close to St Katharine Docks has become a love story. From the first day I adored the nearness of the Thames, witness to our history down the ages, the inspiration offered by Tower Bridge and the elegance and vibrancy of the Marina. Does any other community have a more interesting set of neighbours than Wapping and the Tower of London? I then heard about the ancient Royal Hospital and Church, here from 1148, and the old ways of nearby London Docks and its dockers, which led me to wonder how St Katharine Docks came about. I recalled visiting forty years ago – how did it transform into what it is today? Finding these answers was fascinating, and so I decided to write it all down, simply because no one else had done so. I have done my amateur best to tell the story. Be patient with any errors – I have made serious effort to check and double check facts, and to attribute sources correctly. I chose to write independently, without favour or influence from others, some of whom may have more knowledge and insight than me; so the observations and views presented are strictly my own, following careful listening (and reading) to a wide range of views. The book is intended as a light read and my two desires are to offer a record and stimulate thought for those who may wish to follow in greater detail – there are three big subjects each worthy of a further book. C.W.
Poppies, Pomp And People
Why the book? Fortunately, I live near the Tower of London and visit most Sundays for the morning chapel service. I quickly learned that even friends close by knew very little about what goes on and how it works. Yes, we admire the Tower and know a bit about its history, the Beefeaters and the Crown Jewels. But do most of us know that many families and other people live there? That the Yeoman Warders are not only senior and successful armed forces veterans, but high-flying experts in subjects ranging from hotel management to lifeboat drill? The chapel choir is one of the finest of its type in the country; how? The Tower doesn’t cost the taxpayer a penny; why not? The place is teeming with personnel whose overriding goals are striving for excellence in providing the best experience for the millions of visitors per annum and preserving this national treasure for the future. How do they achieve it? From the beginning, I felt a growing depth of respect and awe (I guess like most visitors), and I quickly learned that the Yeoman Warders are experts in storytelling – highly articulate, able to hold attention and extremely humorous, so they are excellent performers. But further observation leads to a far deeper understanding of these people’s gifts – constantly vigilant and communicating as a team, tirelessly smiling for the camera and giving answers to an endless array of questions. The support staff are equally essential to this success: the management and the dedicated more junior staff that make up this unique group. This book is intended as a light read, so it is brief; sadly, this means that only some people can be featured or mentioned, despite their importance, likeability or whatever. There are gardeners, key administrators, Jewel House and White Tower staff and so many more. Thank you, all of you, who help to make the place succeed and have helped me with information. So many strong personalities live and work together in this small, walled, worldfamous fortress. Its community is unique, to be admired and cherished proudly, both by our nation and by our visitors