Today in History

[Daisy]

Gem - how interesting. Imagine burying a medieval manor under a lake thee days. There would be an uproar.

I think it's true for a lot of us - we know very little about our immediate location.

[Gemini]

1949

American tennis player 'Gorgeous' Gussie Moran caused a sensation at the Wimbledon Championships by wearing lace-trimmed pants under a short skirt.

[Gemini]

1940

The BBC’s Music While You Work programme was first broadcast on radio to brighten up the lives of munitions workers doing boring factory jobs.


I'm sure this must have gone of for years, as I can remember it being in the radio as child, and I probably don't have many memories pre 1960.

[Daisy]

I think it did go on for years, Gem. I can remember in my first job with the local Council, the town hall porter having it on in his little cubby hole of an office. I started work in 1960/61.

[Plantaholic]

Remember it well.

[Daisy]

Plant - can you remember the theme tune?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02sp2jn

[Gemini]

1939

Britain's first National Serviceman, Private Rupert Alexander, signed up for the Middlesex Regiment. His service number was 10000001.

[Daisy]

At least he'd have no trouble remembering his number, although I think it's something service men and women never forget.

[Gemini]

1899

Indian born English cricketer Arthur Edward Jeune Collins, aged 13 and often known by his initials A. E. J. Collins, achieved the highest-ever recorded score in cricket. He scored 628 not out over four afternoons but, despite this achievement, Collins never played first-class cricket. He was killed in action in 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres.

[Gemini]

2001

36,000 people lined the banks of the River Tyne to watch the Millennium Bridge tilt for the first time. The bridge was the world's first tilting bridge. It spans the River Tyne between Gateshead's Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank.

[Daisy]

That seems like another world 19years on, doesn't it!

[Gemini]

2007

A smoking ban came into force in England, making it illegal for anyone to smoke in an enclosed public place and within the workplace.

(I got this right in a golf club quiz . I had to fight my corner and insist as others in the team thought it was much later!)

[Daisy]

Gem - well done - I'd have thought it was later as well! It doesn't seem like 13 years ago.

On the other hand, I'm mildly shocked when I see people in old films smoking in offices, shops, even hospitals.

[Gemini]

1928

A policeman's helmet and a bunch of roses were among the pictures shown on John Logie Baird's first colour television test transmission at Baird Studios, in London.


1928 and colour television in the same sentence?!!!

[Daisy]

I don't suppose the policeman's helmet looked much different in colour - the screen resolution must have been quite low. I hope they were red roses.