Which rank in the Royal Navy is equivalent to that of brigadier in the Army?

BBC Academy - Journalism - Military ranks Subject guides / Military Military ranks The ranks of the UK armed services can be confusing. The chart below - edited by Dr Duncan Anderson, head of war studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - sets out the equivalent ranks in the three UK services and the US Army. Guidance is provided by Sub Lt Max Cosby, Royal Navy. This page was last updated on 19/05/2015   Many journalists struggle to know their wing commander from their lieutenant commander, let alone where a US brigadier general comes in the pecking order. Strictly speaking, when the three UK armed forces are talked about in the same breath they should be listed in order of the seniority of the service: Royal Navy , British Army , Royal Air Force . Confusingly, the Royal Marines are part of the Royal Navy but use the rank structure of the British Army. To distinguish Royal Marines from their Army colleagues, their name should be followed by the words ‘Royal Marines’ or ‘RM’ - for example, ‘Lt Jack Smith Royal Marines’ or ‘Sgt Tom Brown RM’. To distinguish naval ranks from army ranks, such as captain and lieutenant, all Royal Navy officer ranks below admiral (midshipman all the way up to commodore) are followed by the words ‘Royal Navy’ or ‘RN’ - for example, ‘Lt Jack Smith Royal Navy’ or ‘Lt Jack Smith RN’. Officers The term ‘officer’ refers to someone with a commission. Warrant officers do not hold one. The same applies to Royal Navy chief petty officers and petty officers. And remember: the word ‘lieutenant’ should be pronounced ‘lef-tenant’ rather than the US ‘loo-tenant’.  Lining up equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force with their counterparts in the United States Army is not an exact science, so the chart below is intended as a rough guide only:


In the 'Noggin the Nog' children's stories and cartoons what is the name of Noggin's wicked uncle?

Reviews of The Sagas of Noggin the Nog! « Noggin the Nog Blog Reviews of The Sagas of Noggin the Nog! The Sagas of Noggin the Nog. The Independent Review: The Sagas of Noggin the Nog, Assembly, George Square Gardens. Daily 12.50 (not Mondays) The Nogs are a charmingly mild-mannered bunch of Vikings. They sound a bit like Terry Jones, they look a bit like him too. Except for Noggin. Noggin the Nog, their young leader, is handsome in a Viking sort of way. From my seat in the audience I was almost picked to marry him. But Noggin decided on the Princess of the Nooks instead. They bonded over cocoa and hot buttered toast. Buttered toast is very important to the Nogs. There’s no threat so desperate, be it storm-lashed seas or marauding dragons, that they can’t stop to make toast round the sine qua non of Viking icoNOGraphy: a glowing camp fire. The first ever stage production of Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s much loved television series retains the homespun, low-tech aesthetic of the original without looking in any way amateurish. While much of the low-key humour derives from the sort of knowledge of the series which belongs to the older members of the audience, there’s still plenty of fun for the younger ones. It’s a close call as to who enjoys it more, the children or their grandparents. An expertly acted, beautifully realised stage play with the warm charm of a bedtime story. Review by Miranda Kiek. Edinburgh Review The Sagas of Noggin the Nog August 8th 2014 ★★★★★ Grizzled, worried and utterly charming, Noggin the Nog’s tea-loving viking hoard – of four – is well-cast in this suitably delightful adaptation of Oliver Postgate’s original 1959 children’s TV cartoon. Here, in a pair of tales, Noggin journeys to the land of the midnight sun when his father dies – to find a wife before uncle Nogbad the Bad can usurp the throne. Then, to the land of hot water where the ice dragon is frightening the little people. Director John Wright and costume designer Meg Kennedy bring just the right amount of dishevelled roughness to their production values, allowing the company to liberate their audience’s imaginations when they bring out puppets – both small and big – to carry the tales on. In their principal roles, Clive Holland is a hilarious Queen Grunhilde the Lazy One, while fresh-faced Max Mackintosh’s Noggin is bright and friendly, beside providing much of the live music. Anthony Gleave oozes parsimony as Nogbad the Bad, with a cloak which lifts back to reveal a murder of crows. And Nicholas Collett gives talking green bird Graculus a gracious charm. Mixing techniques and moving the action between performers and puppets, this is a hugely skilful yet deceptively simple production, which engages with all ages. By: Thom Dibdin ★★★★ Joyful hobnobbing with Noggin the Nog Judging by the age of all but one of the performers in this show, it seems a fairly safe bet that they have their own relationship with Noggin the Nog.Which is perhaps why they treat Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin’s 1960s TV series – first aired on the BBC in 1959 – with such unerring respect. The original is never far away, with black and white images of the programme shown at optimum times on the backscreen. But for the most part, it’s down to this talented group of performers to bring the animated characters to life. Again, due to their age, the cast of actors truly know their craft. Whether they’re narrating, using puppetry, dramatic tension or (as is the case most of the time) comic characterisation, it’s all done with flair and attention to detail. All the key personnel have been lovingly re-created, from the eponymous King of the Norsemen to his mother Grunhilda, Graculus the green bird, Groliffe the dragon and, of course, Noggin’s arch enemy, Nogbad the Bad. The latter gives the show a lovely panto feel as we boo the baddy we love to hate each time he enters the stage. Two stories are played out – the first depicting how Noggin became king after the death of his father, and the rapid search for a queen to stop Nogbad taking over the throne. The second sees


Which South African golf player is known as 'The Big Easy'?

All-Time Greatest Golfers From South Africa 3. Ernie Els Els followed in Gary Player's peripatetic footsteps by traveling the globe to pursue his golf career. For most of his pro career, Els has played pretty much everywhere: America and Africa and Australia and Asia and Europe. And he's won everywhere. Els has two U.S. Open titles and two Open Championship crowns; through July 2012, he had 19 USPGA Tour titles and 27 wins on the European Tour, plus numerous other wins on the South African, Asian and Japan tours. More » Photo © Rich Hodge; used with permission 4. Retief Goosen The Goose's first win in the United States was the 2001 U.S. Open . Three years later, he added another U.S. Open. Goosen also has wins on the Sunshine Tour, the Asian Tour and the European Tour (more than a dozen through 2010), to go along with his seven official PGA Tour victories (through 2010). 5. David Frost Frost is another of the great putters in golf history, and he's the only South African other than Player, Locke and Els to have double-digit victories on the USPGA Tour. Frost won 10 times on the PGA Tour. Frost also won on the Sunshine Tour, in Europe and in Japan. 6. Rory Sabbatini It's a tough call putting Sabbatini ahead of major winner Charl Schwartzel, but Sabbatini is the older, more-established player, who has a longer, strong body of work behind him. Unlike the other players on this list, Sabbatini's full-time career has been spent almost entirely on the USPGA. He has no wins on other any tour. But he does have six wins (as of 2012) on the USPGA. On the world's top tour, he's been a consistent performer and strong presence over an extended period of time. 7. Charl Schwartzel Schwartzel vaulted up this list when he won the 2011 Masters , his first major and his first official USPGA Tour victory. But Schwartzel, 27 years old at the time, was already building a case for himself. He had won five times on the Sunshine Tour, three of those events cosanctioned by the European Tour. And his three other European Tour victories through early 2011 included big wins at the Dunhill Championship and Open de Espana . 8. Louis Oosthuizen At the time Oosthuizen won the 2010 British Open , he had but a handful of other victories on pro tours. Since then, he's added a few more on both the European and Sunshine (South African) tours. 8. Trevor Immelman Injuries have interrupted his career, but he won the 2008 Masters and prior to that had one other win on the PGA Tour, along with victories in Africa and Europe. 10. Harold Henning Henning won twice on the USPGA and once on the European tours, along with more than 15 wins in South Africa. His PGA Tour victories were in 1966 and 1970, and his Euro win was in 1981. Then he had several productive years on the Champions Tour in the late 1980s and early 1990s.


