Practice Collection

CLARA SCHUMANN (1819-1896). German pianist. Wife of Robert Schumann (1810-1856). German composer. Photographed in 1850

Barry Sheene with his girl friend Stephanie McLean. August 1977/

Firefighters and hoses, LFB annual review, Lambeth HQ LFB150
London firefighters from East London demonstrating mass jets during the Annual Review display at the Brigades headquarters. Lambeth, SE1

Firefighter during hook ladder practice

Practicing synchronised swimming. Aerial view of swimmers training before a junior-league synchronised swimming competition. Photographed at Trud swimming pool, Moscow, Russia

HAWKER HURRICANE 1
The supremely efficient fighter as it appears at the outbreak of World War One - less glamorous than the Spitfire but in practice the more effective aircraft

LCC-LFB Recruit fireman training at Brigade HQ, SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth. Here a fireman is undertaking a hook ladder drill on the stations nine-storey drill tower

LCC-LFB Recruit firefighters training at Brigade HQ SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters in Lambeth. Here they are undertaking hook ladder drills on the stations nine-storey drill tower

NFS firefighter at a training camp, WW2
With a dramatic reduction in enemy attacks on London after the Blitz (1940-41) firemen and firewomen had to be kept gainfully employed and a high level of fitness and preparedness maintained

Piano playing
A small boy sits at a piano and practises his scales conscientiously

Enraged Musician / Hogarth
THE ENRAGED MUSICIAN A ballad singer, a screeching parrot, a piper, a drummer, a barking dog, a knife grinder, fighting cats and other noises disturb his violin practice

SOCCER GOALIES, 1974. English goalkeeper Peter Shilton (left) and Gordon Banks both jump to block a goal during a work-out at Stoke City, November 1974

Quiet music practice / W H Robinson
When practicing ones musical instrument, there is only one person who wants to hear it - the aspiring performer. A simple adjustment (as here depicted to the horn)

Tomando Mate - Argentina
Gaucho taking mate in Argentina. Tomando mate or " taking mate, " is a cultural practice, which refers literally to drinking a semi-bitter herbal infusion of crushed yerba mate leaves in

Yoga meditation, Full Moon Island, Male Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean, Asia

Frontispiece to The Art of Archerie, 1634 (engraving)
XJF3058189 Frontispiece to The Art of Archerie, 1634 (engraving) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Oscar Battling Nelson. Danish-American pugilist. American lightweight champion for 1908-10, at practice in 1920
BOXING: BAT NELSON, 1920. Oscar Battling Nelson. Danish-American pugilist. American lightweight champion for 1908-10, at practice in 1920

CONFEDERATE CAMP, 1861. Confederate troops from Mississippi practicing with the Bowie knife in camp. Wood engraving from a Northern American newspaper of 1861

Fireboat Massey Shaw with eight hoses pumping

Soldiers doing target practice on a shooting range
A group of men doing target practice on a shooting range before the outbreak of the First World War. Their success or otherwise is written up on various blackboards

Bedroom boat-race practice
An enthusiastic " Blue" leaves nothing to chance and recreates rowing conditions with the help of three tin baths, some wheels and a pair of oars in his bedroom

Mass jets at the LFB annual review at Lambeth HQ
London firefighters from East London demonstrating mass jets during the Annual Review display at the Brigades headquarters. Lambeth, SE1

The Enthusiast
A short course of training for the rugger enthusiast. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the Estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans

Horn Lesson in a Wine Cellar
A group of gentlemen and a small boy congregate in a wine cellar to practice playing the horn whilst enjoying a drink or two (non-alcoholic for the small boy of course)

2012 Le Mans 24 Hours
Circuit de La Sarthe, Le Mans, France. 13th - 17th June 2012. Wednesday Free Practice. Fabien Rosier/Phillipe Thirion/Phillipe Haezebrouck, Extreme Limite ARIC, No.43 Norma MP 2000 - Judd

At the Piano, 1914. Artist: Sergey Vinogradov
At the Piano, 1914. Found in the collection of the State Art Museum of the Belorussian Republic, Minsk, Belarus

THE ETUDE MUSIC MAGAZINE. Front cover, March 1926

LCC-LFB horse drawn 75ft turntable ladder (TL)
Shand Mason (Blackfriars) supplied the London Fire Brigade with this hand operated 75 foot turntable ladder on a four wheel horse drawn carriage

