Uncle Tatty Remembers

Thursday, 6 August 2015

175 years ago: The British Parliament passed the Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act (1840) which outlawed the used of climbing children (anyone under the age of 21) being used to clean chimneys. However the Act was largely ignored for 35 years when legislation was put in place to enforce it (1875).

40 years ago: Oscar winning South African actress Charlize Theron was born on this day in Benoni, RSA. Charlize became a US citizen in 2007, but retains her South African citizenship also. Happy birthday Charlize!

Trent Bridge cricket ground

Today's the Day: Barring rain and no play taking place, sometime during today, the one millionth legal Cricket Test Match delivery in England will be bowled at the England v Australia 4^th match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. As it was, at approx 14.40 hrs, English bowler Ben Stokes bowled the monumental ball to Aussie opening batsman David Warner, who promptly despatched it to the boundary for 4.

A sketch of the execution

125 years ago: In 1890, convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first to be executed by electric chair at Auburn Prison, New York. Kemmler had murdered Matilda "Tillie" Ziegler, his common-law wife,with a hatchet on 29^th March 1889.

"Help" Album cover

50 years ago: The Beatles 5^th studio album “Help” was released on this day in 1965. In later years, John Lennon stated that the album's title track was a sincere cry for help; he regretted changing it from a downbeat, piano-driven ballad to an uptempo pop song, which was done only as a result of commercial pressures.

10 years ago: Robin Cook, British Foreign Secretary (1997-2001) and Labour politician, died in 2005. After leaving school he initially planned to become a Church of Scotland minister, but losing his faith when getting interested in politics, he eventually became an atheist. He remained so for the rest of his life.

Edward John Eyre

200 years ago: British explorer Edward John Eyre was born at Whipsnade in Bedfordshire. In 1839, Eyre set out to explore the interior of Australia with 2 separate expeditions. He became Governor of Jamaica, being best remembered for crushing an uprising by using excessive force (however he was acquitted by a jury).

90 years ago: The Welsh Nationalist political party Plaid Cymru was founded. It now campaigns as a social-democratic party, advocating an independent Wales from the UK, within the European Union.

Frederick Cook

75 years ago: Controversial physician and explorer Frederick A Cook died of a cerebral haemorrhage. He claimed to be the first to reach the North Pole and conquer the summit of Mt McKinley although doubts remain to the authenticity of these claims. After a review of his limited records, it was decreed by the University of Copenhagen that he had not proven his reaching the Pole. His attempt on Mt McKinley in 1906 was considered dubious by other members of the team left lower on the mountain.

750 years ago: The Battle of Evesham took place. Prince Edward (later King Edward I) led his army to victory over the rebellious baronial forces. The barons’ leader, Simon de Montford (6^th Earl of Leicester), was killed along with many of his allies.

100 years ago: Warren Avis, US entrepreneur and the founder of Avis Rent A Car was born was born in Michigan in 1915. When he left the US Air Force at the end of the 2^nd World War, he bought into a Ford dealership and started renting out cars at airports. He sold the company in 1954 for $8 million. He died at the grand age of 91 in 1997.

15 years ago: Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother celebrated her 100^th birthday. When making her traditional appearance outside her home on the morning of her birthday, the Queen's personal postman, Tony Nicholls, made one extra special delivery - a hand-written telegram from Buckingham Palace.

115 years ago: The Firestone Tyre and Rubber company was founded in Akron, Ohio by Harvey Samuel Firestone and soon became a pioneer in the mass production of motor vehicle tyres. Because of Harvey’s friendship with Henry Ford, the company also became the original supplier to Ford Motor Company automobiles. Firestone Tyres was sold to the Japanese Bridgestone Corporation in 1988

Georgy Shonin

80 years ago: Today in 1935, Soviet/Ukrainian cosmonaut Georgy Shonin was born. Considered a hero of the Soviet Union, Georgy commanded the Soyuz 6 space mission which took place just 3 months after the US Apollo 11 moon landing. He and crewman Valeri Kubasov undertook experiments in space welding, testing 3 methods, namely using an electron beam, a low-pressure plasma arc and a consumable electrode. Shonin died of heart failure in 1997.

10 years ago: President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya of Mauritania was overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia (see Today’s the Day – 1^st August)

75 years ago – In 1940, a French court martial sentenced General Charles de Gaulle to death for treason against the Vichy government. At the time de Gaulle was in England, where he remained until 1944.

45 years ago – In 1970, Rubber Bullets were utilised for the first time in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles” They were never considered as a success by the British Army however, because of their tendency to ricochet wildly and injure the unintended, often grievously.

Norman Maclean

25 years ago – In 1990, American writer Norman Maclean died in Chicago aged 87. He was best known for his books A River Runs Through It and Other Stories and Young Men and Fire.

300 years ago: In 1715, in an attempt to strengthen the powers of the civil authorities, the Riot Act came into effect in England. Local authorities were able to declare any group of 12 people or more who were disturbing the peace, to be unlawfully assembled. They were given an hour to disperse or face prosecution.

1950s US TV cigarette advert

50 years ago: In 1965, cigarette advertising was banned on TV in the UK, although loose tobacco and cigar commercials continued until 1991.

10 years ago: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia (1982-2005) died to be succeeded by his brother Crown Prince Abdullah.