The programmes see the finest chefs in the country competing in regional heats for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a world-beating four course menu at a prestigious event. This year the event, The Olympic Feast, will be staged in the stunning setting of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Sir Christopher Wren’s riverside masterpiece, which is of the UK’s leading heritage attractions.

“We are delighted that the BBC has chosen to hold its prestigious Olympic Feast in the Painted Hall,” says Karine Lepeuple, Director of Commercial and Visitor Services at the ORNC.  “Royal Greenwich will host the Equestrian events this summer making it an ideal setting for The Olympic Feast.  The stunning Painted Hall, which took artist Sir James Thornhill almost 20 years to complete, demonstrates the heights of artistic achievement and will provide a suitably spectacular backdrop for the magnificent creations of the UK’s leading chefs.”

Issued by New Century PR.   For further information, images and interviews contact:

Lesley Booth 0779 941 4474   lesley@newcenturypr.com

To download the BBC press release see below or for all BBC Olympic related programming, news, general information visit bbc.co.uk/2012

Entitled ‘From Tip To Ship’, Start Imagining’s competition is inspired by HM The Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant where up to 1,000 boats will journey up the River Thames on 3 June 2012, as part of celebrations marking The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. School children throughout the UK will have the opportunity to create an extraordinary and visionary model of a boat or ship using reclaimed materials. The winning creations, and 5  runner-up entries will form part of a special exhibition to be displayed at the Discover Greenwich visitor centre at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich throughout June. The creators of the winning boat will receive a tour of London, culminating in a special visit to the Old Royal Naval College, plus exclusive art kits provided by the specialist Cumbrian pencil company, Derwent.

Joey Tabone, Start CEO, launched ‘Start Imagining’ and ‘From Tip To Ship’ at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Joining Joey were Waterloo Road actress, mother of two and celebrity baker Angela Griffin, CBeebies craft expert Mister Maker and actress Martha Howe-Douglas from CBBC’s Horrible Histories who have all come onboard to support ‘Start Imagining’ and judge the ‘From Tip To Ship’ entries. Crafts Council Chair Joanna Foster CBE and Royal River exhibition curator Kris Martin were also present and will complete the competition’s judging panel. 

Joey Tabone, Start CEO and competition judge said: “Young people often care the most about the planet’s resources, as it affects what kind of world they grow up in. We are delighted to work with Cool It Schools, Craft Club and Freecycle on an initiative that gives a positive, entertaining message about getting more out of our resources – and along the way fires up the imagination of the next generation.”

The ‘Start Imagining’ programme and competition has been made available to schools through free, online resource packs designed by Cool it Schools and Craft Club. The website demonstrates practical skills such as knitting and sewing and provide a selection of exciting art and design projects including; how to build a Junk City, make a puppet, ‘Stuff Your Own Doodle’, Tetra Ants, and Plastic Portraits.

Each project is designed to show that reusing things to make something new is preferable to throwing them away.

William Dean, Headteacher, Highgate Primary School said: “To be able to make something practical and beautiful from material that we would normally think of as rubbish, gives children a sense of fulfilment, whilst learning skills that can last a lifetime. It is for this reason that Highgate Primary supports this initiative.”

Students can have fun collecting all their own raw materials and waste items to work with. In addition, the Freecycle network may be able to help your school to get some extra exciting materials. Just go to their website at http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK to find your local Freecycle group.

The Start Imagining website also gives advice on how schools can apply to set up a Craft Club for their students. These are organised by the Crafts Council in partnership with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and the UK Handknitting Association.

The competition is open to any UK school or educational establishment. All competition entries must be received by 16 April 2012. Full competition details and terms and conditions available below and via the website: startimagining.co.uk.

www.startimagining.co.uk
www.startuk.org

- ends -

For further information and a selection of images, please contact;
Doug Wright or Ali Castriotis
LD Communications
020 7439 7222
doug.wright@ldcommunications.co.uk
ali@ldcommunications.co.uk

Notes to editors

‘From Tip To Ship’ competition rules and entry details:
• The judges are:
Mister Maker, Angela Griffin, Martha Howe-Douglas, Joey Tabone, Joanna Foster CBE and Kris Martin

The boats will be judged on creative vision and imaginative use of recycled materials.

