Ulster planters
In its empire-building phase of the sixteenth century, England took control of its neighbour, Ireland. When King…
Smart Motorways
The first motorway in Britain was opened in 1959 and since then, the country has seen more…
Snooker
The game of snooker was devised by a Colonel in the British Army whilst based in India…
Conkers
Conkers is an old, traditional game that used to be played by schoolchildren (and sometimes adults), but…
The creator of James Bond
London-born Ian Fleming (1908-1964) wrote fourteen books featuring the fictional secret agent James Bond, Agent 007. As…
April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day is on 1st April each year and in Britain it lasts until 12 noon.…
The Sea Cadets
As an island nation, many Britons feel an affinity for the sea. The Sea Cadets is an…
The first postmarks
The very first postmark in the world was the invention of Colonel Henry Bishopp (or Bishop or…
The Peasants’ Revolt
English village peasants – poor workers owned by rich landowners – had finally taken enough harsh treatment…
Wildlife Aid Foundation
In Britain, we like to think of ourselves as ‘animal lovers’ and there are many organisations that…
Graham & Damon Hill, F1 champions
Graham Hill, OBE (1929-1975) became Formula 1 racing car champion in 1962 and 1968. His son, Damon…
The Stone Circles at Avebury
The Neolithic stone circles at Avebury, roughly 23 miles from Stonehenge in Wiltshire, were among many hundreds…