David writes…
The Westminster Abbey peal will start at 1 pm today. We'll be hearing it on our Old Westminster walk (2 pm from exit 4 of Westminster Tube).
What's the peal?
Glad you asked. It's the peal to celebrate the birth of the royal baby.
For me – David – the appeal of the peal is the exacting, the minute particulars.
To wit: had the palace announced the birth yesterday before 11 am the peal would have started at 6 pm yesterday.
But since the birth was announced after 11 am the peal, naturally, has to take place the next day, today, starting at 1 pm.
There's a right way of doing these things.
Anything else? Sure. Quite a bit. Good stuff all of it.
That's my cue for letting the numbers ring out: The peal lasts 3 1/2 hours. Over a thousand changes will be rung on the six Westminster Abbey bells pealing the peal.
Finally – love this – the name of this peal is The Cambridge Royal Surprise. And – this is also delightful – delightful because it's against the grain, counter-intuitive – there's NO connection at all between the peal's name and the name of the proud parents, the Cambridges, the Duke and Duchess. It's just a weird and wonderful coincidence. The Old Westminster Walk is at 2pm from Westminster tube (exit 4) 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.