What name is popularly applied to the church tower of St Botolph's in Boston, Lincolnshire?

Boston Stump, St Botolph, Boston, Lincolnshire Historic Churches HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS:   15th century tower Boston Stump towers over the River Witham A jewel among English parish churches, St Botolph's church, popularly known as the Boston Stump, boasts the highest tower (exclusive of spire) of any parish church in the country. Technically, the 'Stump' is the west tower, though often the term is applied to the church as a whole. Botolph was a 7th century Saxon missionary who preached in the area and founded a church here. The town of Boston takes its name from a version of 'Botolph's Town' (or, alternatively, 'Botolph's Stone'). Botolph's church was replaced by a Norman church in stone, and this, in turn, was replaced by the current church building around the year 1309. The main body of the church was complete by 1390, but at that time the church had no tower. The famous tower was built in stages between 1425 and completed by 1510. It rises to a height of 272 feet, and is topped by a superb octagonal lantern, somewhat reminiscent of that at Ely Cathedral. The effect of the tower architecture is breath-taking at first viewing. The large Gothic windows are set so that you can look straight through the tower, giving it an air of spaciousness and delicacy at odds with its great size. During its construction the chancel was enlarged from the planned 3 bays to five bays, an indication of the growing prosperity of Boston during this period of the Middle Ages. The extension also had the effect of stabilizing the nave, which was beginning to lean due to the soft nature of the underlying soil. The exterior of the church remains essentially unchanged from the Reformation period, but the interior has undergone extensive renovations. 13th century knocker The church is particularly well known for its close ties to the Pilgrim Fathers and the foundation of America. In 1612 John Cotton became vicar of St Botolphs. His radical puritan views made him many enemies among the established church hierarchy. Eventually, Cotton found the religious intolerance he faced too much of a burden. He gathered a number of like-minded followers, and sailed to the New World on the Griffin, following the earlier Mayflower and Arbella pilgrims to America. There are two main reminders of Cotton's turbulent time as vicar of Boston; the first is the small chapel named in his honour. This is located in the south west corner of the church. The second reminder is the superb painted pulpit, which was created in the same year that Cotton arrived in Boston. Other reminders of St Botolph's ties with the New World can be found in the stained glass of the north aisle, where one window shows Cotton waving to members of his congregation as they depart on the Arbella for Boston, Massachusetts. Another windows depicts Anne Bradstreet, probably the first poetess in America, who sailed on the Arbella in 1630. 'Old Man of the Fens' painted roof boss One of the oldest relics in the Boston Stump is a 13th century door knocker, which can be found on a small door leading from the tower stairs, at the west end of the nave. This knocker, which is thought to be of French origin, is in the shape of a lion. Its age makes it the oldest object in the church. Other historic objects worthy of note in the church interior include two medieval tombs set into the wall of the south aisle. One is a Knight of the Order of St John in full armour, with his feet resting on a lion. The other is a woman, possibly Dame Margery Tilney, an early benefactor of the church. Both tombs are carved of alabaster. Of note in the choir are the series of beautifully carved misericords, or 'mercy seats'. These special seats allowed members of the choir to rest while standing upright during long services. Since Vicar Cotton was known to have preached for as long as five hours at a stretch, these mercy seats would have provided a very welcome relief for his listeners! One misericord shows a couple cooking dinner over a large cauldron, another shows a knight and dragon, and one humorous one shows a choirmaster beating


In which gland in the human body would you find the small clusters of cells known as the Islets of Langerhans?

You & Your Hormones | Glands | Pancreas You & Your Hormones   Email article to a friend | Last updated: January 21, 2015 The pancreas is an organ that serves two vital purposes: to aid food digestion and to produce hormones that mainly serve to control levels of energy in the blood. Computer artwork showing the location of the pancreas in the body. Where is the pancreas? The pancreas is a large gland that lies alongside the stomach and the small bowel. It is about six inches (approximately 15 cm) long and is divided into the head, body and tail.  What does the pancreas do? The pancreas carries out two important roles: It makes digestive juices, which consist of powerful enzymes. These are released into the small bowel after meals to break down and digest food.   It makes hormones that control blood glucose levels. The pancreas produces hormones in its ‘endocrine’ cells. These cells are gathered in clusters known as islets of Langerhans and monitor what is happening in the blood. They then can release hormones directly into the blood when necessary. In particular, they sense when sugar (glucose) levels in the blood rise, and as soon as this happens the cells produce hormones, particularly insulin . Insulin then helps the body to lower blood glucose levels and ‘store’ the sugar away in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues where it can be used for energy when required. The pancreas is very close to the stomach. As soon as food is eaten, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into the bowel to break food down. As the food is digested, and nutrient levels in the blood rise, the pancreas produces insulin to help the body store the glucose (energy) away. Between meals, the pancreas does not produce insulin and this allows the body to gradually release stores of energy back into the blood as they are needed.  Glucose levels remain very stable in the blood at all times to ensure that the body has a steady supply of energy. This energy is needed for metabolism , exercise and, in particular, to fuel the parts of the brain that ‘run’ on glucose. This makes sure that the body doesn’t starve between meals. What hormones does the pancreas produce? The most important hormone that the pancreas produces is insulin. Insulin is released by the ‘beta cells’ in the islets of Langerhans in response to food. Its role is to lower glucose levels in the bloodstream and promote the storage of glucose in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues. ‘Alpha cells’ in the islets of Langerhans produce another important hormone, glucagon . This has the opposite effect to insulin, by helping release energy into the bloodstream from where it is stored, thus raising blood sugar levels. Therefore, glucagon and insulin work in tandem to control the balance of glucose in the bloodstream.  Other hormones produced by the pancreas include pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin . They are believed to play a part in regulating and fine-tuning the insulin and glucagon-producing cells.       What could go wrong with the pancreas? When the cells that make insulin either stop working altogether, or become inefficient and don’t make enough insulin, this causes diabetes mellitus . Type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells in the islets of Langerhans, meaning that these cells cannot produce insulin.  Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder where the body is no longer able to produce or respond to insulin. Some women also get diabetes temporarily when they are pregnant. This is called gestational diabetes . There are other rarer forms of diabetes, some of which are inherited. In addition, people will get diabetes if their pancreas is taken away surgically or damaged (for instance by severe pancreatitis). Very rarely, patients develop growths (tumours) of the cells that make up the islets of Langerhans. These may be benign tumours, where a particular kind of cell multiplies and makes large quantities of its hormone whether it is needed or not.  For example, if the tumour is made of insulin-producing cells, it is cal


In the books of Michael Bond, Paddington Bear hails from which country?

Books Books Publishers Books Since the publication of his first book "A Bear Called Paddington" in 1958, Michael Bond has written countless further stories about his creation from Peru. In total, more than 150 titles have been published in a variety of formats ranging from the original novels, which appeal to all ages, right through to board books aimed at Paddington’s very youngest fans. Many of the books have been translated and some of the stories have been published in over 40 different languages. Novels The first nine Paddington books to be published were all full length chapter books and each chapter in the books is a story in its own right. The series began with "A Bear Called Paddington" which was published in the UK on 13th October 1958. The fourteenth, and most recent title, 'Love from Paddington', was published in 2014.


The brothers in The Kinks were Ray and ... ?

