ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM TO BUILD 116 METER TALL BEACON

A SHINING TWISTED BEACON TALLER THAN THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT COULD BE CREATED TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES MADE DURING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. THE 116 METER TALL LANDMARK BUILDING IS PLANNED FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM IN HENDON, NORTH WEST LONDON, AND WOULD BE ALMOST 10 METERS TALLER THAN THE FAMOUS CLOCK TOWER AT THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. THE UNIQUE BUILDING, PROVISIONALLY CALLED THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN BEACON, WOULD BE VISIBLE FROM THE CENTER OF LONDON AND WILL HOUSE A PERMANENT EXHIBITION ABOUT THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN IF THE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION ARE FOUND. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY MARKING THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AIR CAMPAIGN AND ANNOUNCED ITS VISION FOR THE FUTURE AT A RECENT FUND-RAISING EVENT. DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR KEITH IFOULD SAID THE PROJECT WOULD COST AN ESTIMATED £80 MILLION SECURED THROUGH PRIVATE FUNDING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERESTED PARTIES. THE DISTINCTIVE DESIGN HAS ALSO BEEN WELL RECEIVED, HE SAID. 'WE HAVE HAD AN AMAZINGLY POSITIVE RESPONSE TO IT. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING 'THIS MUST BE BUILT'. IT IS HOPED THE BUILDING WOULD ALLOW WIDER PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENSURE THAT THE MUSEUM'S UNIQUE COLLECTION OF BATTLE OF BRITAIN AIRCRAFT, MEMORABILIA AND ARCHIVES IS PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE MUSEUM IS CONSULTING ON ITS PLANS AND HOPES TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF SOME OF THE SURVIVING VETERANS OF THE BATTLE. NEARLY 3,000 RAF PILOTS WERE INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE, WHICH KILLED 544.

ANNE RICE LISTS HER RANCHO MIRAGE HOUSE ON THE MARKET

AUTHOR ANNE RICE HAS RECENTLY LISTED HER RESIDENCE IN RANCHO MIRAGE FOR $3.3 MILLION. BUILT IN 1995, THE LOW-SLUNG HOUSE HAS A FORMAL DINING ROOM AND LIVING ROOM DESIGNED FOR ENTERTAINING, SIX BEDROOMS, SEVEN BATHROOMS AND A MAID'S QUARTERS. THE STUNNING RESIDENCE SITS ON MORE THAN AN ACRE OF LUSHLY LANDSCAPED GROUNDS IN A PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY. ALSO INCLUDED IS A DETACHED TWO-BEDROOM GUESTHOUSE HAS A FULL KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM. 'THE HOUSE HAS BEEN A MARVELOUS PLACE TO WRITE, TO ENTERTAIN, TO DO INTERVIEWS, AND MANY REPORTERS AND CAMERA CREWS HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS', RICE SAID ABOUT THE HOUSE. SHE WORKED ON HER LAST THREE NOVELS IN THE HOUSE; 'CHRIST THE LORD:THE ROAD TO CANA', THE THRILLER 'ANGEL TIME' AND THE SPIRITUAL MEMOIR 'CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS'. RICE IS SELLING THE HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WOULD LIKE A SMALLER WRITERS' RETREAT IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY. SHE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN LATE 2005 AND HAS ADDED NEW FLAGSTONES IN THE POOL AREA AND REAR PATHWAYS, FRUIT TREES, CALIFORNIA PEPPERS AND OLEANDERS, A THIRD FIREPLACE IN THE DEN, NEW KITCHEN CABINETS. 'I'VE LOVED IT HERE IN THUNDERBIRD HEIGHTS WITH VIEWS OF THE VALLEY AND THE MOUNTAINS', SAID THE AUTHOR, WHO HAS SOLD ALMOST 100 MILLION BOOKS. 'IT MIGHT SEEM AN UNLIKELY PLACE FOR THE AUTHOR OF 'INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE', AND OTHER SUPERNATURAL NOVELS, HAILING FROM NEW ORLEANS, BUT IT'S BEEN A LOVELY PLACE TO WRITE.'

