London firms stumble over trademark hurdles - The Guardian
Jessica Ennis 'still has room to improve before London 2012' - Metro.co.uk
The 26-year-old landed a major pscyhological blow last weekend as she beat Olympic rival and reigning world champion Tatyana Chernova in what is her final hepthatlon competition before London 2012, breaking Denise Lewis's British record into the bargain.
But speaking to promote Aviva’s Back The Team campaign, Ennis insisted she still had plenty of work to do and that there was no clear favourite for the London gold medal yet.
'It was such a great weekend for things to come together but I feel I've still got room to improve,' she said.
Chernova responded to Ennis's victory by saying she thought it would heap home crowd expectation on her rival at the London Games, but Ennis was emphatic she would not get drawn into any mind games.
'It's a distraction,' she said.
'She'll be slightly disappointed with her performance - she needs to make sure she's ready and in the right place.
'I'm really happy with where I am and how it's going, I couldn't ask for more at this stage. I'm happy with what I'm doing - she can do what she wants.'
Despite the confidence boost of her performance, Ennis said she was trying to keep a lid on her expectations of what she could do in London.
'I feel exactly the same as at the start of the year, I believe I can go there and perform and win but I also know [2008 Olympic champion Nataliya] Dobynrksa and others are very capable of doing it as well - there's no clear favourite.
'It's great to win in Gotzis but it's not the Olympics, so there’s still lots of work to do.'
Ennis has made a point of avoiding going to the London Olympic Stadium to keep it new and fresh when the Games come round, but she said she had seen enough pictures to help with her mental preparation and visualisation of her performance.
'If I was going to any other championships, I wouldn't get to visit the track and become familiar with it so I don't want to become too familiar with London,' she said.
'You can visualise your technique and performance without being in the stadium.
'I've seen pictures so I can visualise and I think that's a very important part of the process.'
Aviva has been backing the GB & NI Team since 1999. Now it’s your turn. Search for 'Aviva Athletics' on Facebook to enter the competition to win a day with Jessica Ennis for your community.
London Names 80 Tube Stations To Get Free WiFi By July - huffingtonpost.co.uk
The first 80 Tube stations to receive free WiFi access have been announced.
Virgin Media will enable the free wireless access by the end of July.
Transport For London says the partnership will enable millions of commuters to get online at Tube stations for free, and hopefully find their way around the city without annoying the locals.
The full list of stations can be about at Virgin's website.
They include major hubs like Kings Cross, St Pancras, Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge, Liverpool Street and Paddington.
Central stops like Oxford Circus, Charing Cross and Westminster are also included in the rollout.
The plan will see up to 120 stations connected by the end of the year.
Gareth Powell, who is London Underground’s director of strategy, said the service was "testing well".
He said: “Our customers will soon be able to connect to the internet for live travel information while they are on the move through stations.
“Bringing a next generation WiFi service to one of the world’s oldest underground transport networks is progressing as planned and the forthcoming service is testing well.
“The first stations include some of our busiest and most well-known destinations and we’re on-track for a successful launch this summer – all delivered at no additional cost to fare payers or tax payers.”
Jon James at Virgin Media, said: "We’ve been working around-the-clock to install and test WiFi on London Underground and are about to connect some iconic and world famous Tube stations with a WiFi service London will be proud of."
London 2012: June events calendar and diary - Daily Telegraph
David Nash at Kew, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens; June 9 – April 14 2013
The works of sculptor David Nash will go on display at Kew Gardens this month, with sculptures, installations, drawings and film in place in the open air, garden glasshouses and on-site exhibition spaces. Nash is renowned for his work with wood and the exhibition will see the artist work on a ‘wood quarry’ in Kew, where he will create new pieces for the exhibition using trees from Kew Gardens that have reached the end of their natural life.
Bt Artbox Project, throughout London; June 18 – July 16
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s traditional red telephone box is an icon of British design but this month it gets a temporary revamp from select artists and designers. Keith Tyson, Romero Britto, Zandra Rhodes and Giles Deacon are among those selected to participate in the BT Artbox Project, which will see them decorate a full-size, fibreglass replica of the K6 telephone kiosk, which will then be displayed in different areas of the city.
