The initial clean-up began weeks before London was flooded with visitors from across the globe. The subways leading to and from Westminster tube station were scrubbed vigorously with detergent and wire brushes. This was done by people convicted of minor offences.
This project was organised by Westminster Council through the Community Payback scheme.
The rest of the preparations and post-wedding clean-up were organized by Westminster Council’s waste management contractor. They dealt with the event clean-up with the efficiency you can expect from a contractor.
In addition, minimal disruption was caused to the public.
A deep cleansing of the route was undertaken on the night before the Royal Wedding. This involved using a 15-strong team of cleaners to remove every piece of litter from the procession route. They were assisted by a small Johnston C40 sweeper to do an initial clean, which was then followed by a large Johnston 600 sweeper.
A statue cleaning team from Westminster City Council worked to tidy up the Royal Tank Regiment and other statues, which were to be passed by the procession.
On the day of the Royal Wedding, the cleaning staff contracted for the event clean-up began their work at 2 a.m.
They then laid sand down in places where the horses were likely to slip, and ensured that two gritting machines were placed at strategic intervals on the route. During the royal procession, the contractor’s street cleaners waited until the procession passed by. They then immediately entered the area to remove any litter and sand that was left behind the procession.
Around busy transport stations, they placed an additional 40 sweepers, to keep these densely attended areas neat and tidy.
After the celebrations were over, it didn’t take long for the cleaning team to return the streets of London to normal.
Regardless of the views on the cost of the Royal Wedding to the public, the cleaning contractor did an excellent job of preparing for the event and making the city look like it had never happened afterwards. They had planned everything exactly, they had employed extra staff, and they used countless machines and unlimited equipment.
,
,(A)After this, they gave the route one final wash to make sure it was spotless.,
,
,(B)The prisoners were ready to start working on the clean-up.,
,
,(C)Summing up, this all made the clean-up a complete success.,
,
,(D)They utilized their resources and staff fully to get the job done.,
,
,(E)In the end, there were more than 15 cleaners employed for the job.,
,
,(F)The streets were returned to their spotless state.,
,
,(G)They chose to volunteer for the duty rather than receiving a prison sentence.,
,
,(H)The cleaners had to go on working after the procession.,
,
,(I)Other cleaners walked in the crowd all day, picking up litter left by the public.,
,
,(J)They prepared the procession route by giving it one final sweep.,
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Part 2: The Abdication Crisis – Edward VIII (6 points)
ANJ_B2_Ukazka_8.PNG
,
,,(a)Edward, son of King George V, became king in January 1936 after his father’s death. He caused frustration for his ministers and his staff because he failed to understand the importance of the monarchy’s continuity, and he did not undertake his new responsibilities dutifully. His father’s servants were also sacked with a minimum of thanks and compensation for lifetimes of service.,
,,(b)He believed he was able to marry an American Wallis Simpson, whom he had known since 1931, and make her his queen. However, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin told the king it was unthinkable for the Sovereign Head of the Church of England to marry a woman who was twice-divorced. Edward explored other options so he could remain king and still marry Mrs Simpson but the Cabinet refused every alternative. Mrs Simpson offered to end the relationship thinking it would help Edward do his duty, but he rejected her offer.,
,,(c)The British public was not sympathetic, although numerous telegrams from Britain and Commonwealth countries urged Edward VIII not to abdicate. This was because giving up the throne was considered shameful. Edward maintained his celebrity status in some countries, including America, where his abdication was seen as the ultimate romantic gesture for the woman he loved. Mrs Simpson became TIME magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1936.,
,,(d)The King signed the Instrument of Abdication on 10 December 1936 and made his famous farewell broadcast the following day. He abdicated in favour of his brother, Albert, Duke of York, who reigned as George VI. He then left for Europe that night and married Mrs Simpson in a private ceremony in France six months later. Edward thus remains the only British monarch to have voluntarily given up the throne since the Anglo-Saxon period.,
,,(e)Edward was given the title Duke of Windsor. His relationship with his brother was uneasy due to Edward’s annoying phone calls about his financial settlement and the duchess’ lack of “Her Royal Highness” title. The newly-created Duke of Windsor was appointed Governor of the Bahamas during World War II, but he and his duchess spent most of their lives in exile where the French government provided a house in the Bois de Boulogne.,
Part 3: The Disposable Razor of King Gillette (7 points)
ANJ_B2_Ukazka_9.PNG
,
,King Camp Gillette was born in 1855 in a small town in central Wisconsin. His parents were innovators, who were always seeking to do things better. His father worked at various inventions and his mother created numerous recipes through experimentation.
At the age of 18, King left school to begin working for a living as a traveling salesman. He did this work for years, often trying his hand at various inventions to improve the products he sold.
By 1890, he had accumulated four patents, but none of the inventions gathered much interest. Meanwhile, his parents seemed so much more successful than he.
At the age of 40, Gillette went back to his roots in Wisconsin, working as a salesman for Crown Cork & Seal Co. The owner of the company had invented the cork-lined bottle cap. He knew Gillette wanted to be a successful inventor, so he told him to invent something people could use and throw away. This thought stuck in the back of Gillette’s mind.
Shortly afterwards, as he was getting ready to shave before going to work, King became irritated that his straight-edge razor was dull and would no longer cut. It was so worn out that he could no longer sharpen it. The straight-edge razor was also called the “cut-throat razor” because it was dangerous enough to cut a man’s throat. Salesmen traveling in swaying trains had to be especially careful when trying to shave.
Gillette suddenly had a flash of inspiration for a razor that would not need re-sharpening. He had the idea of disposable razor blades that were sharpened by the manufacturer and thrown away when dull. It would also be a razor that was safe to use, as opposed to the dangerous straight-edge razor.
Excited by his idea, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and asked their metallurgists if it were possible to make a small piece of steel that would hold its sharp edge and be affordable enough to throw away. They said it was impossible.
Still determined, he spent evenings working on his idea. He then partnered with inventor William Emery Nickerson to perfect the method. Ironically, Nickerson had been educated at MIT. It took them 5 years and much of their own money to finally find someone who could provide a machine that would automatically sharpen thin sheets of metal so they could be used to shave. Gillette was now 45 years old.
They eventually perfected the double-edged safety razor blade, which fit into a specially designed holder with a handle and an adjustable head. Gillette and Nickerson set up the American Safety Razor Company and got their patent in 1901.,