Our speaker at our Monthly Meeting on Wednesday 23 September 2026 was London Blue Badge Guide Danny Hockman who took our members on a Virtual Walk from Westminster Bridge to Battersea Power Station via the new US Embassy.

We started at Westminster Bridge where the bridge’s green paint was explained, as was the renaming of the statue of Boudica (rather than the Bodacea that many of us learned about in school!). After examining the Royal Crests on the bridge, we then passed along the Albert Embankment taking in the lamp standards, the Covid National Memorial and the BSE (vCJD) memorial, before crossing back on Lambeth Bridge to have a closer look at the Secret Services Offices and memorials on the Millbank side.

We were then back to the ‘South’ bank, with an explanation as to why the bridge is painted red before passing the old London Fire Brigade Headquarters and the former Royal Doulton factory. We then had an excellent viewing of Tate Britain across the river, and the story of Sir Henry Tate, before we arrived at Vauxhall with its bridge celebrating the arts and education.

We then moved on to St George’s Wharf with its amazing tower with its 123 flats and superb views of London. Danny also treated us to the history of the helicopter which hit the tower whilst it was under construction, killing the pilot and a passenger, resulting in a change to the lighting of buildings under construction. Also, just beyond St George’s Wharf is the start of the Nine Elms development, part of which contains a swimming pool which joins two blocks of flats at roof top level. The swimming pool is for use by residents only, and can be seen in the photo below.

We were now closing in on our final destination, and passed the new US Embassy building at Nine Elms, which can only be described as an extraordinary piece of architecture. Danny was able to explain the symbolism of the various parts of its construction and the materials that were used.

We then arrived at the ‘former’ Battersea Power Station which has been converted into a series of expensive flats, with an enormous shopping mall and the brand new Apple Music Hall located at its heart. The chimneys of the power station were rebuilt during the redevelopment and there is now a lift in one of the chimneys!

This was a fascinating talk, with a clever mix of current and historical events all indicated by the sights and developments in the area. We are now all looking forward to another visit from Danny.

Our nest Monthly Meeting will be on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 10:00am when the speaker will be Melanie Hughes speaking about the development of our locale in Kenton.