How to enter
• There are 2 age groups
o 5 – 10 year olds
o 11 – 16 year olds
• A winner will be selected from each age group. From these two entries, one overall winner will be selected.
• There will be also 4 runner-up prizes
• Entries must come from groups of between 2 (minimum) and 6 (maximum) children.
• All models must be a maximum size of 1 metre in any direction.
• The work must be the children’s own creations, original and made from reclaimed materials (junk).
• There is no limit to the number of individual entries that can be made.
• Entries must be photographed in focus and in colour.
• Up to 4 images per boat may be included including details or different views.
• To enter, simply upload the images on the 'competition' page of the Start Imaginging website
• The following information should be included:
o In 'Subject' field: Either 5-10 or 11-18
o In 'Message' field:
o Class name
o Teacher name
o School name,
o Postcode
o Contact telephone number
• In the case of independent entries please write an adult's name, address, postcode and contact telephone number in the 'Message' field.
• The closing date for the Start Imagining competition is 16th April 2012
• The winners will be announced on or around 10th May 2012
• The main prize will be awarded in mid-June at a mutually convenient date for both the school and the Start Imagining partners
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
• Unfortunately we cannot return winning boats after they have been on display due to the fragility of the materials. However, the winning boats will be displayed on the Start Imagining website

About Start
Start, an initiative inspired by HRH the Prince of Wales, aims to inspire the UK public to take simple steps towards more sustainable living. Start provides advice and inspiration for the simple, practical and fun ways in which we can all make a start, by bringing together the best ideas from all over the UK.

About Cool it Schools
An online global creative programme for young people that aims to make learning about the environment a positive experience.
www.coolitschools.com.

About Craft Club
Craft Club is a national campaign to provide children and young people with the opportunity to learn craft skills from members of their community. Craft Club was developed by the Crafts Council and UK Hand Knitting Association with the support of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. For more information visit www.craftclub.org.uk.

Freecycle
An online network that matches people who have things to get rid of with people who can use them.  www.freecycle.org.uk

The Old Royal Naval College has appointed leading experts Paine & Stewart, who also worked on the conservation of Sir James Thornhill’s paintings in the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, to undertake this vital survey. Their report will help the ORNC prepare its full Heritage Lottery bid for the first phase of the much-needed conservation of this Baroque masterpiece: the west wall.

The conservators were able to examine the lower hall ceiling up-close for the first time in over half a century. A 12-metre high tower scaffold gave access to an area of the paintings that demonstrated the full range of issues facing the conservation scheme as a whole. Paint samples have been taken and preliminary cleaning trials are underway. 

The paintings were examined extremely closely, using a range of imaging techniques. A 200 magnification hand-held USB microscope exposed fine cracks in the varnish layer. Raking light photography revealed aspects of the original technique as well as interesting details about the last restoration conducted in the late 1950s by the Ministry of Works.

“The plaster ground is in a sound state but many darker passages suffer from a characteristic blanching, as well as a surface bloom across many highlights,” said Stephen Paine. “There is also a surface layer of 50 years’ accumulated dust and grime, which disfigures and obscures much of the scheme. Together, these phenomena significantly suppress Thornhill’s original exuberance of colour.”

“We were fascinated to discover that Westby Percival-Prescott, the lead 1950s restorer, was meticulous in his attention to removing 17 old varnish layers. Very fine crack filling and detailed retouching could be observed beneath 50 years of grime,” he added.

Around 50 paint samples will be analysed scientifically, using a range of optical tools and some discreet cleaning and treatment trials will be undertaken which help identify the most appropriate and sensitive conservation methods for this national treasure.

“Throughout the conservation process our approach will be one of minimum intervention, gently removing dust and grime with the most benign materials and soft brushes,” says Martin Ashley, Surveyor to the Fabric of the Old Royal Naval College. “It will be as if we were cleaning a very old face to reveal its beautiful delicate skin.”

The Old Royal Naval College will submit its full application to the Lottery Fund for a grant of £335,000 in the summer of 2012 with conservation work on the west wall scheduled to begin in the autumn.

