Today in History

[Daisy]

She was a trail blazer of her time was Betty! An amazing lady.

[Gemini]

1909

In a revolutionary budget called 'The People's Budget', Chancellor David Lloyd George introduced a new 'supertax' of sixpence in the pound for anyone earning more than £5,000 a year . The new high level of supertax was to pay for old age pensions and re-armament of the forces.

[Gemini]

1851

Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London. Over 10,000 exhibitors set up eight miles of tables. Although technological wonders from around the world were on display, the exposition was dominated by Britain, which was the premier industrialized nation and workshop of the world.

[Daisy]

Gem, I can remember going to see the follow up "Festival of Britain" on the South Bank in 1951! You could see the Skylon from miles away, and I can remember seeing all sorts of scientific displays and art and other things. It was very much a celebration of the UK and its inventions and achievements. I wonder if there is any possibility of something similar in 2051!

[Gemini]

1933

The modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster was born when a sighting made local news. Several London newspapers sent correspondents to Scotland, and a circus offered a £20,000 reward for capture of the beast.

[Gemini]

2007

Three year old Madeleine McCann went missing from her family's holiday apartment at the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz, Portugal. To date, she has not been found.

[Daisy]

Gem, her little face still haunts me. I can't imagine what hell her parents and family went through, and must still be suffering.

[Gemini]

Just awful Daisy

[Gemini]

1964

The Council of Europe declared 5th May as Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe.

[Gemini]

1663

The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, built by Thomas Killigrew, opened under a charter granted by Charles II.

[Gemini]

1986

British climber Alison Hargreaves became the first climber to conquer a Himalayan peak by its toughest route when she reached the 22,251 foot (6,782 m) summit of Kantega in 5 days without oxygen, porters or a fixed camp.

[Oma]

I often wonder why people do this kind of thing but I suppose they want to see how far they can push themselves, well done her.

[Daisy]

Sadly, I think she died on a later expedition.

[Gemini]

1919

The first scheduled commercial air service in Britain began. The flight from Manchester to Southport cost 4 guineas one way and was run by A.V.Roe.

[Daisy]

I imagine 4 guineas was a lot of money in 1919.

The very first time I went in a plane was at Southport. It was about 1950 and it was a flight in some kind of ex-WWII plane. It took off from Southport beach (!) flew round the bay and a bit further afield but I can't remember where, and landed on the beach again! It was so exciting. I can remember being able to see the ground through the housing for the landing gear.

(When the tide's out Southport beach is huge).