The Kinks reunion? Not since Ray Davies stamped on bother Dave's birthday cake | Daily Mail Online comments First off, Dave Davies wants to spell something out. There will not be reunion of The Kinks. Not now. Not in the future. Never. ‘I think the music is so beautiful it shouldn’t be tainted,’ he says. ‘It would be a shame. You don’t need to see silly old men in wheelchairs singing You Really Got Me.’ The problem is that there’s another ‘silly old man’ — fellow Kink and Dave’s older brother Ray — who thinks otherwise. Just a few weeks ago, he insisted Dave was ‘coming round’ to the idea of a reunion.  Dave sighs. ‘Ray’s an a***hole,’ he says . Brotherly love: Ray (left) and Dave were often at each other's throats You see, Ray and Dave - the brothers behind one of the biggest rock bands of the Sixties, whose hits include Waterloo Sunset - don’t exactly see eye to eye. In fact, they never have. Their volatile relationship, littered with violent bust-ups, is one of the longest running feuds in rock ’n’ roll. And while this creative tension was responsible for much of The Kinks’ success, it has also driven both brothers half-crazy. Dave sought escape in drugs and more recently in spirituality. And Ray attempted suicide (he was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression). Ray is now 66 and Dave 63, so isn’t it time to, well, let bygones be bygones? It seems not. They communicate - when they have to on business matters - by email and rarely see one another. This week, when asked how his brother was, Ray replied: ‘Don’t know, don’t talk to him. Dave’s a very proud man. I don’t know what his problem is apart from pride.’ For his part, Dave can’t remember if it’s two or three years since he last saw his brother. ‘You’ve heard of vampires,’ says Dave. ‘Well, Ray sucks me dry of ideas, emotions and creativity. It’s toxic for me to be with him. He’s a control freak. ‘I hate to say it, but it’s got worse since he met the Queen [Ray received a CBE in 2004]. In his mind, it’s given him more validity, more “I’m better than you”, more “I’m superior”. With him, it’s “me, me, me”. He thinks he is The Kinks. ‘When I think of all the beautiful music we made, it wouldn’t have been the same if I or Pete Quaife hadn’t been there.’ Quaife is the reason for the brothers’ latest bust-up. Ray wanted Dave to perform at a memorial for The Kinks’ bass guitarist, who died in June, insisting: ‘Even the Mafia get together and make up when someone dies. If only for the funeral.’ But Dave refused. ‘Ray wanting me to come back into the fold is to make him look good. He had an album coming out,’ he says. ‘He’s cancelled the memorial, which again will be my fault. But after Pete died, I had my own private service for him on my website. I asked Elizabeth, Pete’s girlfriend, and his brother David to join me in sending Pete our love and they were happy to. ‘I wrote a few prayers and made my peace with Pete. I wasn’t going to get involved in using Pete as a PR exercise to bolster Ray’s vanity.’  Explosive relationship: The two brothers were at the creative heart of The Kinks, seen here in 1964 He lowers his voice. ‘We must be careful. We might be feeding Ray’s illness by making him think he’s more interesting than he is.’ What illness? ‘He’s a narcissist,’ says Dave. ‘I walked into a bookshop a month ago and picked up Tony Blair’s autobiography. I looked at the picture and felt sick. I thought: ‘‘Hello, he’s got the same thing [as Ray]. It’s some sort of grandiose disorder.’’ ’ Dave, you see, claims to be something of an expert on vanity and self-delusion. He has spent ‘a good part of my adult life studying metaphysics and psychology’. Since when exactly? ‘When I first started to realise what an a****hole Ray was. I thought I’m going to investigate this.’ Oh dear. Ray and Dave come from a close-knit, working-class family. They were the only boys out of eight children and had a contented childhood in North London. Wouldn’t their poor mum be turning in her grave now that her sons are at each other’s throats? ‘I should have listene


Which 1981 film features a suave French villain named Belloq?

Dr. Renï¿½ Belloq (Character) Dr. Renï¿½ Belloq (Character) There may be more photos available for this character. To select more photos to be displayed in this character's gallery, click the Edit Photos link. Overview Biography: Dr. Rene Belloq is a rival archeologist and the arch nemesis to Indiana Jones... See more  » Filmography ... aka "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" - International (English title) (DVD title), South Africa (English title) (DVD box title), USA (reissue title) Additional Details Belloq : The girl was mine! Dietrich : She's of no use to us. Only your mission for the Führer matters. See more  » Update You may correct errors and omissions on this page directly. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.   IMDb Everywhere Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!


"The football chant ""who ate all the pies?"" is usually sung to the tune of which music hall ditty?"

'Who ate pies?' has crusts on it - Manchester Evening News News 'Who ate pies?' has crusts on it THE chant 'Who ate all the pies?' was first sung more than 100 years ago. It has since been aimed at public figures from football legend Paul Gascoigne to comedian Johnny Vegas (pictured). But it was soccer fans on the terraces who came up with the ditty to sing at a 19th century goalkeeper nicknamed 'Fatty' who weighed 24 stone.  Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email THE chant 'Who ate all the pies?' was first sung more than 100 years ago. It has since been aimed at public figures from football legend Paul Gascoigne to comedian Johnny Vegas (pictured). But it was soccer fans on the terraces who came up with the ditty to sing at a 19th century goalkeeper nicknamed 'Fatty' who weighed 24 stone. Managers and players who claim to be `over the moon' are using an expression first coined by Victorian and Edwardian aristocrats. An upper class crowd of chums nicknamed The Souls developed their own language so they could exclude outsiders and took `over the moon' from the nursery rhyme line `the cow jumped over the moon' to mean joyous. Julia Cresswell, author of The Cat's Pyjamas: The Penguin Book of Cliches, delved through documents and records at Oxford University's Bodleian Library to trace the first recorded use for many phrases. The chant 'Who ate all the pies?', to the tune of Knees Up Mother Brown, was first used by Sheffield United fans in 1894, she said. It was directed, playfully, at the team's own goalkeeper William 'Fatty' Foulke, who is in the Guinness Book of Records as the heaviest footballer. Other surprises uncovered by the book include 'mad for it', an expression associated with Manchester and in particular the Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. 1670 It actually dates from documents published in 1670. It appears to have been used in much the same context as today to describe being excited about something. The book's chapter on sport and games also shows 'taking a rain check' goes back to 1884. A 'rain check' was a free ticket to another baseball game for fans who had bought tickets to a game called off because of bad weather. Some catchphrases go even further back. To get out of the `wrong side of the bed' dates back to the Romans who thought the left hand side was unlucky. `Did the earth move for you?' is adapted from a sex scene from Ernest Hemingway's 1940 novel of the Spanish Civil War, For Whom the Bell Tolls. The Cat's Pyjamas: The Penguin Book of Cliches is published on Thursday, November 15. If you miss it you could be as sick as a parrot. Like us on Facebook


Clarissa Churchill was the second wife of which British Prime Minister?

History of Sir Winston Churchill - GOV.UK GOV.UK Sir Winston Churchill Conservative 1951 to 1955, 1940 to 1945 Born 30 November 1874, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire Died 1951 to 1955, 1940 to 1945 Political party Education Act 1944: raised the school leavers age to 14; introduction of the 11+. Interesting facts Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his many published works. More information including archive footage can be found at the Churchill War Rooms. Winston Churchill was an inspirational statesman, writer, orator and leader who led Britain to victory in the Second World War. He served as Conservative Prime Minister twice - from 1940 to 1945 (before being defeated in the 1945 general election by the Labour leader Clement Attlee) and from 1951 to 1955. David Cameron’s Favourite Past Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born on 30 November 1874, in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire and was of rich, aristocratic ancestry. Although achieving poor grades at school, his early fascination with militarism saw him join the Royal Cavalry in 1895. As a soldier and part-time journalist, Churchill travelled widely, including trips to Cuba, Afghanistan, Egypt and South Africa. Churchill was elected as Conservative MP for Oldham in 1900, before defecting to the Liberal Party in 1904 and spending the next decade climbing the ranks of the Liberal government. He was First Lord of the Admiralty (the civil/political head of the Royal Navy) by the time of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, which he created. Heavily criticised for this error, he resigned from this position and travelled to the Western Front to fight himself. The interwar years saw Churchill again ‘cross the floor’ from the Liberals, back to the Conservative Party. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1924, when he controversially opted for Britain to re-join the Gold Standard. Following the Tory electoral defeat in 1929, Churchill lost his seat and spent much of the next 11 years out of office, mainly writing and making speeches. Although he was alone in his firm opposition to Indian Independence, his warnings against the Appeasement of Nazi Germany were proven correct when the Second World War broke out in 1939. Following Neville Chamberlain ’s resignation in 1940, Churchill was chosen to succeed him as Prime Minister of an all-party coalition government. Churchill, who also adopted the self-created position of Minister for Defence, was active both in administrative and diplomatic functions in prosecuting the British war effort. Some of his most memorable speeches were given in this period, and are credited with stimulating British morale during periods of great hardship. However, Labour leader Clement Attlee ’s unexpected General Election victory in 1945 saw Churchill out of office and once again concentrating on public speaking. In his 1946 speech in the USA, the instinctive pro-American famously declared that “an iron curtain has descended across the Continent”, and warned of the continued danger from a powerful Soviet Russia. By his re-election in 1951, Churchill was, in the words of Roy Jenkins, “gloriously unfit for office”. Ageing and increasingly unwell, he often conducted business from his bedside, and while his powerful personality and oratory ability endured, the Prime Minister’s leadership was less decisive than during the war. His second term was most notable for the Conservative Party’s acceptance of Labour’s newly created Welfare State, and Churchill’s effect on domestic policy was limited. His later attempts at decreasing the developing Cold War through personal diplomacy failed to produce significant results, and poor health forced him to resign in 1955, making way for his Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, Anthony Eden . Churchill died in 1965, and was honoured with a state funeral. Written by Ben Draper and Jak Brown, Mile End Group Help us improve GOV.UK


