Today in History

[Daisy]

I don't think any group could have withstood the pressure they were all under at the time of Beatlemania!

[Gemini]

2013

Prayers were said for Pope Benedict XVI during a mass at Westminster Cathedral, as the pontiff prepared to step down at the end of the month. He was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.

[Gemini]

1987

The Church of England's General Synod voted by a huge majority in favour of the ordination of women priests. It was a further 28 years before the first female bishop, Libby Lane was consecrated Bishop of Stockport (26th January 2015) in a ceremony at York Minster.

[Daisy]

It was always unbelievable to me that women were not allowed to be ordained!

[Gemini]

2020

The meteorological office announced that February had been the wettest in over 150 years. On a fourth consecutive weekend of terrible weather, Storm Jorge prompted weather warnings stretching from Cornwall to the north of Scotland and across to Northern Ireland.

[Daisy]

It was followed by the most beautiful spring I can ever remember. Let's hope for the same this year.

[Gemini]

1882

An unsuccessful attempt was made by Scotsman Roderick Maclean to assassinate Queen Victoria. As she was leaving Windsor railway station he stepped forward from the cheering crowd, lifted a revolver and fired into her carriage. Before a second shot could be fired, he was overpowered by the crowd and arrested by Superintendent Hayes. Remaining calm, the Queen and her companions rode on to Windsor Castle.

[Daisy]

I don't suppose security was as good back in those days.

[Gemini]

1955

A statement was made that London would become a smokeless zone at the beginning of October.

[Daisy]

What a transformation that was, too.

It also triggered changes in other industrial cities with heavy pollution.

[Gemini]

1975

Charlie Chaplin was knighted after a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

[Gemini]

1977

The death (aged 27) of Thomas "Tom" Pryce, British racing driver and the only Welsh driver to have won a Formula One race. During the practice session for the 1977 South African Grand Prix, Pryce was faster than everyone, including world champion drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt. During the race, a safety marshal ran into the path of Pryce's car and both men were killed.

[Daisy]

Gem - I don't remember this, but how tragic, and totally avoidable. I think safety in motor sport is much better these days, thank goodness.

[Gemini]

1893

The opening of the Liverpool Overhead Railway (known locally as the Dockers' Umbrella) which operated for 7 miles along the Liverpool Docks.
The railway had a number of world firsts - it was the first electric elevated railway, the first to use automatic signalling, electric colour light signals and electric multiple units and was home to one of the first passenger escalators at a railway station.

[Daisy]

Gem, you know how you have odd, almost disconnected memories of early childhood. Well, I can remember seeing this railway in Liverpool. I don't know how old I was - about 4 or 5. I remember thinking how magical it must have been to travel up in the air like that, and I remember the wooden covered stairs being painted brown and cream. (This could all be wrong - but it's how I remember it).

We also went to see an ocean liner in the docks - it was called The Empress of Canada but looking it up it must have been a ship called The Duchess of Richmond which had been renamed.

Weird memories!

I was wondering if Glamm remembers it too - but I think she's too young.