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Tulips in Ukraine

Tulips stand tall next to ruined buildings in Mariupol, defiant against the enemy, like messengers sending a little piece of hope. Spring is here but lives are shattered.

People who survive in this living hell, are forced to hide in cellars, to avoid missiles, sent from an unrelenting and ruthless enemy.

Brave soldiers fight - their courage responded to with contempt, from the antagonist living in a gilded cage, soaked in the blood of innocent lives.

Children playing in the semi darkness of their underground refuge ask, “When can we go home mama?” Mothers and grandparents try to show optimism, like the tulips in the ground above them, standing tall as beacons of light.

Geraldine Ann Ford

Charley & Milly Meet Charley (left) and Milly! They are tortoiseshell sisters from the same litter. They’re almost 15 years old and still love playing with their toys & chasing everything in the garden!

Michelle S

They’re adorable! Thanks for sending in the picture Michelle. If you’d like to see your pet in an upcoming issue, email their picture and a bit about them to hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

The flicks

Just wanted to say thank you so much to Life In… Magazines and Bromley Picturehouse for the puzzle prize of two cinema tickets. We went on Tuesday evening to Bromley and watched What’s Love Got To Do With It? which was excellent and we had a great time. The cinema has been restored really well and looks brilliant - very Art Deco. We loved the original pictures on the stairwell showing how the cinema looked in the past. Thanks again, and we look forward to reading the next issue of your magazine.

Richard Miles

Thanks for the feedback! We’d agree that the cinema is a lovely place to visit – and not just for a special occasion.

The star response ( ) wins a £15 one4all digital gift card courtesy of The Bed Post (the-bedpost.co.uk). Email hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Spotted on social

THIS MONTH WE…

Enjoyed a visit to Bromley FC! We had a cuppa and catch up with the club’s Head of Community, Matt Hall (pictured), who showed us the club's display cabinet of trophies including their big FA Trophy!

Were invited to the business lounge at Bromley Central Library by Start Up Bromley to take part in some filming with Jellyfielders. tv to share our experience of being part of Start Up Bromley and our business journey. We’re looking forward to the film’s release!

Pigeons in war

by PAM PREEDY, historian & author

Pigeons have been used to send messages since around 1200 BC. By the 1800s AD the French had an official pigeon postal service, and in Britain pigeon fancying and racing has long been a popular hobby. What many people don't know is that pigeons were a tremendous asset during the World Wars.

In World War I carrier pigeons transported messages back to their home coops behind the lines. For the British this would be in a stationary or mobile loft, which might have been an adapted London double-decker bus. A soldier from the Signal Corps would retrieve the message from its canister and send it on to its destination by telegraph, field phone or personal messenger. Some of these messages saved the lives of mariners and aviators. In August 1917, Skipper Thomas Crisp was attacked by a German U-boat. He sent pigeon number 198 for help. Crisp was killed, but the pigeon, despite being wounded in one wing, was able to deliver the message in time to help the crew. Some RAF airmen even carried pigeons with them. There is one story of four airmen who came down in the sea. They released a pigeon, which struggled against a gale but arrived in time to save them. Sadly it died of exhaustion on arrival.

During World War II, pigeons were even used for spy missions. Two pigeons were dropped over France in baskets with food and instructions. It was hoped that someone in France would send them back to Britain with valuable strategic information. One was picked up by the Debaille family, who gathered a huge amount of information which they attached to the pigeon and released. It successfully reached Britain. Members of the family continued spying, but as no more pigeons arrived there was unfortunately no way to get any information back.

Lessons learnt in World War 1 led to the formation of the National Pigeon Service NPS. The Army, RAF and Royal Navy all had sections in the NPS using over 250,000 pigeons. There was however a high death rate, and only one in ten made it back alive. Apart from natural causes and exhaustion, pigeons were targets of snipers, hungry locals, and birds of prey.

Thirty-two pigeons were awarded the Dicken Medal for their amazing feats. The first medal was awarded to Winkie. In February 1942 a badly damaged RAF bomber returning from Norway ditched into the North Sea. In freezing conditions and with no communications, they released Winkie. He flew the 120 miles home and was found by his owner exhausted and covered in oil. There was no message but, by calculating the plane’s downed position and the time difference between the plane’s ditching and the arrival of the bird, together with other factors, a rescue mission was launched and the men were found within 15 minutes! An American pigeon, called GI Joe, saved more than 1,000 lives when it got a message through that a village about to be bombed had actually been recaptured by British forces. He flew 20 miles in 20 minutes arriving just in time to cancel the raid as the bombers were preparing to take off. What incredible birds.

Bletchley Park and the Imperial War Museum have ‘Pigeons in War’ sections which provide more information, and Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera is a fascinating book.

Bromley chosen as Night Time Enterprise Zone

Bromley Town Centre has been selected as one of London’s three new Night Time Enterprise Zones, enabling a series of evening events and projects to boost activity in the town after 6pm.

A Library Lates event, an interactive Celebration of Sports and a Winter lights spectacle will feature among these special evening events. Town centre improvements such as lighting upgrades will also be delivered to ensure a welcoming high street is created. The first event, Library Lates, takes place on Thursday 27th April (6pm-10:30pm) and will see Bromley Central Library open late and provide a host of activities. The event will also be accompanied by a night market and street entertainment in Bromley High Street. For more information see the What’s On pages in this month’s issue or visit www.bromley.gov.uk/BR1Lates

The Night Time Enterprise Zone will see over £250,000 invested in events and improved infrastructure in Bromley town centre with Bromley Council and partners Your Bromley collectively providing match funding to the grant received from the Greater London Authority.