On this day........

[booder]

Roy was a complete hero. He died young of lung cancer having never smoked a cigarette in his life. So unfair.

That trumpet didn't half get on my tits though.

[RED-DOG]

Roy was a complete hero. He died young of lung cancer having never smoked a cigarette in his life. So unfair.

That trumpet didn't half get on my tits though.

I have a rag-man's trumpet I could service you with.

[TightEnd]

Vietnam marks 70 years since declaring independence from France

More than 30,000 people, from soldiers to schoolgirls, marched in a lavish parade in Vietnam's capital Hanoi

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[TightEnd]

The Great Fire of London started on this day in 1666. This map shows the damage to the city

[TightEnd]

John Cleese taking a break on the set of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, today in 1974.

i think this might be one of my favourite photos

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

1957

As a nation, we were shocked to the core by the publication of the Wolfenden Report.

The law, at the time, saw homosexual activity as illegal. Many went to prison for it.

To the evident surprise of most, Wolfenden suggested that homosexual activity between consenting adults should be allowed.

That was just 58 years ago. 




 

[tikay]

1964

The magnificent Forth Road Bridge was opened.

We take bridges for granted, but we'd be lost without them. Most are wonderfully engineered, too - I don't recall any incidents where British bridges have collapsed whilst in use.  We have thousands of them, crossed by millions of people every day, in cars, trains & on foot.

Huge excitement in Scotland when it was opened, crowds flocked to see the masterpiece.

It's almost a cottage industry now, people go up to Queensferry just to sit & view the bridges, so little tea houses & cafes line the estuary.  

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[taximan007]

1961

[RED-DOG]

1961

Happy birthday.

[tikay]

Lovely photo Taxi, belated Happy Birthday.

[tikay]

1952

Tragedy struck at the Farnborough Air Show, 29 killed when a de Havilland DH.110 crashed into the watching crowd. It was to be 63 years before another UK Airshow tragedy - 2 weeks ago in Shoreham.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_Farnborough_Airshow_DH.110_crash

Click to see full-size image.

 

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

1970

Terrorism in the Middle East found a new weapon - hijacking aircraft. In the "Dawson's Field" affair, the PLFP hijacked 5 airliners, took hostages, & after releasing the hostages, blew up the aircraft, which belonged to El Al, TWA, Pan Am, Swissair & BOAC. Suddenly, air transport changed, & much improved security had to be employed.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

1970

Suddenly, terrorism was everywhere, & even the Olympic Games were marred, with 9 Israeli athletes taken hostage & killed. We watched it all unfold, one of the first "breaking news" stories shown live on TV.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

1997


Enormous crowds came out to pay respect to Lady Diana, probably more people watched this than any modern day funeral in Great Britain.

In the days before social-media, we were less cynical, & Great Britain & to some degree the world, especially the USA, really did mourn her death.

Go on to any internet forum these days, & you'd think the Royalty were unpopular, but of course they are not, the majority of the Great British public love them.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[booder]

Born 72 years ago today.

Click to see full-size image.