Today in History

[Daisy]

That spawned a huge industry, didn't it!

[Oma]

Multi million industry now isn’t it .

[Gemini]

1967

For the first time in Britain, a court in Brighton accepted a 'majority verdict' from a jury instead of the usual 'unanimous verdict' required previously.

[Gemini]

1997

British astronaut, Michael Foale, returned safely to earth aboard the space shuttle 'Atlantis' after four and a half months on 'MIR', the Russian space station. The touchdown was Atlantis’ final mission before she was taken out of service for another 'Orbiter Modification Down Period'.
Atlantis did not fly again until May 2000 when she made her first trip to the International Space Station.

[Gemini]

1992

The first Braille cash dispenser was installed, by the Northern Rock Building Society in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

[Gemini]

1908

The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame's classic children's book, was published. It has never been out of print in its entire history.

[Gemini]

2013

The discovery of the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in a neurodegenerative disease was hailed as an exciting and historic moment in medical research although 'More work is needed to develop a drug that could be taken by patients.' Commenting on the research, Professor Roger Morris, from King's College London, said: 'This finding, I suspect, will be judged by history as a turning point in the search for medicines to control and prevent Alzheimer's Disease.'

[Gemini]

1982

The Mary Rose, which had been the pride of Henry VIII's English fleet until it sank in the Solent in 1545, was raised, by the Mary Rose Trust. It was one of the most complex and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology. She was one of the largest ships in the English navy and was one of the earliest examples of a purpose-built sailing warship. Since the mid-1980s, the hull of the Mary Rose has been kept in a covered dry dock in Portsmouth whilst undergoing conservation

[Daisy]

Gem, this was riveting television. I remember having to drag myself away from it to take the boys to school, and they definitely thought it was a good reason not to go!

[Gemini]

1967

Zoologist Desmond Morris stunned the world with his book The Naked Ape that compared human behaviour with animals.


I read this, and the following books, when I was 16 or 17 and it taught me a lot.

[Gemini]

1940

Princess Elizabeth, aged 14, (later Queen Elizabeth II), made her first radio broadcast to child evacuees.

[Daisy]

She had to grow up pretty quickly, didn't she, once her father became King.

[Gemini]

1986

An historic moment for Queen Elizabeth II as she became the first British monarch to walk along the Great Wall of China.

[Gemini]

1994

Five people were killed and 13 injured in a head-on rail collision at Cowden in Kent after the driver ran a red signal.

[Gemini]

1091

A tornado struck London. It was Britain's earliest reported tornado. The wooden London Bridge was demolished, and the church of St. Mary-le-Bow in the city of London was badly damaged. Other churches in the area were demolished, as were over 600, mostly wooden, houses.