JULY 2011

03/07/2011

Originally a private club called The All England Croquet Club, the Wimbledon tournament we know today started in 1868.

Its first ground was situated off Worple Road, Wimbledon. In 1875 lawn tennis, a game introduced by major Walter Clopton Wingfield was introduced and later in 1877 the Club was re-titled 'The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club'. The only event held in 1877 was the Gentlemen's Singles which was won by Spencer Gore with 200 spectators each paying a shilling each to watch the final.

The lawns at the Worple Road ground were arranged in such a way that the principal court was situated in the middle with the others arranged around it; hence the title 'Centre Court'. By 1882 activity at the Club was almost exclusively confined to lawn tennis and that year the word 'croquet' was dropped from the title. However, for sentimental reasons, it was restored in 1899 and the Club has been known as 'The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club' ever since.

In 1884 the Ladies' Singles began and from an entry of 13 players, Maud Watson became the first champion. Due to its ever-growing popularity, a new ground was opened in 1922 by King George V and a ballot system had to be introduced for tickets which still exists today.

In 1977, The Championships celebrated their centenary. On the opening day 41 of 52 surviving singles champions paraded on the Centre Court and each received a silver commemorative medal from HRH The Duke of Kent, the President of the Club. The 100th Championships in 1986 were celebrated in a variety of ways, including a special dinner party for those who had made significant contributions over the years.

2011 sees the celebration of the 125th Championships where Wimbledon is acknowledged to be the premier tennis tournament in the world. 

So if you're lucky enough to get some tickets next year and you want to travel there in style, make sure you give Aura Journeys of Newark a call.

Ref: Official Site of Wimbledon (IBM)

17/07/11

St Pancras railway station is a Grade I listed building standing on Euston Road in St Pancras, London, between the British Library, King's Cross station and the Regent's Canal.

It was opened in 1868 and connected London with the East Midlands and Yorkshire. After escaping planned demolition in the 1960s, the complex was renovated and expanded during the 2000's at a cost of £800 million. A security-sealed terminal area was constructed for Eurostar services to Continental Europe when it was renamed St Pancras International.

The restored station houses fifteen platforms, a shopping centre and a bus station in addition to London Underground services from King's Cross St Pancras tube station. The station is the terminus of East Midlands Trains for services from London to the cities of Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and smaller towns in between.

St Pancras is often termed the 'cathedral of the railways', and includes two of the most celebrated structures built in Britain in the Victorian era. The main train shed, completed in 1868 by the engineer William Henry Barlow was the largest single-span structure built up to that time. The frontage of the station is formed by St Pancras Chambers, formerly the Midland Grand Hotel, designed by George Gilbert Scott, an impressive example of Victorian gothic architecture.

At the south end of the upper level of the station, a 9-metre (30 ft) high, 20-tonne bronze statue named The Meeting Place stands beneath the station clock. Designed by British artist Paul Day, it is intended to evoke the romance of travel through the depiction of a couple locked in an amorous embrace.

So if you're planning on a trip to Paris or Brussels for a weekend away or perhaps you are lucky enough to have tickets for the Olympics next summer, why not start your journey in comfort and style with Aura Journeys of Newark.

 Ref: Wikipedia

27/07/2011

London Luton Airport is located just outside the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire. It is the fourth largest airport serving the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and is one of London's five international airports along with London City Airport.

An airport was opened on the site on 16 July 1938 by the Secretary of State for Air, Kingsley Wood and during the Second World War it was a base for Royal Air Force fighters. The land was later returned to the local council who continued activity at the airport as a commercial operation and in 1972 Luton Airport was the most profitable airport in the country.

Over the next 15 years there were many changes, including the opening of a new international terminal in 1985. In 1999 a new £40 million terminal made from aluminium and glass was opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and housed 60 check-in desks, baggage and flight information systems and a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars.

London Luton Airport became well known due to Airline and Luton Airport television series. Airline follows the staff of EasyJet at Luton and the airline's other bases across the country whilst the 2005 series, named after the airport followed the life of employees at the airport.

The airport was also mentioned in a famous Campari advert featuring Lorraine Chase, with the punch line "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?". "Na… Lut'n Airport".

You can fly to many of the favourite holiday destinations from here so why not make it extra special by starting the trip with a chauffeur driven ride with Aura Journeys of Newark.