PIAGET QR CODE

LUXURY WATCHMAKER AND JEWELER PIAGET HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED THE FIRST EVER DIAMOND STUDDED QUICK RESPONSE CODE. THE QR CODE CONSISTS OF A SMALL PICTOGRAM AND IS MADE UP OF LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE SQUARES THAT WORKS AS A FULL-FLEDGED MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION TOOL, IT HAS THE AMAZING CAPACITY TO STORE PHOTOS, TEXTS AND VIDEOS. THE PIAGET QR CODE IS TRULY EXCEPTIONAL, IT IS MADE OF 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD AND IS SET WITH 1,042 BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS AND 520 BLACK SPINELS. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QR CODE IS WHEN SCANNED IT DIRECTS PEOPLE TO PIAGET'S WEBSITE CELEBRATING THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE POSSESSION LINE.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S HORSE WINS TROPHY AT ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW

QUEEN ELIZABETH IS ACCUSTOMED TO BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF SOME OF THE MOST GLITTERING AND DAZZLING THINGS MONEY AND PRESTIGE CAN ACQUIRE. BUT WHEN SHE WAS PRESENTED A SILVER TROPHY SHE COULD ONLY LOOK DOWN AT IT WITH DISBELIEF. THE QUEEN APPEARED TO BE LOST FOR WORDS WHEN GIVEN THE CUP, AWARDED TO ONE OF HER STEEDS IN THE ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW. HER BELOVED STARDUST III, RIDDEN BY KATIE JERRAM, WON THE LADIES SIDE-SADDLE CLASS AT THE FAMOUS EQUESTRIAN EVENT. THE MONARCH SHARED THE VICTORIOUS MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG JOCKEY, WHO LOOKED OVER THE TROPHY AS IF TO REASSURE HER MAJESTY THAT IT WAS INDEED FOR REAL. THE QUEEN WAS DRESSED UNASSUMINGLY IN A KHAKI GREEN TRENCH COAT, AND A VINTAGE HERMES SILK SCARF WRAPPED AROUND HER HEAD. HELD ANNUALLY SINCE 1943 FOR FIVE DAYS IN MAY OR JUNE IN WINDSOR HOME PARK, THE ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW HAS ALWAYS ENJOYED THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE QUEEN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE QUEEN IS AN AVID HORSE RIDER HERSELF AND HAS WON THE SINGLE PRIVATE DRIVING EVENT ON HER PONY HANS. PRINCE PHILIP IS ALSO KNOWN TO REGULARLY COMPETE IN THE CARRIAGE RIDING RACES.

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE FILLED WITH ROYAL FAMILY MEMORABILIA

WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY MEMORABILIA, JANET AND PHILIP WILLIAMS HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD OF THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR, TURING THEIR FOUR-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME IN WOONONA, AUSTRALIA, INTO A ROYAL MUSEUM, WHICH ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF CURIOUS VISITORS EACH YEAR. AN ABUNDANCE OF UNION JACK FLAGS FILL THE FRONT GARDEN AND ON THE PORCH, A FACSIMILE OF CHARLES AND CAMILLA CAN BE FOUND TAKING IN THE SUN, HAND IN HAND. STEP INSIDE THE QUAINT HOME AND THE UNIQUE ROYAL TOUR CONTINUES. FROM A LIFE-SIZE MODEL OF THE QUEEN, WITH A SMALL CORGI NIPPING AT HER ANKLES, TO ROOMS FULL OF COMMEMORATIVE CHINA, INCLUDING NUMEROUS PLATES, CUPS AND ASSORTED FIGURINES, AND EVEN A PAIR OF CHARLES AND DIANA SLIPPERS. IT ALL BEGAN WHEN JANET WILLIAMS, ORIGINALLY FROM GATESHEAD, MET THE QUEEN ON ROYAL VISIT IN 1952. 'MY MUM BOUGHT ME A ROYAL COMMEMORATIVE TOUR MUG', SHE RECALLS. 'THAT STARTED MY COLLECTION, AND I HAVEN'T STOPPED TO THIS DAY.' THE HOUSE CONTAIN MORE THAN 12,000 ITEMS, BOUGHT FROM MARKETS, ANTIQUE SHOPS OR EBAY, AND THEY'RE JUST THE ONES THAT JANET HAS COUNTED. SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE COUPLE HAD TO BUILD A BIGGER HOUSE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING COLLECTION. PRINCESS DIANA, JANET'S IDOL, HAS HER OWN MEMORIAL ROOM, WITH ELTON JOHN'S 'CANDLE IN THE WIND' PLAYING ON A LOOP.

