Historical Fun

Memorial Day Facts Yep, it's Memorial Day in America, and that means a three day holiday weekend. But, as well as a nice long break from work, picnics, parades, family barbeques, it's also a day of remembrance for those who have fallen in battle defending their country against those who meant it harm. The tradition of commemorating those who died in service can be traced back hundreds, if not thousands of years. The Greek and Romans had their own celebrations, as did the Egyptians.   It wasn't until the US Civil War that the practice became widespread in American.   Watch the video tribute   Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. After the Civil War, General John A. Logan called for a holiday to commemorate fallen soldiers, and suggested May 30th.   It wasn't until 1971 that Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May each year and became a proper holiday.   You're actually legally obligated to obse...

What Happened to the Winners of Britain's Got Talent?   Britain's Got Talent first hit the television screes back in 2007 and has just completed its tenth year. Who were the winners and what did they do after they won?   2007 Winner: Paul Potts Paul Potts, a former mobile phone salesman, sang Nessun Dorma and shocked the judges with his performance. Since he won the show, Paul has performed at over 800 concerts.   "One Chance", his debut album went double platinum and topped the charts in nine countries. His next three albums did rather moderately in comparison.   In 2013, James Corden starred as Paul Potts in a movie about the life of Paul Potts.   2008 Winner: George Sampson The 14-year-old George Sampson won BGT in 2008, having failed to get through to the finals the previous year.   After his winning performance dancing to a remix of Singing In The Rain, he became the face of NatWest i...

Historical Fun Fact - May 23rd   On this day in history in 1701, Captain William Kidd was executed for Piracy on the High Seas.   Captain William Kidd was a famous 17th century pirate.   That's Captain William Kidd. Not to be confused with Billy The Kid, who was a cowboy, not a pirate. Although Captain William Kidd's level of piracy is very much disputed.   Kidd was employed by the Governor of the Island of Nevis to sail his ship, Blessed William, with a small fleet of likeminded Captains, to protect the English settlement against the French.   They were given permission and the authority to pillage the French ships of whatever plunder they wanted.   Kidd was later tasked with hunting enemy pirates and capturing or destroying their ships.   So, far from being a pirate himself, he was actually hunting them down. He did this for a number of years and had a reputation for being a cruel Captain who didn't think twice about kill...

HISTORY FACTS FOR MAY 15th   On this day in history in 392, the Roman Emperor Valentinian II was assassinated  at his house in Vienne. The 17-year-old was found hanging from the end of a rope attached to a beam.   On this day in history in 1252, Pope Innocent IV issued his papal bull ad extirpanda (some people have weird names for their fun sticks) which authorized the torture of heretics in the Inquisition. Because it's not about love thy neighbour, it's about torturing those who don't share the same views.   On this day in history in 1536, Anne-My-Head-Feels-Loose-Boleyn's trial began in London . She was charged with treason, adultery, incest, and revealing spoilers about Game of Thrones before her husband, King Henry VIII, had seen the latest episode.   OFF WITH HER HEAD.   On this day in history in 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots , married her 3rd husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, just three months after her s...

On this day in history in 1953 Winston Churchill is knighted.   Humorous History News Report from April 24th, 1953 And, as we watch, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is walking slowly down the aisle of the throne room at Buckingham Palace.   To be honest, the geezer doesn't look well. But what should we expect, he's getting on a bit. And fighting the Second World War almost single-handedly can't have been easy.   He is passing the half-way point now. He looks unsteady on his feet. He isn't walking in a straight line. He's leaning to the right, and his legs are following. And straight into the chairs. Oopsie daisy.   There's a small commotion. But we're all British, so we pretend like nothing has happened.   Churchill is  back on his feet, and continues towards the throne where the young, new Queen Elizabeth II is waiting to receive him.   After an hour, he makes it, and kneels at the queen's feet in preparation to ...

21 Fun Facts About The London Marathon 1. April 24th, 2016, sees the 36th annual London Marathon take place.   2. The London Marathon is the Guinness World Record's largest annual fundraising event in the world.   3. The London Marathon has raised over half a billion pounds for charity since the first race back on the 29th March 1981.   4. The initial race had 7,741 entrants , and 6,225 completed the course.   5. In comparison, last year's event (2015) had over 38,000 participants , including the professional runners, the fun runners, a few Members of Parliament, plus Formula One racing driver Jenson Button. And a dinosaur.   6. Last year 37,740 crossed the finish line.   7. This year (2016), 247,069 people sent in applications to enter the London Marathon.   8. However, not everyone who enters gets to start the race.   The organisers draw a ballot at random to decide who...

Unbelievable Facts About St George You Might Not Know St George is the Patron Saint of England and today is St George's Day.   1.   The national day of England is celebrated every year on the 23rd April -- the anniversary of St George's death in 303.   2. George became England's patron saint in 1348 when Edward III adopted him as the principal Patron of the new order of chivalry, the Knights of the Garter.   3. Edward the Confessor, former King of England , was the Patron Saint of England before St George.   He pointed the gun at me and told me to confess my sins. "Yes, I like One Direction."   Edward spat in my face. "You make me sick."   4. Although St George is the patron saint of England, he isn't English.   5. He also never stepped foot on English soil.   6. George was a Roman born in AD270ish in Cappadocia, now Eastern Turkey.   Bonus Round: Wh...