THE FIRST CLASS WAY TO MARK THE JUBILEE
AS USEFUL as a bank holiday might have been today for those of you valiantly battling to make it to work through the snow, we’re all going to have to wait another few months before the Queen’s official Diamond Jubilee festivities afford the City a four-day weekend.
But for those wanting to start the celebrations early, the Royal Mail will today be issuing a commemorative set of stamps to tie in with the official 60-year anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession.
The stamps will feature portraits of the Queen from throughout her reign, including an image used on a £1 banknote issued by the Bank of England – the first ever note to feature a picture of a monarch.
Designed by Robert Austin and launched in 1960, the engraving for the portrait was based on a pencil sketch of a photograph of Her Majesty, who was just 34-years old at the time.
The stamps will be available as part of a special Diamond Jubilee Miniature Sheet from today – first class only, of course.
MODEL EMPLOYEE
SPARE a thought for the brave City workers who’ve signed up to move from boardroom to catwalk next month, and taking part in Prospero World’s London Philippine fashion show on 8 March.
Among the well-known faces who’ll be following in Kate Moss’s (right) footsteps as “models for one night” in Bloomsbury Square’s Victoria House will be former Citywealth ‘Woman of the Year’ Katie Booth of Templewood Merchant Bank and Alex Gaillard of JP Morgan Private Bank.
Credit Suisse is sponsoring the night, which has been organised to raise money for the Ayala Foundation, which fights poverty in the Philippines.
WHEEL AMBITION
FANCY yourself as a bit of a speed freak?
Whether you’re a weekend cyclist, one of the City’s growing number of two-wheeled commuters, or just want to blow off a bit of steam then make sure you head down to Broadgate this Wednesday for a chance to test your speed against fellow cyclists – and a few Team GB Olympians for good measure.
The inaugural Deloitte Ride Across Britain (Deloitte RAB) City 250 Challenge – the Square Mile’s very own version of the cross-country Ride Across Britain event – will test keen cyclists with a 250m time trial sprint on static Watt bikes.
As well as your colleagues, you’ll be competing against reigning Olympic individual pursuit gold medallist Rebecca Romero and rowing legend James Cracknell.
But beware, log the fastest time and you could get more than you bargained for. The overall male and female winners will each win a place to compete in the real deal – the 960-mile Land’s End to John O’Groats Ride Across Britain.
You’ll have plenty of time to train as the ride doesn’t set off until September, but if the idea of cycling 100 miles a day doesn’t appeal it might be best to ease off in the final straight – you’ll still be in with a chance of winning a bike worth almost £2,000, with all entrants going into a prize draw for the Boardman Carbon Pro.