Events

Bridge Ward Club Events 2025/26

“Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process”

Monday, 9 March 2026 at 18:00 for 18:30 (drinks and snacks from 18:00, talk begins at 18:30 – Duration: Until approximately 19:30/19:45)

Venue: Church of St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, Lower Thames Street, EC3R 6DN (nearest Tube: Monument, London Bridge, Bank)

We are delighted that the Anglo-Finnish Society is inviting all Bridge Ward Club members to this event, which offers a rare chance to witness how music is created in real time. Composer David Pearson will share how he is approaching Finland’s famous national epic, Kalevala, as the foundation of a four‑opera cycle — a project echoing the scale and ambition of Wagner’s Ring. He will discuss the challenges and discoveries involved in:

– shaping a libretto from a vast and symbolically rich poetic source
– navigating the complexities of Kalevala Finnish
– interpreting the mythic and archetypal layers of the text
– structuring a monumental narrative into four coherent operas.

The talk will include musical illustrations and a live view of the composer’s working drafts, textual analysis and score materials.

Light nibbles will be provided, and wine will be available for a small donation.

The setting is the historic Grade I listed Church of St Magnus the Martyr, one of Wren’s finest post-fire churches. Its Nordic connections run deep – St Magnus was Earl of Orkney when the islands formed part of the Kingdom of Norway.

Arrive promptly at 18:00 to enjoy the church’s magnificent, world-famous model of medieval London Bridge (visit https://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/ for more information).

Cost: Free – but please only book if you intend to come, so catering can be planned appropriately.

David’s background is in economics, corporate finance, culture change and leadership, but he has also studied music, and together with his interest in Finnish cultural history, this has inspired him to take on the task of setting Kalevala in music. He also manages to find the time to act as the BWC Treasurer.

To book your free place, please go to: Select tickets – Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process – Church of St Magnus the Martyr

“Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process”

Monday, 9 March 2026 at 18:00 for 18:30 (drinks and snacks from 18:00, talk begins at 18:30 – Duration: Until approximately 19:30/19:45)

Venue: Church of St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, Lower Thames Street, EC3R 6DN (nearest Tube: Monument, London Bridge, Bank)

We are delighted that the Anglo-Finnish Society is inviting all Bridge Ward Club members to this event, which offers a rare chance to witness how music is created in real time. Composer David Pearson will share how he is approaching Finland’s famous national epic, Kalevala, as the foundation of a four‑opera cycle — a project echoing the scale and ambition of Wagner’s Ring. He will discuss the challenges and discoveries involved in:

– shaping a libretto from a vast and symbolically rich poetic source
– navigating the complexities of Kalevala Finnish
– interpreting the mythic and archetypal layers of the text
– structuring a monumental narrative into four coherent operas.

The talk will include musical illustrations and a live view of the composer’s working drafts, textual analysis and score materials.

Light nibbles will be provided, and wine will be available for a small donation.

The setting is the historic Grade I listed Church of St Magnus the Martyr, one of Wren’s finest post-fire churches. Its Nordic connections run deep – St Magnus was Earl of Orkney when the islands formed part of the Kingdom of Norway.

Arrive promptly at 18:00 to enjoy the church’s magnificent, world-famous model of medieval London Bridge (visit https://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/ for more information).

Cost: Free – but please only book if you intend to come, so catering can be planned appropriately.

David’s background is in economics, corporate finance, culture change and leadership, but he has also studied music, and together with his interest in Finnish cultural history, this has inspired him to take on the task of setting Kalevala in music. He also manages to find the time to act as the BWC Treasurer.