Described by Elizabeth I as 'the fairest and godliest church in England', in which city is the church of St Mary Redcliffe?

St Mary Redcliffe (1) St Mary Redcliffe (1) Help Wanted The area around St. Mary Redcliffe This is a wonderful church in the district of Redcliffe near Bedminster. I may be biased as I was christened here, but it really is a beautiful church. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have referred to it as "The fairest, goodliest and most famous Parish church in England". There was a church on this spot as early as the reign of Henry I (1100 - 1135), we know this as in 1115 he gave it to Salisbury Cathedral, but even before this there is a record of a priest in the Royal Manor of Bedminster. In 1190 Lord Robert of Berkeley gave it a water supply, a very valuable gift in the 12th Century. The water was piped from the Rugewell in Knowle. Ruge is an old name for ridge. The picture below is a plaque made to commemorate the event. Every year the vicar and churchwarden do the "Pipe Walk" from the church to the spring the water rises from, this entitles the church to various endowments. You can see Lord Robert's tomb in the church. Plaque to commemorate the giving of the water supply The wording translates as :- "For the health of the soul of Robert of Berkeley, who gave to God and the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe and its ministers the Rugewell and conduit. AD 1190. Erected 1932." This is not the original site of the conduit. It was originally located on the other side of the church in Pump Lane. The site it now occupies was where the old stocks were situated. The last use of these stocks, or any other, was in 1826, when two men were put in the stocks on Redcliff Hill for two hours for holding a drunken party in a nearby churchyard. There were stocks at St James as late as 1837, although no evidence survives of when they were last used. The church was rebuilt between 1232 and 1246, this church was a lot larger than the earlier one, possibly not a lot smaller than the present one. A little later the church fell into disrepair and rebuilding was started by Simon de Burton, who went on to become mayor of Bristol three times. Progress was slow and by 1337 the work was being supervised by John Bohler, Thomas de Uphill and Geoffrey Fuller. In 1376 William Canynges more or less rebuilt it as the great church that stands today. The tomb of this great benefactor and his wife can be seen in the church. The church was very important in these days as the Merchant Venturers began and ended their voyages by praying at the shrine of Our Lady of Redcliffe, which was in the North Porch. William Canynges went on to become Mayor six times. As the entry for 1376 in Adams's Chronicles of Bristol tells us "This year William Canings builded the body of Redcliff Church from the cross ends downwards." Tomb of Thomas Canynges In the 15th Century the church contained six bells, which ranged in weight from 1300 lbs to 7,024 lbs. The church today boasts 14 bells, the largest now being 5,800 lbs. William Canynges' grandson also named William became Mayor in 1441 and repaired the church. In 1446 there was a great storm and, after being hit by lightning, the spire collapsed onto the nave. The damage was repaired, with no expense spared and with great attention to detail. The spire is a late addition not reaching its present height of 292 feet until 1872. Before then the church was topped by a short turret like affair. This William Canynges became Mayor five times. He was a busy overseas trader with interests in Prussia, Iceland and Finland, when relations between England and Denmark became strained he was granted special dispensation by King Christian I to continue trading in Scandanavia and Iceland. In 1461 he entertained the young King Edward IV at his house in Redcliffe Street. After the last time he was Mayor he took Holy Orders and died as Dean of Westbury in 1474. Detail from Redcliffe Street with St Mary Redcliffe The illustration above is taken from a picture called Redcliffe Street with St Mary Redcliffe that can be seen in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. It was painted in watercolours around 1810. There are around 1,200 roof bosses all of which are differen


Which river flows through what is known in English as 'The Iron Gate', the deepest gorge in Europe?

Geography of Europe A-Z - Q-files Encyclopedia Geography of Europe A-Z Geography of Europe A-Z Aegean Sea   Part of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between Turkey and Greece .  Alps   A mountain range stretching from the Mediterranean coast of France to Central Europe . The highest peak is Mont Blanc in France, which is 4810 metres (15,781 feet) high.  Apennines   A mountain range stretching nearly 1400 kilometres (875 miles) down the centre of the Italian Peninsula .  Athens   The capital of Greece . At the heart of the city is the flat-topped Acropolis , where the remains of several ancient temples stand.   Balaton, Lake   The largest lake in Central Europe , also known as the Hungarian Sea. Balkan Mountains   A mountain range that stretches 550 kilometres (340 miles) across Bulgaria to the Black Sea. Its highest point is Botev Peak, which is 2376 metres (7795 feet) high.  Baltic Sea   Part of the Atlantic Ocean enclosed by the Scandinavian Peninsula and mainland Europe.  Berlin   The capital of Germany , in the east of the country. It was once divided into East and West by the Berlin Wall , which came down in 1989.  Black Sea   A sea almost completely enclosed by Eastern Europe , Russia , Georgia and Turkey .  Bosporus   A narrow channel of water that divides Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. British Isles   The group of islands off the northwestern coast of Europe. They include Britain , Ireland and other small island groups.  Brussels   The capital of Belgium and the European Union . Bucharest   The capital of Romania . Once known as the “Paris of the East” because of its French-style architecture, today it is a major centre of industry.  Budapest   The capital of Hungary , situated on the banks of the River Danube. It is Europe’s largest spa town, with more than 100 natural hot springs.  Carpathian Mountains   The second longest mountain range in Europe , stretching over 1500 kilometres (930 miles) from the Czech Republic to the Iron Gate. Its highest point is Gerlach Peak in Slovenia , which is 2655 metres (8709 feet) high.  Caucasus Mountains   A mountain range stretching 1100 kilometres (680 miles) from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. The highest point in the Caucasus is Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus, which is 5664 metres (18,582 feet) high.  Danube   The second longest river in Europe, flowing 2860 kilometres (1777 miles) from western Germany to the Black Sea in Ukraine .  Dardanelles   A narrow body of water in northwest Turkey linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Dinarides   A mountain range spanning 645 kilometres (400 miles) from Croatia to Montenegro . Its highest point is Maja Jezercë in Albania , which is 2694 metres (8839 feet) high.  Dnieper   A river that flows 2145 kilometres (1333 miles) from Russia , through Belarus and Ukraine , to the Black Sea.  English Channel   Part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Great Britain from mainland Europe. At its narrowest point, it is only 34 kilometres (21 miles) wide.  Gibraltar, Strait of   A narrow strait, measuring just 14.3 kilometres (8.8 miles) at its narrowest point, that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, separating Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. It is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, which comes from the Arabic, Jebel Tariq ("Tariq's Mountain"). Iberian Peninsula   Part of southwestern Europe that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean. It is shared by Spain and Portugal . Iron Gate   A deep gorge through which the River Danube flows. It forms part of the Romanian – Serbian border.  Isthmus of Corinth   A strip of land joining the Peloponnese Peninsula to mainland Greece . It is cut across by the Corinth Canal . Italian Peninsula   A boot-shaped area of land bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on three sides.  Kiev   The capital of Ukraine and one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe, with a population of 2.8 million.  Lapland   A region stretching across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is home to the Sami people, once known as Lapps or Laplanders


Who was Minister of Education when the 1944 Education Act was passed?

