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Bell & Ross London Boutique Grand Opening: Live Pictures

Guest-of-Honour Randolph Spencer-Churchill with Bell & Ross founders.

18 June 2015, London

Bell & Ross held a Grand Opening of their flagship boutique in Burlington Arcade, London with Lt. Randolph Leonard Spencer-Churchill as Guest-of-Honour. The date and year have special significance. This year sees the 70th anniversary of V.E. Day (Victory in Europe) - end of World War II in Europe - and the 50th anniversary of the death of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, DL, FRS, RA.

The Bell & Ross Boutique Grand Opening was set for 18th June to remember 'The Appeal of 18 June' (French: L'Appel du 18 juin): a famous speech by Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French Forces, in 1940. 

During the Opening Ceremony, Randolph Spencer-Churchill made an impassioned speech about Anglo-French relations and Bell & Ross's support in remembrance of Churchill and de Gaulle.

The Appeal was often considered to be the origin of the French Resistance to the German occupation during World War II. De Gaulle spoke to the French people from London after the fall of France. He declared that the war for France was not yet over, and rallied the country in support of the Resistance. In reality, very few Frenchmen heard the speech because it was unannounced and broadcasted on a British radio station - BBC. 

Yet, its importance is remembered by the French and by Bell & Ross. 

De Gaulle's 22nd June 1940 speech also on the BBC was more widely heard by the French.

Bell & Ross has always been passionate about military history and values. They used the tag-line " Land - Sea - Air". Their main source of inspiration is aviation and aeronautical instruments where time measurement is a cornerstone of navigation. 

Earlier this year, Bell & Ross commemorated the Second World War with a watch model that honours the memory of the air forces that served in the conflict. Each watch bears the roundel of the respective army on its dial, in tribute to the heroes of yesteryear. Roundels were found on the wings and fuselage of the military aircraft of the era.

During the official opening ceremony of the Churchill-de Gaulle exhibition at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, Carlos Rosillo and Bruno Belamich presented the Vintage BR 126 Air Force Insignia watch to Lt. Randolph Leonard Spencer-Churchill (great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill) and to General Baptiste, Director of the Army Museum.

The Churchill-de Gaulle exhibition is France's largest event dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill and takes place at the Musée de l’Armée from 10th April to 26th July 2015. The exhibition pays tribute to two major figures from the Second World War, but also reveals their lesser known public and private sides. It traces the lives, origins and careers of two great figures - who were both allies and sworn enemies, until their deaths.

Burlington Arcade is but a stone's throw from the Cartier Boutique in London. During the Second World War, the London Cartier offices were offered to the Free French under Charles De Gaulle and, in 1940, Cartier Paris produced a small brooch depicting a bird trapped in a golden cage – a symbol of France's occupation. In 1947, they produced a similar bird, this time with the cage doors open. 

Frenchmen like Carlos Rosillo and Bruno Belamich - both Knights of the Légion d'Honneur - tend to be sentimental about things like that. I think it is no coincidence that they chose the location near to where de Gaulle operated from.

It was an admirable Grand Opening melding the gravitas of the historical connections with the characteristic fun that Bell & Ross are known for. 

The guests responded in kind with high spirited dressing up and watches.

Later that night, a Bell & Ross got together with a Chopard; it was magical.

Thanks to the B&R team for the invitation and wonderful Grand Opening.

It was wonderful; Everybody said so................
 

Dr M. Teillol-Foo, 2015.

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