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Reading is an “invisible privilege,” according to Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the new Children’s Laureate. He was responding to studies which found that children who have not been read to when they were young face “massive barriers” as they go through life. Cottrell-Boyce stresses: “For too long, the life-changing benefits of children’s reading have not been taken...

All in the month of August Explorer 6 – sending the first images of earth from space The one and only Alfred Hitchcock The discovery of oxygen George Stubbs and his horses International Bat Night – 24th August ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, June)...

It was: 300 years ago, on 25th August 1724 that George Stubbs was born. This British artist is best known for his paintings of horses. 250 years ago, on 1st August 1774 that oxygen was discovered by British chemist Joseph Priestley. He was the first scientist to publish his findings on the discovery. 125 years...

Sixty-five years ago, on 7th August 1959, the USA launched the Explorer 6 satellite, which sent back the first images of the Earth from space. The history-making achievement was not impressive at first sight. Described as “crude at best” and a “blocky, blurry mess”, the original picture was in black and white and unclear. But it...

Some 125 years ago, on 13th August 1899, Alfred Hitchcock was born. This British-born American film director, producer and screenwriter was known as the Master of Suspense.  He was known for his films The 39 Steps, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds and many more – over 50 in all. Born...

It was 250 years ago, on 1st August 1774, that oxygen was discovered by British chemist Joseph Priestley. He was the first scientist to publish his findings on the discovery. Born in Yorkshire, Priestley was the eldest son of a strongly Calvinist textile maker, but after his mother’s early death he spent much of his...

Three hundred years ago, on 25th August 1724, George Stubbs was born in Liverpool. Best known for his paintings of horses, he lived mainly in the north of England at first, but eventually his success enabled him to move to Marylebone in London, where he remained for the rest of his life. Fascinated by anatomy,...

The moment the Church of Scotland defied King Charles I is among a vast number of historical documents now available to view on the ScotlandsPeople website.  (www.ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk) As part of a wider release of almost 4,000 volumes of church court records, National Records of Scotland (NRS) has added papers from the church’s governing court, the...

August is the perfect month to look out for bats, when our soft, warm twilight evenings are full of the tiny flying insects that attract them. But these days bats need our help, and so this annual celebration will include a good few ‘bat events’ this month. If you like bats, you may enjoy one...

All in the month of July Remembering the Rwandan genocide 1984 – the burning of York Minster The Lord of the Rings turns 70 125 years of Gideons and Bibles Prime Ministers ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, June) down the years. Here is a...

It was: 750 years ago, on 11th July 1272 that Robert I (Robert the Bruce) was born. He was King of Scotland 1306-29. 125 years ago, on 1st July 1899 that the Gideons International was founded. The evangelical Christian association places free Bibles in hotel rooms, hospitals, schools, military bases and prisons around the world....

Thirty years ago, on 15th July 1994, the Rwandan genocide ended. Up to 1.1 million people were killed by the Hutu-led government and other militias between April and July. Rwanda is a small central African country in the Great Rift Valley, dwarfed by the Democratic Republic of Congo to its west and close to the...