I simply adore Wenlock and Mandeville, the official mascots for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. So, you can imagine my surprise and utter joy when I spotted these two familiar characters near Lambeth Bridge the other week:
Oh, I just love a mascot in uniform
Wenlock is so large here by Lambeth Bridge, he can actually hold the Shard in his hand
These are just a couple of over eighty two-metre high sculptures dotted around the Capital in various guises as guides to the Mayor of London’s Stroll: Discovery Trails. There are six specially themed and plotted trails presenting strollers with the best London has to offer without parting with a penny. One trail explores the beauty of Regent’s Park, another the buzz of Theatreland. There’s one that reveals the stunning architecture around Piccadilly and Oxford Street, and another that zig-zags through the famous markets of the East End. Wenlock and Mandeville act as sign-posts along the routes and will remain in their positions until the 9th of September when the Paralympic Games come to an end.
‘Victorian Wenlock’ in Victoria Tower Gardens. A stunning look, though probably inspired more by Mrs Beckham rather than by the 19th Century era
So, always up for a challenge, I have found them all and here they all are! Enjoy.
TLT x
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- Big Ben Wenlock near the London Eye, sporting some fetching Victorian-Gothic pyjamas (Ooo, I just want to give that lovely little tummy a big squeeze!)
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- An uncanny resemblance to John Bercow. Ceremonial Speaker Wenlock along the South Bank.
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- Underwater Wenlock by the London Aquarium. Who is he waving to …?
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- … it must be Mandeville, who appears to be dressed up as a penguin.
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- Guess which one of these tourists is Mandeville (and no, that doesn’t mean the other figure is Wenlock)
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- Mandeville near County Hall, showing his allegiance to France. Only joking (it’s to Belize).
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- I’m afraid Mandeville has failed to look anything like the Archbishop of Canterbury here outside Lambeth Palace (the official London residence of His Grace). For a start, where’s the beard?
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- Westminster Abbey Wenlock looks like he’s wearing lederhosen!
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- Lovely Garden Wenlock by Lambeth Bridge almost merges into his surroundings … if it wasn’t for all the concrete around him
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- Doctor Wenlock saving lives near St Thomas’ Hospital. Probably not a surgeon though, not with those hands
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- Beefeater Mandeville looking ruffled (hawh-hawh) by the Tower of London
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- Arty Wenlock, just by Tate Modern being interviewed by Australia’s Channel Ten news team
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- For some bizarre reason, whenever I see Pirate Wenlock by St Mary Overie Dock, the song ‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners always pops into my head
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- Well, I don’t know why this is ‘Rainbow’ Wenlock. With the map of the UK on his belly, maybe it’s a typo and it should really be ‘Raining’ Wenlock
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- Skyline Wenlock by City Hall. Is that a little fig leaf protecting Wenlock’s modesty? Ah, bless.
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- Paying tribute to Alfred Hitchcock: Ravens Wenlock in front of the Tower of London
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- Monument Wenlock showing us how high Christopher Wren’s famous doric column by Pudding Lane really is
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- A BT Art Box I must have missed. Telephone Box Wenlock near St Paul’s
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- The Whispering Gallery outfit St Paul’s Mandeville is wearing is ironically rather LOUD!