The Education Act of 1944 - UK Parliament The Education Act of 1944 Education Reform Act 1988 The Education Act of 1944 The plans for post-war secondary education in Britain aimed to remove the inequalities which remained in the system. The proportion of 'free places' at grammar schools in England and Wales increased from almost a third to almost half between 1913 and 1937. However, when poorer children were offered free places, parents often had to turn them down owing to the extra costs involved. The Education Act of 1944 was steered through Parliament by the Education Minister, R.A. Butler, and was followed by a similar Act for Scotland in 1945. The Act provided free secondary education for all pupils. Local Education Authorities (LEAs) Local Education Authorities were required to submit proposals to the new Department of Education for reorganising secondary schooling in their areas. Most LEAs aimed to establish the three main 'streams' or categories of school - grammar, secondary modern and technical - which had been recommended in a Report by Sir William Spens in 1938. Children would be allocated on the basis of an examination at the age of 11, known as the '11 plus'. This was intended to provide equal opportunities for children of all backgrounds. The school leaving age was raised to 15, though the stated intention that it should be 16 was not effected until 1972.


Much in evidence in the 2010 World Cup, what is the name of the horns providing a noisy background drone?

WORLD CUP 2010: Vuvuzela faces ban after noise complaints | Daily Mail Online Red button would strip out crowd noise Ronaldo leads players' protests over match noise Sepp Blatter defends fans who blow 'horn of Africa' British supermarkets sell a vuvuzela every two seconds Internet download offers TV fans some respite  TV viewers could soon be able to cut out the annoying sound of the vuvuzela when they watch World Cup matches. The BBC is thinking about the possibility of offering ‘vuvuzela free’ coverage via its red button after hundreds of complaints. Fans say the droning sound of the plastic horns, which has been likened to the buzzing of millions of angry bees, is drowning out coverage and leaving them with aching eardrums. [caption] Vuvuzelas can generate a drone of up to 144 decibels inside stadiums, which is louder than fireworks, a plane taking off or a rock concert. Now the BBC is looking into providing ‘clean’ coverage, which would strip out most crowd noise. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share A BBC spokesman said last night: ‘We have already taken steps to minimise the noise and are continuing to monitor the situation. If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further.’ The BBC’s plans emerged after World Cup officials said yesterday that the vuvuzela will stay at the tournament, despite earlier claims that the horns could be banned. [caption] [caption] Spokesman Rich Mkhondo said: ‘Vuvuzelas are here to stay and will never be banned. Look at them as part of our culture in South Africa to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup.’ He said the noise is part of the fabric of football in Africa, similar to English rattles, the football flares of Italy, the air horns of Holland and the ticker tape that greets teams in South America. But football fans in Britain are buying vuvuzelas at a rate of one every two seconds. Some suppliers claimed the UK had been gripped by ‘vuvuzela fever.’ Sainsbury's sold 22,000 red vuvuzelas in 12 hours before England's game - one every two seconds. The supermarket chain has ordered 25,000 extra horns but thinks it may run out before Friday's game against Algeria. Online retailer Amazon said sales of the horn had increased by 1,000 per cent. Those who can't get hold of a real vuvuzela can now download a virtual version of the trumpet-like instrument to their mobile phones. Vuvuzela 'apps' are storming the Apple iTunes charts, allowing users to turn their phone into a virtual trumpet.  There are around 11 vuvuzela apps available from Apple's App Store. One named 'Vuvuzela 2010' has been downloaded more than 750,000 times, and is currently the most popular free app in the entertainment category, while another, Virtual Vuvuzela, is the seventh most popular free sports app. Many fans have been surprised by the noise created by the £2 plastic horns – which are blasted by thousands of supporters during games – with some forced to wear ear plugs to combat the din. To TV viewers the trumpets simply sound like a constant buzzing through 90 minutes of football. Mr Mkhondo’s confirmation that vuvuzelas would continue to be allowed into World Cup stadia followed weekend reports that officials were considering banning the horns. Yesterday the England Supporters’ Band backed the use of the vuvuzela, arguing that ‘when in Rome’ the local culture should be respected. Sheffield-based trumpeter John Hemmingham – who leads the eight-man England orchestra which has not missed a game since 1996 – said the horns were a good thing.‘It’s the way South Africans express their joy and pleasure at the tournament being here,’ he said. [caption] A recent survey found that the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was the equivalent to 127 decibels - louder than a drum's 122 decibels, or a referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels. Vuvuzelas are modern spin-offs of traditional instruments made from spiralling kudu horns. Van Schalkwyk said he decided to develop a plastic version after spotting the original versions of the horn being blown at games.


What was the name of Captain Pugwash's faithful cabin boy in the BBC TV cartoon?

'Captain Pugwash' Double Meanings : snopes.com Claim:   The characters on the cartoon series Captain Pugwash had names that were sexual double entendres. FALSE Origins:   The British Captain Pugwash animated television series, which originally aired on the BBC between 1958 and 1967, is widely believed to have featured characters with risqué maritime names such as Master Bates, Seaman Staines, and Roger the Cabin Boy. In fact, the crew of the famous Black Pig ship included sailors with no such names:   present on board were Master Mate, Tom the Cabin Boy, and Pirates Barnabas and Willy. (No character with the designation of 'Seaman' appeared in the show.) Series creator John Ryan successfully won retractions and settlements from Sunday Correspondent and the Guardian after both newspapers claimed that the show's characters did indeed have smutty names, and that the BBC had taken it off the air as a result. The Guardian's statement ran as follows: In the Young Guardian of September 13 [1991] we stated that the Captain Pugwash cartoon series featured characters called Seaman Staines and Master Bates, and for that reason the series had never been repeated by the BBC. We accept that it is untrue that there ever were any such characters. Furthermore, the series continues to be shown on television and on video. We apologize to Mr. Ryan, the creator, writer and artist of the Captain Pugwash films and books. We have agreed to pay him damages and his legal costs. Evening Standard correspondent Victor Lewis-Smith wrote several years later: 'It'll never stand up in court,' I hear you cry, but stranger cases have flourished. I remember voicing much the same opinion a decade ago when John Ryan's solicitor threatened legal action against the newspaper I was then working for, after I had erroneously (and I stress erroneously) suggested that the characters he'd created for his Captain Pugwash series weren't quite as innocent as they'd first seemed back in the 1950s. Unwittingly repeating a folk myth that had been passed down through generations of schoolboys, I'd stated that the dramatis personae included such nautical naughties as Master Bates, Seaman Stains and Roger the Cabin Boy, and that 'Pugwash' was Australian slang for a form of oral sex. The matter seemed trivial, but an apology was made, Mr Ryan's honour was satisfied and two sets of parasitical, low-life libel lawyers thus pocketed yet more easy (and thoroughly ill-deserved) dosh. Puns that play on the homophony of masturbates-Master Bates and seamen-semen are quite old (recall the "What's long and hard and filled with seamen?" joke), and it was probably only a matter of time before someone made the obvious jokes about the names of sailors in a long-running television series, especially since people seem to find this type of humor particularly titillating when it is ascribed to the creators of children's programming. However, as this audio clip demonstrates, the exact pronunciation of certain Captain Pugwash character names could (perhaps deliberately) be difficult to discern. The British comedy duo of Victor Lewis-Smith and Paul Sparks has claimed credit for starting and spreading the Captain Pugwash rumors, and the double entendre names have also been attributed to a sketch by "seventies folkie comic" Richard Digance as well as a "1970s rag mag." Additional information:


What was formerly the highest appointment in the British Army, being abolished in 1904?

