There are far more lion statues around the world than there are real lions. The leonine population was estimated at 20,000 in 2020 (very neat, I know). London alone has 10,000 lion statues, the most famous at Trafalgar Square. At the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is Prince Frederick’s barge, with half a dozen, lesser-known lion statues attached.
St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, is the Jewel in the City’s Crown. The churches in London are varied and beautiful, but St Helen’s managed to escape burning down in the Great Fire and the devastation wrought by the Blitz. Consequently, her vast collection of tombs, memorials and brasses seems unrivalled.
Well, here it is: my copy of Jim Hamilton’s “So You Want To Be A Street Preacher”, coming with this morning’s mail, slipping through the letterbox with plenty of space to spare, since it turns out to be only one hundred and six pages in length. Not to worry, it’s less than a tenner on Amazon at the moment. Will it be worth reading? I’m absolutely sure it will. Will I agree with everything that Mr Hamilton has to say? I very much doubt it - but don’t let that put you off.
I have just read Dana Thomas’ Fashionopolis (Head of Zeus, 2019), an exposé and critique of the fashion industry. Here are some of her shocking claims:
20% OF ALL ITEMS GO UNSOLD
THE AVERAGE GARMENT IS WORN JUST 7 TIMES
THE AVERAGE SHOPPER BUYS 68 ITEMS OF CLOTHING PER YEAR
100 BILLION GARMENTS ARE PRODUCED EVERY YEAR
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