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It was 75 years ago, on 21st June 1948, that the passenger ship HMT Empire Windrush docked in London, bringing the first large group of immigrants from the West Indies to the UK. It was a result of the British Government’s invitation to people from Commonwealth countries to settle in Britain and help rebuild the...

Just 125 years ago, on 9th June 1898, Britain leased Hong Kong from China for 99 years, and it became a British Crown Colony. It was transferred back to China in 1997. The original contract was arranged to ensure that the territory could be defended efficiently. Claude MacDonald, the British representative in the talks, said...

Four hundred years ago, on 19th June 1623, Blaise Pascal was born in central France. This brilliant mathematician, physicist, theologian and philosopher invented one of the first mechanical calculators – among many other things. Pascal, whose mother died when he was three and who was brought up by his father, was prominent from a young...

The National Week of the Ocean is held each year during the second week of June. It aims to spotlight the threats faced by marine habitats and species, and also to offer some solutions on how to solve them. The health of the oceans is critical to the health of our planet. The ocean makes up...

All in the month of MAY COUNTDOWN TO THE CORONATION Did you know 10 Facts about King Charles III? How an argument over tea led to the founding of America Remembering David Livingstone – missionary and explorer Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in...

It was: 250 years ago, on 10th May 1773 that Britain passed the Tea Act, which favoured the British East India Company over the American colonies, which led to the Boston Tea Party in December, which escalated into the American Revolution and the establishment of the USA. 150 years ago, on 1st May 1873 that...

Of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort. On Saturday 6th May the Coronation will take place.  It is based on a solemn religious ceremony which has remained largely unchanged for more than 1000 years. For the past 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, and is conducted by...

He was born at 9.14pm on 14th November 1948, to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, at Buckingham Palace in London. He has been heir-apparent to the throne since he was three years old. He is the first monarch in British history to have earned a university degree. From 1967 to 1970 he studied history at...

Some 250 years ago, on 10th May 1773, Britain passed the Tea Act, which favoured the British East India Company over the American colonies. This led to the Boston Tea Party in December, which escalated into the American Revolution and the establishment of the USA. The idea of the Tea Act was to help the...

It was 150 years ago, on 1st May 1873, that David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, died. He was best known for his search for the sources of the Nile, and for going missing (and being found by the American journalist Henry Morton Stanley) in the wilds of Africa. Livingstone was born in Blantyre,...

Sixty years ago, on 27th May 1963, the folk/blues album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was released. It included the hit song Blowin’ in the Wind and marked the start of an amazing singing-songwriting career. It was in fact Bob Dylan’s second album, but the first to contain all his own songs. He came to prominence...

Just 75 years ago, on 14th-15th May 1948, Israel was declared an independent state as the British mandate in Palestine came to an end, and the Arab-Israeli War began with the invasion of Israel by Egypt, Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. The war had been preceded by considerable unrest, with Zionist gangs committing atrocities and...