Ends January 2012

Notes for Editors

The ORNC was awarded a first-round pass for the west wall conservation by the HLF last autumn. A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award. On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

Old Royal Naval College
Sir Christopher Wren’s twin-domed riverside masterpiece is one of London’s most iconic buildings. It was built three hundred years ago as the Royal Hospital for Seamen, a refuge for injured and impoverished sailors of the Royal Navy. In the 19th century it became the Royal Naval College, where the Navy’s officers were trained. In 1998 the Royal Naval College moved to Shrivenham, and the Greenwich Foundation took over management of the site to conserve the buildings and open them to the public. By 2010 the site, which includes the Painted Hall, Chapel and Discover Greenwich visitor and interpretation centre, and stages a year-round programme of events, had become the 15th most popular visitor attraction in the UK. www.ornc.org

Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 30,000 projects, allocating £4.7billion across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk

Paine & Stewart
Stephen Paine and Sophie Stewart (www.paineandstewart.co.uk) are experienced conservators of oil paintings on plaster who have worked on many prestigious conservation projects, including Sir James Thornhill’s paintings in the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, the ceiling paintings by Rubens in the Banqueting Hall, and Cardiff Castle, Glamorgan. Paine & Stewart Ltd currently hold a measured term contract as wall painting consultants to English Heritage.

The Painted Hall

A stunning dining hall painting commissioned for Wren’s Greenwich Hospital
James Thornhill was invited to make a painted interior in the refectory of the Royal Hospital for Seamen while he was working on the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Whereas for the former the artist was commissioned to paint a biblical subject (Eight Scenes from the Life of St Paul), for this later commission the subject was to be a celebration of Britain’s maritime power. Begun under the Stuarts (Queen Anne) and completed under the Hanoverians (George I), the Painted Hall also marks a key moment in British royal history.

A masterpiece that was almost 20 years in the making
The allegorical theme of the huge and exuberant Lower Hall ceiling is the Triumph of Peace and Liberty over Tyranny, and pays due tribute to Stuart monarchs William and Mary and British maritime power. Within the oval frame are the four seasons and other references to the passing of time including the signs of the zodiac. Beyond the arch in the Upper Hall Queen Anne surveys the continents of the world, while on the west wall her Hanoverian successors, George I and his family, are shown in sober glory. Elsewhere much use is made of trompe l’oeil painting, on the columns, windowsills and in the vestibule. During the period when he working on the painting Thornhill became court Painter to the new King, George I, and was subsequently knighted.

Sir James Thornhill (1675 - 1734)
Born in Dorset in 1675, artist James Thornhill was to rise to become a court painter and sergeant painter to George I and George II, a master of the Painters’ Company and a fellow of the Royal Society. He was the first English painter to be knighted for his work, in 1720, and sat as a Member of Parliament for 12 years from 1722 until his death in 1734. The eight scenes in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral (1715–19) and the allegories in the Painted Hall, Royal Hospital for Seamen (1708–27), are his two most considerable commissions with the majority of his paintings largely executed on the ceilings and stairs of country houses and palaces such as Hampton Court, Blenheim, and Chatsworth. Among Thornhill’s few canvases are the altarpiece for St. Mary’s Parish Church, Weymouth, and a group portrait of the members of the House of Commons in which he was assisted by William Hogarth (who eloped with Thornhill’s daughter in 1729).Thornhill also made a number of portraits (his sitters including Sir Isaac Newton and co-founder of the Spectator Magazine, Richard Steele), book illustrations, theatre scenery, and the rose window of the north transept of Westminster Abbey. Thornhill’s works can be seen in collections across the globe including The Louvre, Paris; Metropolitan Museum, New York; and National Portrait Gallery, Tate, Royal Academy and Courtauld Institute, London.
Issued by New Century PR.

For further information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474    lesley@newcenturypr.com

The Trafalgar Night Dinner held in the Painted Hall celebrates Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The evening's entertainment began with an elegant reception in the Queen Mary Undercroft, after which guests were called with a trumpet sound to dinner in the breathtaking Painted Hall. The Sea Cadets lined the stairs and the brass ensemble from Trinity Laban created a grand entrance. 

Guests then enjoyed a three course meal complete with chocolate Ships-of-the-Line catered by Leith's. Entertainment was provided by Shep Woolley performing rousing sea shanties with the opportunity for guests to sing along. The Loyal Toast to Nelson’s immortal memory, which brought the dinner to a close, was proposed by Andrew Lambert, BA (Law) MA, Ph.D, Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King's College, London.

Brendan McCarthy comes to the ORNC following a 27-year career with the National Trust where he worked in a number of roles including Deputy Chief Agent (with a UK national remit) and as a Regional Director, latterly of the Trust’s largest Region, Wessex. During this time he managed some magnificent properties including significant houses and gardens such as Powis Castle, Stourhead, Kingston Lacy, Stonehenge Landscape and Hidcote. Brendan McCarthy also secured the last remaining set of back-to-back houses in Birmingham, which are now fully open to visitors, and in 2010 set up a team to develop the Trust’s first ever stand at the Glastonbury Festival.

