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All in the month of SEPTEMBER John Wisden and his famous ‘Cricketers’ Almanack’ Remembering Buddy Holly Hornby trains and Dinky toys Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebrates 70 years: 1956 – 2026 Join the Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 25th September Organ Donation Week – 22nd to 27th September ** Editor:  We continue our column...

It was: 250 years ago, on 9th September that the Second Continental Congress adopted the name United States, which replaced United Colonies. 200 years ago, on 5th September 1826 that John Wisden, British cricketer was born. Founder of Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanac. Launched with 112 pages in 1864, it now runs to 1500 pages and is...

Two hundred years ago, on 5th September 1826, British cricketer John Wisden was born. He was the founder of Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack. Launched with 112 pages in 1864, it now runs to 1500 pages and is the bible of cricket. Wisden was a builder’s son, born in Brighton. He moved to London after his father died, and...

Ninety years ago, on 7th September 1936, Buddy Holly, the American rock and roll singer, was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas. His career was cut short when he was killed in a plane crash in 1959 – an event remembered as “the day the music died”. Holly was raised by a devout Southern...

It was also 90 years ago, on 21st September 1936, that Frank Hornby, the British inventor, died.  He is remembered for the immensely popular Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. Hornby was born into a Liverpool working-class family and was said to have been inspired by the industry in the city. He was brought...

It was back in February of 1956 that Buckingham Palace released a press announcement outlining plans for a trial period of ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’. It was the post-war era, and His Royal Highness wanted to help boys bridge the gap between leaving formal education at 15 and starting National Service at 18. He...

Why not consider attending – or even hosting – a Macmillan Coffee Morning? Many are going to be held soon, on 25thSeptember, but you can hold one whenever you like. About 50,000 coffee morning events are held around the country each year. The first Coffee Morning happened in 1990. It was a small affair with...

More than 8,000 people in the UK are hoping for a life-saving organ transplant. The primary organs that can be donated for transplant include the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and small bowel (intestines).   This month’s annual Organ Donation Week will once again raise awareness of the need for transplants, and buildings and landmarks across...

All in the month of AUGUST The infamous Berlin Wall When John Lennon said the Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus’ The Story of Apple Inc Ten things to know about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe National Allotment Week – 10th to 16th August Where are we all? ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks...

It was: 250 years ago, on 2nd August 1776 that the formal signing of the US Declaration of Independence took place. 175 years ago, on 12th August 1851 that the American inventor Isaac Singer was granted a US Patent for his sewing machine. Since then, well over 100 million various models of Singer sewing machines...

It was 65 years ago, on 13th August 1961 that East Germany first sealed the border between East and West Berlin with barbed wire. Construction on the Berlin Wall itself began two days later, on 15th August. The Wall grew rapidly to become a 96-mile (155km) concrete barrier. It became the physical embodiment of the...

It was 60 years ago, on 4th and 5th August 1966 that US newspapers and radio stations quoted John Lennon as saying his Beatles band was “more popular than Jesus.” It provoked widespread protests across America. The story had really begun some months earlier, when in March Lennon’s comment was originally published in the London...