The Problem of Purchase Abolition in the British Army 1856-1862 -  South African Military History Society - Journal- Vol 4 No 6 - December 1979 The Problem of Purchase Abolition in the British Army 1856-1862 by Carl G. Slater By 1856, the great disillusionment generated by the severe casualties and the numerous frustrations incurred by the British army in the Crimea had brought the issue of military reform into national prominence. Although the nation�s confidence in the British soldier�s ability to overcome any foreign enemy was confirmed by The Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, it had become dubious whether the stalwart redcoat could continue to endure against the excessive incompetence and inefficiency of his own army�s administration. For the unprecedented newspaper coverage of the Crimean War had revealed to the British public the distressing facts of army disorganization that the soldiers themselves had long known.(1) Used sporadically in Europe and the Near East as a tool of diplomacy, and often in remote parts of the world to fulfil the policing responsibilities of empire, the bulk of the British army had remained relatively inactive since 1815 when, under Wellington, it had attained its greatest glory. During the ensuing four decades, however, it had remained the army of Wellington � an eighteenth-century fighting force virtually oblivious to technological and administrative improvements. The Crimean experience was a rude and abrupt awakening from this stupor and demonstrated the necessity for a total overhaul of the military establishment. The functions and purpose of the army required redefinition; its administration demanded simplification and its echelons needed professionalization from the lowest ranks to the highest commands. Such ends could be attained only by extensive reform throughout both the civil and military branches of the service. Yet the issue that dominated the entire army reform controversy was the continuance of the long-standing tradition of promotion by purchase. It is the purpose of this essay to provide a brief background of the operation of the purchase system, and then to examine more fully the government�s official attitude toward the reform of that system prior to 1868. More specifically, the focus of this study will be upon the official investigation of the purchase system undertaken in 1856 and 1857. It will be seen that although no reform was actual]y intended by the Palmerston ministry, the investigation conducted was quite thorough, and its conclusions influential on the eventual abolition of the purchase system in 1871. II Unlike the continental military forces of the nineteenth century, officers� commissions in the British army were, in a broad sense, marketable commodities. In most cases, though not in all, applicants for commissions in the cavalry and infantry of the line and in the guards were required to lay out a specific sum of money for their initial rank of ensign or cornet. This practice generally applied to each additional step of promotion (excluding advancements due to deaths in the upper ranks) until attainment of the rank of lieutenant-colonel, which signified regimental command. Although the origins of the purchase of commissions may be traced back to the middle ages, (2) its general adoption by the army is usually dated at March 7, 1683-84 when Charles II, by Royal Warrant, conferred his sanction upon the embryonic purchase system.(3) Still, during the ensuing reigns of William III and Anne, the progress of purchase within the service remained uncertain and informal until George I finally introduced elements of official systematization. His Royal Warrant of February, 1719 established a definite tariff of prices for each regiment and reimposed certain restrictions upon the sale of commissions first enacted in 1711. Prior to this time, a considerable number of promotions within the infantry, cavalry, and guards regiments had been based upon private financial arrangements between the officers themselves. By the new regulations of 1720, the Crown formally acknowledge


Which Dutch astronomer and physicist, who discovered the rings of Saturn in the mid 1650's, is creditied with building the first pendulum clock?

Christiaen Huygens (1629 - 1695) - Genealogy Christiaen Huygens Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love Build your family tree online Share photos and videos in Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland Immediate Family: Apr 14 1629 - 's-Gravenhage, Lange Houtstraat Death: Constantijn Christiaan Huygens, Susanna Jansdr Huygens (geboren Baerle, Van) Siblings: Apr 14 1629 - 's-Gravenhage, Lange Houtstraat Death: Constantijn Christiaan Huygens, Susanna Jansdr Huygens (geboren Baerle, Van) Siblings: Apr 14 1629 - The Hague, Dutch Republic Death: July 8 1695 - The Hague, Dutch Republic Parents: Apr 14 1629 - The Hague, Dutch Republic Death: July 8 1695 - The Hague, Dutch Republic Parents: Apr 14 1629 - Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland Death: July 8 1695 - Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland Parents: Constantijn Christiaan Huygens, Susanna Huygens (geboren Van Baerle) Siblings: 1695 - Kasteel Hofwyck te Voorburg Parents: Constantijn Huygens, Susanna Huygens (geboren Van Baerle) Siblings: Apr 24 1629 - Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland Death: July 8 1695 - Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Nederland Parents: Constantijn Christiaan Huygens, Susanna Huygens (born Van Baerle / Von Baerle) Siblings: 1695 - Kasteel Hofwyck te Voorburg Nederland Parents: Constantijn Christiaan Huygens*, Susanna Van Baerle* Siblings: Apr 14 1629 - The Hague Death: July 8 1695 - The Hague Parents: Constantijn Huygens, Suzanna Van Baerle Siblings: Lodewijck Huygens, Philips Huygens, Constantijn Huygens, Suzanna Huygens Residences: Apr 14 1629 - Den Haag Death: July 8 1695 - Den Haag Parents: Constantijn HUYGENS, Suzanna HUYGENS (née VAN BAERLE) Siblings: Constantijn Huygens, Suzanna Jansdr van Baerle Siblings: sister About Christiaen Huygens He was a famous mathematician, physicist and astronomer. He invented the pendulum clock, the principal of the steamengine and a gunpowder engine. Jan Jansz Stampioen was for two years (1643-1645) his teacher for mathematics. Huygens achieved note for his argument that light consists of waves, now known as the Huygens–Fresnel principle, which two centuries later became instrumental in the understanding of wave-particle duality. He generally receives credit for his discovery of the centrifugal force, the laws for collision of bodies, for his role in the development of modern calculus and his original observations on sound perception. See: Wikipedia-Duch ; Wikipedia-English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Huygens Christiaan Huygens, FRS (/ˈhaɪɡənz/ or /ˈhɔɪɡənz/; Dutch: [ˈɦœyɣə(n)s] ( listen)) (Latin: Hugenius) (14 April 1629 – 8 July 1695) was a prominent Dutch mathematician and scientist. He is known particularly as an astronomer, physicist, probabilist and horologist. Huygens was a leading scientist of his time. His work included early telescopic studies of the rings of Saturn and the discovery of its moon Titan, the invention of the pendulum clock and other investigations in timekeeping. He published major studies of mechanics and optics, and a pioneer work on games of chance. Early life Christiaan Huygens was born on 14 April 1629 in The Hague, into a rich and influential Dutch family, the second son of Constantijn Huygens. Christiaan was named after his paternal grandfather. His mother was Suzanna van Baerle. She died in 1637, shortly after the birth of Huygens' sister. The couple had five children: Constantijn (1628), Christiaan (1629), Lodewijk (1631), Philips (1632) and Suzanna (1637). Constantijn Huygens was a diplomat and advisor to the House of Orange, and also a poet and musician. His friends included Galileo Galilei, Marin Mersenne and René Descartes. Huygens was educated at home until turning sixteen years old. He liked to play with miniatures of mills and other machines. His father gave him a liberal education: he studied languages and music, history and geography, mathematics, logic and rhetoric, but also dancing, fencing and horse riding. In 1644 Huygens had as his mathematical tutor Jan Jansz de Jonge Stampioen, who set the 15-year-old a demanding reading list on contemporary scien


Which supermarket chain has its headquarters in Bradford?

