Month: March 2021

The VC and GC awards for heroism

The Victoria Cross (VC), named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901), was instituted in 1856. It is a decoration given to military personnel who […]

The Victoria Cross (VC), named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901), was instituted in 1856. It is a decoration given to military personnel who have exhibited extreme bravery in the face of a wartime enemy. The first awards went to British soldiers in the Crimean War.The youngest awardee was aged 15, the oldest 69.

The George Cross (GC), named after King George VI (1895-1952), was introduced in 1940 to recognise unbelievably heroic deeds by both civilians and the military during WW2, “away from the heat of the battle”. It is also reserved for peacetime acts of courage “when facing the perils of ordinary life”. Again, the youngest recipient was aged 15; this time a civilian, for a house-fire rescue. The oldest was a 57-year-old railwayman for averting a catastrophic train crash.

VCs and GCs are rarely given and they rank equally at the very top of the list of gallantry decorations. The VC & GC Association maintain records of all recipients, of whom there are currently only 27 alive. Both Crosses can be awarded posthumously and have been on many occasions, as in the case of the 57-year-old train driver. The GC has also been presented to the island of Malta (1942) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (1999), each as a whole.

(Images (LtoR): VC by zaphod1 at Flickr.com / CC BY 2.0; GC by Defence Images at Flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0)

07/03/2021
3 min
4 years
221 words

Celebrations & Holidays

Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilees

Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) had four official Jubilees, the most of any British monarch. The previous longest-reigning sovereign, Queen Victoria (1819-1901), died […]

Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) had four official Jubilees, the most of any British monarch. The previous longest-reigning sovereign, Queen Victoria (1819-1901), died 4 years after her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne), whereas Queen Elizabeth II died a few months after her Platinum Jubilee (70 years) in 2022. There was an extra day’s Bank Holiday given for the festivities but the Queen’s frailty made it a rather subdued event.

The Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 set the tone for the milestones to follow ~ the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of 2002 and the Diamond in 2012. Each has seen street parties, Union flags a-plenty, parades, the lighting of beacons, open-air concerts, fireworks, balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace and fly-pasts. Famously in 2002, Concorde flew down The Mall in formation with the Red Arrows, a feat they performed on just a handful of occasions.

In 1977 the Queen and Prince Philip (1921-2021) made special visits to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In 2002 they toured the UK. By 2012 the Prince was in poor health; however, the royal family took part in a huge river pageant on the Thames, even though it rained and was windy. Each Jubilee was well supported by the public, who take the opportunity to show their appreciation for the Queen’s dedication.

(Top image: Michael Chu at Flickr.com / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

04/03/2021
3 min
4 years
215 words

Sport

Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE (1969-) is the UK’s most successful Paralympian. Born in Cardiff, she was immobilised with spina bifida by age […]

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE (1969-) is the UK’s most successful Paralympian. Born in Cardiff, she was immobilised with spina bifida by age 7, but that did nothing to stop her trying different disability sports and, at age 13, she discovered her talent for wheelchair racing. This involves kneeling in a custom-made chair with two splayed side-wheels and a smaller front wheel. Arm power and reinforced gloves are the key to success.

Tanni first competed internationally in 1987. She went on to amass one Bronze, 4 Silver and 11 Gold medals in five successive Paralympic Games from 1988 to 2004. Among other achievements at the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m track races, she has also won 13 World Championship medals and won the Women’s London Wheelchair Marathon no less than six times from 1992 to 2002. The 1992 Barcelona Paralympics were among her favourites, as she witnessed the sudden growth of recognition for disabled sports worldwide.

Since retiring from sport in 2007, Tanni has coached youngsters, given speeches at events, been a television presenter and has even entered the House of Lords as an Independent politician after becoming first a Dame, then a Baroness. She relishes the opportunity to debate women’s and disability rights, as well as sports and health issues.

(Top image: rjp at Flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0)

02/03/2021
3 min
4 years
209 words

Quoting Neil Oliver...

I love Britain more than anywhere else in the world. With all my heart I declare that those of us born here, or who have made a home here by choice, are the luckiest, most blessed of all people. I am British. I will always be British.