Today in History

[Oma]

Obviously they had nothing better to do with time and money 🙄😁

[Daisy]

Obviously they had nothing better to do with time and money 🙄😁

and it's also a good job that he was a fictitious character.

[Gemini]

1843

Charles Dickens began inscribing copies, for friends, of his new novel A Christmas Carol. There were 10 pre-publication presentations made 'on this day' and the novel went into general publication on 19th December. It was an immediate success with the public and the initial print run of 6,000 copies was sold out by Christmas Eve.

[Daisy]

Dickens created some unforgettable characters in his books.

[Gemini]

2013

Ornate plasterwork at the Apollo Theatre in London fell from the ceiling during a performance and after a flash flood thunderstorm. The collapse brought down a lighting rig and a section of balcony, trapping 2 people and injuring around 88, including 7 with serious injuries.

[Oma]

Oh I can't remember that Gem,
How scary

[Daisy]

That must have been terrifying for everybody.

[Gemini]

1963

Under soil heating was used for the first time, at the Leeds Rugby League ground for their match against Dewsbury.

[Daisy]

I think both rugby and football players often got injured playing on frozen pitches. That must have made a huge difference.

[Gemini]

2018

Christmas Eve - Because of ongoing major conservation work on Parliament's Elizabeth Tower, the bell of Rochdale Town Hall replaced the usual chimes of Big Ben on BBC Radio 4 news bulletins. The Rochdale bell was selected, in part, because it uses the same 'Westminster chime' as Big Ben.

[Gemini]

1946

Football league players threatened to strike over the proposed maximum wage of £11 a week.

[Daisy]

I think in 1946 £11 a week was more than most factory workers were earning, and probably many other jobs. Hard to imagine, now, isn't it.

[Gemini]

Daisy,I know because mum told me many times that my dad earned £8 a week when I born ( 1954)
That was a reasonably paid job as an office manager who handled wages. A factory worker would be less I imagine . So in 1946 even less.

[Daisy]

Gem, I'm sure your mum and dad lived well on your dad's wages. Where I lived most of the male factory workers were on piece work, so the harder they worked the more they earned. Female workers were also generally on piece work, but it was many years before women's wages were anything like the men's.

Office workers, unless they were very senior like your Dad, earned less, but it was less arduous and dangerous. My first office job in 1959/60 was £28 a month! I was 17.

[Oma]

My first job I was paid £3 and threepence,
I started out in hairdressing