Great whales

Sadly, the London Whale story didn't have a happy ending. But the poor creature's journey up the River Thames did at least bring the mystery of nature to the heart of the city and will hopefully ensure that a new generation grows up determined to ensure that these majestic creatures survive and thrive in the wild. I still vividly recall at the age of 10, going to see the body of a pilot whale that had beached at Aberthaw, a few miles up the South Wales coast from my hometown. Aside from its size, the thing I remember most was the texture of its skin, not unlike vinyl.
As an addendum to this whale's tale, it has been widely reported that this is the first member of the species to be seen in central London since records began a century ago. However, I recall reading on a notice board at Deptford Strand that whales were frequently seen in the river a few centuries ago. That board may now be gone - I was last down Deptford Strand five years ago when it was the only stretch of Thames waterfront west of Woolwich that had not been gentrified. That, alas, is no longer the case: now it's yuppie flats all the way.