Bob Marley and cricket.

The other day I was walking in Penshurst next to their cricket pitch when I heard that wonderful evocative song coming form the cab of a chap driving a tractor - Buffalo Soldier. Here I was in a quintessentially English country setting, the grand Elizabethan house acting as a back drop, and Bob Marley - blaring away - fantastic! These two elements came together at the closing ceremony - music and Britain - a happy marriage. We have been greatly influenced here by the importing of music from across the globe. This fusion has produced many wonderful musicians, and composers. On this theme Lord Hall of Birkenhead - who has been organising the Cultural Olympiad - wants a 'London Biennale' - of culture. He believe that - art and culture have now broken out beyond the gallery and theatre. He would like the Olympic Park to be utilised to this effect. The park will renamed - the Queen Elizabeth Park when it reopens after the Paralympics. This would of course mirror the ancient games in Greece, all those years ago - where there was no division between the two. Is this a pipe dream, or can it become a reality? The secretary of state Jeremy Hunt has asked Hall to keep his board together for at least a year to work out how to build on the success of the Cultural Olympiad which is still running for another few weeks. See http://www.festival.london2012.com/. At the moment there is going on up north the Edinburgh Festival - a cornucopia feast of all things cultural.