London Walks Pen & Daily Constitutional Special Correspondent David Tucker pauses by a statue hidden in plain view…
Fast by, pass by. It’s like Junk Food, it’s empty calories.
Talking about the Edith Cavell statue on William IV Street,
just up from Trafalgar Square. And talking about the hordes who are right
there, day in and day out – who miss it, walk on by. Miss seeing something
absolutely extraordinary. A woman, right there, being executed by firing squad.
Jesus.
How do you not see that?
But they don’t. They come out of Pret, blind to it even
though it’s right in front of them. Or ignore it on their way to Leicester
Square Tube. Or tunnel vision past it on their way to Trafalgar Square.
They miss it.
A woman’s being executed right there – right by them – and
they miss it.
They mindlessly wander and stroll and surge and flit past
it, the hordes. Paying it no regard whatsoever. Well, maybe a few of them give
it an idle, passing glance. A passing glance that amounts to dipping for water
with a sieve.
More’s the pity. Because they’re, well, “losers” – they’re
losing out.
And no, I’m not being a carnival barker, not spieling “step
right this way, see a woman drilled full of lead by a firing squad.”
What I am saying is you should take aim at the Cavell
statue. Take aim with your intelligence, your imagination and indeed your
self-respect.
For lack of a better word, it pays to do so. It’s enlarging,
enriching.
Stay tuned. We’re going to take aim. Starting tomorrow.
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A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
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