Today in History

[Gemini]

1992

Fire severely damaged the 'Brunswick Tower', at Windsor Castle when a spotlight ignited a curtain. The castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and was at the time one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II.
The question of how the funds required should be found raised important issues about the financing of the monarchy, and led to Buckingham Palace being opened to the public for the first time to help to pay for the restoration.

[Oma]

Can't believe it's that long ago .

[Daisy]

I didn't realise that the opening of Buckingham Palace was to fund the repairs to Windsor Castle. Oma, I didn't realise how long ago it was either. Wasn't that the year Queen Elizabeth called her annus horribilis?

[Gemini]

I think it was Daisy.

[Gemini]

1869


The clipper Cutty Sark was launched In Dumbarton, Scotland. She was one of the last clippers ever built, and is the only one still surviving today. She is preserved as a museum ship, located near the centre of Greenwich, in south-east London.

[Daisy]

Gem, I remember going with a school party to see the Cutty Sark and Gypsy Moth IV which was then also dry docked in Greenwich. They both looked rather small to have done what they did.

[Gemini]

1914

Miss Mary Allen and Miss E F Harburn became the first two trained policewomen to be granted official status in Britain when they reported for duty at Grantham, Lincolnshire.

[Oma]

Trail blazers of their time.

[Daisy]

They certainly were trailblazers, but for many, many years female police officers were assigned to domestic type situations, rather than the full range of duties. They hd to be very determined to gain acceptance with male colleagues and even with the general public.