TIMES NEWS 2005
Following the initial period of my Times/Tabasco contract, my assignments for The Times Picture Desk in London during 2005 continued to focus on core UK news coverage. These images represent a range of events, capturing subjects from high-stakes national politics and current affairs to unique moments in British culture that made national headlines.
Beyond the headlines of the election and terror attacks, London in 2005 saw significant action on workers' rights. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) launched their annual "Work Your Proper Hours Day" campaign to protest the estimated £23 billion in free labor UK staff give their employers annually through late hours and skipped breaks. This campaign, which encouraged employees to leave work on time, was part of a larger TUC effort. Protests, including those at Liverpool Street station, were also linked to the TUC's ongoing fight against the government's proposal to raise the public sector retirement age to 65, with union members like Darren Lewis and Camden Council staff mobilizing their opposition in Westminster.
In a year defined by its high-stakes political campaigns, London in 2005 also saw intense battles over policy, leadership, and civil liberties. The Liberal Democrats were active with the launch of their 5-Point Plan for Civil Liberties in February and their highly visible "Axe the Tax" bus tour in March, promoting the replacement of Council Tax with a local income tax. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party not only engaged with provocative campaign messaging, such as posters asking, "How would you feel if a bloke on early release attacked your daughter?" (seen in Bow), but also experienced internal leadership drama, with senior figure Ken Clarke launching his national campaign ('It's Time to Win') to become the next party leader in September. Outside of mainstream politics, activists used dramatic tactics, with Fathers 4 Justice scaling the Foreign Office balcony dressed as superheroes, while a major social change was enforced on February 18th as the Hunting Act took effect, prompting the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to celebrate in Parliament Square.
A key facet of London in 2005 was its role as a nexus for global humanitarian and religious issues. The city reacted immediately to the news of the Pope's declining health when the Vatican announced Pope John Paul II was critically ill, prompting people to gather for mass and light candles at Westminster Cathedral on both March 31st and April 1st. Simultaneously, Westminster served as a platform for pressing international human rights crises: 100 Parliamentarians launched the 'Protect Darfur' campaign at the House of Commons, with MPs, human rights groups, and survivors from Rwanda calling for urgent attention to the genocidal crisis in Darfur. Furthermore, demonstrations were held outside Downing Street throughout the year, including a protest on June 30th demanding free elections in the Republic of Congo, underscoring London's active engagement with global political causes.
Amidst the year's events, London saw a confluence of landmark legal victories, civil liberty campaigns, and local safety initiatives. In a defining moment for free speech, the McLibel Two, Helen Steel and Dave Morris, achieved a victory against the UK Government when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that their long-running case was in breach of the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression. This defense of civil liberties was echoed later in the year when designer Vivienne Westwood and the Human Rights Group Liberty joined forces to oppose new anti-terror laws at Garden Court. Meanwhile, local communities and police grappled with urban safety: Hackney Police implemented various street crime measures, including deploying a 'Knife Arch' metal detector at Hackney Central train station and sending undercover police cadets to test retailers' compliance in selling knives to minors. Public anxieties over infrastructure also fueled local activism, as seen in Harringay, where residents like Sarah Purdy organized campaigns against the installation of mobile phone masts near local schools.
Throughout 2005, London celebrated achievements in philanthropy, technology, public service, and popular culture. Early in the year, Bill and Melinda Gates stood outside Buckingham Palace after Bill Gates received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his philanthropic work. On the public service front, the government appointed Professor Al Aynsley-Green as the first Children's Commissioner for England on March 1st. Economically, the capital continued to focus on career development, with graduates like the Siddiq sisters utilizing schemes such as Global Graduates. Meanwhile, London's auction houses attracted global attention to cinematic history when a rare, commissioned Dewback head model from the Star Wars universe, created for George Lucas, was put up for sale at Bonhams in Knightsbridge.
London’s position as a global hub for fine art, rare history, and contemporary culture was continually reinforced throughout 2005 through its major auction houses and artistic projects. Christie's dominated the summer market with the sale of The Champalimaud Collection, expected to fetch around £15 million and featuring highly valuable items such as Canaletto's View of Molo, Venice, a Fragonard portrait, and rare Chinese Export Kangxi porcelain figures of leopards. Simultaneously, Bonhams handled important historical sales, auctioning an extremely rare carved limewood model of the figurehead of HMS Queen Charlotte from 1784, and presenting a poignant collection of 30 items from the RMS Titanic, including a pewter teaspoon and a silver Waltham watch. Beyond the art market, the city remained a centre for creation, evidenced by composer Patrick Doyle rehearsing the score for the next Harry Potter film with the LSO in August.
London's commercial, technological, and cultural evolution was highlighted by several launches and events throughout 2005. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling unveiled a new hybrid public transit concept, the "Streetcar," designed to offer the flexibility of a bus with the look of a tram. The city's cultural life saw the launch of Classicalive at Olympia, the UK's first interactive classical music exhibition, and the Beck's Future's 2005 art show opened at the ICA, showcasing shortlisted contemporary artists like Daria Martin. Commercially, global brands adapted their offerings in London: McDonald's announced the addition of healthier options like carrot sticks and fruit jelly to the Happy Meal, while the city's obsession with personal technology was reflected in the buzz surrounding the release of the iPod Nano in September. Meanwhile, the blending of commerce and celebrity was sealed when Howard Brown, the famous Halifax bank employee, received his wax double at Madame Tussauds.
London's artistic and cultural scene in 2005 actively engaged with both contemporary creation and historical preservation. The high arts were showcased by Royal Opera House young artists, including Andrew Kennedy and Ha-Young Lee, performing in Covent Garden. In fine art, a new portrait of former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith by renowned painter Paul Benney was unveiled. Meanwhile, literary history was celebrated when Susannah Tarbush held letters written by the poet Philip Larkin to her mother. The city also served as a backdrop for global charity efforts, with the Getty Images Gallery bringing together photographs from the 1985 Live Aid concert in co-operation with the planned 'Live Aid 8' and 'Make Poverty History' campaigns. Crucially, the preservation of the city’s past was supported by a new £17.5 million grant package from the English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund for listed religious buildings, with funding specifically noted for the repair of St Barnabas Church in Pimlico.
A number of prominent figures in business, law, and government were active in London throughout 2005. The corporate landscape was represented by leaders such as Stephen Green, Group Chief Executive of HSBC, who presented the company's interim results at Canary Wharf, and David Levin, CEO of United Business Media. High-profile legal figures included Gordon Pollock QC inside his Essex Court Chambers office, while political and regulatory leadership saw Dame Deirdre Hutton CBE chairing the Food Standards Agency and Yvette Cooper serving as Minister for Housing and Planning. The management of the city itself was highlighted by Martin Tiplady, the Metropolitan Police Service Director of Human Resources at New Scotland Yard. Finally, London served as a vital international media stop, demonstrated by John R. Bolton, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, visiting The Times offices in Wapping.
These remaining photographs cover various general news and human-interest features assignments from this period. While primarily working for the news desk, my role started to include dedicated feature and portrait work.
