Tag: #OnThisDay

Henry Wood was born #OnThisDay in 1869

image credit: By Cyrus Cuneo (1879–1916) (Illustrated London News, 8 February 1908, p. 204) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Sir Henry Joseph Wood (3 March 1869 – 19 August 1944) was an English conductor best known for his association with London’s annual series of promenade concerts known as The Proms. In 1893 a new concert hall opened in London. The hall could seat over two thousand people and the sound quality was the best…… Continue reading Henry Wood was born #OnThisDay in 1869

Sweets came off ration #OnThisDay in 1953

image credit: By The National Archives UK (Your Ration Book Uploaded by oaktree_b) [No restrictions or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Sweets were rationed during World War II but finally de-rationed on this day in 1953. Sweets were first de-rationed in April 1949 but demand far outstripped supply and, after four months, they were put back on ration. Sweets and chocolate rationing started on 26 July 1942. https://youtu.be/1DiLqF1Q1LA The amount of sugar which you were allowed…… Continue reading Sweets came off ration #OnThisDay in 1953

Publication Day in 1925 for The Great Gatsby

imaBy Musée Annam [Public domain or CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commonsge credit:

First published by Scribner’s in April 1925, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald received mixed reviews and sold poorly; in its first year, the book sold only 20,000 copies. Fitzgerald died in 1940, believing himself to be a failure and his work forgotten. However, the novel experienced a revival during World War II, and…… Continue reading Publication Day in 1925 for The Great Gatsby

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova born #OnThisDay in 1937

image credit: RIA Novosti archive, image #612748 / Alexander Mokletsov / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired Russian cosmonaut, engineer, and politician. She is the first woman to have flown in space, having been selected from more than 400 applicants and five finalists to pilot Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. Before her recruitment as a cosmonaut, Tereshkova was a textile-factory assembly worker and an amateur…… Continue reading Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova born #OnThisDay in 1937

Edward Lear died #OnThisDay in 1888

image credit: See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, Edward Lear died on 29th January 1888. Edward Lear is probably now best known for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limericks. There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said, ‘It is just as I feared! Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks…… Continue reading Edward Lear died #OnThisDay in 1888

Amy Johnson died #OnThisDay in 1941

image credit: By British Government employee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Aged only twenty seven years, Amy Johnson became a celebrity after her exciting solo flight to Australia in 1930. When Amy landed at Port Darwin she was described as looking sunburnt and tired but smiling. Wearing khaki shorts and a green sun helmet she was soon flying on to Sidney. From Sidney, Amy flew to…… Continue reading Amy Johnson died #OnThisDay in 1941