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A quarter of a century ago, on 30th November 1996, England officially returned the Stone of Scone to Scotland after 700 years. It was the coronation stone of the Scottish and (later) English and British monarchs. Scotland has agreed to loan the Stone to Westminster Abbey for future coronations. Ten thousand people lined the Royal...

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). This year, it runs from Saturday 27th November to Sunday 5th December. It is a good time to both celebrate your current trees, and to plant more trees in your area. You...

All in the month of OCTOBER Petition for annual national fundraising day for animals Defender of the Faith Fire! The UK and US in Afghanistan Zebra crossings – saving lives for 70 years ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, OCTOBER) down the years. Here is...

It was: 500 years ago, on 11th Oct 1521 that Pope Leo X granted the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland.  It recognised the King’s defence of the sacrament of marriage, the supremacy of the Pope, and his opposition to the Protestant Reformation and the ideas of Martin...

 A ten-year-old girl has launched a national petition asking the Department for Education to introduce an annual fundraising day for animals in schools across the country. Bailey Woozeer proposes that World Animal Day, held annually on October 4, would be an ideal opportunity for schools to support both British and international animal welfare charities through...

It was 500 years ago, on 11th October 1521, that Pope Leo X granted the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland. It recognised the King’s defence of the sacrament of marriage, the supremacy of the Pope, and his opposition to the Protestant Reformation and the ideas of Martin...

The Great Chicago Fire took place 150 years ago, from 8th to 10th October 1871. A fire in a barn spread quickly, following a long period of hot, dry weather. About 300 people were killed, more than three square miles of the city was destroyed, and about 100,000 people were made homeless. At exactly the...

Twenty years ago, on 7th October 2001, the first US and British forces arrived in Afghanistan to launch a massive military offensive following the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States. The aim of the offensive was to find and neutralise the al-Qaeda militants under Osama bin Laden who had planned the aerial terror attack with...

Seventy years ago, on 31st October 1951, zebra crossings were introduced officially in the UK.  The first one was in Slough, Berkshire. The crossings had been trialled over two years at 1000 experimental sites, but in 1951 the black and white striped pedestrian crossings were approved, with their flashing Belisha beacons, and all drivers were...

All in the month of SEPTEMBER 20th anniversary of 9/11 – looking back on the horror Just how dangerous is cannabis? World Wide Fund for Nature celebrates 60 years Harry Secombe – genius for buffoonery Dead Sea Scrolls – brought to light 30 years ago Remembering Dante ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks...

It was: 700 years ago, on 13th Sept 1321 that Dante Alighieri, Italian poet, died. Regarded as the most important poet of the Middle Ages. Best known for his Divine Comedy. 125 years ago, on 24th Sept 1896 that F Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist and short story writer, was born. Regarded as one of the...

The TV pictures looked like some macabre video game, with toy aircraft crashing into matchbox towers. Then incredulity turned into utter dismay. This was real: the most powerful nation in the world had been invaded by 19 airborne Islamic terrorists, with devastating effect. Nearly 3,000 people died. The US government announced a war on terror. Futile invasions...