LOUIS VUITTON YOUNG ARTS PROJECT

LOUIS VUITTON HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF THE LOUIS VUITTON YOUNG ARTS PROJECT, AN UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOUIS VUITTON AND FIVE OF LONDON'S LEADING ART INSTITUTIONS: HAYWARD GALLERY, ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, SOUTH LONDON GALLERY, TATE BRITAIN AND WHITECHAPEL GALLERY. THE LOUIS VUITTON YOUNG ARTS PROJECT EMBODIES THE BRAND'S CREATIVE SPIRIT AND ITS LONG TRADITION OF ARTS PATRONAGE, AS WELL AS ITS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TO LONDON. FOLLOWING THE SPONSORSHIP OF NUMEROUS EXHIBITIONS AT MAJOR INSTITUTIONS, AND THE SUCCESS OF THE LOUIS VUITTON ART TALKS SERIES AT WHICH ARTISTS INTERACT CLOSELY WITH THE INVITED AUDIENCE, LOUIS VUITTON WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE NEW BOND STREET MAISON WITH A MAJOR NEW PROJECT THAT WOULD EXTEND OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNGER, OFTEN LESS PRIVILEGED PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE ART WORLD. THE THREE YEAR ARTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL GIVE YOUNG LONDONERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY UNIQUE ACCESS TO MUSEUM DIRECTORS AND CURATORS, ARTISTS AND COLLECTORS WHO SHAPE THE BRITISH CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE, WHICH IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORLD. THE YOUNG ART PROJECT WILL ADD A VIBRANT CULTURAL DIMENSION TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND ALLOW THE PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN THE INSIGHT, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES NECESSARY TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF PURSUING A CAREER IN THE ARTS.

BONHAMS TO HOLD FIRST EVER PICASSO EDITIONS SALE

BONHAM'S, LONDON, WILL HOLD THEIR FIRST EVER PICASSO EDITIONS SALE FEATURING CERAMICS, PRINTS AND JEWELRY BY THE MOST CELEBRATED ARTIST OF THE 20th CENTURY, IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE SALES ROOM ON 22.SEPTEMBER. PICASSO ITEMS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SOLD IN OTHER BONHAMS SALES, BUT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST AUCTION TO BE DEVOTED PURELY TO THE WORKS OF THE ARTIST. AS WELL AS CERAMICS, THERE IS ALREADY A SPECIAL EARLY CONSIGNMENT OF TWO OF THE NINETEEN SILVER PLATES DESIGNED BY PICASSO, INCLUDING ONE TITLED 'DORMEUR', HIS FIRST EXPERIMENT IN THE USE OF SILVER. PICASSO BEGAN DESIGNING IN SILVER PLATES IN THE MID 1950s. FOLLOWING A METING WITH THE SILVERSMITH FRANCOIS HUGO. HAVING GIVEN HIM THE PLATTER 'DORMEUR' AS A MODEL, PICASSO WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN SO PLEASED WITH THE RESULT THAT HE IMMEDIATELY ASKED HUGO TO CREATE ANOTHER FOUR LIKE IT. FROM THE EDITION OF JUST TWENTY EACH, BOTH 'DORMEUR' AND 'JOUEUR DE FLUTE AT CAVALIER' ARE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF THE PLAYFUL AND ICONIC MOTIFS TO BE FOUND IN PICASSO'S EDITIONS. THEY ARE ESTIMATED AT £10,000-15,000 EACH. THE SALE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY BONHAMS SPECIALIST RUTH GRAHAM WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE FIRM SINCE 2008.