Scenic Saturday - reprise

I boobed. It was only when looking at a map yesterday that I discovered Runnymede to be in Surrey: I had always thought it to be in Berkshire. Granted, it is only just in Surrey but, given its significance in the history not only of Britain but many other countries, I really should have mentioned it when covering Surrey a few weeks back.

The water meadows beside the River Thames were the venue for the sealing by King John, on 15 June 1215, of the Magna Carta, which has since become the basis of the constitution of so many countries. When Lions from our twin club visited us some four years ago we stopped off at Runnymede en route for Windsor. The pictures date from that visit.

First, one the pillars designed by Edward Lutyens to commemorate the sealing of Magna Carta.

To save you squinting, the inscription reads:

In these Meads on 15th June 1215 King John at the instance of Deputies from the whole community of the Realm granted the Great Charter the earliest of constitutional documents whereunder ancient and cherished customs were confirmed abuses redressed and the administration of justice facilitated new provisions formulated for the preservation of peace and every individual perpetually secured in the free enjoyment of his life and property.

Nearby is the memorial to Magna Carta commissioned by the American Bar Association.

There is also a monument erected to President Kennedy.



We had no time to visit the fourth monument, the Air Forces Memorial which commemorates the men and women of the Allied Air Forces who died during the Second World War and records the names of the 20,456 airmen who have no known grave. I've borrowed the picture.



There - that's put that right.