Advertisement for Bechstein Hall, Brook Street, London
Advertisement for the Bechstein Hall, Brook Street, London, in a building containing a concert hall, practice rooms, offices and showroom, built in 1929 by Bechstein, the German piano manufacturers

Firefighter during hook ladder practice. Date: 1967

Rooftop Rifle Range
18th June 1940: London workers at lunchtime target practice on the roof of their office building. (Photo by Gerry Cranham/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Sea King Helicopter Landing Drills at Bardufoss
A Sea King HC Mark 4 helicopter from Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) conducts landing drills in the snow at Bardufoss, Norway

An action at Bucquoy, Western Front 1918
The Great Battle on the Western Front: open warfare - an action at Bucquoy, a village on the Arras-Albert road. Stand by British infantry at Bucquoy

Practice: Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster
Practice - Inspirational Quote and Motivational Poster. It reads: Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect. ~ Vince Lombardi

Sunderland Bomber in a mock bombing practice with the Queen Elizabeth
19th June 1948: A Sunderland bomber in a mock bombing practice with the Queen Elizabeth. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4562 - A Sunderland Bombs The Queen - pub

Firefighters climbing wheeled escape ladders
Firefighters demonstrating various lengths of wheeled escape ladders

North Berwick Witches casting spells
The North Berwick Witches -- Satan lures Dr Fian and other misguided people to indulge in evil practices such as causing shipwrecks by casting spells

Amazons of the Bow: A Sketch at an Archery Meeting (coloured engraving)
729474 Amazons of the Bow: A Sketch at an Archery Meeting (coloured engraving) by Davis, Lucien (1860-1941); Private Collection; (add.info.: Amazons of the Bow: A Sketch at an Archery Meeting)

Portrait of a tattooed woman, c. 1905 (Sepia Photo)
1073947 Portrait of a tattooed woman, c.1905 (Sepia Photo); Private Collection; (add.info.: The model is thought to be the wife of Charles Wagner who registered the patent for the tattoo machine in)

West Ham training, John Bond. August 1963

Practice action
2017 FIA Formula 2 Round 9. Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy. Friday 1 September 2017. Nicholas Latifi (CAN, DAMS). Photo: Zak Mauger/FIA Formula 2. ref: Digital Image _56I5845

2018 Abu Dhabi
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 23: Nikita Mazepin (RUS, ART Grand Prix) during the Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2018 in Yas Marina Circuit

LFB water relaying drills, Hyde Park, London
LFB water relaying drills taking place in Hyde Park, London, on 12 February 1938, watched by mothers and their children

LCC-LFB learner drivers on a London street
A picture taken outside the headquarters of the London Fire Brigade in Southwark Bridge Road, SE1, on 14 September 1935, showing a motorised Dennis fire engine with an L-plate on the front

Six samurai; the upper three at court, practicing their archery; the lower three in traditional hunting attire
HOKUSAI: SIX SAMURAI, 1817. Six samurai; the upper three at court, practicing their archery; the lower three in traditional hunting attire. Woodblock print, 1817, from the Manga of Katsushika Hokusai

LCC-LFB Recruit firemen training at Brigade HQ, SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth. Here the recruit squad are rescuing by carrying down on the 50 foot wheeled escape ladder pitched to the third

SAMURAI TRAINING. Young Samurai in Japan training for the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. Wood engraving, American, c1900

REMINGTON: 10th CAVALRY. A Retiring Scout. Enlisted man of the 10th (Colored) Cavalry, known as Buffalo Soldiers, on maneuvers in Arizona. Wood engraving after Frederick Remington, 1888

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Practice makes perfect, whether it's firefighters honing their skills with hoses at the LFB annual review or recruits training at Lambeth HQ for LFB150. Just like synchronized swimmers who practice tirelessly to achieve flawless routines, dedication and repetition are key in any pursuit. Take soccer goalies Peter Shilton and Gordon Banks in 1974, leaping to block goals during a rigorous workout at Stoke City. Even LCC-LFB recruit firemen understand the importance as they train diligently at Brigade HQ SE1. From mastering hook ladder techniques to preparing for emergencies during World War II, firefighters know that practice saves lives. But practice isn't limited to physical activities; it extends to artistic endeavors too. Whether it's playing the piano like an Enraged Musician or finding solace through quiet music practices depicted by W. H Robinson, musicians find their rhythm through consistent effort. And let's not forget about cultural practices like Tomando Mate in Argentina or finding inner peace through yoga meditation on Full Moon Island in the Maldives. So whatever your passion may be, embrace the power – because greatness is achieved one dedicated step at a time.