Announcing the news of Mr McCarty’s appointment Sir Robert Crawford, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: “We are delighted that Brendan McCarthy will be the next Chief Executive of the Old Royal Naval College. He brings to Greenwich career-long experience of managing heritage property of the first quality.”

“Brendan’s experience of leading the restoration of Tyntesfield, which attracted the largest Heritage Lottery Fund grant ever given to the National Trust, will also be invaluable as we begin the conservation of the Painted Hall,” he added.

Brendan McCarthy said: “The Old Royal Naval College is a hugely important and iconic part of London and this country's heritage. It is a privilege to become the Chief Executive at such an exciting time with Greenwich set to become a Royal Borough in January and with the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next summer.”

“I’m looking forward to working with the team at the Old Royal Naval College and in partnership with the other members of World Heritage Site to ensure that Greenwich’s unique architectural landscape and events and education programmes continue to be a valued resource locally and an unmissable attraction for the millions of visitors who come to London each year.”

Brendan McCarthy succeeds Duncan Wilson, OBE who became Chief Executive of Alexandra Palace earlier in the year. He will take up the post in February 2012.

Created in the early 18th century by Sir James Thornhill for Sir Christopher Wren’s Greenwich Hospital, the spectacular Painted Hall is one of the jewels in the crown of the Old Royal Naval College. Open to the public daily, free of charge, it has contributed to the Old Royal Naval College’s popularity as a heritage visitor attraction (the ORNC was one of the country’s top 20 most popular attractions in 2010) and is a highlight of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.

“It is almost sixty years since the last conservation work was undertaken on this baroque masterpiece,” says Sir Robert Crawford, Chair of the Trustees of the Greenwich Foundation. “When the Greenwich Foundation was established to manage the Old Royal Naval College, one of its key responsibilities was to conserve and preserve for the nation all the buildings on this internationally important heritage site. The paintings of the Painted Hall are among the largest and finest allegorical wall paintings in Britain, by Sir James Thornhill, an artist who merits wide appreciation. This project will secure the future of his greatest work for generations to come.

“We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has agreed to support us in the early stages of fundraising to undertake this major project.”

Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for London said: “We’re extremely pleased to give initial support for this scheme to conserve the Painted Hall, and we look forward to receiving the application for a full grant in the future."

With its 2,600 sqm of allegorical wall paintings, the Painted Hall was Thornhill’s most extensive commission, taking the artist almost 20 years to complete. In the dining hall proposed for the Royal Hospital for Seamen the artist was asked to create a homage to Britain’s maritime power and royal family. The astonishing ceiling of the Lower Hall shows the contribution the British navy made to the prosperity of the nation at the time of William III and Mary II, during whose reign the Hospital was commissioned, and the Upper Hall ceiling features the last of the Stuart monarchs, Queen Anne, during whose reign the Lower Hall paintings were made. The west wall however features Britain’s new royal family – the Hanoverians. George I is shown surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The future George II stands beside a figure personifying Naval Victory, while both Prince Frederick, father of the future George III, and the Duke of Cumberland, later to become the ‘scourge of the Jacobites’ at the Battle of Culloden, are shown as young children.

St Paul’s Cathedral looms large in the background, as a mark of respect to Wren, who had died as the painting was being completed. Thornhill himself appears in the bottom right hand corner (probably painted by one of the artist’s assistants). After completion in 1727, the Greenwich pensioners moved their dining room to the undercrofts below, and the Hall became a popular visitor attraction with an admission price of 6d. In the early 19th century the Painted Hall became the home of the National Gallery of Naval Art – one of Britain’s first public art galleries. It was not used again as a dining room until 1936, when the paintings were moved to the newly-established National Maritime Museum.

The first stage of the conservation work will focus on the west wall and is due to begin in 2012, after the London Olympics. It is expected to take around 9 months to complete and to cost in the region of £460,000.  Plaster and paint layers will be consolidated, cracks will be filled in and retouched, old water damage, paint flaking and varnish blanching will be repaired, and the surfaces will be gently cleaned throughout. The project will also offer two apprentices the opportunity to work alongside experienced conservators, as well as a number of volunteer positions. Free learning and community activities will take place throughout the project.

