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Samuel Morse died 150 years ago, on 2nd April 1872. The American artist and inventor is best known for developing a commercial single-wire telegraph system – and the Morse Code, with his friend Alfred Vail. He was born in 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of Calvinist preacher and geographer Jedidiah Morse. He found a...

All in the month of March The moral turmoil of our times Remembering Aretha Franklin Bob Dylan – 60 years on since his debut album Wear your daffodil to support Marie Curie and the National Day of Reflection Remembering Mothers ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this...

It was: 500 years ago, from 9th to 17th March 1522 that Martin Luther preached his Invocavit Sermons. He urged citizens to adhere to the core Christian values and trust in God, rather than using violence to bring about change. 175 years ago, on 3rd March 1847 that Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born American engineer, and...

Yes, Britain is in serious political and moral turmoil. So is the USA. Many other countries are heading towards totalitarian rule or are savagely divided along tribal, religious, or racial lines. We shouldn’t concentrate on cataloguing our complaints, though, before counting our blessings, which is a healthier activity for the human soul. Here’s a start. The British National Health...

Eighty years ago, on 25th March 1942, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was born. The American soul/R&B/pop/gospel singer was known for her many hit songs including ‘Respect’ and ‘I Say a Little Prayer’. She died in 2018. Aretha began her career as a young child, singing gospel songs at New Bethel Baptist Church in...

Sixty years ago, on 19th March 1962, the American folk-rock singer Bob Dylan released his debut album, Bob Dylan. It contained only two original songs, the other 11 being mostly folk covers and partial rewrites, but his huge talent was already apparent. He came from northern Minnesota, but no-one could have guessed where he was...

This March the UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie will once again be asking people across the UK to support its Great Daffodil Appeal. Money raised from the flagship fundraising appeal will help the charity’s doctors, nurses and hospice staff continue their vital work providing expert care to people at the end of...

The honouring of mothers goes back to Roman times. Each Spring, a pagan festival honoured Cybele, supreme Goddess of Fertility and Mother of all the Gods. Other celebrations paid tribute to Mother Earth. From the Middle Ages, in England, it became traditional for outdoor labourers and craftsmen to have a day off in Lent. Later,...

All in the month of February 60 years since we first orbited Earth In memory of Dolly the Sheep The World Ahead The Christian faith of Denzel Washington   **   Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, FEBRUARY) down the years. Here is a range from...

It was: 175 years ago, on 11th Feb 1847 that Thomas Edison, American inventor and businessman was born.  Best known for inventing the first practical incandescent light bulb, phonograph, movie camera and projector, and many more. 100 years ago, on 8th Feb 1922 that the first radio was installed in the White House. Also 100...

It was 60 years ago, on 20th February 1962, that John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. He made three orbits in the space capsule Friendship 7, which he named himself. The three circles of the globe – which lasted just under five hours – made the Presbyterian Christian a hero...

Just 25 years ago, on 22nd February 1997, scientists at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh announced that they had successfully cloned a mammal from an adult cell for the first time: a sheep named Dolly. Dolly – named after country singer Dolly Parton – was not the first cloned mammal, however. Another sheep had been cloned...