Up Pompeii! (and Herculaneum)

We were very fortunate to attend a special evening hosted by the fabulous folk of Brunswick at The British Museum. On show until September is an exhibition called 'Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum' It is a fascinating insight into life of Roman society, captured at the time of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. 

I've been to The British Museum a few times and I must say that I have found visiting big shows there a bit of a trial because of the crowds. But this visit was very different, on our arrival we were warmly welcomed by the lovely Frank, a charming gentleman who is the king of hospitality. On learning our excitement of seeing the exhibition, Frank like a magician disappeared for a few moments, on his return he quietly announced that we could go into the exhibition before the other guests! 

Well, I know how the Queen must feel when she gets first dibs at The Chelsea Flower Show or gets her own evening at Harrods! The experience was amazing, not only were we the first visitors, we were also able to call on the knowledge of the volunteers placed around the exhibition. These guys brimming with information were somehow able to judge when we were ready to ask a question or when we looked puzzled or inquisitive, making the experience even more enjoyable.

As I walked around the exhibition a song kept popping into my head against all my attempts to push it out. The tune 'Up Pompeii' was the theme tune from a comedy full of double entendres, innuendos and risque gags. Created in the 1970's Frankie Howerd plays the starring role of a slave named Lurcio living in pre-eruption Pompeii.