Heathrow paints upside down poem on a field next to the airport

Heathrow Airport marked its 80th birthday by painting a large poem titled “Gateway to the World” onto a field near the airport. The poem was written by David Larbi, Heathrow’s first Poet-in-Residence, and celebrates British aviation and the airport’s role over 80 years. The poem was etched in giant letters on land south-east of the airport that previously held the old Marjory Kinnon School, rebuilt between 2015 and 2018. The poem looks striking from an aerial view with the airport in the background, but it is oriented upside down for people flying in or out. Heathrow’s 80th anniversary programme also includes virtual reality binoculars, commemorative products, and competitions with 80 prizes.

"Heathrow Airport has painted a large poem onto a field to mark its 80th birthday, saying that it's designed to be read only by those flying in and out of the airport. In which case... It's upside down. Heathrow enlisted its very first Poet-in-Residence, writer David Larbi, to write the poem, and ahead of this Sunday's anniversary of the airport's first flight on 31st May, the piece has been etched in giant letters into a field local to the airport."

"The poem - titled 'Gateway to the World' - celebrates British aviation and the airport's role over the past 80 years. It's been painted on a field to the south-east of the airport on what was the old Marjory Kinnon School ( map) until that was rebuilt in 2015-18. However, while it looks good from the aerial photo supplied by Heathrow Airport, with the airport in the background, it also means that the poem is upside down from the point of view of anyone flying in or out of the airport."

"Had the poem been designed to be read by people in planes, as the airport says it was, then it would have needed to be the other way around. But that wouldn't have made for such a nice photo. Oh well. If you want to see some of the archive in person, there's a free exhibition at the University of West London's Ealing site on St Mary's Road. Open when the university building is open. Details here."

"Heathrow's Poet-in-Residence forms part of a wider programme of activity marking Heathrow's 80th, including virtual reality binoculars across Terminals for passengers to view Heathrow's archive imagery; commemorative products and offers from brands and restaurants; and competitions with 80 prizes up for grabs."

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