On 30 March 2002 at 3.15 pm The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep aged 101 at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, with The Queen at her bedside. Ten days of national mourning were observed, including a lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, and a ceremonial funeral at Westminster Abbey at 11.30 on Tuesday 9 April. The ashes of her daughter, Princess Margaret, who had died seven weeks previously, were interred at the same time.
On 30 March 1979 Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Airey Neave was killed by a car bomb as he left the House of Commons car park
In London you may not fly a kite or play games ‘to the annoyance of others’ under regulations enacted under The 1839 Metropolitan Police Act
In Embankment Gardens the York Water Gate was once a river entrance to the Duke of Buckingham’s house when the Thames was wider
On 30 March 1927 Loughton’s Everard Richard Calthrop the inventor of the parachute died, he also patented an ejector seat for aircraft
In the Palace of Westminster cloakroom, there are pink ribbons on all the hangers for MPs to hang up their swords, as they are not permitted to enter the Chamber wearing them
On 30 March 1967 the photo session for the cover of The Beatles Sgt Pepper’s album took place at Chelsea Manor studios
The Castle in Farringdon is the only British pub with its own pawnbroker’s licence (granted on the spot by George IV so he could get cash)
On 12 March 1900 Arsenal recorded their biggest home league (Division 2) win beating Loughborough Town 12-0
The shortest distance between two Underground stations is Piccadilly’s 260 metres between Leicester Square and Covent Garden taking 20 seconds
On 17 March 1845 19th century British inventor and businessman, Stephen Perry, patented the rubber band in London (Patient No. 13880 (1845))
On 30 March 1853 Vincent Van Gogh was born. In 1873 he lived at 87 Hackford Rd, Stockwell and worked in his brother’s Southampton Street gallery
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British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilots were initially denied parachutes in World War I due to concerns that they might diminish a pilot’s fighting spirit and encourage them to abandon their aircraft, even if it was still repairable.
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I remember reading that the parachute was offered to the Royal Flying Corps during WW1, to save the lives of pilots in damaged aircraft. It was rejected by the War Office on the grounds that it might induce cowardice in the pilots, and make them bale out when they could still fight on. Blood on their hands, undoubtedly. So many young pilots died for nothing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s just terrible!
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