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All in the month of May Remembering VE Day – 80 years on The Venerable Bede – the father of English history who gave us ‘computer’ The Siege of Mafeking – defying the larger army The RHS Chelsea Flower Show – world’s greatest flower show Danger on rural roads The astonishing scale of Britain’s illegal...

It was: 1700 years ago, 20th May to August 325 that the First Council of Nicaea was held in what is now Iznik, Turkey.  It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. 1300 years ago, on 26th May 725 that the Venerable Bede died. This English Benedictine monk, historian, linguist, translator and teacher...

80 years ago, on 8th May 1945, VE Day took place – marking Victory in Europe at the end of World War 2. It was celebrated as a public holiday, and came exactly a week after German radio announced the death in action of Adolf Hitler. In reality, Hitler had committed suicide on 30th April....

1300 years ago, on 26th May 725, the Venerable Bede died. This English Benedictine monk, historian, linguist and teacher is known as “the father of English history.” He helped to popularise the idea of dating years from the birth of Christ (Anno Domini – AD). Bede was certainly born into a well-to-do family, but we...

It was 125 years ago, on 17th May 1900 during the Second Boer War, that the 217-day Siege of Mafeking was relieved by 2000 British forces and South African volunteers. Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, who led the forces defending Mafeking during the siege, later became a national hero, and founded the Scouting movement. Mafeking, now known...

20th – 24th May brings us the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The most prestigious gardening show in the world, it attracts about 168,000 visitors a year. Its cutting-edge garden designs have been called the ‘haute couture’ or ‘World Cup’ of gardening. Here are 12 interesting facts about the Show: The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is...

Did you know that driving on rural roads is more dangerous than driving on urban ones? According to the NFU Mutual’s Rural Road Safety report for 2023, the number of lives lost on rural roads was a staggering 70% higher than on urban highways. Also, collisions on rural roads were around four times more likely...

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned of a dramatic rise in the use of recreational drugs, especially among young people. Ketamine usage in England more than doubled last year. Almost 25 tonnes of ketamine were consumed, as opposed to 10.6 tonnes in 2023. Almost 100 tonnes of cocaine were consumed in England last year,...

All in the month of April Remembering Albert Einstein The genius of Madame Tussaud The paintings of JMW Turner Where did your Easter egg come from? London Marathon 2025 – Sunday 27th April Easter Events in your area Car signal jammers to be outlawed Penny killed off in the USA, but is saved in the...

It was: 250 years ago, on 18th April 1775 that American silversmith and folk hero Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride on horseback from Charleston to Lexington to warn residents that the British were about to attack. Also 250 years ago, on 23rd April 1775 that J M W Turner, the British artist was...

Seventy years ago this month, on 18th April 1955, Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist, died. Considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century, he is known especially for developing the special and general theories of relativity. He formulated possibly the best-known theory in the world – the special theory of relativity (including the...

Some 175 years ago, on 16th April 1850, Madame Marie Tussaud, a French artist known for her wax sculptures, died. She was the founder in 1835 of Madame Tussauds wax museum in London. Born Anna Maria Grosholtz, she was taught wax modelling in Paris by Philippe Curtius, from whom she inherited two wax museums. Imprisoned...