Codebreaker - Alan Turing's life and legacy, Science Museum; June 21 – June 2013
One hundred years after his birth, Alan Turing is celebrated with a free year-long exhibition at the Science Museum. Examining his life and legacy, the exhibition considers his contribution to computer science – which still holds influence today – and remembers his wartime codebreaking successes. The exhibition will display one of the most comprehensive collections of Turing-related artefacts, including machines he developed and worked on.
BP Portrait Award 2012, National Portrait Gallery; June 21 – September 23
The National Portrait Gallery follows its exceptionally popular Lucian Freud exhibition with the BP Portrait Award. This is the most prestigious portrait competition in the world, with a £25,000 prize going to the work judged to best showcase contemporary portrait-painting technique. Admittance is free.
New London theatre and performing arts openings
London 2012 Festival, throughout London and nationally; June 21 – September 9
The London 2012 Festival is the cultural complement to the London 2012 Olympic Games and the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad. Throughout the capital, and throughout the country, thousands of events will take place to ensure millions of people will have the opportunity to participate in this exceptional summer. Highlights in London include the BT River of Music festival, which will see act including the Scissor Sisters and the Noisettes perform at six separate Thames-side locations, and an enhanced West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square which will this year see the casts from every one of London’s West End musicals perform for free. You can see coverage of the festival as it progresses on our London 2012 Festival portal.
Southbank Centre Summer Festival; June 1 – September 9
The Southbank Centre has another summer’s entertainment sorted with its Festival of the World. With a focus on learning, the event seeks to showcase how art can transform lives with a programme that’s challenging, moving and engaging. Highlights include Bryn Terfel’s four-day celebration of Welsh culture and Unlimited, the largest series of commissions by disabled and deaf artists ever undertaken in the UK.
New London restaurant and bar openings
Chase and Country Tails Terrace, Harvey Nichols; June 4 - July 15
Hopes are high for a good summer and if clement weather does grace us then the Chase and Country Tails Terrace at Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols is going to be popular. Created by Chase Distillery, the terrace’s traditional English-countryside look is inspired by the Herefordshire countryside where the company is based. More a bar space that serves food than a restaurant, the terrace will serve drinks featuring Chase spirits and mini tasting dishes created by Fifth Floor restaurant executive chef Jonas Karlsson.
Beard to Tail pop-up restaurant, 24 Chart Street; June 12-15
Shoreditch cocktail bar Callooh Callay tries its hand at the food trade with the four-day opening of the Beard to Tail pop-up restaurant. The meat-heavy menu is set to feature plenty of hearty, homely dishes with mains priced at £8-£13. The space will accommodate only 35 covers. Annoyingly bookings aren’t taken but you can expect the cocktail list to provide compensation. The pop-up precedes the opening of a permanent Beart to Tail restaurant, currently set for September 2012.
The Cube by Electrolux, Southbank Centre; June 1 – September 30
A Room for London, the boat-shaped, one-bedroom hotel, is perched atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall already; now The Cube by Electrolux plonks itself above the adjacent Royal Festival Hall. A pop-up restaurant sponsored by the appliances manufacturer, it will feature dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs stationed across the British Isles, including Sat Bains, Claude Bosi and Tom Kitchin. Guests who dine here will be served at least five courses with matching wines, and only 18 people will be accommodated at a time. Lunch at the Cube by Electrolux costs £175 per person, while dinner costs £215. Bookings can be made through the website.
Eat London afternoon tea, Wyndham Grand; June 1-30
Chocolatier Damian Allsop newly created Eat London chocolate bars are influenced by London’s cultural diversity (coffee and banana crunch are used for the Brixton bar; ginger, peanut and soy for China Town) and to celebrate their launch the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour hotel has launched an Eat London afternoon tea for the month. The tea features traditional teatime treats that have again been adapted to represent different parts of the city and costs £28 per person. On June 9, Allsop will be present at the hotel to run a two-hour chocolate masterclass – that costs £40 per person.
Afternoon Rock tea, W London hotel; June 1 onwards
The W London hotel is now serving Afternoon Rock tea, its variant of traditional afternoon tea. Launched to coincide with this summer’s Jubilee and Olympic festivities, the tea celebrates all things British with a menu that’s inspired by great British rock bands. Served on a three-tier stand made from original vinyl records, items served are named after rock albums and songs. London’s Burning, for example, is a chocolate pudding and hazelnut crunch; Cherry Bomb is a chocolate, mascarpone and cherry dessert inspired by The Runaways’ 1976 song.
