Prince William a Bencher at My Inns of Court Middle Temple

Prince William has been made an honorary barrister - but promised not to practise, "except for the odd speeding ticket".
In a ceremony at London's Middle Temple he was also called to the Bench, the ancient Inns of Court's governing body.
His "proud grandmother", the Queen, who could not attend because of another engagement, sent her good wishes.
In accordance with tradition, William, 27, described his hobbies and passions in a speech to nearly 300 guests.
"I play football, rugby and water polo, not very well, but particularly pride myself in being a quite magnificent armchair centre-back at football and flanker at rugby... and now you have made me a barrister - I promise not to practise, except for the odd speeding ticket," the trainee RAF helicopter pilot said on Monday.
The second-in-line to the throne is the sixth member of the Royal Family to be made a Royal Bencher, following in the footsteps of the Queen Mother, and his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

Campaigning in Tower Hamlets

The streets will be alive with the sounds of Questionnaires tonight and Saturday morning in Tower Hamlets

There has already been have had a fantastic response so far on the doorstep, and it is a great way to pick up casework, and also to just have a chat with people to find out the key issues, and to reassure them a conservative vote for in 2010 is really worth it!

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2009/03/tower-hamlets-a.html

Bethnal Green and Bow Summer Party

This event is tookplace on Wednesday 1st July near Spitalfields / Brick Lane. We celebrated the great work in the Euro elections, and met fellow members, activists and supporters


Youngest supporter picks the raffle prize

Campaigning in Tower Hamlets

How to make a difference..........

On the streets of Mile End East and Bow

Tower Hamlets Local info

Tower Hamlets for more info on our lovely borough http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ and find out where our taxes are spent!

History of the Match Girls

The London match-girls strike of 1888 was a strike of the women and teenage girls working at the Bryant and May Factory in Bow, London. The strike was sparked by the poor working conditions in the match factory, including fourteen-hour work days, poor pay, excessive fines, and the severe health complications of working with yellow (or white) phosphorus such as phossy jaw.
Led by Socialist activist Annie Besant, with the support of Herbert Burrows, the strike began in June 1888. Three weeks later, the factory owners agreed to rehire the strikers and end the fine system.

Bow Quarter and Conservation by Conservatism

Dear Friends and residents,

I have just started my blogg about the local issues in my area and a bit about myself for you to follow. I hope you enjoy!

I live in the fairfield conservation area the http://www.thebowquarter.co.uk/

Please read about the amazing history of our Grade ll listed buildings
















canvassing with Cllr Phil Briscow







History of the Bow Quarter





The Bow Quarter was from the mid 19th century to more than three-quarters of the way through the 20th the site of the famous Bryant and May match-making operation. At one point at the turn of the two centuries it was London's largest factory.
The site acquired by William Bryant and Francis May in 1861 had once been used for the manufacture of candles, crinoline and rope but had fallen into disrepair.
The factory saw many famous historical events: the Match Girls' Strike of 1888 started here, for example, culminating in the establishment of the first British trade union for women. A blue plaque outside the entrance commemorates the role of social pioneer and feminist Annie Besant in leading the demands for better pay and conditions.
Bryant & May were influential in fighting against the dreadful disease known as "phossy jaw", caused by the phosphorus used in the manufacture of matches. Some of the first welfare institutions in Britain for industrial workers began on this site.
The factory was only finally closed in 1979, when it still employed 275 people. At its height more than 3,000 women and girls worked here.
Once again the site fell into disrepair until in 1988 developers embarked upon one of East London's first urban renewal projects.
The majority of the apartments today are housed in former factory and office buildings. Arlington for example was built as offices in 1874; Lexington and Manhattan date from the factory site redevelopment in 1911. The Victorian cottages near the entrance provided accommodation for the company directors whilst Staten was built as extra office accommodation in the late '50s. Park Central was added in the mid 1990s.

.