The London Town Miscellany - v. 1 : 1900-1939

The two volumes of London Town Miscellany were compiled from the records of the staff magazine of the London County Council (LCC) and subsequently of the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority.

In selecting material for these volumes the Editors sought to present the best, and the most lastingly interesting, of the material contained in these records.

The first volume, covering the years of publication 1900-1939, ranges back into the nineteenth century.

A number of contributions chronicle the often colourful life of the Metropolitan Board of Works, predecessor of the LCC, and there is an account by an "Old Soldier" of his experiences in the Crimean War.

The military theme is continued with a section on the Boer War and another on the First World War which reflects not just the horror of that time but also the resilience of Council staff thrust unexpectedly into the trench warfare on the Western Front or into more far-flung campaigns.

On a lighter note there is a section on County Hall which includes an account of the opening ceremony performed by King George V and the text of the King's speech on that occasion. The life of the LCC and the staff is of course a prominent feature of the book, but it is kept in balance with material of more general interest much of which, for example descriptions of the countryside, may well invoke feelings of nostalgia.

The book is strongly illustrated with photos reproduced from the magazine and from other sources.