On this day in history : 23rd November 1963 – The very first episode of the science fiction series Dr. Who is shown by the BBC….
‘An Unearthly Child’ was shown in four weekly parts and introduced William Hartnell as the first Doctor….with Carole Ann Ford as his granddaughter and companion….
William Hartnell as the first Doctor – BBC – Fair use
The first episode centres on school teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton (played by Susan Foreman – with Jacqueline Hall and William Russell) discovering the Doctor and his TARDIS…. The rest of the story takes place in the Stone Age and follows the plot of warring tribes who have lost the knowledge of how to make fire….
On this day in history : 22nd November 1990 – Margaret Thatcher announces that she is standing down as the UK’s Prime Minister – after Michael Heseltine launched a challenge to her leadership….
Margaret Hilda Roberts was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1925….
Margaret Hilda Roberts, aged 12 or 13 in 1938 – Attributed to Mr. Lee – Public domain
She married businessman Denis Thatcher in 1959 and they became the parents of twins…. During the 1960s Mrs Thatcher progressed quickly through the ranks of the Conservative Party and it was in 1967 that she joined the Shadow Cabinet – sitting in opposition to Harold Wilson’s Labour Government….
A Conservative victory in the 1970 election saw Margaret Thatcher become Secretary of State for Education and Science in Edward Heath’s government…. Labour came back into power in 1974 and Mrs Thatcher acted as joint Shadow Chancellor…. She replaced Edward Heath as leader of the Conservatives in February 1975…. It wasn’t long before she became known as the ‘Iron Lady’ – a nickname she herself embraced and given to her by a Soviet journalist in 1976….
Mrs Thatcher, late 1975 – Marion S. Trikosko – Public domain
In March 1979 Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan was defeated by a vote of no confidence and on May the 3rd a general election took place – which was won by the Conservatives, with a 44 seat majority in Parliament…. The following day Margaret Thatcher was sworn in – making her Britain’s first woman Prime Minister….
Margaret and Denis Thatcher in Northern Ireland, late 1982 – OGL 3
With President Reagan at the Oval Office, 1988 – Unknown photographer – Public domain
With President George H.W. Bush, in Aspen, Colorado, 1990 – Taken by the Presidential Photographer – Public domain
In 1987 Mrs Thatcher was elected for a third term but soon began to alienate some members of her own party – particularly over her poll-tax policies and opposition to integrating Britain further into the EU…. The cracks began to appear and in 1990 she failed to win a majority in the Conservative Party’s annual vote for selection of a leader and so she withdrew her nomination…. Six days later John Major, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, succeeded her as leader of the Conservative Party and subsequently became Prime Minister….
Margaret Thatcher’s three consecutive terms in office made her the longest serving Prime Minister since 1827…. After retiring from the House of Commons she was given a life Peerage as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, Lincolnshire – which entitled her to sit in The House of Lords…. She died on the 8th of April 2013 following a stroke….
The Right Honourable Baroness Thatcher – The Margaret Thatcher Foundation CC BY-SA 3.0
On this day in history : 21st November 1953 – The Natural History Museum has to face the task of admitting the ‘Piltdown Man’ was a hoax….
Piltdown Man skull reconstruction – J.Arthur Thomson, The Outline of Science, 1922 – Public domain
1913 reconstruction of Eoanthropus dawson – Public domain
Ever since Darwin had published his theory ‘The Origin of Species’ in 1859, the search had been on to find the missing link connecting ape to human…. Neanderthal remains had already been found in France and Germany….but there were those in Britain who wanted to prove we too played a part in the evolution of man…. So, when lawyer and amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson discovered fossil remains in a gravel pit at Barkham Manor, Piltdown, Sussex – it seemed their dreams had come true….
Charles Dawson Public domain – US
Dawson ‘discovered’ the remains between 1910 and 1912; as he did so the fragments of fossil skull, teeth and an unusual ape jaw bone were all sent to the Natural History Museum…. From the fragments a skull was constructed, which seemed to provide the missing link between ape and human….and on the 18th of December 1912 it was presented to the World by the Geological Society in London…. It was officially named Eoanthropus Dawson – or, ‘Dawson’s dawn man’ – after the man who had ‘found’ the fossils…. Thought to be nearly a million years old, Britain could now have claim to the oldest fossil human remains ever found…. Of course, there were experts overseas who were sceptical, as things didn’t quite ‘fit in’ – but as the remains had the endorsement of the Natural History Museum they were generally accepted….
Painting by John Cooke, 1915 – The Piltdown Skull being examined…. Charles Dawson second from right, back row – John Cooke – Public domain
It was in the late 1940s that new technology for fossil dating arrived…. In 1949, Dr. Kenneth Oakley, of the Natural History Museum tested the Piltdown fossils – and it was found they were not nearly as ancient as thought….more like 500 years old…. Further investigation discovered the ‘human’ teeth were in fact the filed down teeth of an orangutan…. The teeth had been an important part of the original conclusion – as they were midway in size between ape and human it was thought they were evidence of evolution…. It was also discovered that the skull fragments, although unusually thick boned, were from a far more recent time….