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- Is this an Olympics Mascot I see before me? Sonnet Wenlock paying homage to the Bard near Cheapside
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- The Olympics Mascot that dare not speak its name (because it hasn’t got a mouth). Novel Wenlock by the Oscar Wilde monument near St-Martin-in-the-Fields
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- Chinatown Mandeville seems to have his (only) eye on Stringfellows nightclub. Saucy (no wonder he’s blue)
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- The sexiest cassock I’ve ever seen! Southwark Wenlock by the cathedral
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- One banker you just couldn’t bring yourself to hate as he’s too adorable: City Wenlock along Cheapside
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- Wenlock hailing a black cab by the Novello Theatre. I hope he knows black cabs are not allowed in the Olympic lanes whilst the Games are on
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- Cleopatra’s Needle Wenlock in Victoria Embankment Gardens, deciphering the Ancient Egyptian Olympic events of e.g. handbag-throwing, stamp-collecting and pipe-smoking
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- Embankment Wenlock in Victorian Embankment Gardens, sporting a delightful flower-motif bikini. Fantastic curves but the legs could do with a shave
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- Maritime Wenlock getting a bit rusty at the ol’ running (hawh hawh). In front of HMS Belfast
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- Trafalgar Wenlock clearly made of glass here as Nelson’s Column and the (lack of) crowds can be seen right through him
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- Which knight is Sir Wenlock impersonating here? Is it Danny Boyle or Bradley Wiggins? We bow before thee oh Great and Noble One. By the Guildhall
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- From behind no, the word ‘Backside’ does not appear across Spotlight Mandeville. By the Wyndham Theatre, St Martin’s Lane
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- What’s all this I hear about businesses in Central London suffering during the Olympics because there’s no one in town? There are loads of tourists around. Here’s one (and only one) in Covent Garden
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- So Moviestar Wenlock, do you agree that Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ is now the greatest movie ever made? I’ll take that as a ‘yes’. Leicester Square
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- Beautiful Sari Wenlock hidden away down Hopetown Street, just off Brick Lane (so is Wenlock a girl then?)
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- Pearly Mandeville doing the Lambeth Walk with these lovely Olympics Volunteers: on Brushfield Street near Old Spitalfields Market
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- Splash Mandeville passing the Lloyds Building before heading down towards Leadenhall Market during today’s (5th August 2012) Ladies Olympics Marathon
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- So Spice Wenlock, will there be another reunion with the girls? And what is Posh really like? Hanbury Street, off Brick Lane
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- Business Mandeville looking strangely like one half of Irish pop duo Jedwood (minus the hair gel). Lime Street
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- Such a shame Leadenhall Market Wenlock is hidden down one of the market’s side alleys, as he missed the Ladies Olympics Marathon passing through there earlier (5th August 2012)
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- A breath of fresh air amongst all that graffiti along Brick Lane: Park Wenlock
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- It was the best of Wenlocks, it was the worst use of a Dickensian quote: Dickens Wenlock by Aldgate East tube station
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- How on earth does Wenlock play on that mouth-organ without a mouth? Busker Wenlock in Covent Garden
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- My Geography teacher used to wear a jacket like that: Bishopsgate Wenlock by St Bolotoph’s, near Liverpool Street station
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- O grando Londinium Wenlock, mascot de MMXII Olympia (isn’t ‘Google Translate’ just great?). Leadenhall Market
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- Flaming Nora! It’s Cockney Pen-n-Sock by Aldgate station
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- I’m afraid I know little about the giants Gog and Magog that apparently once guarded the Guildhall of London. I thought they were a witch-and-cat duo (I’m sure I read books about them in Primary School)
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- ‘All I want is a place somewhere, far away from the cold, damp air’. Not Stratford then? Flower Seller Mandeville in Covent Garden
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- Probably more Bowie than Vicious (and I’m not talking about only having one good eye): Punk Mandeville by Aldgate Tube station
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- Builder Mandeville in Hanover Square (no bum crack on show)
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- Shopper Mandeville giving Lily Savage a run for her money? (He really doesn’t look good as a woman)
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- Cycling Wenlock aptly placed near Grosvenor Square
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- Plane Trees Wenlock impersonating the great Berkeley Square tree behind him rather well
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- Poor Tyger Tyger Mandeville having his injuries seen to by the MolPresents doctor. Bad tiger!
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- Linen Hall Mandeville by Regent Street looks like he’s wearing cowboy chaps with a baseball cap here. Such style
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- Clumsy Afternoon Tea Wenlock has cake all down his front! Grosvenor Square
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- Spitalfields Wenlock with time on his hands (hawh hawh!)
