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Twenty years ago, on 10th March 2005, Irish comedian Dave Allen died – in his sleep, of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. Allen – real name David Tynan O’Mahony – was best known for his observational comedy, but provoked indignation – sometimes outrage – by highlighting religious and political hypocrisy. O’Mahony was well connected: his father was managing editor...

As well as Greenland and the Panama Canal (and perhaps Canada), President Trump wants the Gulf of Mexico. On his very first afternoon in office, he ordered that the name be changed to the Gulf of America. Apparently American Presidents can do these things. And so, the US Board on Geographic Names was given 30...

It is Spring, and daily it gets easier to walk outside. But not easier to drive. Not on our pothole-plagued local roads. There are currently an estimated million potholes across the UK. And they need a staggering £16.3 billion to fix them. All in all, they are a “national embarrassment”, according to the chair of...

When you Spring-clean your home and shed this year, be just a bit careful about thrusting your hand into dark corners. You may get an unpleasant surprise. Noble false widow spiders put a record number of people in hospital last year. They may be less than 2cm long, but they are among the very few...

How do you choose the colour of flowers for your garden? This year, it seems that many of us will pick up on Pantone’s ‘colour of 2025’ for our homes, and plant variations of its ‘mocha mousse’ into our gardens. That means flowers in various soft chocolate hues of burnt browns, complemented by deep maroons...

All in the month of February The world of P G Wodehouse That Big Freeze of 1955 Eric Liddell – from Olympic star to Japanese internment prisoner National Nest Box week – 14th to 21st February Danger ahead for Britain’s canals That marmalade colour in cats ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at...

It was: 175 years ago, on 23rd Feb 1850 that Cesar Ritz, the Swiss hotelier, was born. He founded several notable hotels including the Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London, and the Hotel Ritz in Paris. 125 years ago, on 27th Feb 1900 that the Labour Party was founded in the UK. Also 125 years...

Fifty years ago, on 14th February 1975, P G Wodehouse died. The well-loved British-born comic novelist, short story writer, lyricist and playwright who lived his later life in Long Island, USA is best known as the creator of Jeeves. He was always a prolific writer, publishing more than 90 books, 450 plays, 200 short stories...

Seventy years ago, from early February 1955 and well into March, a Big Freeze took place in Britain. Deep snow and freezing temperatures caused havoc, with many places cut off. The RAF dropped food and medical supplies to affected areas, while thousands of sheep died from exposure. Although the winters of 1947 and 1963 have...

Eighty years ago, on 21st February 1945, Scottish athlete Eric Liddell died. An Olympic gold medallist in 1924 at Paris, he had withdrawn from the 100m heat because it was held on a Sunday, and had entered the 400m instead. The story is featured in the film Chariots of Fire. Liddell died in a Japanese internment camp...

Where can family-minded birds raise their young these days? As our gardens and parklands become smaller and tidier, too many natural nest sites – such as holes in trees, old buildings and unkempt hedgerows – are rapidly disappearing No wonder that our sparrows, greenfinches and swifts are in precipitous decline, and that one in four...

Our historic canals are in danger of disappearing. Caught in a ‘perfect storm’ of extreme weather events and funding cuts, the canals could be facing irreparable damage to huge stretches of their waterways. The Canal and River Trust (CRT) warns that even the historic sections of the Grand Union Canal and the scenic Oxford Canal...