Replica of Piltdown Man skull : Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net) CC BY-SA 4.0
Other finds from the site – stone tools, bones and teeth of extinct British animals, such as rhinoceros, elephant and beaver – were proven genuine…. But all – along with the skull fragments and jaw – had been boiled and then stained to match the environment in which they had been ‘found’….
So, why the hoax? Various reasons have been put forward…. Dawson died in 1916 – no more finds were made at Piltdown after his death…. One theory is that he did it to gain entrance to the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge….
On this day in history : 20th November 1947 – Princess Elizabeth marries Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten….
Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten on their wedding day – Fair use
The wedding took place at 10.30am in Westminster Abbey and was officiated by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury and Cyril Garbett, Archbishop of York…. Princess Elizabeth was the tenth member of the Royal Family to marry in Westminster Abbey – 2,000 guests attended the ceremony and it was broadcast by the BBC to 200 million around the World….
Princess Elizabeth had eight bridesmaids (including her sister HRH Princess Margaret) and two pageboys…. Philip, who had been made Duke of Edinburgh on the morning of the wedding, had his first cousin, David Mountbatten, the Marquess of Milford Haven, as his best man…. The wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold….
The marriage certificate, signed by Philip, Princess Elizabeth, King George VI and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent – General Register Office and participants at the wedding – Public domain
Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell and the Princess had to use clothing coupons in order to buy it, as rationing was still in place…. Hundreds of well-wishers sent in coupons to the Palace to help – but although the kind gesture was much appreciated all had to be returned – as it would have been illegal to use them….
The dress itself was made from duchess satin; it had a heart shaped neckline, fitted bodice, with a low v-pointed waist – the panelled skirt fell to the floor…. The dress was completed by a 15-foot silk tulle train…. Upon her feet Princess Elizabeth wore ivory duchesse satin high heeled shoes trimmed with silver and pearl buckles….and were designed by Edward Rayne…. Her jewellery consisted of two pearl necklaces; one of which had belonged to the wife of King George II and the other said to have belonged to Anne, the last Stuart Queen…. They were given to Princess Elizabeth by her father as a wedding gift….
The bridal bouquet was of white orchids, with a sprig of myrtle, a tradition started by Queen Victoria…. Afterwards the bouquet was laid upon the tomb of the Unknown Warrior – another Royal tradition….
After the ceremony a wedding breakfast was held in the Ball-Supper Room at Buckingham Palace…. One of the highlights was the wedding cake, made by McVitie and Price – with its four tiers and standing nine feet high….
On this day in history : 19th November 1850 – Alfred, Lord Tennyson becomes Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland….
Alfred, Lord Tennyson – George Frederic Watts – Public domain
Tennyson succeeded William Wordsworth after his death and he remained Poet Laureate until his own death in 1892 – the longest tenure ever in the role…. He was the appointed Poet Laureate for much of the Victorian era….and indeed was a great comfort to Queen Victoria after the death of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861…. She was quoted as saying “Next to the Bible ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ is my comfort”…. The work by Tennyson she referred to being one of his most popular – a tribute to a dear departed friend….
Tennyson still remains one of our most influential poets today…. Many of us will not realise it but our English language is peppered with quotes and sayings from his poetry….
‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all’, comes from In Memoriam A.H.H…. Other sayings that slip into our speech, either as they were originally penned by Tennyson or adapted to suit modern day life: ‘Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers’, from Locksley Hall ~ ‘Who are wise in love, love most, say least’, from Merlin and Vivienne, a passionate love story ~ ‘A lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies’ ~ ‘Nor is it wiser to weep a true occasion lost, but trim our souls, and let old bygones be’ ~ ‘If I had a flower for every time I thought of you….I could walk through my garden forever’…. (This particular one has featured in many a wedding speech)….
Tennyson with his family, wife Emily and sons Hallam and Lionel – Photograph : Oscar Gustave Rejlander – Public domain
One of Tennyson’s most quoted and inspirational works has to be ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade‘…. It was used as an influence in the film ‘Saving Private Ryan‘ – and the Iron Maiden song ‘The Trooper‘ was inspired by it…. The poem pays tribute to the brave British cavalrymen who lost their lives at the disastrous, ill-advised charge that took place at the Battle of Balaclava on the 25th of October 1854, during the Crimean War…. The poem from which we get the well known saying ‘Their’s is not to reason why, their’s but to do or die’….
Painting of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ – Richard Caton Woodville, Jr – Public domain
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Half a league, half a league
Half a league onward,
All in the Valley of Death
– Rode the six hundred
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said,
Into the Valley of Death
– Rode the six hundred.
” Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the World wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they broke back, but not
Not the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the World wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
~Lord, Alfred Tennyson
Alfred, Lord Tennyson – Julia Margaret Cameron – Public domain
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