It is envisaged that the long-term conservation plan will be delivered in four phases and over a number of years with an estimated total cost of in excess of £2 million. Subsequent works will focus on the large ceiling painting and window reveals in the Lower Hall, the smaller ceiling painting and remaining walls in the Upper Hall, and the main entrance vestibule and cupola.

BT River of Music will be one of the highlights of the London 2012 Festival, a 12 week UK-wide celebration featuring leading artists from around the world. The spectacular weekend of free music from the 205 Olympic & Paralympic nations will take place at iconic sites along the river Thames, welcoming the world to London. The event is created and produced by Serious for the London 2012 Festival with significant funding support from the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, Arts Council England and British Council.

BT River of Music is an international event featuring outstanding music from all over the world plus emerging British talent. Six stages represent the continents – Asia in Battersea Park, Africa in Jubilee Gardens, Europe in Trafalgar Square and Somerset House, the Americas at the Tower of London, and Oceania at the Old Royal Naval College. The rich variety of music over the weekend will include well-known names and unexpected collaborations.

Artists confirmed so far include Scissor Sisters, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Naturally 7, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Zakir Hussain and Andy Sheppard.

Claire Whitaker, Director, Serious said: “BT River of Music will be an incredible celebration of world-class live music the weekend before the start of the Games. We will be working with the most exciting artists from across the world, the very best of emerging British talent and staging some unique collaborations during the weekend. This will be once in a lifetime experience not to be missed and a fabulous occasion for the whole family to enjoy.”

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, Cultural Olympiad & London 2012 Festival, said: “Thanks to the support of our partners BT, the Olympic Lottery Distributor, Arts Council England and the British Council, BT River of Music will be a fantastic celebration of world-class live music for the London 2012 Festival.”

Suzi Williams, director, BT Group Marketing and Brand, said: “As a Premier Partner of the London 2012 Festival, we understand that London 2012 is about more than sport – it’s about people experiencing the amazing atmosphere the Games will bring to the capital and creating their personal Olympic and Paralympic memories. Through BT River of Music we’ll be giving people a fantastic and free London 2012 experience next year.”

Rt Hon Dame Janet Paraskeva, Chair of the Olympic Lottery Distributor said: “I am delighted that National Lottery funding is supporting this diverse and exciting event which is bringing together such a wide range of artists and musical styles. Our support for the London 2012 Festival aims to bring cultural events to as wide an audience as possible.”

Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said: “This fantastic project is set to reach thousands of people in the Olympic year, introducing musical talent from around the world alongside more familiar names. We think it will leave a fantastic legacy for music and musicians in the UK through the international collaborations being formed, and are really excited and proud to be involved with it.”

BT River of Music in 2012 will mark the culmination of a range of regional work across the UK – projects such as Coastal Voices, bringing together vocal groups along the Jurassic Coast of Devon and Dorset to sing Nick Cave songs and Saxophone Massive, featuring 200
massed at Somerset House. Additional support for participatory projects has been received from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and City Bridge Trust.

An audience of half a million people is expected over the two-day festival weekend. Tickets are free but some sites will require ticketed entry. Ticketing information will be announced in May 2012 and people can sign up now at www.london2012.com/festival for information and news.

For BT River of Music media enquiries, please contact Sally Reeves +44 (0)1223 864710 / +44 (0)7790 518756 / sallyreeves@btinternet.com

'Dancers are the athletes of God.' Albert Einstein

English National Ballet Dancers (Nancy Osbaldaston, Ruth Brill, Barry Drummond and Nathan Young), launch Dance GB, which will be performed in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in Summer 2012.

In 2012, Dance GB sees the three national dance companies of the UK – English National Ballet, National Dance Company Wales and Scottish Ballet – celebrating the Olympics in a unique creative collaboration. Echoing the British Olympic team, Team GB, Dance GB takes the Olympic ideals of “faster, higher, stronger” and translates them into an inspirational production performed in Glasgow, Cardiff and London. The tour will visit Glasgow’s Theatre Royal and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, the final performances will be part of a week long series of events in a Big Top tent in the historic grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Dance GB is one of the highlights of a summer of events at the Old Royal Naval College marking the London 2012 Olympics.

In a dance celebration which unites the nations, Dance GB sees each company commissioning some of the world’s great contemporary choreographers. The three new works are performed together in a display of the strengths and versatility of the dancers of the three companies, showcasing the enormous dance talent which is nurtured and developed within Britain today.

