Henley’s annual regatta changed the world of Amateurism
In 1839 first Henley Regatta was held for a single day. In March that year Captain Edmund Gardiner proposed Henley’s annual regatta, to be managed under judicious and respectable management. That year the first Henley Regatta was held over a single day, its success meant that next year it ran for two, it kept extending […]
Where did the Circus Come From?
Where Did Circus Come From? The history of the circus is an interesting story that spans many thousands of years, mixing entertainment, skill, and daring performances. We all associate the circus with colourful tents, thrilling acrobatics, and dazzling feats, however, its origins are essentially ancient and complex. There has been some dispute about where “circus” […]
“Unsinkable Sam” a special cat!
Sam was a black and white patched cat, supposedly owned by an unknown crewman of the German battleship Bismarck. The Bismark, which with her sister ship Tirpitz was the largest battleship ever built by Germany for the second World War. In fact, it only ever took part in one action before when in 1941 it […]
The Paul Pry phenomenon!
Well, the noun Paul Pry denotes an inquisitive person; one of its synonyms is nosey parker! The point is that he wasn’t a person! He was the character in a farce of three acts that premiered at the Haymarket Theatre in London on 13th September 1825 and ran for 114 performances, it then continued to be popular all the […]
The 1910 London to Manchester air race
In 1910 there was an air race between an Englishman and a French man. Why? It was all because in 1906 the Daily Mail issued a £10,000 challenge, however, it took until 1910 before anyone decided to accept the challenge, when two people did, and English man and a French man: The race was […]
Sherlock Holmes, a fictional invention of the Victorian era.
He has become the most famous fictional detective of this era, and it could be claimed of all time. During the Victorian era, as Britain’s police force became more professional and successful, it was inevitable that detective novels would follow and become extremely popular, with Sherlock Holmes becoming the most fashionable. When did he become […]
Scotland’s First Football Captain of colour
On March 12 1881 a British Guiana-born defender, Andrew Watson, made history when at Kennington Oval when he led the Scottish National team out for an international against England. A match, which, I as an Englishman have to admit, saw Scotland thrash England 6 goals to 1. He inflicted a terrible defeat on England. So, […]
It took a woman to launch our first daily newspaper?
Elizabeth Mallet was an amazing lady, she published the first national daily paper in Britain, “The Daily Courant”, at her premises next to the King’s Arms tavern 9pictured above) at Fleet Bridge, London in 1702. Yes, it took a lady to launch our first daily newspaper! OK, it was only one page long with a […]
The History of Lotteries
England’s first recorded lottery started on January 11th, 1569, 450 years ago. Where did they start? They started in China around 200 BC, to fund major projects, such as building the Great Wall of China. Then the Romans used them However, to Romans lotteries were a game played at dinner parties. Well, that was until […]
What became of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground?
Well, they became Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland All this happened because a girl called Alice Liddell was being rowed down the Isis, (the name of the Thames at Oxford) for a picnic by Charles Dawson, a friend of her father, who was always telling her and her sisters stories. On this lovely summer’s day in […]