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All in the month of October Those magnificent men in their flying machine… The Iron Lady of Britain The brave Desmond Doss of Hacksaw Ridge Surge in violent attacks on A&E nurses The scary amount of money spent on Halloween How does our nearest airport rank? Increase in attacks on cats and wild birds **...

It was: 750 years ago, on 27th Oct 1275 that the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is traditionally considered to have been founded. 200 years ago, on 25th Oct 1825 that Johann Strauss II, was born. This Austrian composer is best known for his waltzes, including The Blue Danube. 125 years ago, on 20th...

It was 125 years ago, on 20th October 1900, that the American aviation pioneers the Wright Brothers made their first untethered glider flight at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. This was a key moment in the history of aviation, although their first powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft came three years later, on 17th...

One hundred years ago, on 13th October 1925, Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, was born. She was the first woman Prime Minister of Britain (1979-90). Her father, Alfred Roberts, was a grocer and Methodist local preacher in Grantham, and she was brought up as a strict Wesleyan Methodist. At one point just before the...

Eighty years ago, on 12th October 1945, US Army combat medic Desmond Doss became the first conscientious objector in US history to receive a Medal of Honour for heroic actions. He saved the lives of 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa. The film Hacksaw Ridge told his story. Doss was born in Virginia in...

 18th October is the feast day of St Luke, who is the patron saint of physicians. So this is a good month to pray for those in the NHS… A&E nurses face an increasing barrage of punches, kicks and spitting – and having weapons aimed at them. One was even threatened with an acid attack. ...

The RSPCA has warned pet owners to be ‘extra vigilant’ after a 30 per cent increase in airgun attacks against cats. One cat was shot five times in the leg and belly. Another had her spine fractured by a bullet. As one owner demanded: “How could someone do this to a poor, defenceless animal?” But...

When did you first spot Halloween-themed items in the shops this year? Some were on sale in August. Seriously. August. But perhaps no wonder – as in the UK Halloween has become the third-largest retail event after Christmas and Easter. In 2019 we spent £474million. By last year it had grown to £776million. Who spends...

 Have you flown recently? What did you think of the airport? A recent survey considered the various merits of our 30 biggest airports, and chose the following for its ‘Top Ten’ best airports in the UK. Jersey – 1.5milion passengers in 2024. 17 destinations across five countries. One of the airline’s hangars (now disused) was...

All in the month of September Celebrating 200 years of the public railroads Remembering the Nuremberg Laws Remembering Albert Schweitzer Exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding dress and fashion to celebrate centenary Did you spot many butterflies this past summer? British Food Fortnight 2025 – 26th September to 12th October Still danger in our rivers...

It was: 1,100 years ago, on 4th Sept 925 that England gained her first ever king. He was Aethelstan, King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-927) and then King of England (927-939). Aethelstan was grandson of Alfred the Great, and 30th great-grand uncle to Queen Elizabeth II. 300 years ago, on 29th Sept 1725 that Robert Clive, 1st...

Two hundred years ago, on 27th September 1825, the world’s first public railway opened. It was the Stockton and Darlington Railway in north-east England. Inspired and supported by a prominent Quaker, Edward Pease, and backed financially by many Quakers nationally, it has been described as “the great theatre of railway operations”, sparking the explosion of...