The three choreographers are: for Scottish Ballet, Martin Lawrance, who has created work for Richard Alston, Southbank Centre and The Place; for National Dance Company Wales, Christopher Bruce, whose affiliations include direction of Rambert Dance Company and Resident Choreographer at English National Ballet; and for English National Ballet, Itzik Galili whose work is performed by Dutch National Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theatre II and Rambert Dance Company amongst others.

Dance GB is proud to be part of the Cultural Olympiad.

For more information visit www.ballet.org.uk

Tickets are now on sale.

For further information, images, editorial opportunities or to request review tickets please contact Rachel Branton, Press Manager at English National Ballet on 020 7590 2933 / 07930 590350 or email rachel.branton@ballet.org.uk

Only in its third year, this fantastic festival presented big name acts such as Tim Minchin, Phill Jupitus, Shappi Khorsandi, Reginald D Hunter and so many more to a 1,800 strong audience of comedy lovers from across London and beyond. The big top was filled with laughter for seven days in September 2011 as the audience enjoyed the acts and their historic surroundings over a pint of beer.  

The Old Royal Naval College has unveiled its range of specially selected Christmas gifts with prices starting from as little £2.50.

The Christmas range will be available from the beginning of November at the Shop at the Old Royal Naval College, one of the UK’s leading heritage attractions set in the heart of Greenwich.

It includes beautiful bespoke stained glass Christmas decorations from Greenwich-based designer-maker Delia Scales, London design company Locomocean’s London Skyline lights and Susan Bradley’s London Landmarks bookends and letter trays. Celebrating the anniversary of the Festival of Britain, the ORNC Christmas range also features Magpie’s Festival cups and saucers and espresso sets designed in collaboration with Mini Moderns.

The Shop at the Old Royal Naval College will also be one of the only London outlets for items from further afield including Joy Bates’ handmade woollen scarves, hats and cushion covers (Joy initially gained success selling her hand knitted jumpers to Paul Smith), Lovely Pigeon earrings and brooches by the Scottish designer Kirsty Thomas and the Life’s a Party range of angels, lanterns and flowers by the leading Dutch designer Jurianne Matter.

The Shop at the Old Royal Naval College will also be selling brooches, cufflinks and a selection of cards from ARTHOUSE Meath this Christmas. The non-profit Centre of Excellence ARTHOUSE Meath celebrates the artistic talents of adults living with learning difficulties and severe Epilepsy.

“With its independent shops and celebrated market Greenwich has a reputation as a centre of creativity and design,” says Karine Lepeuple, Director of Commercial and Visitor Services at the ORNC. “The Old Royal Naval College shop will this year offer a very special selection of bespoke and designer gifts at prices to suit all pockets.”

“We have sourced our products from the best of local and London talent as well as offering items that are either unique to our shop or only available in a small number of other London outlets.”

Only a short tube or train ride from the heart of London’s West End a trip to Greenwich offers both a great day out and access to some of the best independent shopping in the capital.

‘Greenwich offers a unique shopping experience, unlike any other in London, thanks to its eclectic mix of shops and boutiques and of course, Greenwich Market with its designer makers. This new festive offer of locally created, beautifully crafted gifts at the Shop at the ORNC will add to the fantastic mix and promises to be a real bonus for Christmas shoppers.’ Jane Macdiarmid, Property Manager Greenwich Hospital.

There will be late night shopping ,with complimentary glass of wine, in the Shop at ORNC from 5pm – 7pm on Wednesday 30 November. This follows on the annual Greenwich Lantern Parade which sets of from the steps of the ORNC at 4pm.

ORNC and Greenwich market are also getting together to offer “Christmas Wishes” children’s workshops in The Clore Learning Centre at 3.30pm on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November with  three of the designer makers from Greenwich Market running workshops. Suzbeenbusy will help create ‘stained glass’ Christmas window decorations. Becky from Alice Thimble will help decorate little Christmas gift boxes and make 'vintage' style Christmas cards, and Heart to Heart  will help decorate wooden plaques and tree decorations. Suitable for children age 7 upwards.  Each child must be accompanied by an adult.

Shop at the Old Royal Naval College is located in the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre beside the Greenwich Tourist Information Office in Cutty Sark Gardens. It is open seven days a week from 10am – 5pm. For further information visit www.ornc.org/shop

For further information on Greenwich market visit www.shopgreenwich.co.uk