Britain Today

March 29th, 1981 The first London Marathon took place. Organised by John Disley and former Olympic steeplechaser Chris Brasher, they were inspired to start the British event after taking part in the New York City Marathon. (picture: Getty Images) In 1981, 6,255 runners finished the race, with American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen tying…

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February 9th, 1961 The Beatles first played the Cavern Club in Liverpool. They were paid a fee of £5 for the lunchtime session.

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Marking 50 years since the creations of Gerry Anderson first appeared on our screens, Royal Mail has launched a set of commemorative stamps. They feature six of his most popular shows: Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and, of course, Thunderbirds. And the Post Office are offering free desktop wallpapers for your computer,…

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January 17th, 1983 Britain’s first breakfast news programme went on the air at 6.30am. Presented by Frank Bough and Selina Scott, Breakfast Time included regular slots from astrologer Russell Grant and exercise classes with Diana Moran, the ‘Green Goddess’.

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December 9th, 1960 The first episode of Coronation Street was aired. It opened with the words “Now the next thing you’ve got to do is get a sign writer in,” spoken to corner-shop owner Elsie Lappin as she handed the shop over to Florrie Lindley. In the fifty years since, the street has seen 39…

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In our December issue, we remember the Manchester Blitz, 70 years on. Buildings burning in Manchester after an air raid on the night of December 23rd, 1940.(picture: Imperial War Museum North)   The Christmas Blitz Incendiaries and HE bombs cascaded down on the suburb of Hulme, where my parents lived. They spent the first night…

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November 1st, 1956 Premium Bonds went on sale for the first time. Launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer Harold MacMillan at a ceremony in Trafalgar Square, the aim of the scheme was to control inflation and encourage saving. Around £5 million worth of Bonds was sold on the first day, with the first winner drawn…

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October 14th, 1969The fifty pence coin came into circulation. Replacing the ten shilling note, it was the third decimal coin introduced to Britain before decimalisation in February, 1971. The new coin found criticism as it was deemed too similar to the ten pence coin or half crown.

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Find out how Britain looks today with the Mass Observation Day Diaries from Wednesday, May 12th, 2010. Earlier this year, the Mass Observation Archive repeated the 1937 call for people from all parts of the UK to record, in a diary, everything that they did that day. May 12th, 1937 was the day of George…

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Is this the strangest items of 1940s’ memorabilia to be sold at auction? Winston Churchill’s false teeth have just sold for a huge £15,200! The wartime Prime Minister’s gnashers had to be specially constructed to disguise his natural lisp. So complicated and delicate were the resulting false teeth that spares were made – and his…

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