Monday Miscellanea

Dave Haste
By Dave Haste Last edited 174 months ago
Monday Miscellanea

Waterloo Bridge stairs

This Week In London’s History

  • Monday - 7th September 1978: Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is stabbed in the thigh with an umbrella whilst walking across Waterloo Bridge. He soon develops a fever, is hospitalised, and dies three days later. A post-mortem reveals a metal pellet containing the poison ricin embedded in his thigh.
  • Tuesday - 8th September 1915: During the first bombing raid on London of the First World War, a Zeppelin drops incendiary bombs near Fenchurch Street. Wednesday - 9th September 1960: Hugh John Mungo Grant is born in Hammersmith. He would become a well-recognised film actor and producer. Thursday - 10th September 1973: IRA bombs explode at King’s Cross and Euston mainline stations, injuring 13 people. Witnesses describe a teenager planting the first bomb by throwing it into the crowded ticket hall at King’s Cross. Friday - 11th September 1980: Armed robbers steal almost £1.5m worth of diamonds from a jewellery shop in Knightsbridge. The haul includes a famous stone known as the Marlborough Diamond, worth £400,000. The robbers are arrested 11 hours later.

    Random London Quote Of The Week

    I once reminded him that when Dr Adam Smith was expatiating on the beauty of Glasgow he had cut him short by saying, "Pray, Sir, have you ever seen Brentford?" and I took the liberty to add, "My dear Sir, surely that was shocking." "Why then Sir," he replied, "YOU have never seen Brentford."

    James Boswell, Life of Johnson

    Picture courtesy of windscreen fly via the Londonist Flickr pool.

    Last Updated 07 September 2009