On 2 May 1997 at 43 years of age, Tony Blair became the youngest British prime minister since 1812 and moved into Downing Street. By September he attained early personal popularity, receiving a 93 per cent public approval rating, after his public response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. After winning 3 terms he stepped down on 24 June 2007 for Gordon Brown, after his popularity had waned.
On 2 May 1952 the first jet airliner, Britain’s De Havilland Comet I, made its maiden flight from London Airport to Johannesburg
On 2 May 1905 at Old Bailey brothers Albert and Alfred Stratton became the first in Britain convicted of murder based on fingerprint evidence
English Heritage have recorded over 600 garden squares in London, more than 400 are protected by the London Squares Preservation Act of 1931
On 2 May 1975 Footballer David Beckham was born at Whipps Cross Hospital. He lived at 150 Norman Road, Leytonstone as young boy
On 2 May 1536 Mary Queen of Scots was sent to The Tower she was subsequently executed her little dog was later discovered under her skirts
In 1898 the Gramophone Company opened the first British studio on Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, producing some of the world’s earliest recordings
On 2 May 1953 Elizabeth II attended her first Wembley FA Cup Final as Queen. Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3. In February 2010 the boots worn by Stanley Matthews in the match were auctioned for £38,400
On 2 May 1964 West Ham won the FA Cup but as the Hammers celebrated manager Ron Greenwood and the disguised FA Cup headed home on the tube!
Described as ‘gloriously ugly’, with disgusting toilets and limited parking, Thurrock Services was voted the worst motorway stop in Britain
In 1855 Robert Yeates of 233 Hackney Road give us a dedicated tool for opening the tins. Before that the instructions had read: ‘Cut around the top near the outer edge with a chisel and hammer.’
On 2 May 1933 the Inverness Courier reported a London tourist sighting a strange spectacle in Loch Ness. The legend had begun
Trivial Matter: London in 140 characters is taken from the daily Twitter feed @cabbieblog.
A guide to the symbols used here and source material can be found on the Trivial Matter page.
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