Today in History

[Gemini]

1716

Lincoln's Inn Theatre in London put on England's first pantomime which included the characters Harlequin, Columbine and Pantaloon.

And I'm going to one tonight

[Daisy]

Gem - and I hope you and the family enjoy every minute of it. Oh yes, I do!!

[Gemini]

2013
Grandfather John McCafferty (71) entered the record books as the world's longest-surviving heart transplant patient at 30 years, 11 months and 11 days. At the time of his heart transplant in 1982 he was told that he might expect to live for another five years if the procedure was a success.

[Daisy]

Gem - it just shows, you should never give up. Transplant surgery has improved immensely since 1982, and in the future that might become the norm.

[Gemini]

1922

The BBC broadcast 'The Truth About Father Christmas' by Phillis M Twigg, the first play written for radio in Britain.

[Daisy]

Ninety-nine years ago! Who could have imagined today's technology then!

[Gemini]

My mum (born in 1928) and her friend used to listen to radio plays together in their teens, this makes me realise that it was a fairly new thing then!

[Daisy]

Gem - I bet they thought it was so exciting. I remember my mum telling me about the first time she went to the cinema to see a "talkie"!

[Gemini]

1874

Boxing Day was officially recognized in Britain as a Bank Holiday. The name originates from the custom of Christmas boxes being given to a lord's serfs and dates back to the middle ages.

[Daisy]

I suppose it was often the difference between having food and going hungry for the serfs.

[Gemini]

1977

Thousands of people flocked to UK cinemas to watch the long-awaited blockbuster, Star Wars.

[Gemini]

1980

A shake-up of broadcasting franchises paved the way for the launch of breakfast TV. The Independent Broadcasting Authority announced that the breakfast contract would go to TV-am and would launch in 1983.

[Gemini]

1170

Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas à Becket, was murdered in his own cathedral by four knights, believing they were acting on direct orders from King Henry II.
The disgraced knights and their families did a number of penances, one of which was to build a Chantry chapel in the centre of Watchet and the building of St Decuman’s Church, which Richard Brito and Reginald FitzUrse then gave to Wells Cathedral.
Their families went on to give land to atone for their relations’ evil deed

[Daisy]

And to think we think we live in strange times!

[Gemini]

1986

According to new plans by the government, more than 200 canaries would be 'phased out' of Britain's mining pits. New electronic devices would replace canaries as detectors of harmful gasses, because they were said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective.