This Week In London’s History
- Monday – 22nd August 1964: Iconic football programme Match of the Day is screened for the first time, covering a 3-2 defeat of Arsenal by Liverpool. It is aired at 6:30pm on BBC Two, and thus generally only available to London viewers – as the channel would not become available outside the capital until some time later.
- Tuesday – 23rd August 1940: What is described as the “first all-night bombing raid on London” during the Second World War takes place, paving the way for tit-for-tat retaliation and The Blitz.
- Wednesday – 24th August 1931: At Westminster, Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald submits the formal resignation of the Labour government, which would be replaced by the National Government.
- Thursday – 25th August 1537: Henry VII grants a royal charter to the Fraternity of St. George, also known as the 'Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handgonnes'. It would eventually be named the Honourable Artillery Company, initially based in Spitalfields before moving to its current site in Bunhill Fields.
- Friday – 26th August 1985: Controversial bare-footed athlete Zola Budd breaks the world 5000m record in Crystal Palace.
Random London Quote Of The Week
London doesn't love the latent or the lurking, has neither time, nor taste, nor sense for anything less discernible than the red flag in front of the steam-roller. It wants cash over the counter and letters ten feet high.
Henry James
Picture by amandabhslater, used under a Creative Commons licence.