Other London openings
ZSL London Zoo Lates, London Zoo; June 1 – July 27
From now until the end of July, London Zoo will be open late on Fridays and the venue is offering a packed Zoo Lates programme of events to celebrate. Running from 6pm-10pm the adults-only event will feature live comedy and cabaret performances on site, a silent disco (loud music disturbs the animals) and, of course, the opportunity to observe the hundreds of different animal species resident in the zoo.
In London for the Jubilee - Toronto Sun
World celebrations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee
New Zealand: "On June 4, New Zealanders will celebrate the Queen’s birthday and the Queen’s Honours list will be released. This year, the celebrations will be even bigger. New Zealand Post created a special commemorative stamp honouring the milestone," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "In addition, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit New Zealand in November on their Commonwealth tour as representatives of the Queen." PICTURED: Britain's Queen Elizabeth speaks with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in April 2011. REUTERS/Tim Ireland
Scotland: "On Monday, June 4, beacons will be lit on Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. PICTURED: Britain's Queen Elizabeth walks with Pope Benedict XVI, followed by Prince Philip, in the Morning Drawing Room of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. REUTERS/Dan Kitwood
Isle of Wight: "There’s fun for all the family in Appley Park, where a large marquee will be erected for evening entertainment and an afternoon of activities on Sunday, June 3," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "The evening events include a vintage cocktail party on Saturday, a carnival party on Sunday and on Monday a fireworks display, as well as the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday will see visitors enjoying a 50s Lambretta Special edition 'Ride Out' showcasing scooters, a vintage tea party from 2-4 p.m., magicians, dance and performance workshops, rides and much more. Take part in 1950s football, sandcastle competitions and sack races – or just go for a dip in the water at Ryde Beach." (Shutterstock)
Gibraltar: "As the Diamond Jubilee is celebrated, it will have been 58 years since the Queen and Prince Phillip arrived in Gibraltar as part of Her Majesty’s Coronation Tour in May 1954, and Gibraltar wants to celebrate," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Gibraltar from June 11 to 13, and Gibraltar’s tourist board is planning many celebratory events." PICTURED: A tourist takes a photo of two police officers in front of a banner with the image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth announcing the Diamond Jubilee 2012, on the facade of the Parliament of the Colony of Gibraltar, in downtown Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Channel Islands: "The festivities start on Sunday, June 3 at 3 p.m. when some of the island’s parishes will hold street parties," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "Start Monday early for a day packed full of activities. At 10:30 a.m., a Service of Thanksgiving led by the Dean of Jersey will be held at the Town Church. Then from 2:30 to 4 p.m., gaze upon classic and vintage vehicles at the People’s Park. Alternatively, enjoy the horse racing at Les Landes Racecourse from 2:30 to 5:45 p.m. Grab a bite to eat at the Jubilee Food Fair at Les Jardins de la Mer from 4:30 to 11 p.m. The Jubilee Concert will then take place at Fort Regent from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m." (Shutterstock)
London: "Walk along the River Thames and see up to 1,000 boats in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. See if you can spot the Royal Barge – the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be on it," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "For those without tickets, the Diamond Jubilee Concert will air on TV on Monday, June 4. Also on Monday, the Queen will light the National Beacon along with 2,012 others lit by communities all over the UK and the Commonwealth." PICTURED: The Diamond Jubilee Royal barge is seen moored at Richmond in south west London, May 23, 2012. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Australia: "On Monday, June 4, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will light a beacon on top of Parliament House in Canberra," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "Parks Place in the Parliamentary zone will be renamed Queen Elizabeth Terrace, which will complement the names of adjacent streets Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George Terraces." (Shutterstock)
Canada: "In Canada, a new commemorative medal named the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal has been created. The medal is a way for Canada to honour the Queen’s service to the country as well as achievements by Canadians," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "During 2012, 60,000 Canadians will be recognized and awarded the medal. Canada will also take part by lighting beacons as part of the Commonwealth celebrations." PICTURED: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwell, visit the Saskatchewan Assembly Legislative Building on May 23, 2012 in Regina. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFP
Cyprus: "The Western Sovereign Base Area is holding a Party in the Park in Happy Valley, Episkopi, Limassol on Friday, June 1," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "Or you could head to DT’s Bar, Tombs of the Kings Road, Paphos on Sunday, June 3 at 1pm. Tickets are open to everyone and cost €20. Included in the price is a welcome Jubilee cocktail, street party buffet lunch, traditional English sing-a-long with Bob Clarkson and dancing." (Shutterstock)
Wales: "Street parties, parades, fairs, exhibitions and concerts are being staged in the principality to mark the Jubilee," say the editors of Cheapflights.ca. "The small town of St. Asaph was awarded city status, along with Chelmsford, Essex and Perth." PICTURED: Prince William throws a ball with scouts during the centenary celebrations of scouting during the 21st World Scout Jamboree at Highlands Park, Wales, 2007. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Got an extra long weekend to explore the British capital where Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrating her 60th year on the throne with a massive Diamond Jubilee party? Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors explore London amid the royal hoopla.
