Today in History

[Gemini]

1994

Thousands of shops throughout England and Wales opened legally for the first time on a Sunday, following a change in the Sunday trading laws.

[Daisy]

I remember that shops used to be able to open on a Sunday, but the law was changed in about 1950 to make them close. It hit my parents' little corner shop quite hard, losing a day's trading, but it at least meant they got a day off.

[Gemini]

It must have been mixed blessing when they stopped Sunday opening, for small businesses like your family's Daisy. Losing the income, versus having the day off at home.

[Daisy]

That's true, Gem. But in the summer we used to make the most of it and go out for the day. We were lucky enough to have a car and were within day-trip distance of North Wales, the North Staffs Moors, Derbyshire and even places like Southport. It was the highlight of the week for me.

[Gemini]

1997

Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver were killed in a car crash in the Place de l'Alma underpass in Paris, France. Tests conducted by French police indicated that the driver was intoxicated, may have been travelling at over 100 mph and likely caused the accident while trying to escape the paparazzi photographers.

A very sad day to remember

[Daisy]

I was surprised this dreadful anniversary wasn't commented on on the news this morning - or if it was, I missed it.

It was one of those shocking moments when people remember where they were and how they heard about it.

I wonder how Princes William and Harry are today.

[Gemini]

1560

Amy Robsart, wife of the Earl of Leicester, died from a fall. It was suspected that she was pushed, for soon after, the earl became an active suitor to Queen Elizabeth I.

[Gemini]

1543

Mary Stuart, at just nine months old, was crowned 'Queen of Scots' in the Scottish town of Stirling.

[Nana]

That's really interesting Gem. A Queen before she was even potty trained & able to speak.

[Gemini]

A day no one will forget.



2001

The '911' terrorist attacks in New York. In the aftermath, Prime Minister Tony Blair deployed British troops in the invasion of Iraq (March 2003), supporting the US President George Bush and his 'War on Terror'. On This Day hijackers crashed two airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, killing everyone on board and thousands of those working in the buildings. Both towers collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. A third airliner was crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth plane was redirected towards Washington, D.C., targeting either the Capitol Building or the White House, but it crashed in a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control of the airliner. There were no survivors from any of the flights.

[Nana]

It was a truly sad day Gem. One of those days when you remember exactly what you were doing when it happened.

[Gemini]

1970
In Colombia, en route to the World Cup finals in Mexico, the captain of the England football team, Bobby Moore was accused of stealing a diamond bracelet from a shop. After being kept under house arrest, he was released and all charges were dropped.

[Daisy]

Gem - I don't remember that at all. How upsetting it must have been for him on the way to an important cup final.

[Nana]

I don't remember that either. Poor fella.

[Gemini]

1985
The death, aged 60, of Laura Ashley, Welsh designer and fabric retailer.


Very sad. I remember it, she fell downstairs.