Today in History

[Gemini]

1966
The BBC announced that it would begin broadcasting television programmes in colour in 1967

[Daisy]

1935

Britian imposed a 30 mph speed limit in built-up areas.

[Daisy]

1960

The Government announced plans for a Thames Barrier to protect London from flooding.

[Gemini]

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1967
The Torrey Canyon oil tanker, with a cargo of 100,000 gallons of crude oil, ran aground on rocks between Land's End and the Scilly Isles and its cargo discharged into the sea. The RAF and the Royal Navy were called in to napalm bomb the slick in an attempt to reduce the risk of pollution. In the weeks that followed the accident, oil escaped and spread along the shores of the south coast of England and the Normandy coast of France. Worst hit were the Cornish beaches of Marazion and Prah Sands, where sludge was up to a foot deep.

[Gemini]

1986
Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Exactly six years later it was announced that they were to separate

[Gemini]

1774
Mary Cooper published the first book of English nursery rhymes. Called Tommy Thumb's Song Book, it included Baa Baa Black Sheep, whose 'three bags full' is thought to refer to a tax imposed on the wool trade in 1275.

[Clover]

That's very interesting Gem. Quite a lot of Nursery rhymes have their origins in social situations.

By the way,thank you ladies for taking the time each day to post these facts.

[Gemini]

Thanks Clover

1956
Queen Elizabeth II laid the foundation stone of the new Coventry cathedral. The new building was built next to the remains of the 14th-century cathedral that had been destroyed in the 2nd World War

[Gemini]

1885
‘A lady well-known in literary and scientific circles’ was the only clue The Times gave to the identity of the woman who was cremated by the Cremation Society in Woking, Surrey. She was the first person to be officially cremated in Britain and was a Mrs. Pickersgill, the first of three cremations that year.

[Gemini]

2014
Beryl Walker, 88, was named as the oldest paper girl in the world by Guinness World Records. "Beryl has been doing the round for 35 years, gets up at 6am every morning and hops on her bike 'Hercules' to deliver papers to homes in Gloucester. She works six days a week and cycles over eight miles a day."

[Gemini]

1962
A new style of pedestrian crossing (the Panda crossing) was launched in London by the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples. It caused confusion among both drivers and pedestrians.

[Gemini]

1895
The trial of the libel case instigated by Oscar Wilde began, eventually resulting in his imprisonment on charges of homosexuality.

[Gemini]

1853
Queen Victoria became the first monarch to receive chloroform. It was administered to ease the birth of her eighth child, Prince Leopold

[Clover]

That was very brave of her. I know she was quite timid over some things. There is a railway viaduct where my DD lives and the story goes that Queen Vic got out of her train and walked across rather than risking it in the train!

[Gemini]

LOL, Clover!