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June 27, 2005
London Rising
I have spent much of the past week in London. I want you to understand the profound transformation that is afoot in this city, which now seeks to position itself as capital of the world, if not the creative capital.
My earliest memories of London, dating back to the mid Sixties, are a melange of Carnaby Street (a pair of bell bottom woolen pants so itchy that they were worn once before relegation to deepest depths of my closet for moths to eat), heavy traditional food at Simpsons on the Strand (mutton, peas floating in gravy), the usual round of American worship at sites now or in the past inhabited by the Royals (Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace). A shirt sent out for cleaning came back starched, a perfect metaphor for the coldly correct service at hotels.
Now the change, not sudden but constant, over the past decade in particular, is an embrace of global culture in London that blends with and often supersedes the traditional British one. The key word is tolerance, an acceptance of differences in language, dress and sexual preference. At a time when America is pushing an agenda of conservative values, particularism and protection of its borders, Britain is opening its arms to those from the Middle East, Russia, and Africa, especially if they have the money to afford to live well and the ability to compete in the marketplace.
There has been a redefinition of what constitutes fairness. Mayor Ken Livingstone has instituted a congestion charge, so that cars are taxed on a progressively higher basis as they move closer to the center of the city. On first glance, this may seem a program in favor of the wealthy. But when combined with a strict effort to create bus and bicycle lanes, the net effect is to improve the environment for all who live in London. The Mayor has also allowed the construction of skyscrapers in a specified area near the City of London, including the now famous Swiss Re "gurkin" tower. In so doing, he has created a second hub for the financial community beyond Canary Wharf, adding badly needed space for the city's number one industry.
Life in London is undoubtedly expensive, even for this jaundiced New Yorker. But with the high prices now comes undoubted quality. The expression of "pounds for dollars" is quite true, but the diversity of eating choices and entertainment options is staggering. It is also clear from walks around the city that this has become a magnet for youth, who are driving excellence in the creative businesses. Our own JCPR consumer unit has total diversity in the workforce and its product is a reflection of broad experiences, including lots of late night clubbing.
There was a quote from a noted professor of history in the first segment of Ric Burns' excellent history of New York City about the importance of its Dutch origins. I will paraphrase it here. "The Dutch did not give a damn about imposing their own culture on New Amsterdam (now New York), nor about religion. The Dutch cared about making money." The loosening of the old British culture's hold on London has been driven by capitalistic urges, but made more powerful by a new tolerance for diversity and complexity. This is in fact the best hope for global culture.
Let me know what you think. Next week I will write you about Amsterdam and Paris. It is fun to be a global CEO of a PR company!
Posted by Edelman at June 27, 2005 8:24 AM |
Comments
Richard,
Sorry we didn't talk more at the Carter party Friday night. I was reading this London essay. Had I known about it last week, I would have included my mother's history in London as well as my Dad's in Japan.
I have this great picture taken of me dressed in a Brooks shirt, a great Blazer from Paul Stuart's (the original Ralph Lauren) and a pair of phenomenal light green brushed cotton bell-bottoms recently purchased on Carnaby Street. reading - with sun glasses no less - the The Observer on the terrace at Gleneagle's.
It was a trip with great friends that lasted a week through Scotland and then the Lake Country before heading back to London and home on Eton Place. This was just before "Upstairs/Downstairs" .
I was on a brief vacation from Chase where I was learning all about Euro$ trading. So, in London, I went to see my banking cohorts for a few pints on Fleet Street. The talk was all about arbitrage and who was the best point scalper.
The London of the 70's was very upbeat despite the lousy world economy. My friends and I revelled nightly. The girls were glamorous and the food was just getting good. Chic restaurants were opening fortnightly and there was one - Walton's - that nearly hosted my demise. Friends who thought they knew where I was that night were calling St George's Hospital looking for what was left of me. The IRA had tossed a bomb right into the big picture window. It killed a couple that reputely boasted about surviving a bombing 2 months earlier at the Mount Street Bar.
Fate had it that the fussy chef could not change the reservation my mother originally made for 4 to 5 and so my mother - rather than wait for the maitre d' to come in later that afternoon - decided we should go to old reliable Mirabelle to celebrate my arrival in town.
A propos your thoughts, it's our generation that runs things for the most part. I believe it's their energy and sense of freedom and experimentation with things new that has inspired the next generation. The 60's was the magic that made us good enough to leave the legacy you speak of.
I only hope some caution is exercised and we don't fall into the quagmire that came out of the decadent, Roaring '20's. There are too many similiarities here.
Maurice
PS - you apparently know my wife Carol Bernton and our friends John and Janie Friedman. Small World, Mister Global CEO!
Posted by: Maurice Hakim at July 5, 2005 11:21 PM
And now London is going to host the Olympics in 2012. A big win for the Brits and an additional proof of the point you're making!
Posted by: Luca at July 6, 2005 8:27 PM
Luca,
And a very sad day on Thursday in view of the triumph on Wednesday. Proof that we must enjoy every day to the fullest.
Richard
Posted by: Richard Edelman at July 8, 2005 10:13 AM