Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at your Community

It was 90 years ago, on 3rd April 1933, that the first flight over Mount Everest took place. British pilots the Marquis of Clydesdale and Donald McIntyre flew two biplanes over the summit. The two Scots were financed by the striking and rather eccentric Lady Houston, who started life as a chorus girl but through...

Seventy years ago, on 16th April 1953, Queen Elizabeth II launched the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was decommissioned in 1997. The Royal Family no longer owns a royal yacht. Britannia was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, but the first Royal Yacht to be built with complete...

It was 40 years ago, on 15th April 1983, that Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch writer, watchmaker, and Holocaust survivor, died. She wrote about her experiences in Christian books that became best-sellers. Corrie’s family were Calvinist Christians in the Dutch Reformed Church, and served their neighbourhood by offering shelter, food and money to the needy....

Scientists believe they may have discovered what happens to a great deal of the plastic that is dumped in the ocean. The mystery has been that while about 14 million tonnes end up in marine environments each year, only about one per cent of that is ever found in sampling surveys. While much of the...

By the time a child born today becomes an adult, they may be able to see fewer than half the stars that are currently visible. This is not because the stars are fading, but because of ever increasing ‘skyglow’, or light pollution, which is brightening the night sky by 9.6pc on average each year. So...

Ever wonder how many other patients your local GP now cares for? Recent figures show that could be up to as many as 3,000 other people. Amid worsening staff shortages, the number of fully qualified GPs has fallen from 29,320 in 2016 to 27,372 last year, as more and more doctors are opting to reduce...

All in the month of MARCH Save the Date – National Day of Reflection & Great Daffodil Appeal 2023 World Water Day is 22nd March Remembering Sir Christopher Wren First crossing of Antartica Referendum and bombs ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, March) down the...

It was: 300 years ago, on 8th March 1723 that Sir Christopher Wren, English architect, died. Best known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral. 125 years ago, on 16th March 1898 that Aubrey Beardsley, British illustrator, died. His black ink drawings, influenced by Japanese woodcuts, contributed to the development of Art Nouveau. 100 years ago, on...

For the third year running, Marie Curie will lead the National Day of Reflection on Thursday 23rd March. It is a day for everyone to remember loved ones who have died, and to support people who are grieving. There will be a minute’s silence at noon, a nationwide network of Walls of Reflection, and a...

We take clean water for granted. After all, when did you last turn on the tap and expect filthy water to come out? But sadly, bad water is still a daily reality for billions of people. The United Nations wants to help them by ensuring that everyone can access clean water by 2030.  It is...

It was 300 years ago, on 8th March 1723, that English architect Sir Christopher Wren died at the age of 90. Best known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral, he was also a ground-breaking anatomist, astronomer and physicist. A founder of the Royal Society, Wren served as its president from 1680 to 1682 and was highly...

The first land crossing of Antarctica was completed 65 years ago, on 2nd March 1958, by the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Vivian Fuchs. The team of 12 men travelled 2,158 miles from Shackleton Base to Scott Base (via the South Pole) in 99 days, using six vehicles. The journey – nearly 22 miles a...