The Ufton Nervet Rail Crash

The Ufton Nervet rail crash occurred 20 years ago today on November 6, 2004, near the village of Ufton Nervet in Berkshire, England. 

The Level Crossing pictured in 2012

A high-speed First Great Western train from London Paddington to Plymouth collided with a stationary car deliberately left on a level crossing by its driver. 

The crash tragically resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to 71 others. This incident remains one of the most devastating rail accidents in the UK in recent decades.

At around 18:12 GMT at a level crossing near Ufton Nervet, a First Great Western HST (High-Speed Train) carrying over 180 passengers struck a stationary car that had been driven onto the crossing and abandoned there by its driver.

Seven people died, including the car’s driver, the train driver, and five passengers, and there were 71 reported injuries, ranging from minor to severe.

The now-disused level crossing and replacement road bridge pictured in 2022

The car on the track had been deliberately abandoned by its driver in what was later determined to be a suicide attempt. 

The high-speed impact led to the train derailing and overturning, with multiple carriages coming off the track and causing extensive damage.

The Oldest Heavyweight Champion

Today, 30 years ago in 1994, American boxer George Foreman (aged 45) became the world’s oldest heavyweight champion after knocking out Michael Moorer (aged 26) in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

He also broke the record for the greatest age difference between champion and challenger.

Southpaw Moorer had won the WBO title beating Bert Cooper and went on to unify the titles beating Evander Holyfield. Foreman had been on the comeback trail for several years after coming out of a 10-year retirement.

George Foreman

Moorer controlled the pace from the beginning and built up a substantial lead. By the start of the 10th round, trainer Angelo Dundee told Foreman that the only way he could win would be by KO and that the time had come. 

Moorer fended Foreman off for most of the round until a combination caught him flush on the jaw. Foreman was declared the winner by KO and became the champion.

Foreman later stated that his strategy was to let Moorer fight his usual fight and wait for him to slip up, while Moorer insisted that Foreman just got “lucky”.

Foreman v Moorer Highlights

Death of Henri Matisse - 3rd November 1954

Today is the 75th anniversary of the death of French artist Henri Matisse, considered by many as the most important French painter of the 20th century.

Born in December 1869, Matisse is known primarily for his bold use of colour and is one of the founders of fauvism, which characterised strong colour and fierce brushwork (fauves in French translates as wild beasts).

One of his iconic works from this period is Woman with a Hat (1905), which shocked audiences with its use of expressive and vivid colour (see left).

Matisse’s work greatly influenced modern art and continues to inspire modern-day artists in diverse fields. His collaboration with Pablo Picasso and their influence on each other's art became a defining relationship in modern art.

His pieces are celebrated for their playfulness, simplicity, and emotional depth.

Further reading: Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954) Essay - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Birthday of the UK Newspaper Crossword - 2nd November 1924

The first crossword puzzle to appear in a British Newspaper appeared on this day 100 years ago in the Sunday Express.

This marked the beginning of a crossword craze in the UK, inspired by the earlier popularity of crosswords in the United States. However, British crosswords soon evolved into their own style, with a preference for "cryptic" clues, which require wordplay and lateral thinking.

This was nine years after the world’s first modern crossword puzzle was published in the FUN section of New York World in December 1913. British journalist Arthur Wynne (left) who created it, originally called the puzzle a “Word Cross,” featuring a diamond-shaped grid with simple clues. A topographical error later changed its name to a “Cross-Word.”

Wild-West Lawman Bill Tilghman

Legendary figure of the American Wild West, Bill Tilghman died 100 years ago on 1st November 1924.

Known as a lawman, scout, and soldier, Tilghman is best remembered as a frontier marshall in Oklahoma, where he was a deputy U.S. Marshal and sheriff. His reputation for a sense of justice and restraint in an era defined by gross violence was greatly respected, especially his preference for arrest over gunfighting.

He was born in 1854 in Fort Dodge, Iowa and worked as a scout in the 1870s. His expert knowledge of the plains was invaluable to both law enforcement and military operations and his sharp shooting and tracking capability earned respect amongst his peers.

Bat Masterson

Tilghman initially became a lawman in 1878 when he signed on as a deputy in Dodge City under Bat Masterson, though it is claimed he also served under Sheriff Charlie Bassett of Ford County, Kansas two years before (there is no documentary proof however).

He soon became well-known for his pursuit and capture of outlaws, apprehending many notorious characters such as Wild Bunch leader Bill Doolin in 1896, without the need for deadly force. This was possibly the high point of a distinguished career. He gained a reputation as one of the most honourable figures of the old-west era.

In a scene from his movie

Tilghman died at the age of 70, a hundred years ago, while he was serving as the Police chief of Cromwell, Oklahoma. He was shot several times and killed by Wiley Lynn, a corrupt prohibition agent. Lynn was actually acquitted at trial for the murder, claiming he shot Tilghman in self-defence.

Tilghman never quite reached the legendary status of lawmen Wyatt Earp or Bat Masterson but still remains a well-known figure of the American old-west. His memoirs were made into a 1915 film that he directed and starred in himself

The Rumble in the Jungle - 30th October 1974

October 30th will be the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle.

Held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), it featured the reigning heavyweight champion of the world George Foreman up against the challenge of the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Foreman came into the contest undefeated with a reputation as a big hitter with overwhelming punching power. He was considered unbeatable, especially after his decisive victories against Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, both of which could boast previous victories over Ali.

Ali however, was renowned for his charisma, quick wit and his tremendous boxing skill. He was very much the underdog but was determined to reclaim what he considered his title.

When the fight got going, Ali leaned against the ropes, absorbing Foreman’s punches, waiting for the champion to wear himself out. This allowed “the greatest” to conserve energy and await the later rounds.

In the jungle heat, by the 8th round with Foreman exhausted, Ali unleashed a flurry of punches enabling him to knock Foreman out and take back the title.

The Rumble in the Jungle was broadcast to a global audience of a billion viewers (estimated) and is widely considered to be one of the greatest sporting events in history.

The Execution of Sir Walter Raleigh

English explorer, soldier, writer, and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was executed on 29th October 1618 under charges of treason.

Raleigh, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, is best remembered for his expeditions to the Americas and for playing a leading part in the English colonisation of North America.

However after Elizabeth died in 1603, James I ascended the throne. Raleigh’s ambitious nature and Protestant stance were viewed as threats to James and he quickly fell out of favour with the court.

Indeed he was accused of participating in the "Main Plot" to depose King James and was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he spent nearly 13 years. 

Tower of London

The Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy in July 1603 by English courtiers to remove King James I from the English throne and replace him with his cousin, Lady Arbella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Lord Cobham and funded by the Spanish government.

However, in 1616/17 Raleigh was pardoned by the King and released from prison to lead a final expedition to Venezuela to search for El Dorado - the fabled city of gold.

The mission failed and in the process, Raleigh’s men clashed with Spanish forces which violated a peace treaty with Spain. Upon his return to England, Spain demanded action against him and James felt pressured to appease them.

Raleigh was consequently re-arrested and ordered to be executed. He was beheaded at Westminster on 29th October 1618, meeting his death with great composure, addressing the crowd and showing defiance, as befits the great man.

Sir Walter Raleigh's tomb is at the Church of St Margaret at Westminster Abbey. In 2002 Sir Walter Raleigh was featured in the BBC’s poll of 100 Greatest Britons.