Cowes Week
Cowes Week takes place every year at the beginning of August and is based at the small…
Big Ben
‘Big Ben’ is the nickname given to the hour bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses…
Talk Like A Pirate Day
There have been many gimmicky celebratory days concocted in recent times, but the International Talk Like A…
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) was an award-winning star of silent films in his trademark character, ‘the tramp’.…
Fred Hoyle, cosmologist
Professor Sir Fred Hoyle, FRS (1915-2001) was born in Yorkshire and became a mathematician, astronomer and cosmologist.…
Marie Stopes & family planning
If Marie Stopes (1880-1958) were alive today, one wonders what she would think of the hundreds of…
King Edward VIII’s Abdication
King Edward VIII (1894-1972) is the only British monarch to have abdicated. He ascended the throne in…
George Orwell
George Orwell was the pen-name of Eric Blair (1903-50), who died of tuberculosis shortly after the publication…
“We shall fight on the beaches”
In 1940 the war with Germany was not going well. Belgium, The Netherlands and France had all…
The Cabinet
The Prime Minister, other senior Ministers and various key parliamentary personnel must keep in close contact on…
The Boat Race
Aside from being Cockney rhyming slang for ‘face’, the Boat Race is a traditional sporting competition between…
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle was originally built in the 12th century in the time of the Scottish King David…