This day in.....

[The Bishop]

No relation, I presume?

[Deleted]

May 18, 2019 7:58:16 GMT finsobruce said:

1909

A delegation of about forty councillors from Manchester and Salford were entertained in Dussledorf by the Burgomeister Herr Marx. Marx declared that the visit was the most recent in a series of endeavours designed to "destroy misunderstandings which had clouded relations between the two great nations" and that the motto for the future would be "Honest Competition in Honest Friendship". Wonder how that turned out...

At lunch he proposed the health of King Edward VII.

Ths was only a few months after the "Daily Telegraph affair" in which Emperor Wilhelm II was reported as making wild statements about British-German relations. It had been presented as an interview, which in fact it was not, though Wilhelm had approved the text, which was based on earlier conversations (from 1907). The impact within Germany was one of horror and outrage, there were open demands for Wilhelm's abdication, and his influence over policy never recovered. Although German public opinion tended to favour an assertive foreign policy, there was very little appetite for war, and Herr Marx was doubtless speaking quite sincerely. 

[finsobruce]

May 18, 2019 9:09:15 GMT The Bishop said:

No relation, I presume?

I presume not, but I don't know.

I'm guessing it might be Wilheilm Marx who gave his name to the Wilheilm Marx Haus in Dusseldorf one of Europe's first skyscrapers.

[finsobruce]

May 18, 2019 9:15:06 GMT @goodoldcause2 said:

May 18, 2019 7:58:16 GMT finsobruce said:

1909

A delegation of about forty councillors from Manchester and Salford were entertained in Dussledorf by the Burgomeister Herr Marx. Marx declared that the visit was the most recent in a series of endeavours designed to "destroy misunderstandings which had clouded relations between the two great nations" and that the motto for the future would be "Honest Competition in Honest Friendship". Wonder how that turned out...

At lunch he proposed the health of King Edward VII.

Ths was only a few months after the "Daily Telegraph affair" in which Emperor Wilhelm II was reported as making wild statements about British-German relations. It had been presented as an interview, which in fact it was not, though Wilhelm had approved the text, which was based on earlier conversations (from 1907). The impact within Germany was one of horror and outrage, there were open demands for Wilhelm's abdication, and his influence over policy never recovered. Although German public opinion tended to favour an assertive foreign policy, there was very little appetite for war, and Herr Marx was doubtless speaking quite sincerely. 

The councilors also went to Berlin I discovered. Not sure if there were other stops on the tour. I'll investigate.

[neilm]

May 8, 2019 11:34:34 GMT finsobruce said:

1742

There was a by-election in Peterborough! Uncontested, as "Armistead Parker was unanimously elected....in the room of Earl Fitzwilliams".

The Right Honourable Marquis of Tweeddale, having been elected one of the sixteen peers of Scotland, in the room of the Earl of Hoptoun, took his seat in the House of Peers".

What does 'in the room of' mean? The physical location the election took place?

[Davıd Boothroyd]

May 20, 2019 8:41:59 GMT neilm said:

May 8, 2019 11:34:34 GMT finsobruce said:

1742

There was a by-election in Peterborough! Uncontested, as "Armistead Parker was unanimously elected....in the room of Earl Fitzwilliams".

The Right Honourable Marquis of Tweeddale, having been elected one of the sixteen peers of Scotland, in the room of the Earl of Hoptoun, took his seat in the House of Peers".

What does 'in the room of' mean? The physical location the election took place?

It means 'replacing'. In the room left by Earl Fitzwilliams stopping being a Scottish Representative Peer.

[finsobruce]

1960

In Boston (Lincs) Cllr Mrs Doris Hopkins decided to refuse nomination as Mayor due to an incident with a half pound of butter.

She said: "It happened at a shop over a week ago... I do not blame anyone and am not prepared to reveal the details". She made a statement to a private meeting of the council and on returning said "Everyone was very nice and said it was the sort of thing that could happen to any housewife".

Cllr Hopkins threatened legal action against anyone making defamatory statements against her.

[The Bishop]

I presume this wasn't a Last Tango In Paris type scenario?

[finsobruce]

May 21, 2019 10:27:38 GMT The Bishop said:

I presume this wasn't a Last Tango In Paris type scenario?

I am shocked to learn that your eminence is familiar with such cinematic naughtiness. The nuncio will be in touch.

[finsobruce]

1868

Anthony Trollope was in America negotiating a new postal treaty with the US authorities - presumably on a freelance basis as he had resigned from the Post Office when passed over for promotion. The Dover Express (probably a syndicated columnist) commented that "The non delivery of letters here despatched from America is becoming serious".

This was the year of course, when Trollope stood as a Liberal candidate in Beverley at the General Election (held on December 7th).An experience which he described as the "most wretched fortnight of my manhood". Corruption was rife and Beverley disenfranchised soon afterwards.

[carlton43]

May 22, 2019 20:06:28 GMT finsobruce said:

May 21, 2019 10:27:38 GMT The Bishop said:

I presume this wasn't a Last Tango In Paris type scenario?

I am shocked to learn that your eminence is familiar with such cinematic naughtiness. The nuncio will be in touch.

Piu burro per favore!

[finsobruce]

1978

Police were called to the home of Mr John Little chairman of the Coventry Federation of Ratepayers and Residents Associations.

