"A Tonic to the Nation" London 1951 and the Festival of Britain by Michael Gilbert

The festival was organised to mark the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was intended to demonstrate Britain’s contribution to civilisation, past, present, and future, in the arts, in science and technology, and in industrial design.

The South Bank site included the Skylon, the Dome of Discovery and the Royal Festival Hall, it attracted 8.5 million visitors in the five months it was open.

Further down the Thames at Battersea the Pleasure Gardens opened, 38 acres of fun with the Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Railway, the Guinness Clock, the Rotor and the Tree Walk.

The talk is presented by the Surbiton and District Historical Society. The speaker is Michael Gilbert.

The original speaker was going to be Dr Nicola Tallis but she unfortunately declined owing to her writing commitments.

Further information is available by emailing Paul (paulhowardlang1011@gmail.com).  

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