To book your free place, please go to: Select tickets – Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process – Church of St Magnus the Martyr

“Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process”

Monday, 9 March 2026 at 18:00 for 18:30 (drinks and snacks from 18:00, talk begins at 18:30 – Duration: Until approximately 19:30/19:45)

Venue: Church of St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, Lower Thames Street, EC3R 6DN (nearest Tube: Monument, London Bridge, Bank)

We are delighted that the Anglo-Finnish Society is inviting all Bridge Ward Club members to this event, which offers a rare chance to witness how music is created in real time. Composer David Pearson will share how he is approaching Finland’s famous national epic, Kalevala, as the foundation of a four‑opera cycle — a project echoing the scale and ambition of Wagner’s Ring. He will discuss the challenges and discoveries involved in:

– shaping a libretto from a vast and symbolically rich poetic source
– navigating the complexities of Kalevala Finnish
– interpreting the mythic and archetypal layers of the text
– structuring a monumental narrative into four coherent operas.

The talk will include musical illustrations and a live view of the composer’s working drafts, textual analysis and score materials.

Light nibbles will be provided, and wine will be available for a small donation.

The setting is the historic Grade I listed Church of St Magnus the Martyr, one of Wren’s finest post-fire churches. Its Nordic connections run deep – St Magnus was Earl of Orkney when the islands formed part of the Kingdom of Norway.

Arrive promptly at 18:00 to enjoy the church’s magnificent, world-famous model of medieval London Bridge (visit https://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/ for more information).

Cost: Free – but please only book if you intend to come, so catering can be planned appropriately.

David’s background is in economics, corporate finance, culture change and leadership, but he has also studied music, and together with his interest in Finnish cultural history, this has inspired him to take on the task of setting Kalevala in music. He also manages to find the time to act as the BWC Treasurer.

To book your free place, please go to: Select tickets – Forging Kalevala in Music: Inside a Composer’s Creative Process – Church of St Magnus the Martyr

( picture by Camster 2) Royal Hospital Chelsea Date: Saturday 16th of May 2026 Time: 10.30am (café opens at 9.45am and beverages may be purchased at own cost) Place: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR.

Cost: £30pp

We are excited to announce an exclusive tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea; a maximum of 25 places is available.

Discover the history, beauty, and stories of the Royal Hospital Chelsea by joining the Bridge Ward Clubs guided tour, led by a Chelsea Pensioner. You will explore some of the most stunning historic buildings in London and gain an insider’s perspective on what life is like as part of this unique community.

We are expecting a high interest in this event, due to the limited availability in the first instance please email

bridgewardevents@gmail.com to confirm the number of tickets you would like to reserve. Please email your expression of interest by Sunday 17th August.

If this event is oversubscribed, we will work with the Royal Hospital Chelsea to see if it is possible to run an additional tour alongside this one, if this is not possible, we will look to arrange another event later in the year.

We will let you know if tickets have been reserved for you. We will then email you in early 2026 to ask for payment.

Ironmongers Hall Luncheon

Date: Monday 20 th of April 2026
Place: Shaftsbury Place, off Aldersgate Street, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AA

We are delighted to announce that Bridge Ward members and their guests can visit Ironmongers Hall for
luncheon on Monday 20 th of April 2026.
One of the Great XII Livery Companies of the City of London, with links to the Iron trade reaching back 700
years.
We expect the pricing of this event to be around £88pp, which will include a 3-course meal, a glass of bubbles
and half a bottle of wine pp.
We will issue a Ticket /Tailor link early in the new year.
No payments to be made at this current time.

Purcell Club Musical Tour of Westminster Abbey

Join us for a very special visit to Westminster Abbey on 26 September 2026. Appreciate the beauty of the Abbey without any tourists!

The evening will commence at 17:30 in the Cellarium Restaurant of the Abbey

A two-course meal with tea and coffee is included. (Other drinks are paid personally on the night). Menu choices will be requested much nearer the event, the choices are shown at the end of this mail.

Then at 19:00 we join the Purcell Club musical tour of the Abbey.

