Chris Ruff
Languages:
English.
Themes:
Gardens and open spaces, Legal London, Romans, The Great Fire of London, The River Thames, Wartime, Evening walks, City churches, General city tour.
Biography
Thanks for dropping by.
The City of London is a part of the capital like no other. Our City is the original London founded by the Romans in the first century AD which has continually changed and developed since that time. Today the City is known throughout the world as an international financial centre but there are 2000 years of history at your feet as you discover the 'Square Mile' with its traditions, lovely gardens, Wren churches, buildings ancient and modern and a whole lot more.
The walks you find listed on my page are all done with the proceeds going to a selected charity.
Over £11,000 has been raised so far for various good causes.
Qualifications
Islington born and bred
City of London Guide (since 1998)
Clerkenwell & Islington Guide (since 1995)
Institute of Tourist Guiding Registered Guide and Associate (since its inception in 2002)
Past Chairman of the City of London Guide Lecturers Association (City Guides)
Past Chairman of the Clerkenwell and Islington Guides Association
Accredited Guide to The Postal Museum
Wembley Stadium Guide and Visitor Host (2007 - 2021)
Former City of London Police Museum Guide
Former Guide at St John's Gate, Clerkenwell
Freeman of the City of London
Celebration Maker at HM The Queen's 90th Birthday Patrons Lunch in 2016
Games Maker at the Olympic Stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games
Visitor Host at the Millennium Dome in 2000
Clerkenwell and Islington Guides
Friends of the City Churches
The Friends of the City Churches is an architectural heritage charity dedicated to preserving the beautiful and unique churches found within the square mile of the City of London.
The Friends of the City Churches
Friends of the Watts Memorial
The Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice in Postman’s Park London is a Victorian monument dedicated to people who lost their own life while attempt to save the life of another. It was conceived and built by the Victorian artist George Frederick Watts and unveiled to the public in 1900.
62 people are commemorated on 54 ceramic tablets mounted upon a wall within a wooden cloister. The ages of those commemorated range from 8-year-old Henry Bristow to Daniel Pemberton, who was 61 when he died. The earliest recorded incident is that of Sarah Smith, a pantomime artist who perished in 1863, and all but one of the people who feature died between 1863 and 1827. The memorial is dedicated to ‘everyday’ heroism; acts of life-risking bravery, undertaken by otherwise ordinary people, largely in the course of their everyday life, and usually within commonplace surroundings.
The Friends of the Watts Memorial
Guided Tours
The proceeds of all the walks listed here will be donated to a chosen charity.
- The City's Postal and Telecoms Heritage
- City War Memorials
- Bank to Liverpool Street
- Bank to the Tower of London
- Barbican
- Blackfriars
- Cheapside
- City Gardens
- The City in the Blitz
- Fleet Street
- The Great Fire of London
- Alongside the Thames
- Smithfield
- The Vicinity of St Paul’s and Paternoster Square
The Lord Mayor's Show
For the first time since 1852 (due to a period of official mourning for the Duke of Wellington), the Lord Mayor’s Show was sadly cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Alderman William Russell was duly elected to serve a second term of office.
The next Show is due to take place on Saturday 13th November 2021.
The Lord Mayor's Show has been taking place since 1215.
Alderman William Russell is the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London.
The Household Cavalry's State Dress is only worn in the presence of royalty and the Lord Mayor of London. This custom dates back to the restoration of the monarchy when Parliament refused to pay for the kettle drummers and trumpeters for Charles II so the Lord Mayor provided the money!
Alderman Vincent Keaveny (Farringdon Within) was elected as the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London at Common Hall on 29th September 2021. He will take office at the Silent Ceremony in Guildhall on 12th November and will be 'shown' to the Citizens of London at the Lord Mayor's Show on the 13th. Alderman Alison Gowman and Alderman Nicholas Lyons will serve as Sheriffs.
Talks