1357
A young George Stephenson takes responsibility for the team spirit at Black Callerton mine.
In 1801, the job of brakesman at Black Callerton pit was given to a young George Stephenson. It was a very responsible job, as it involved lowering and raising miners in the deep and dangerous mineshaft, but Stephenson felt he had a wider duty to the whole mine.
Picture: © Sarah Charlesworth, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted June 7 2016
1358
Howard gave his life to saving the ‘great gifts and strange inconsistencies’ of Britain’s unique democracy.
Leslie Howard Steiner (1893-1943) was born in London, to an English mother and a Jewish father who had emigrated from Hungary. Howard became the quintessential British matinee-idol, languid, slightly detached, but with a sense of something more beneath: a curious case of art imitating life.
Picture: Photo by RKO Radio Pictures, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted June 6 2016
1359
In a Christmas broadcast in 1940, actor Leslie Howard explained why British sovereignty was worth fighting for.
In a radio broadcast just before Christmas in 1940, British actor Leslie Howard spoke movingly of the remarkable and indeed unique character of his country, built on individual liberty and democratic government, and contrasted it with the ‘new European order’.
Picture: Photo by RKO Radio Pictures, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted June 6 2016
1360
Thetis snubs Eris, goddess of Discord, and sets off a series of events leading to the Trojan War.
The god Ares took the form of a bull and won a contest of strength against a majestic beast belonging to Paris, son of the King of Troy. The mortal’s grace in defeat impressed Zeus, but Paris (and many others) came to regret his new-found reputation on Olympus for sporting behaviour.
Picture: © tangopaso, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.
Posted June 5 2016
1361
Florence used her logical mind and society connections to save thousands of lives in the Crimean War.
By the time she was twenty-one, well-to-do Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was sure that God wished her to exchange European society life for nursing. Her mother begged her to think again: her intellectual gifts and social position promised so much more. And in a way she was right.
Picture: © Allie Caulfield, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted June 3 2016
1362
The Virgin Mary and her son team up to get the best out of some careless monks.
In this ‘good cop, bad cop’ story from the early 14th century, Christ and his mother team up to use a bit of psychology to get through to some beloved but sloppy monks.
Picture: Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece.. Source.
Posted June 3 2016