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1830 Educators providing Bridge courses

Fort Luton

fort luton

London

In 1859 Lord Palmerston instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom to review the nation’s defences. At the time there was a strong possibility of a French attack and the country’s existing defences were deemed obsolete. The report was published the following year with the recommendation of the construction of a series of forts to strengthen the defences around the country against landward attack. Over 80 forts were built with five being constructed in Medway to protect the Royal Dockyard, Royal Arsenal and the approach to London. Fort Luton was the smallest in the “Chatham Concrete Ring”. The five forts were Fort Borstal, Fort Bridgewoods, Fort Horsted, Fort Luton and Fort Darland. The design and placement of the forts were based on the needs and armament available in 1860, artillery range was three miles and with the site of the forts you could hold the enemy around five miles from the Dockyard at Chatham, an important feature of approach to London was the A2 which Rochester Bridge is part of and this had to be protected, if the enemy could use it they would have a direct route into London and if they destroyed the bridge they could delay our troops from hampering their invasion plans and forcing them to travel miles to cross the River Medway. Construction started on the Medway forts in the mid-1870s however funds became short and work stopped for some years, by the time work began again armament had so improved as to make the forts useless for the defence of the Royal Dockyard and Rochester Bridge, artillery fire was now travelling up to twelve miles. The design of the forts were changed many times reflecting on the improving armament, changing needs for defence and the new suggestion that fixed artillery forts were an unnecessary cost which field works could replace. Due to the constant improvements during this short period many features of Fort Luton were removed from plans including a main magazine, counterscarp galleries and a caponier. The size of Fort Luton was also reduced and a casemate was converted into the use of a magazine. None of the forts received their fixed gun emplacements but instead they were provided with secure bases around the ramparts, this allowed field guns to be wheeled into position when under attack but also removed if there was heavy bombardment. To protect the guns Fort Luton was provided with four gun shelters in which the artillery men could also retreat when in danger.

Salsa Bristol

salsa bristol

5.0(3)

Bristol

Salsa Bristol is one of the longest-running Salsa and Latin dance schools in the South West region. Over the 11 years we have been running, we have had students from all walks of life and of all ages (from 18 to 70s!). Besides running our weekly classes, parties, and special events, we have taught at charity events, primary schools (including children and adults with special needs), and even Red Arrows pilots! Salsa Bristol's founder, Wayne, recognised how daunting it could be to go from a beginners level, to “improvers” – as a result, we were one of the first to bring in “jumpers” lessons to bridge the gap between these dance levels. Wayne Wayne and ClareWayne started dancing salsa in 2006. Not being the fastest learner he found it hard as a beginner to learn the turn patterns, keep the timing, lead the leads and think about what move to lead next without putting in 10 or 20 mambos first. He decided that so many others must struggle in a similar way that a new method could be taught in the form of weekly courses as opposed to drop-in classes. Having given much thought to this and realising that this wasn't being done elsewhere (certainly not in the South West) he spent the next 18 months travelling the West Country trying different teachers and learning not just what works but also learning what doesn't work so well! This concept soon became popular, and several companies have tried to copy a similar format, without the same success! Read more... Clare Clare fans 150x150pxClare had already been dancing since she was a young girl before she joined Salsa Bristol in around 2010. She progressed quickly, joining the team as a teaching assistant and eventually making her way to the "top" as head teacher, taking beginners and jumpers classes at our weekly events and teaching at Salsa Bristol's monthly parties at Fry's. Clare also teaches private lessons for individuals, school children, parties and other functions.