Mr Little said that Cllr Bryan Collins had turned up outside his house in his car accompanied by his wife and children. Mr Little's group had recently called for an investigation of the expenses of four local councillors including Mr Collins who had claimed the highest amount (£3,400). He said that Councillor Collins had asked him to step out onto the pavement to settle the matter. At this point his wife called the police and Cllr Collins drove off.

Mrs Theresa Collins claimed that Mr Little had asked her husband to come to his house to discuss the matter and was rude to them. Mr Little declined to take the matter further and Coventry Police refused to comment.

[neilm]

May 23, 2019 7:36:13 GMT finsobruce said:

1978

Police were called to the home of Mr John Little chairman of the Coventry Federation of Ratepayers and Residents Associations.

Mr Little said that Cllr Bryan Collins had turned up outside his house in his car accompanied by his wife and children. Mr Little's group had recently called for an investigation of the expenses of four local councillors including Mr Collins who had claimed the highest amount (£3,400). He said that Councillor Collins had asked him to step out onto the pavement to settle the matter. At this point his wife called the police and Cllr Collins drove off.

Mrs Theresa Collins claimed that Mr Little had asked her husband to come to his house to discuss the matter and was rude to them. Mr Little declined to take the matter further and Coventry Police refused to comment.

Does john07 know either of these people?

[finsobruce]

May 23, 2019 20:30:16 GMT neilm said:

May 23, 2019 7:36:13 GMT finsobruce said:

1978

Police were called to the home of Mr John Little chairman of the Coventry Federation of Ratepayers and Residents Associations.

Mr Little said that Cllr Bryan Collins had turned up outside his house in his car accompanied by his wife and children. Mr Little's group had recently called for an investigation of the expenses of four local councillors including Mr Collins who had claimed the highest amount (£3,400). He said that Councillor Collins had asked him to step out onto the pavement to settle the matter. At this point his wife called the police and Cllr Collins drove off.

Mrs Theresa Collins claimed that Mr Little had asked her husband to come to his house to discuss the matter and was rude to them. Mr Little declined to take the matter further and Coventry Police refused to comment.

Does john07 know either of these people?

A question I asked myself when I was writing the piece.

[Pete Whitehead]

May 23, 2019 21:09:53 GMT finsobruce said:

May 23, 2019 20:30:16 GMT neilm said:

Does john07 know either of these people?

A question I asked myself when I was writing the piece.

What was your answer?

[finsobruce]

May 23, 2019 21:12:08 GMT Pete Whitehead said:

May 23, 2019 21:09:53 GMT finsobruce said:

A question I asked myself when I was writing the piece.

What was your answer?

Might be best to ask John!

[john07]

May 23, 2019 20:30:16 GMT neilm said:

May 23, 2019 7:36:13 GMT finsobruce said:

1978

Police were called to the home of Mr John Little chairman of the Coventry Federation of Ratepayers and Residents Associations.

Mr Little said that Cllr Bryan Collins had turned up outside his house in his car accompanied by his wife and children. Mr Little's group had recently called for an investigation of the expenses of four local councillors including Mr Collins who had claimed the highest amount (£3,400). He said that Councillor Collins had asked him to step out onto the pavement to settle the matter. At this point his wife called the police and Cllr Collins drove off.

Mrs Theresa Collins claimed that Mr Little had asked her husband to come to his house to discuss the matter and was rude to them. Mr Little declined to take the matter further and Coventry Police refused to comment.

Does john07 know either of these people?

I certainly knew Bryan Collins. He threatened to flatten me on one occasion. Threats of violence seemed entirely in character.

He certainly had a 'drink' problem. I suspected that he was on the payroll for the tobacco lobby as he was always up for blocking any attempt to limit smoking.

[finsobruce]

May 23, 2019 21:47:08 GMT john07 said:

May 23, 2019 20:30:16 GMT neilm said:

Does john07 know either of these people?

I certainly knew Bryan Collins. He threatened to flatten me on one occasion. Threats of violence seemed entirely in character.

He certainly had a 'drink' problem. I suspected that he was on the payroll for the tobacco lobby as he was always up for blocking any attempt to limit smoking.

Thanks for that John.  In return for the information you can choose the next year for the thread!

[john07]

May 23, 2019 21:49:09 GMT finsobruce said:

May 23, 2019 21:47:08 GMT john07 said:

I certainly knew Bryan Collins. He threatened to flatten me on one occasion. Threats of violence seemed entirely in character.

He certainly had a 'drink' problem. I suspected that he was on the payroll for the tobacco lobby as he was always up for blocking any attempt to limit smoking.

Thanks for that John.  In return for the information you can choose the next year for the thread!

Can anyone come up with something from 1946?

[finsobruce]

1946

So, at the request of john07 something from the year 1946.

The Mayor Cllr J C Lee Gordon re-opened Coventry council's Foleshill Public baths which had been destroyed by bombing in 1940. Cllr H H K Winslow, Chair of the Baths and Parks committee said that the council had been working since 1943 to get permission from the Ministry of Health to re-open the baths. Materials, Labour and filtration equipment had been difficult to obtain, but hard work by councillors and officials had paid off. Alderman Cramb suggested they be called Phoenix baths as they had risen from the ashes, and hoped other facilities would soon be re-opened. The City Engineers dept had done the work and the floral displays provided by the parks department. It was very much a Corporation effort.

A display was given by the Birmingham Ladies swimming Association, including Miss Muriel Ames Coventry holder of the Warwickshire backstroke championship. Coventry schoolchildren performed swimming exercises and the ceremony was finished by a water polo match between Coventry and Leamington Spa. Then the baths were opened for public use.