Cottage Capers

On this day in history….11th December 1967

On this day in history : 11th December 1967 – Concorde is rolled out of its hangar for its first public appearance….

Prototype Concorde 001 was revealed in Toulouse amid much pomp and ceremony, in front of some 1,100 guests from organisations such as the British Aircraft Corporation, Sud-Aviation, representatives of airlines who had already placed orders for the aircraft and ministers of state….

Concorde 001 first flight, 1969 – Andre Cros CC BY-SA 4.0

Concorde’s first test flight was on the 2nd of March 1969…. Applause and cheers broke out from those watching as the Anglo-French supersonic airliner took off from Toulouse, at around 3.30pm, for the first time – piloted by test pilot Andre Turcat…. During the test flight the speed did not exceed 300 mph – and it stayed at a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet…. During commercial flights it would reach speeds of 1,350 mph – twice the speed of conventional aircraft – and would fly at a height of 60,000 feet….

British Airways Concorde, 1986 – Eduard Marmet CC BY-SA 3.0

The first flight of the British prototype was made from Filton Airfield, near to Bristol – to RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire on the 9th of April 1969 and was piloted by Brian Trubshaw…. It was also in 1969 – on the 10th of October – that Concorde completed its first supersonic flight….

Landing at Farnborough, September 1974 – Steve Fitzgerald GFDL 1.2

On the 21st of January 1976 Britain and France began their first regularly scheduled Concorde flights – with British Airways operating between London and Bahrain and Air France between Paris and Rio de Janeiro…. The London to New York service began on the 22nd of November 1977…. Concorde set itself a record on the 16th of December 1979 by completing the flight between New York and London in less than three hours….

It was on the 25th of July 2000 that Air France flight 4590 took off from Riossy Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris….bound for New York…. Two minutes later it crashed – killing all 109 passengers and crew on board and 4 people on the ground…. As Concorde had reached take off speed it had struck a piece of metal debris on the runway – that had fallen from a plane that had taken off five minutes previously…. The metal strip caused one of Concorde’s tyres to burst….fragments of tyre hit the aircraft’s wing with such force that the fuel tank punctured…. Gases from the engines ignited the leaking fuel, causing a massive fire…. Concorde crashed into the Hotelissimo Les Relais Bleus Hotel, close to the airport….

France Concorde Crash — Flight 4590 during takeoff – Toshihiko Sato – Fair use

This was the first crash in Concorde’s 31 year history….it was considered to be among the safest of planes…. As a result of the crash all Concordes, both French and British, were grounded pending further investigations…. Commercial services were resumed in November 2001, after £71m being spent on safety improvements….

Parade flight at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, June 2002 – Bleiglass CC BY-SA 3.0

However, on the 10th of April 2003 British Airways and Air France announced the retirement of their Concorde fleets…. Higher maintenance and running costs – combined with lower passenger numbers, after loss of confidence following the 2000 crash – were blamed…. The final Air France flight took place on the 27th of June – whilst British Airways put on a farewell tour…. The last flight was made on the 24th of October 2003….

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….10th December 1979

On this day in history : 10th December 1979 – Eddie Kidd, motorcycle stunt rider, makes a death-defying leap across an 80ft gap, above a 50ft sheer drop over a viaduct….

The jump was made at the River Blackwater in Malden Essex, on a 400cc Yamaha motorbike, as part of the 1981 drama film ‘Riding High’ – in which Eddie plays the part of Dave Munday, a young motorcycle messenger who is bored with his life and job and so starts to train for a major competition….

Born on the 22nd of June 1959, Eddie started his career as a stunt performer at the age of 14; he holds many world records for jumps – of which he made over 12,000 during his career…. He has worked as a stunt double on many films, including for Pierce Brosnan in ‘Golden Eye’, Timothy Dalton in ‘The Living Daylights’ and Val Kilmer in ‘Top Secret’….

Jumping over cars at the Royal Oak Football ground, Harwich in 1984 – John Wray, published by Harwich & Dovercourt CC BY-SA 2.0

In 1993 American daredevil (and son of Evel Knievel), Robbie Knievel, challenged Eddie to a world title ‘jump off’ competition – which took place in Mississippi, USA…. Each rider had to make three jumps, with the length of each totalled together to make the overall winner…. The competition was televised as ‘The Daredevil Duel; Knievel vs Kidd’…. Eddie won by 6 feet and the title still stands with him today…. It was also in 1993 that Eddie jumped over the Great Wall of China…. Despite all this, he didn’t obtain his UK motorcycle licence until 1995….

Eddie Kidd and Robbie Knievel, Daredevil Duel (via YouTube) – Fair use

It was on the 6th of August 1996 that tragedy was to strike…. Eddie attended the ‘Bulldog Bash’ at Long Marston Airfield, Stratford-upon-Avon ~ one of the largest motorcycle festivals in Europe….and during which he performed a 49ft jump…. In comparison to some of his previous stunts this was relatively tame; all went according to plan….he completed the jump and landed on two wheels…. However, as he landed his chin struck the petrol tank of the bike and he was knocked unconscious….and therefore, was unable to stop the bike from crashing…. Eddie sustained serious head and pelvic injuries….he was in a coma for 3 months – and was left paralysed with brain damage….

Eddie’s career took bravery and determination….qualities obviously ingrained deeply within his character…. On the 29th of June 2007 he opened the Beyond Boundaries Live 2007 Exhibition at Sandown Park, Esther; once again he was riding upon a motorbike…. On the 17th of April 2011, leaving his wheelchair at the starting line and using a special walking frame, Eddie embarked on the London Marathon…. 50 days later, on the 6th of June, he completed it…. A truly remarkable feat ~ one in which he raised £75,000 for the charity Children With Leukaemia….and still today Eddie continues to fundraise for worthy causes….

