The original Top of the Tower restaurant opened in May 1966 and
closed in 1980 amid security fears after an IRA bomb exploded close to the men’s
toilets.
Costing £2 million to construct, the tower is built from
13,000 tons of concrete, steel and glass. At the time of opening it was the
tallest building in London and remained so until the building of the NatWest
Tower in 1981.
Certificate of Orbit
The bearer has dined in orbit at the Top of the Tower, Butlin's revolving Restaurant, located 525 feet at the top of G.P.O. Tower Maple Street, London, W.1.
J. Arthur Dixon Natural colour photgravure
The Post Office Tower, London, the centre of a new telephone and television communications system. Two lifts convey the public to the top where there is an observation platform, a cocktail bar, and a revolving restaurant.
We visited the Top of the Tower restaurant in the spring of
1969. Terry and I are on the left (as you look at the photo) with our friends
Pauline and Michael on the right. Notice how Pauline and I are doing our best
model poses for the camera! Contrast
that with the next photo where we have all dissolved into laughter over
something or other. How I wish I could remember what! Sadly, Michael died a few
years ago, but we are still in touch with Pauline and the three of us meet up
from time to time.
Today, the renamed BT Tower serves as a television network
switching centre. Parts of the building are occasionally used for charity
events and earlier this summer a pop-up restaurant served lunch and dinner to
1,400 diners selected at random by public ballot. The event celebrated half a
century since the tower was officially opened by the then Prime Minister Harold
Wilson on 8th October 1965.
This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday No. 293. To see the other Sepia Saturday posts go to the Sepia Saturday Blog and follow the links.
The Certificate of Orbit and postcards are from my own collection.
