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Sir Aynsley Vernon Bridgland

4 of 974 portraits by Rex Coleman

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Sir Aynsley Vernon Bridgland

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 9 November 1959
Given by Godfrey Argent, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x191056

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Baron Studios (active 1954-1974), Photographers. Artist or producer associated with 1302 portraits.
  • Rex Coleman, Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 974 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Events of 1959back to top

Current affairs

Harold Macmillan wins the general election with an increased majority, returning to office as Conservative prime minister. The victory was the result of perceived economic improvement under the Conservative government, and his (misquoted) boast: 'you've never had it so good.' During his premiership he earned the nickname 'Supermac', coined by cartoonist, Victor 'Vicky' Weisz.

Art and science

Claudia Jones organises the first West Indian-style carnival in the country, starting the tradition of the annual Notting Hill carnival. The event was a response to the race riots of 1958, and an attempt to celebrate West Indian culture and help overcome racial prejudice by giving the whole community the opportunity to join in the event.

International

Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba. After defeating the American-backed Batista government, Castro's revolutionary army arrived in Havana on 8th January where Castro proclaimed himself Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Within a month, Prime Minister José Miró Cardona had resigned, and Castro took over.
In Tibet, an uprising against Chinese rule is brutally crushed, and the Dalai Lama flees to India, beginning his long exile.

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Mr J M Thomas

25 March 2018, 22:42

I seem to remember that Sir Aynesly Bridgland was Chairman of a property company, Hammersons, during 1950s, at a time when they were building Bucklesbury House on the triangular site lying between Walbrook, Cannon Street and Queen Victoria Street. As work started on the bombed out site, remains of the Mithras Temple was found and, at the request of archaeologists and the City of London, building work was delayed for some considerable time and cost, for the saving the remains of the Temple and its eventual recovery and rebuilding on Queen Victoria Street. I seem to remembered that Sir Aynesly was knighted for being largely responsible for saving this important piece of history for the City of London and the Nation.