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- Somerset Mandeville exposed to the sun a little too long: Victoria Embankment Gardens (Savoy end)
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- Queen’s Guard Wenlock confusing foes by suggesting he’s unarmed (I bet his rifle is under his bearskin hat)
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- Wenlock and Mandeville taking cover from the rain in Hamleys toy store, Regent Street
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- I hope Red Bus Wenlock knows that if he’s a number 15 from Piccadilly Circus, he’ll have to change at Aldgate East for the number 25 if he wants to get to Stratford
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- Is Wenlock paying homage to Sherlock Holmes or TeamGB cyclist hero Bradley Wiggins here in Regent’s Park?
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- Daley Thompson may well be the most handsome mustachioed GB Olympian, but Victorian Park Mandeville is certainly the most handsome mustachioed GB Olympic mascot (don’t tell Wenlock). Regent’s Park
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- Roses are red, Mandeville is (usually) blue. Can’t wait ’til the Paralympics. TeamGB: proud of you! Regent’s Park
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- Wenlock here is covered in birds, and thankfully not their droppings. Regent’s Park
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- Midsummer’s Night Dream Wenlock is a sweet faced mascot; a proper mascot: Regent’s Park
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- Contemplative Mandeville pondering over why people litter. Fen Court EC3
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- Groovy Wenlock doing his best Austin Powers impression along Regent Street as Queen’s Guard Wenlock looks wistfully on
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- Deckchair Wenlock kindly offering his seat to me. I’m not that old! Regent’s Park
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- Cheeky Wenlock on the steps of County Hall. Well, it doesn’t say anything about dancing on them, so I guess he’s not doing anything wrong
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- Brave Performer Wenlock here on Long Acre, Covent Garden is clearly not fazed by that rather rude bystander who appears to be giving Wen the middle finger. Well, really!
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- A diamond in the rough … literally. Gemstones Wenlock sporting a glamorous jumpsuit by some unglamorous bins along Piccadilly
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- Union Flag Wenlock possibly doing the ‘lollibop’ here in Regent’s Park
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- Shakespeare here appears to be admiring Mandeville’s lean and hungry (to compete in the Paralympics) look: by the Globe Theatre
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- Far from walking those dogs, Dog Walker Wenlock appears to be running away from them! Maybe a better name here would be ‘Postman’ Wenlock. S Molton Lane
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- Mandeville on Safari in er … Regent’s Park? He’s not even down by the London Zoo end either. Good luck with that.
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- Regency Mandeville’s Beau Brummell impression, aptly posed in Regent’s Park
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- Who would have thought that underneath Wenlock’s lovely, cute, cuddly exterior is a wild animal – or rather animals – raring to break out? Regent’s Park
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- Life can be ‘ruff’ when your owner suddenly becomes smitten with an Olympic mascot. Poor pooch: Spitalfields Market
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- Victorian Mandeville trying to out-stare the future (the automobile will never catch on). Brushfield Street
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- Now it’s the turn of the Paralympic Agitos for Beefeater Mandeville to guard with pride
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- Poor Mandeville drew the short straw again: Wenlock simply can’t hide his excitement on learning that he’ll be staying at the Connaught during the Paralympics
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- … and last, but not least, number 82: I misread this on the back of Rainbow Mandeville in Regent’s Park, thinking it read (aptly) ‘South End’. The ‘End’ indeed x
Meeting the Superhumans at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and the possible sighting of a well known politician dressed up … as a chicken x
I adore Wenlock and Mandeville. I too went to see them all and i even bought one on the online auction. He is great.
Myself and my 5 year old son Mark and my friend Aled set out at 6-45am on Saturday 11 August to visit and snap my son beside every single one of the 82 wedlock and man devilles in one day. We estimate we walked 30k and we got the job done by 7pm and then headed to the Lahore kebab house on umberston street for a much deserved celebration. We had an amazing day.
Very best