Friday
6 p.m. You'd better arrive at least a day or two ahead of the main festivities. Many people will get to London even earlier and will already be staking out places for Sunday's 1,000-boat flotilla along the Thames, Monday's pop concert outside Buckingham Palace and Tuesday's royal procession along the Mall. For a full official guide look on: www.thediamondjubilee.org
Why not familiarize yourself with some of the local culture and go for a pint first. Friday night before a national holiday means the pubs will be buzzing.
Ditch the ubiquitous lager dens dotted around the capital in favor of a visit to the 2010 "pub of the year" as chosen by Britain's Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
The Harp in Chandos Place lies in the shadow of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, near Covent Garden shopping, dining, Leicester Square, the theatre district and the pubs and clubs of Soho.
8 p.m. Dine with the ruling class at Rules restaurant in Covent Garden. It's old, it's grand, the food is traditional English and it's a popular dining spot for the privately educated elite. This gastronomic institution has been reviewed by Kingsley Amis, defended by John Betjeman, immortalized by Graham Greene and frequented by Edward VII and his lover Lillie Langtry.
Top up at the bar with a pre-dinner drink from the Royal Collection Cocktails menu: One recipe for every one of the 16 countries where Queen Elizabeth is head of state.
10 p.m. Throw some regal shapes at one of the clubs favored by the young royals. Cut loose at Whisky Mist, get your Middleton mojo on at Mahiki or shake your aristocratic booty at Boujis until the wee hours. Plenty of Sloane Rangers and Hooray Henrys to choose from here. But remember: keen royal watchers are already standing five deep at the barricades.
Saturday
Unless you have tickets for the Epsom Derby, where Queen Elizabeth will kick off jubilee celebrations by indulging in her passion for horse-racing, today is the best of two days to get your sightseeing in before the pageantry of the coming days.
9 a.m. Head to the Tower of London. Founded by William the Conqueror after his 1066 invasion of England, the Tower, with its strategic location on the River Thames, has been a royal palace, a place of execution, a prison for traitors and still holds Britain's Crown jewels.
12 p.m. Cross over Tower Bridge, turn left and go for lunch at one of the many restaurants on the South Bank. For top dining try Le Pont de la Tour which overlooks the Thames, or the slightly less formal dining at the Chop House and Blueprint Cafe.
1 p.m. Head back toward Tower Bridge and keep walking past it. Here are the Mayor's round and gleaming glass and steel offices. There is a broad walkway beside the Thames that is popular with both locals and tourists.
As you stroll along you'll pass the Clink museum, Vinopolis -- a wine-lovers' emporium of all beverages related to the grape -- a replica of Francis Drake's globe-circumnavigating ship the Golden Hinde, and a lovely bankside pub called the Anchor Bankside before arriving at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
The thatch-roofed, oak-beamed Globe is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse designed in 1599 and a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which he wrote.
Take in nearby Tate Modern Museum, housed in an imposing converted power station. Further along the river you can go for a ride on the giant London Eye Ferris wheel or cross the Millennium footbridge just opposite the Tate for a visit to Christopher Wren's magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, where Charles and Diana were married.