Wm. Morrison Supermarkets Plc - Grocery.com Shopping Wm. Morrison Supermarkets Plc Wm. Morrison Supermarkets Plc. is U.K.’s fourth largest supermarket chain. The company’s headquarters is in West Yorkshire, England. History Morrisons was founded in 1899 by founder William Morrison. The business started out originally as a butter and egg stall that was located in Bradford’s Rawson Market. It was originally named Wm. Morrison Limited. In 1958, Morrisons opened a small store in the city’s centre. That store was Bradford’s first self-service grocery stop. This store had three checkouts and had prices indicated on the products. In 1961, Morrisons opened ‘Victoria’ in Bradford’s Girlington District. This store was Morrisons’ first supermarket. In 1967, Morrisons became listed as a Public Limited Company (Plc) on the London Stock Exchange. In 1971, Morrisons’ new headquarters in Bradford was completed. The facility also had a factory complex and a warehouse. Five years after, a produce pack house named Cutler Heights, opened in Bradford. In 1978, Morrisons was able to acquire Whelan stores, which allowed the company to extend its operations in Lancashire. Two years later, Morrisons started to enter the fresh food products area through its wholly owned subsidiary Farmers Boy. In 1988, the company’s first distribution centre was completed and started operations. In 1997, a second distribution center, located in Cheshire, was completed. A year later in 1998, Morrisons opened its first store in Erith, which is located South of England. In 2000, Morrisons opened its first store in Wales. In 2004, Morrisons was able to acquire grocery chain Safeway, bringing Morrisons’ number of stores to 455 all over the United Kingdom. It was also in this year that Morrisons opened its first store in Scotland, at Kilmarnock. In 2005, Morrisons was able to acquire three of Rathbones’ factories. In the same year, the company acquired the abattoir Kepak Buchan. In 2006, Morrisons’ new head office in the area of Thornbury, Bradford was completed. In September of that year, Morrisons was recognized as the year’s Seafood Retailer because of its dedication, as well as professional service, to its in-store fishmongers. Morrisons was also consistent with providing excellent quality seafood. In March of 2008, Morrisons was named the year’s Retailer for consistently showing its strength in operational practice and marketing. Currently, Morrisons’ ranks fourth as the U.K.largest supermarkets. Headquarters: Bradford,West Yorkshire


Which Gilbert and Sullivan opera was originally going to be called The Tower of London?

Gilbert and Sullivan at their most poignant in Harrogate festival of their work | Daily Mail Online The Yeomen Of The Guard (Buxton Opera House)  Verdict: G&S at their most poignant  Rating: The most serious Gilbert and Sullivan opera, The Yeomen Of The Guard contains some of its composer’s most moving music, and that aspect is splendidly realised in this new production — which has moved on to the annual G&S Festival in Harrogate. I do not expect to hear a better singer of Elsie Maynard’s role than soprano Jane Harrington. Apparently her two little sons keep telling her to ‘Stop singing, Mummy!’, but I could listen to her lovely tone all day. The most serious Gilbert and Sullivan opera, The Yeomen Of The Guard contains some of its composer’s most moving music, and that aspect is splendidly realised in this new production — which has moved on to the annual G&S Festival in Harrogate The touring National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company rests on sturdy, practical sets, a fine 26-strong orchestra and a superb chorus — the male choristers put one or two principal singers to shame. One culprit is Richard Gauntlett in the comic-tragic role of Jack Point: it is not like him to swallow so many of his words. I suspect he has already improved his delivery. He dies very well at the end. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Set in the Tower of London in the 16th century, the story is convoluted and involves a lot of characters. The rescue of Colonel Fairfax, well sung by Nicholas Sales, is a tad improbable. But with numbers such as ‘I have a song to sing, O’ and ‘When a wooer goes a-wooing’, the heart is often touched. The ensemble singing is superb, with Bruce Graham as jailer Wilfred Shadbolt and Martin Lamb as Sergeant Meryll standing out. Fiona Mackay as Phoebe sings beautifully, though her enunciation needs work.  Pictured composer Arthur Sullivan (left) and W.S. Gilbert (right) of Gilbert and Sullivan  Producer John Savournin and musical director David Steadman are in even better form in The Pirates Of Penzance, which whizzes and fizzes from the first bars of the overture. Gauntlett is at his hilarious best as the Major General, while Leigh Rhianon Coggins as Mabel is pert and funny, as well as affecting. Bruce Graham is an ideally deadpan Police Sergeant, Brendan Collins an athletic Pirate King, Adrian Dwyer a believable Frederic, Pauline Birchall a very droll Ruth. The chorus is again topnotch. The men’s ranks are stretched by their double stints as pirates and policemen, but you will love the camp dancing they bring to their ‘constabulary duty’.  For more information about the 23rd International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, on now in Harrogate, visit gsfestivals.org


What is the motto of the Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army Crest | The Salvation Army Contact Us Volunteer chooses giving over mourning Anthony Raj Sr. could have spent Dec. 12 mourning the loss of his son. Instead, he chose to celebrate him... Email sign up The Salvation Army Crest While the red shield is an internationally-recognized symbol of Salvation Army service to those in need, the crest is a meaningful symbol of our church beliefs. The Salvation Army crest was designed in 1878 when The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army and began adopting a military style with uniforms and military terms. Today, Salvation Army centers worldwide use the crest, translating the words on it into their own language. This symbol has particular relevance for Salvation Army church members because it reminds them of important features of their faith. Crest symbolism The sun represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit The cross of Jesus stands at the center of the crest and the faith of church members The ‘S’ stands for salvation from sin The swords represent the fight against sin The shots (seven white dots) stand for the truths of the gospel The crown speaks of God’s reward for His faithful people “Blood and Fire” is the motto of The Salvation Army that describes the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to save all people and the fire of the Holy Spirit which purifies believers The Salvation Army Northern Division has been serving people in need in Minnesota and North Dakota for more than 125 years. We provide basic needs assistance, housing, youth services, rehabilitation, disaster relief, counseling and more.


The flat, rectangular, hand-held tool used by a plasterer to hold his mortar as he works is usually known by the name of what type of bird?

Plasterwork — Stucco Repair Brevard - Seacoast Stone and Stucco, LLC [ edit ] History The earliest plasters known to us were lime-based. Around 7500 BC, the people of ‘Ain Ghazal in Jordan used lime mixed with unheated crushed limestone to make plaster which was used on a large scale for covering walls, floors, and hearths in their houses. Often, walls and floors were decorated with red, finger-painted patterns and designs. In ancient India and China, renders in clay and gypsum plasters were used to produce a smooth surface over rough stone or mud brick walls, while in early Egyptian tombs, walls were coated with lime and gypsum plaster and the finished surface was often painted or decorated. Modelled stucco was employed throughout the Roman Empire. The Romans used mixtures of lime and sand to build up preparatory layers over which finer applications of gypsum , lime, sand and marble dust were made; pozzolanic materials were sometimes added to produce a more rapid set. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the addition of marble dust to plaster to allow the production of fine detail and a hard, smooth finish in hand-modelled and moulded decoration was not used until the Renaissance. Around the 4th century BC, the Romans discovered the principles of the hydraulic set of lime, which by the addition of highly reactive forms of silica and alumina, such as volcanic earths , could solidify rapidly even under water. There was little use of hydraulic mortar after the Roman period until the 18th century. Plaster decoration was widely used in Europe in the Middle Ages where, from the mid-13th century, gypsum plaster was used for internal and external plaster. Hair was employed as reinforcement, with additives to assist set or plasticity including malt, urine, beer, milk and eggs. In the 14th century, decorative cool called terracotta was reintroduced into Europe and was widely used for the production of ornament. In the mid-15th century, Venetian skilled workers developed a new type of external facing, called marmorino made by applying lime directly onto masonry. In the 16th century, a new highly decorative type of decorative internal plasterwork, called Vasari as being a quick and durable method for decorating building facades. Here, layers of contrasting lime plaster were applied and a design scratched through the upper layer to reveal the colour beneath. The 17th century saw the introduction of different types of internal plasterwork. Stucco marble was an artificial marble made using gypsum (sometimes with lime), pigments, water and glue. Stucco lustro was another a form of imitation marble (sometimes called stucco lucido) where a thin layer of lime or gypsum plaster was applied over a scored support of lime, with pigments scattered on surface of the wet plaster. The 18th century gave rise to renewed interest in innovative external plasters. Oil mastics introduced in the UK in this period included a “Composition or stone paste” patented in 1765 by David Wark. This was a lime-based mix and included “oyls of tar, turpentine and linseed” besides many other ingredients. Another “Composition or cement”, including drying oil, was patented in 1773 by Rev. John Liardet. A similar product was patented in 1777 by John Johnson. Widely used by the architect George Jackson to produce reverse-cut boxwood moulds (many of which to Adam designs). Jackson formed an independent company which still today produces composition pressings and retains a very large boxwood mould collection. In 1774, in France, a mémoire was published on the composition of ancient mortars. This was translated into English as “A Practical Essay on a Cement, and Artificial Stone, justly supposed to be that of the Greeks and Romans” and was published in the same year. Following this, and as a backlash to the disappointment felt due to the repeated failure of oil mastics, in the second half of the 18th century water-based renders gained popularity once more. Mixes for renders were patented, including a “Water Cement, or Stucco” consisting of lime, sand, bone ash and lime-w


