British History

On this day in history….26th August 1906

On this day in history : 26th August 1906 – The birth of English tennis player Bunny Austin – the last Briton to reach the final of the men’s singles at Wimbledon until Andy Murray….

Bunny Austin – Image credit (cropped) : Willem van de Poll – Dutch National Archives CC BY-SA 3.0

Henry Wilfred Austin got his nickname ‘Bunny’ from a popular Daily Mirror cartoon strip of the time Pip, Squeak and Wilfred….the latter being a rabbit…. It was a nickname that he carried throughout his whole life, as it had been his school mates who had given it to him….

It was Bunny’s father who pushed his son into a sporting career…. He was brought up in South Norwood, London in a large, comfortable family home which he shared with his parents and sister…. His was a middle class childhood, with servants and a public school education…. He joined the Norhurst Tennis Club at the age of six….

In 1921 Bunny won the under 16s singles in the Public School Boys’ Tournament at Queens…. In 1922 he won the junior championships in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles and then in 1923 the singles and doubles at the tournament…. Success continued to be his; in 1926, his first year at Wimbledon, he made it all the way to the men’s doubles semi-finals….

By the end of 1929 Bunny had ranked ninth in the world and for the next three years he was seeded sixth at Wimbledon…. It was also in 1929 that he met English actress Phyllis Konstantinos, whilst onboard a transatlantic cruise liner travelling to America for the US Open…. They were to become a celebrity golden couple and were married in 1931, going on to have two children…. Theirs was a life of glamour, with friends such as Daphne Du Maurier, Ronald Colman, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin…. Bunny would often play tennis with Chaplin – he was even known to play the odd set or two with the Queen of Thailand….

Bunny Austin and his wife, 1936 – Image credit : Willem van de Poll – Dutch National Archives CC BY-SA 3.0

In 1932 Bunny reached his first Wimbledon singles final…. He was the first Englishman to do so in a decade – but he was to lose to American Ellsworth Vines in three sets…. However, in 1933 he was back and reached the quarter finals…. Then in 1938 he was to meet Donald Budge, one of the best world players of the era, in the Wimbledon final…. Bunny could only manage to win four games…. 1939 was to be his last Wimbledon – he was seeded No.1 but was beaten by American Elwood Cooke in straight sets….

The British Public had to wait until 2012 before another Briton reached the Wimbledon men’s singles final again…. Andy Murray went on to win the title for the first time in 2013….the first British player since Fred Perry in 1936….

Bunny Austin died in 2000, on his 94th birthday….

Hungary-England Davis Cup match 1929 – Bunny Austin far left – Public domain

On this day in history….25th August 1804

On this day in history : 25th August 1804 – Alicia Thornton rides her horse, Vinigrillo, over a four mile race at York Racecourse to become the first known female jockey….

Even though she rode side-saddle Alicia was an accomplished horsewoman; she was known for her skills and frequently rode with the hounds….

Not a great deal is known about her early life; her maiden name was Maynel and she was the wife (or possibly mistress) of Colonel Thomas Thornton – who was keen on horses, sport and gambling….

Alicia challenged her brother-in-law, Captain Flint, to a horse race…. Thornton, sensing a good bit of sport, offered her his racehorse, Vinigrillo and placed a bet on her to win….

The race took place at what is now York racecourse, in front of a crowd of what is believed to be around 100,000 – and was for a prize of 500 guineas…. Although Alicia’s horse led for the first three miles she eventually lost the race to Flint…. However, she won the hearts of the crowd for her pluck, attire and demeanour…. Thornton earned himself a horse whipping from Flint as he refused to honour the bet….

The following year, at the same York meeting, Alicia rode against Frank Buckle, known to British horse racing followers of the time as ‘The Governor’…. He was legendary; this time Alicia won….

In 1806 she ran off with a soldier….

British History

On this day in history….24th August 1814

On this day in history : 24th August 1814 – British troops capture Washington DC and set fire to the White House, in retaliation for the American attack on York, Ontario, Canada in June 1813….

The Burning of Washington – an illustration from the 1816 book ‘The History of England, from the Earliest Periods, Vol.1’ – by Paul M Rapin de Thoyras – Public domain

The British had taken their time in planning their revenge attack on America….whose troops during the Canadian attack had burned down government buildings…. Washington was chosen as it was easily accessible from the sea, had a weak defence and was symbolic in its importance….