If you'd like to recreate last year's royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton - now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - wander a bit further on and cross over Westminster Bridge for a visit to Westminster Abbey.
Here is also where England's monarchs are crowned and many put to eternal rest alongside the graves of the unknown warrior, Geoffrey Chaucer, Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Thomas Hardy, George Frederic Handel and Laurence Olivier.
Sunday
7 a.m Get up! Get out! If you want to catch even a glimpse of the royal flotilla as it passes through London on the River Thames, you'd better make your way to a viewing spot soon alongside a million expected spectators.
A Chinese junk, Venetian gondolas and a boat rowed by Olympic champions will be part of the 1,000-vessel flotilla, where the queen will also be accompanied by a host of musicians playing everything from Bollywood songs to James Bond tunes.
London mayor Boris Johnson has said he expected the flotilla to be "like Dunkirk except more successful", a reference to the evacuation of British troops from France during World War Two.
Olympic and Paralympic champions including five-time rowing gold medal winner Steve Redgrave will lead the flotilla in a vessel also manned by soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first Chinese junk to visit London since the Great Exhibition in 1851 will join the flotilla, as well as several gondolas, passenger ships, kayaks and lifeboats.
The flotilla will be over seven miles long and travel 25 miles of the Thames, passing every bridge in central London, some of which will be open to spectators at each end. For help with finding a spot to watch, click on: here
4 p.m. After the procession, Go for tea. Claridges was named by the United Kingdom Tea Council as London's top afternoon tea place for 2011 and it's just around the corner. Make sure you book in advance and obey the dress code: Elegant smart casual; no shorts, vests, sportswear, flip flops, ripped jeans or baseball caps.
6 p.m. Head back to your hotel for some rest.
8 p.m. Now that you've tasted a bit of royal hoopla, you might also be hungry for dinner. There are some 140 restaurants in Britain with Michelin stars, four of which have the highest accolade of three stars. Two of those are in London.
One is Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, the other is Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester hotel.
Monday
10 a.m. Have a lie-in. You might not have tickets for the pop concert at the palace tonight here . But you can be in the vicinity to soak up the tunes and the vibe.
In the meantime, take the opportunity to visit the London dungeon experience (here) near London Bridge. Scare yourself with the prospect of transportation or execution, take the rat walk or the Traitor; Ride to Hell as you experience 1,000 years of the darker side of British history.
12 p.m. Go for lunch at the George Inn, a 17th century pub which earns a mention in Charles Dickens's "Little Dorrit" and is London's last remaining galleried coaching inn. Dickens used to come here for coffee.
The George's aged two-tiered balconies overlook a courtyard set aside for patrons to enjoy beer, ale, porter, stout and all other manner of drink as well as a hearty menu of pub food. This London treasure was rebuilt in 1676, after a fire destroyed the original. Shakespeare was another well-known regular.
2 p.m Take the Underground to the Imperial War Museum near Westminster. Winston Churchill was the queen's first prime minister and it was from here that he directed the Allied Forces which defeated Nazi Germany in World War Two.
The original Cabinet War Rooms - today part of the Churchill War Rooms - which sheltered the people at the heart of Britain's wartime government during the Blitz, lie beneath London's bustle.
In 1940, shortly after becoming Prime Minister, Churchill stood in the War Cabinet Room and declared: 'This is the room from which I will direct the war'. Today, you can step back in time to explore the secret headquarters where Churchill and his staff changed the course of history.
4 p.m. Head to the nearby Strand and Covent Garden for a bit of early supper or a late tea in one of the many restaurants and cafes.
6 p.m. You have three choices. If you have tickets for the party at the palace, get over there and have a mooch round the royal gardens and then take your place for a gala pop concert which will include Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, JLS, Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams on a spectacular stage built around the Queen Victoria Memorial, right in front of Buckingham Palace.
If you don't have tickets you could join the thousands of people who are likely to be in the vicinity, head back to your hotel to watch it on the BBC, see it on a BBC big screen outdoors (here) or find a local pub holding a jubilee pop concert party.
Tuesday
6 a.m. By now you must be royally exhausted. Nevertheless, today is THE day. The royal procession, the horse-drawn coach, the guards on horseback, a thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral and the royal wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, a flypast and fireworks.
