The Blantyre Mine Disaster - 22 October 1877

Scotland’s worst ever mining disaster took place 147 years ago at the Blantyre Colliery, South Lanarkshire on 22 October 1877. 

207 miners (possibly more) lost their lives and the disaster left 92 widows and 250 fatherless children. It devastated the local community and remains as Scotland’s worst ever mining accident.

The colliery at Blantyre was located close to the town of the same name, approx. 8 miles south-east from Glasgow and was operated by William Dixon Ltd.

The Blantyre Colliery was made up from 5 shafts. Pits nos. 2 and 3 were the sites of an explosion which was caused by firedamp (methane gas) that ignited, causing a devastating blast. It is highly likely the flame came from a faulty Davy lamp being used. 

Inadequate ventilation and a distinct lack of safety measures being utilised by the Dixon company had obviously contributed to the build up of the firedamp.

The majority of the victims were young men and boys, some being as young as 11 years old with the majority living locally to the mine. Many were trapped deep underground, but because of the scale of the explosion and the resulting fires, sadly none of those trapped were able to be rescued.

The tragedy led to calls for better regulation and an improvement of safety standards in mines throughout the UK. Sadly change happened very slowly with many more tragedies having to take place before significant improvement was seen (indeed there were 2 more incidents occurring at the Blantyre Colliery soon after, including a lift crash in 1878 and a further explosion a year later).

What happened at Blantyre gives a poignant reminder of the conditions faced by miners during the Industrial Revolution era and the crucial role they played in pushing for greater safety in what was a very dangerous occupation.

In August 1957 the Dixon’s Colliery was closed down as the shaft was damaged beyond repair. The remaining miners at the time were given just a week’s notice to terminate their employment. The site of the mine now lies underneath the East Kilbride expressway.

#TattyHistory

Chaplin’s Leading Lady - Edna Purviance

Silent movie star Edna Purviance was born on this day (October 21st), 129 years ago.

Edna Purviance was an American actress best known for being Charlie Chaplin's leading lady in many of his early silent films. 

Although she was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada, we British can claim a slice of her as her mother was an English immigrant (it does have to be considered that Edna was possibly more qualified to play for England than many of our cricketers are!).

Growing up it is believed she was a talented pianist, but she was spotted while working as a stenographer and recommended to Charlie Chaplin as a leading lady for his upcoming movie. She had no previous acting experience and Chaplin initially considered her too serious for a comedic role, but soon changed his mind.

Chaplin and Edna
(The Idle Class 1921)

Indeed, they were actually romantically involved during 1915-17, which came to an abrupt ending when Edna read a newspaper report that Chaplin had married 16 year old Mildred Harris.

Purviance worked extensively with Chaplin during the 1910s and 1920s, appearing in over 30 of his films.

After their collaboration came to a close, she continued to make a few more movies before she retired from acting in 1927. She and Chaplin remained as close friends for the rest of her life.

For more than 30 years after retiring she lived just outside of Hollywood, marrying an airline pilot. She continued to receive a small monthly salary from Chaplin’s film company until her marriage, which then continued upon the death of her husband in 1945.

She passed away from throat cancer in January 1958, leaving a legacy of being one of the prominent early silent movie stars and integral in the rise of Charlie Chaplin’s career. 

“How could I forget Edna,” Chaplin said in an interview after her death. “She was with me when it all began.”

Olga Edna Purviance - 21 October 1895 to 13 January 1958 (age 62)

Howard Unruh - the Walk of Death Murderer

October 19th sees the 15th anniversary of the death of Howard Barton Unruh (January 21, 1921 to October 19, 2009).

Unruh was an American mass murderer who shot and killed 13 people and left numerous others wounded, during a 20 minute walk through his neighbourhood in Camden, New Jersey, USA on September 6, 1949. The incident became known as the Walk of Death and remains the deadliest mass shooting in New Jersey history.

The massacre aftermath

He saw active service in the US Army across Europe in the latter part of WWII and was remembered by his section chief as a first class soldier who never drank, swore or chased women, and spent much of his free time reading the Bible and writing letters to his mother.

