Today in History

[Gemini]

Daisy I went to a small private school. I feel I missed out on so many things there, such as PE facilities, but we did have school's TV!

[Daisy]

Gem, I'm glad there was at least one plus for you at the school.

[Gemini]

1885

It snowed in London - the earliest recorded winter fall despite reports that on 12th June 1791 snow was sighted over the capital.

[Daisy]

It seems our weather has always been topsy turvy.

[Gemini]

1960

Bank Underground Station in London opened Europe's first 'moving pavement' .

[Daisy]

When my OH worked in London he used to use the Drain between Waterloo and Bank every day. There'd be lots of men in 'city uniform' - dark suits, white shirt, bowler hat, briefcase and rolled umbrella. They'd stand in exactly the same place every day.

[Gemini]

1928

Scottish born pharmacologist Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered what later became known as penicillin when he found that a mould had developed on an accidentally contaminated staphylococcus culture plate.
His 'bacteria killer' discovery changed the world of modern medicine and has saved millions of people around the world. Fleming was born at Lochfield Farm at Darvel in Ayrshire on 6th August 1881.

[Gemini]

1788

Lord Raglan, British field-marshal was born. He lost his arm in battle, thus giving his name to a design of sleeve.


I have grown up knowing this story. One of the many random historical facts my mum knew!

[Daisy]

I had heard of Lord Raglan, but didn't know the name came from him losing an arm. I like raglan sleeves as a style for fleece jackets etc.

Gem, it sounds as though you Mum taught you a lot of interesting facts.

[Gemini]

She absolutely did Daisy. Now I often say ' Mum would know that '

She left school at 14 with no further education so it was all self taught.

[Gemini]

1957

A vaccine against the strain of influenza that had been sweeping around the world was made available to the British public.

[Daisy]

I think that was the year there was a massive epidemic in the UK. I remember the shock of hearing that a girl at school had died from it.

[Gemini]

How sad Daisy

[Gemini]

1811

The first recorded women's county cricket match - between Hampshire and Surrey at Newington.

[Gemini]

1976

British Rail began its new 125mph Intercity 'High Speed Train' service. At the time of its introduction it was the fastest diesel-powered train in regular service in the world and remained so for many years afterwards. Engineers have calculated that, with a certain amount of rewiring, the Mark 3 carriages can be made to last until at least 2035.