The Purcell Club’s members are mainly former Choristers of Westminster Abbey. The guided tour of the Abbey, with music, lasts about two hours and offers a unique way of seeing the Abbey in the quiet of the evening. As well as visiting the Coronation Chair, the tomb of the Unknown Warrior and Poets Corner, the tour gains access to the King Henry VII Chapel and the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor. Each year the tours raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The event costs £85 per person including the meal and tea/coffee.

You will be emailed once the tickets are on sale.

Cellarium menu

MAIN

Roasted chicken with spinach and potato puree, spiced chickpeas and sundry tomato, crispy kale or Pan-fried hake, courgette and sage risotto, crispy sage or Wild mushroom gnocchi, tomato cream, basil pesto, pine nut, vegan parmesan chips

DESSERT

Seasonal homemade cheesecake or Pistachio panna cotta, chocolate biscuit, rose petals or Apple and berries crumble, vegan ice cream .

More details of the Purcell Club can be found at the website of Westminster Abbey Old Choristers -: http://www.waoca.org.uk

…

Old Events

Candlelight Tour of The Charterhouse
Date: Thursday 15th January 2026
Time:6pm
Place: Charterhouse Square London – EC1M 6AN
Cost: £39.50pp inclusive of two glasses of wine pp
An exclusive tour by candlelight of the Charterhouse.
This guided tour will took us on a journey through the fascinating history, all revealed by flickering
candlelight. We stepped through the gates of the Charterhouse and discovered the historic interiors behind the ancient
walls, experienced the atmosphere of the medieval Norfolk Cloister and hear about the Restoration Governors
whose 17th Century portraits line the silk-covered walls of the Tudor Great Chamber

.

Thursday 23 March 2023- Visit to Angels Costumiers And RAF Museum London

Thankyou to Alison and Rebecca at Angels and also Peter and Karen at RAF Museum London for making our visit so interesting. We were amazed at the size and content at both sites, they certainly covered a wide range of interests.

-On Wednesday 19 November 2025 the club arranged a Tour of Butchers Hall,
followed by the three course “legendary” Roast Beef Carvery Luncheon. Priced at £87.50 pp inclusive of HB wine PP. Post dinner drinks can be purchased at the bar should you wish to do so.
The tour will start at 10:30 followed by lunch.
The Worshipful Company of Butchers is one of the oldest of the City of London Livery Companies and they can trace their roots back to 975 AD.

The event sold out.

I’m delighted to write to you as the ‘City side’ Chairman of the 2025 Guildhall Christmas Market, with advance notice of the all-important dates for your 2025 calendar.

The market will be open on the evening of Monday 8th December 2025, with a gala drinks reception, and providing early access to all of the commercial and Livery stalls. The stalls will continue trading all day on Tuesday 9th December 2025.

I would be most grateful if you were able to make a note of these dates and if possible kindly promulgate more widely on your side. I will also be writing shortly with more information on opportunities to get involved in this exciting high profile event, all in aid of the British Red Cross.

With kind regards

Alex

Alexander Barr
Alderman for Cordwainer Ward, City of London

Carol Service – 4 December 2025 – St Magnus the Martyr As the Lord Mayor is now hosting a banquet for the President of Germany we have brought forward to timings so that our Civic team are able to attend the service. 17:45 – Presentation by Alderman Tim Levene to our Norwegian Scholar – Ms Linh Normann 18:00 – Carol Service of 4 lessons and carols. The choir of St Magnus the Martyr directed by Ed Walters led the congregation and sang some interesting extras. After the service there was an extensive buffet with excellent wines from Fortnum and Mason. financially viable it is open to non- BWC members too. December 4th. Keith Etherington, Chairman

Photos to be found below.

Thank you for supporting the Club’s events.

To get in touch contact

bridgewardevents@gmail.com

January 2026 Blessing of the River Thames – Sunday 11th January – St Magnus the Martyr Join the congregation for Mass at 11.00 The Preacher and celebrant will be the Rt Revd Bishop of Fulham. This will be followed by blessing from London Bridge. No reservations required

BRIDGE WARD CLUB CAROL CONCERT .

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