He was honourably discharged having been greatly decorated, however when returning home to the USA, his father and brother both indicated his wartime experiences had left him moody, nervous and detached.

At 9.20am on September 6, 1949, armed with a Luger P08 pistol. he left his apartment and set off down River Road in Camden where he started shooting at people, seemingly at random. It is believed that he thought many of his neighbours were mocking him which consequently fuelled a greater sense of paranoia and rage.

Trenton Psychiatric Hospital

Unruh was declared criminally insane after the incident and spent the rest of his life at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital where he died at the age of 88 after 60+ years of confinement.

#TattyHistory

The Fall of Liz Truss - Resigned as UK PM (20th October 2022)

Liz Truss is a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a brief period in 2022. 

Member of Parliament for south-west Norfolk, she was a member of the Conservative Party and held various cabinet positions before becoming Prime Minister, including Secretary of State for International Trade and Foreign Secretary. 

She was the fifteenth and final PM to serve under Elizabeth II who died just two days after appointing Truss.

Her tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant economic challenges and political turmoil, leading to her resignation after just 49 days in office, making her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history. 

Truss's gung-ho economic policies, particularly her proposed tax cuts and energy plans, sparked controversy and criticism during her time in office.

The 2024 General Election resulted in Truss losing her seat when defending a majority of over 26,000.

International Gin and Tonic Day - October 19th

International Gin and Tonic Day is celebrated on October 19th each year! 

A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over a large amount of ice. The ratio of gin to tonic varies according to taste, strength of the gin, other drink mixers being added, etc., with most recipes calling for a ratio between 1:1 and 1:3.

International Gin and Tonic day is a day dedicated to enjoying this classic cocktail, which is known for its refreshing taste and versatility. Do you prefer it with a twist of lime, a splash of tonic, or a garnish of herbs and spices? 

It's a great opportunity to explore different variations. Are you planning to celebrate?

The Battle of Assundun - October 18th, 1016

The Battle of Assundun (sometimes spelt Assandune) 1016, was a significant conflict during the struggle for power following the death of King Æthelred the Unready and the subsequent Viking invasions of England. 

Ashingdon hilltop
(possible location of the battle)

There are differences in opinion as to the location of the battle. Assundun is thought to be either close to Saffron Walden in northern Essex or at Ashingdon near Rochford, further south-east of the county.

The battle occurred between the forces of King Edmund Ironside, the son of Æthelred, and the Danish king Cnut (or Canute), who was vying for control of England.

After Æthelred died, Cnut invaded England with the intention of taking the throne, but Edmund Ironside emerged as the leader of a resistance with the battle of Assundun becoming crucial in the conflict.

It was a fierce conflict with the better trained and organised Danish army being triumphant. The struggle for power continued however Edmund was eventually killed in late 1016 allowing Cnut to become ruler for the best part of 20 years, uniting the kingdom into stable rule and concluding the Viking invasion.

Johnny Haynes - The Maestro of Craven Cottage

October 17th, 1934 is the anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest footballers England has ever produced.

Nicknamed the Maestro, Johnny Haynes was a celebrated English footballer, known for his exceptional skills as a midfielder and his time at Fulham FC, where he became a club legend. 

He was born in North-West London’s Kentish Town, his father was a post office engineer and he was a supporter of his local side Arsenal as a boy.

He played for Fulham from 1952 to 1965 and earned 56 caps for the England national team. Johnny was renowned for his vision, passing ability, and leadership on the pitch, often being regarded as one of the best players of his era. 

My own father was a passionate Fulham supporter and even living through the likes of seeing Bobby Moore and George Best putting on the white shirt of the “Cottagers”, he maintained the opinion that Haynes was the greatest player to ever grace the Craven Cottage turf.

After retiring from professional football, Johnny remained involved in the sport in various capacities, but moved to Scotland (the home of his future wife Avril) where they ran a laundry business. He loved a round of golf and watching Heart of Midlothian playing at Tynecastle.

He died the day after his 71st birthday suffering a brain haemorrhage whilst driving and swerving across the road directly crashing into a van. After being kept on a ventilator for 30 hours, it was decided to turn it off on the evening of 18th October 2005.