News

The Lord Mayor's Show

On a wet and windy November morning, the City Bridge Trust took its place for the first time in the annual Lord Mayor's Show!

The Trust worked in partnership with The Building Exploratory, Heatherwick Studio, children from Sebright Primary School in Hackney and CandoCo Dance Company to create a float commemorating the 800th anniversary of the completion of Old London Bridge.

The centrepiece of the float was a new concept for an opening bridge, created by the internationally renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick and based on his unique rolling bridge at Paddington Basin. The new model, made from laser-cut aluminium and timber, consists of 40 interlocking pieces. When flat they form a conventional bridge, but can be furled up into two heart shapes, potentially allowing river traffic to pass underneath. The model bridge was raised and lowered dozens of times during the procession.

The Building Exploratory had worked with Year 6 pupils at Sebright School over two terms on a project looking at different bridge designs and on the history of charity. For the Show itself, the children worked with Candoco Dance Company to learn a specially choreographed routine, which they performed along the route, interpreting the movement of the bridge.

Despite the typical November weather, the experience was a memorable one for everyone involved.