Get your sandwiches, thermos of tea or coffee, bottles of water and a spot along the royal process route and hang onto your view.
A timetable can be found here.
4 p.m. Go home.
VAUXHALL PRINCE HENRY COMMEMORATES WINTER TRIAL CENTENARY - 3d-car-shows.com
Luton - A 100 year old Vauxhall model has recently celebrated the centenary of the Swedish Winter Reliability Trial by retracing the steps of the original event.
The Prince Henry model, owned by Alisdaire Lockhart of Selkirk, was driven from Gothenburg to Stockholm and back again, closely following the 1912 route, completing 620 miles (nearly 1000kms).
Lockhart shared the driving with Andrew Duerden, Vauxhall’s Archivist. Kay Mordza, of the Swedish Vauxhall Owners Club, who arranged the journey, partnered them on the event. The car never missed a beat and averaged over 40mph for the entire event (cruising at 55mph on open roads) and achieving 30mpg.
In 1912, Percy Kidner, Vauxhall’s Managing Director, drove the Prince Henry model. He was the fastest entrant on the event, but incurred penalty points by arriving too early at checkpoints. The 2012 team were able to visit many of the points from the original route during their journey. At Norrkoping they visited the Standard Hotel building where the original photograph was recreated.
Alisdaire Lockhart’s long and painstaking reconstruction of the Prince Henry model paid dividends during the event with a reliable and speedy performance from the vehicle. Lockhart also paid testament to Kidner’s 1912 endeavours:
“We were lucky to have decent, asphalt roads and good weather. Kidner had snow covered surfaces with extremely chilly conditions which make his achievements even more astonishing”
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First free WiFi London Tube stations named - Digital Spy
VAUXHALL MOTORS LAUNCHES NEW ENGLAND TV ADVERT - 3d-car-shows.com
Today, Vauxhall Motors launched the sequel to their Home Nations football TV advert. ’Supporting a Nation’ features current members of the England Football Squad, football fans and Vauxhall staff from the Vauxhall Ellesmere Port production facility in Merseyside, the home of the Vauxhall Astra.
This new TV advert will air before the England versus Belgium friendly on 2nd June 2012 and subsequently around key fixture dates during the summer. The soundtrack ‘What a Life’ by Noel Gallagher’s band, ‘High Flying Birds’ is used again, a track which has become synonymous with football and was first used exclusively by Vauxhall Motors in the original Home Nations TV advert aired in September 2011.
The new advert focuses on the England team as they prepare for a major fixture. It reflects on how fans stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the players, supporting the team and bringing the nation together.
Ex-Liverpool and England legend John Barnes features in the Vauxhall advert and said; “As an England fan I share the same excitement that all fans feel before a big game. I really enjoyed standing alongside other England fans in the Vauxhall TV ad and can’t wait to support the boys this summer in Poland and the Ukraine.”
The England players prepare to leave the dressing room ahead of a big match, Steven Gerrard pulls on his England shirt, a fan follows the same routine as he puts on his ‘Gerrard’ shirt and joins the line-up of fans. Joe Hart ties his boots as he sits – headphones on – listening to music. The line-up extends into a pub where fans meet their friends to watch the England match. The fan line-up extends into the tunnel where the players exit the dressing room to stand together with fans, all united. Scott Parker acknowledges the fans as the team turn and walk down the tunnel.
Commenting on the inspiration of the new Vauxhall Motors advert, Peter Hope, Marketing Director stated; “We wanted the advert to reflect the unity of the nation getting behind the England team and bring the players and the fans together”
“During a major tournament we all become football fans and as the England Team sponsor, we wanted to capture the emotion just before a major England fixture. “
McCann Erickson Birmingham developed the campaign for Vauxhall Motors under the creative direction of James Cross and Tim Jones. Explaining the premise behind the advert, James said, “The advertisement captures the excitement and anticipation a nation feels heading into an international football tournament, but it’s not about being a die-hard football fanatic, it’s about people everywhere showing support for their nation. This advertisement is a celebration of that. And it’s this message of wide-ranging support that’s true of Vauxhall as a brand.”
To view the new Vauxhall England TV ad, visit vauxhallfootball.co.uk/england2012
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