RIP Peter Moore, London's Town Crier

It's with a good deal of sadness that my first blog entry for 2010 is in recognition of the death of my good friend, London's Town Crier of more than 30 years, Peter Moore.
Peter was due to be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the London New Year's Day Parade but died in his sleep at home in Wandsworth on 20 December. He was 70.
The full story can be read here.
I had the privilege to know Peter as both friend and work colleague for some 20 years.
As well as representing the City and various London Boroughs, during the time I knew him best Peter worked for the Tower of London and London Aquarium, as well as fulfilling many charitable and corporate events, some of them my own.
Most significantly he led the procession of bishops at the beginning of the 1998 Jubilee 2000 Human Chain at the Birmingham G8 Summit. (Pictured above.)
As a Barnardo's boy from Walsall, this return to the city of his birth to promote an end to poverty and third world debt undoubtedly struck a personal chord. He loved the experience and afterwards talked about it frequently.
Pictures available here.
But Peter's heart was in London. Unconcerned with power or party politics, Peter adored everything about the capital, whoever governed it: his eyes would sparkle with child-like enthusiasm as he made his way through the streets or recounted stories of his day.
He loved the history of the city and being a part of that history. He loved being recognised, being photographed, representing London at home and abroad and being a part of what made London.
So it was a red letter day when Peter was made a Freeman of The City of London and I was delighted to be asked along to witness the occasion.
Unfortunately I wasn't available to see him enact his right to drive a flock of sheep over Tower Bridge a short time later. Typically, he used the opportunity to raise money for one of his favourite charities.
An unapologetic monarchist, I was once walking with Peter in the narrow streets of the West End when a black limousine slowed to negotiate street bollards. A window slid down and the Queen Mother, resplendent in veiled hat, leant forward. "Good afternoon, Mr Moore", she said, raising her hand and tipping her head.
"Good afternoon, M'am", said Peter, doffing his feathered cap to the smiling face at the window.
He positively glowed with pride at the recognition.
A good man but not always an easy man, Peter suffered poor health for many years but didn't let this stand in his way; some thought him a workaholic but he loved his work too much to be away from it, or from the city he adored, for long.
Peter was an ebullient, larger than life character. He loved people and people loved him. He was also an artist with a fragile ego; originally an actor who starred in Lionel Bart's Oliver!, he was perpetually worried about where his next job was coming from and whether he was loved; he was, of course, not only by Jamie, his son, but by so many. And will be very greatly missed by all of us who knew him.
To be remembered only with smiles: Peter Moore, 1939-2009.

'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.' Samuel Johnson.
'Have bell, will travel'. Peter Moore.

Sunday 1 March 2009 Chat

I don't know what it is about the People's Plinth and Anthony Gormley's idea that I like so much, but like it I do.
Anthony Gormley is an artist, sculptor, all-round man of the people and best known (I guess) as the designer of Angel of the North, the immense open-armed metal structure, modelled on himself, that towers above the A1 and welcomes travellers to Gateshead and Tyneside.
Now he's been charged with filling the fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square for 100 days from 6 July this year.
I'm guessing it was anticipated Gormley himself might sculpt an artistic creation for the purpose. But no.
Used to producing BIG ideas Gormley's come up with something even bigger and more monumental than anything he's come up with before - and after the Angel nobody thought that was possible.
Gormley's idea is truly monumental; he's inviting people from all over the UK to apply for a one hour slot to do whatever they want on the plinth, as long as it's legal.
For a total of 2,400 hours the fourth plinth will be a representation of humanity, time allocated according to areas of population in an effort to make this a genuinely national 'work'.
For artistic work it most assuredly will become, a 100-day living monument in the company of Trafalgar Square's existing male, military figures, allowing us, the viewer, to reflect on the individual in contemporary society. Apparently.
Thankfully there's BIG money behind this idea, funding 4 cameras on the plinth, all streaming live via Sky Arts and recorded as an archive. A BIG project, indeed.
Will the People's Plinth become an artistic 'Big Brother'? Is this a reality-TV experiment that will attract applicants intent on grabbing 60 minutes of fame where 15 seconds are usually more than enough? Are we going to be watching the creative equivalent of paint drying?
With a sky-high risk factor, a height at which Gormley is after all used to operating, this idea is surely the ultimate in public, community, art and without question a potentially thrilling idea.

Anthony Gormley's People's Plinth project is called One & Another. For an hour on the People's Plinth applicants must be over 16 and UK residents. Volunteers will be lifted to the plinth via a lift platform, making it disabled accessible. Applications can be made immediately and those chosen will be notified from April.
Register at www.oneandother.co.uk or send a large envelope and £1.08 in stamps to Artichoke, Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E16AB.
GOOD LUCK and see you at the Plinth!