On the 17th of July 2012 Eddie carried the Olympic Torch through Lewes in East Sussex…. It was also in 2012 that he was awarded with a well deserved OBE – for his services to charity….

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….9th December 1960

On this day in history : 9th December 1960 – The very first episode of Coronation Street is aired at 7pm on ITV – and is watched by 7.7 million people….

The soap, which was first broadcast in black and white, was only ever meant to have run for 13 episodes – but is now Britain’s longest running soap, having been aired nearly 10,000 times….

The brainchild of scriptwriter Tony Warren of Granada TV, the idea was at first rejected by the TV station’s founder, Sidney Bernstein…. However, producer Harry Elton persuaded Bernstein to run a 13 part pilot series….within 6 months it had become the most watched TV show in Britain…. It has since become a true British institution and part of our culture – even the Queen watches! Many fans around the world can also view it; it has been shown in Australia since 1963 and from 1964 in New Zealand…. It can be seen in Canada, the USA, South Africa and the Republic of Ireland…. Satellite channels make it available in countries such as Cyprus and Malta – and also in Asia and the Middle East….

The soap focuses on the everyday life of working class folk in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on Salford, Manchester…. In its fictional history The Street was built in 1902 as a tribute to the Coronation of King Edward VII….

Cast of Coronation Street, 1960 – Fair use

The very first words spoken in the first episode – “Now the next thing you’ve got to do is get a sign writer in” – were by the character Elsie Lappin as she handed over the reins of the corner shop to Florrie Lindsey…. Also in this first episode Elsie Tanner nags her 18-year-old son, Dennis, who has just served a prison sentence, to get a job…. She also discovers her daughter, Linda, has split up with her husband…. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Ken Barlow argues with his father, Frank, at the dinner table…. The rebellious Ken was later to cause outrage in a 1961 episode when he uttered the first swear word of the soap – “bloody” – which received 83 complaints from viewers….

Ken Barlow in the first episode, 1960 – Fair use

The most watched episode ever was on Christmas Day 1987 – when 26.6 million tuned in to watch Hilda Ogden say “goodbye” to the Rovers…. Not bad viewing figures considering the negative reception it had from the media back in 1960…. The Mirror reported on it as “doomed from the outset”….as it objected to the depressing view of terraced houses with their smokey chimneys ~ and the dreary signature tune…. Even Granada’s general manager said he “couldn’t find a single redeeming quality” about it…. But obviously the British public thought differently….

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….8th December 1980

On this day in history : 8th December 1980 – John Lennon is shot dead outside his New York apartment…. He was 40-years-old….

John Lennon in 1980, shortly before his death – Jack Mitchell, derivative work CC BY-SA 3.0

Just before 11pm John and his wife Yoko Ono arrived at their luxury apartment building, the Dakota, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side – opposite Central Park…. They were returning home after spending several hours at the Record Plant recording studios….

The Dakota, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City – Ajay Suresh CC BY 2.0

Earlier in the day Mark David Chapman, a 25-year-old security guard from Honolulu, Hawaii, had asked John for his autograph…. John obliged by signing the copy of the album ‘Double Fantasy’ offered to him…. Chapman then made his way to the former Beatles’ apartment building to wait for him….

As John and Yoko approached the building Chapman fired his Charter Arms .38 Special revolver five times, from a distance of 9 or 10 feet away…. John was hit in the back 4 times…. He staggered up the steps to the building before collapsing…. Jay Hastings, the building’s concierge rushed to help him, yelling at Chapman – “Do you know what you’ve done?” – to which Chapman calmly replied – “Yes, I just shot John Lennon”…. Chapman made no attempt to escape….he removed his hat and coat, having dropped the gun, in preparation for the arrival of the police…. Two police officers arrived within a couple of minutes, having heard shots…. Chapman put up no resistance to his arrest…. Two more police officers arrived and seeing the severity of John’s injuries decided not to wait for an ambulance – but carried him to the squad car and drove him to hospital…. John Lennon was pronounced dead at the Roosevelt Hospital….

Main entrance of the Dakota, where John Lennon was shot – David Shankbone CC BY-SA 3.0

Police artist sketch of the murder – New York City Police Department – Fair use

Chapman claimed he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill John; in 1981 he was imprisoned to a life sentence in Attica Correctional Facility, Buffalo, New York…. He first became eligible for parole in 2000 – since then parole has been denied ten times….

Mug shot of Mark David Chapman – Fair use

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….7th December 1783

On this day in history : 7th December 1783 – William Pitt (the Younger) becomes Prime Minister, at the age of just 24….

William Pitt the Younger – John Hoppner – Public domain

Pitt was born on the 28th of May 1759, in Hayes, Kent…. He was the son of William Pitt, the Elder, Earl of Chatham – and another powerful politician who had served as Prime Minister…. Pitt the Elder led Britain to great victory in the Seven Years’ War but lost office soon after….and began to prepare his son for a position of future power….

The young Pitt suffered bouts of illness throughout his childhood – possibly as a result of the stress of being pushed by his father…. However, he worked hard at his studies (Pitt was educated at home as his father did not advocate the public school system) and at the age of 14 he entered Cambridge University….

Pitt graduated Cambridge when he was 17, after the death of his father…. He took advantage of the system of the time – being from a wealthy family he did not have to take an examination to graduate…. On leaving university he decided to go into public service….

Pitt was elected to Parliament at the age of 21….in 1782 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Conservative Party…. After the defeat in the House of Lords of the East India Bill, King George III dismissed the then coalition government and asked Pitt to form a new government…. William Pitt the Younger served as Prime Minister until 1801….and then again from 1804 until his death in January 1806…. He held office throughout the period of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was fundamental in shaping British politics….