An initial battle took place between the British and American troops outside of Washington – known as the Battle of Bladensburg, the Americans were easily defeated – and the British advanced on Washington….

President James Madison had been aware of the impending British invasion…. He had attended the Battle of Bladensburg, leaving his wife, Dolley, to pack up important papers and items of value at the White House, which was then known as the Presidential Mansion…. She had been warned to be ready to flee at a moments notice…. By the time the British arrived the President and his wife were on their way to Maryland….

The British troops began setting fire to buildings in the capital, including the Library of Congress and other local landmarks…. On arriving at the White House the British soldiers had the cheek of sitting down to finish off a meal that had been abandoned in the occupants’ haste to get away – (waste not, want not!)…. Once the British had satisfied their appetites they set the building ablaze…. But the one thing they had not accounted for was the weather….

The following day a tremendous thunderstorm hit the area…. The accompanying winds were so strong that roofs were torn from houses….and so torrential was the rain that it doused out the fires that had been raging in the city…. The storm lasted for a good two hours and at least two British soldiers were killed….

The British withdrew from Washington that very night…. The Americans were able to return to their capital to see what damage and destruction had been done….

The White House and the city were rebuilt – with Thomas Jefferson donating his collection of books to restock the Library of Congress….

British History

On this day in history….23rd August 1305

On this day in history : 23rd August 1305 – Sir William Wallace, Scottish patriot, is hanged, drawn, beheaded and quartered in London….

After the English had been defeated at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland and remained so until his defeat in the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298….

In 1305 he was captured and handed over to King Edward I and brought to trial on the charge of treason – to which he responded “I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject”….

Wallace’s trial in Westminster Hall – by Daniel Maclise – Public domain

Following the trial Wallace was taken to the Tower of London…. Here he was stripped naked and then dragged through the streets of the city behind a horse….to the Elms at Smithfield…. He was hanged, drawn and quartered…. He was also emasculated and eviscerated – his private parts and bowels burned before him…. Wallace was then beheaded and his body cut into four parts…. His head, dipped in tar to preserve it, was displayed on a pike on top of London Bridge…. His limbs were sent to Perth, Stirling, Newcastle and Berwick to be displayed separately….

British History

On this day in history….22nd August 1925

On this day in history : 22nd August 1925 – The birth of actress Honor Blackman – probably best known for her role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and as Cathy Gale in The Avengers….

Honor in January 2000 – Image credit : Rob Young via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Honor was born in Plaistow, East London and was one of the four children of Frederick and Edith Blackman…. Her father, a civil service statistician, believed his strong Cockney accent had held him back in his career and he was determined to give his children the best opportunities in life that he could…. For her 15th birthday Honor was given elocution lessons by her parents…. This might not sound the most exciting of presents for a 15 year old girl – but it was Honor’s choice – she was offered either the lessons or a bicycle…. She chose wisely….

Following her lessons Honor was admitted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama…. She graduated and landed the role of understudy in the West End play The Guinea Pig – and then in 1947 she appeared at the Apollo Theatre in The Blind Goddess….

Her film debut came in 1947 – a non-speaking part in Fame is the Spur…. She then went on to roles in films such as A Night to Remember, 1958, The Square Peg, 1958 and Jason and the Argonauts, 1963….

Honor as the goddess Hera in ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ – Public domain

Honor joined The Avengers in the first episode of the second series in 1962…. She played the part of Dr Cathy Gale alongside Patrick Macnee as John Steel…. Her character is remembered for her quick wit, her skill in judo and her love of tight fitting leather clothing….

Honor’s success in the series led her to be cast as Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger in 1964, opposite Sean Connery…. She was one of the oldest Bond girls to be cast, five years older than Connery – but according to public polls was perhaps the most popular….

Honor’s theatre career continued and she became a familiar face on television in the 1990s sitcom The Upper Hand – which ran for 96 episodes….

In 1999 she portrayed Joy Adamson in the film To Walk with Lions and in 2001 appeared in Bridget Jones’ Diary’…. In her late eighties she toured in her one woman show Honor Blackman as Herself….

Honor married twice; firstly to Bill Sankey in 1948 only to divorce in 1956…. Then in 1961 he married British actor Maurice Kaufmann and they adopted two children…. This marriage ended in 1975 and Honor did not remarry again, saying she preferred to be single…. She died at her home in Lewes, East Sussex on the 5th of April 2020, aged 94….