Which religous movement was founded by Mary Baker Eddy?

The Life of Mary Baker Eddy > The life of Mary Baker Eddy The life of Mary Baker Eddy Youth Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) was an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader, noted for her groundbreaking ideas about spirituality and health, which she named Christian Science. She articulated those ideas in her major work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures , first published in 1875. Four years later she founded the Church of Christ, Scientist , which today has branch churches and societies around the world. In 1908 she launched The Christian Science Monitor , a leading international newspaper, the recipient, to date, of seven Pulitzer Prizes. Born on a farm in Bow, New Hampshire, she was the youngest of Mark and Abigail Baker’s six children. Her formal education was interrupted by periods of sickness, but when not in school she read and studied extensively at home, writing prose and poetry from an early age. Her parents sought help from physicians for her ailments, but the treatments brought only temporary relief. Raised in a deeply religious Congregational home, she rebelled against the Calvinist doctrine of predestination at an early age, and regularly turned to the Bible and prayer for hope and inspiration. Adulthood In December 1843, Mary Baker married a promising young building contractor, George Washington Glover, moving with him to the Carolinas. He died the following June, three months before the birth of their son, George. She found shelter and support for herself and the boy back in her parents’ New Hampshire home until her mother’s death in late 1849. In 1850, still suffering from recurring bouts of illness and no longer having her mother’s help, she found she had no choice but to place George in the care of the family’s former nurse and her husband. In 1853, Mary Baker Glover married Daniel Patterson, an itinerant dentist who proved to be unreliable and unfaithful. He abandoned her in 1866, and, after years of living apart, she divorced him in 1873 on grounds of desertion. Struggling with chronic illness compounded by personal loss, Mary Patterson was preoccupied with questions of health. Like many in her day, she avoided the harsh treatments of conventional nineteenth-century medicine and its dangerous side effects. She sought relief in various alternative treatments of the day, from diets to hydropathy (water cure). During Patterson’s long absences, she studied homeopathy in depth and became intrigued by its emphasis on diluting drugs to the point where they all but disappear from the remedy. At one point, she experimented with unmedicated pellets (now known as placebos) and concluded that a patient’s belief plays a powerful role in the healing process. While investigating such new cures, she continued to seek comfort and insights in the Bible, still drawn by the healing record contained in its pages. In 1862, as the Civil War raged, Mary Patterson sought help from Phineas Quimby, a popular healer in Portland, Maine. Her health initially improved radically under his treatment, which included a combination of mental suggestion and what might now be called therapeutic touch, but she soon suffered a relapse. She returned to Quimby not only for treatment but also to learn more about his approach. Thinking that he had rediscovered a divine healing method, she spent hours discussing and exchanging ideas with him. In time, she concluded that Quimby’s technique depended largely on his vigorous personality and his training in hypnosis rather than on some divine principle. Major accomplishments A turning point occurred in 1866 when a severe fall on an icy sidewalk left her in bed in critical condition. Quimby had died just one month earlier so she could not turn to him for help. She asked for her Bible and, while reading an account of healing, found herself suddenly well. Eventually, she referred to this as the moment she discovered Christian Science. Mary Patterson could not explain to others what had happened, but she knew it was the result of what she had read in the Bible. Her conviction gre


Which company owns the Waitrose chain of supermarkets?

Company history - Corporate information - Waitrose.com Corporate Information Company history A short history of Waitrose Waitrose first appeared on the high street in 1904 when Wallace Wyndham Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor opened their shop in Acton. They managed to create a successful business selling a wide range of grocery products. High standards and keen pricing ensured that the business grew, with Waite concentrating on the buying, Rose working behind the scenes on the accounts and Taylor working on the shop floor as the branch manager. After two years, Taylor left the business leaving Waite and Rose who formed Waitrose Ltd in 1908. Over the next few years the two men were able to acquire several more small grocery shops in the Acton area. Waite also diversified into the wholesale trade supplying the army camp at Catterick when war broke out in 1914. However, during World War I Arthur Rose was injured and from that time onwards Wallace Waite took over the main responsibilities of running the shops. The business continued to develop after Rose left in 1924 and the chain grew to include branches from Windsor to Gerrards Cross. Waite continued to supply these more affluent areas but also traded in less profitable locations, developing a group of shops he called Wyndhams. By 1937 Waite was looking for someone to take over the business and maintain the high standards he had instilled over the years. After a chance meeting with Michael Watkins, the Director of Trading for the John Lewis Partnership, the ten shops and 160 staff joined the Partnership on 1st October. Waite remained in the business until he retired in 1940.  The next major change in the fortunes of Waitrose was the result of the move to self service shopping in the early 1950s. The first shops to become self service were Schofield & Martin, a small chain of grocery shops based around Southend. By 1955 Waitrose opened it's first supermarket in Streatham with 2,500 square feet of selling space. By the early 1970s there were 50 branches, some still small self service shops but more and more larger supermarkets. This led to the construction of a new distribution centre at Bracknell enabling the business to grow at a much faster rate.  By Waitrose centenary in 2004 the division had expanded to over 200 shops including the acquisition of branches from other chains including Morrisons and Somerfield.  By this time the Leckford farm estate in Hampshire which the Partnership owned had become part of Waitrose. There followed a period of change involving the development of internet shopping, branches abroad and smaller format shops. The business continues to grow today but still aspires to Wallace Wyndham Waite's original intention to "lift the food trade to a higher plane".


Which fashion designer brought out the 'New Look' in 1947?

Christian Dior and the 1947 "New Look" Christian Dior and the 1947 "New Look" Christian Dior and the 1947 "New Look" French designer defined post-World War II fashion and the female silhouette Christian Dior, 1949.  Hulton Archive/Getty Images By Jennifer Nicole Sullivan Updated January 30, 2016. Fresh at the helm of Dior, Raf Simons presented his debut spring/summer 2013 ready-to-wear collection with a silhouette from the past, the "New Look," that designer Christian Dior made famous in 1947. The post-World War II hourglass shape exaggerated the female form with its structured bodice, tiny nipped-in waist, and long circle skirts that used several yards of fabric, unlike the slim, fabric-rationed skirts that women wore during wartime. In Simons’s collection, models channeled classic Dior femininity in long voluminous floral skirts and simple black shirts, some long-sleeved and some short-sleeved with an oh-so Parisian black scarf tied around the neck. These "New Look"-inspired ensembles seemed like a nod of appreciation from Simons to the brand’s original couturier. About Christian Dior Christian Dior was born January 21, 1905, in Granville, France, a town on the coast of Normandy, to a wealthy chemical fertilizer manufacturer. He attended the School of Political Science of the University of Paris with intentions of entering a career in diplomacy. continue reading below our video Jean Styles You Can Wear All Year Around At 23, he became an art dealer instead and was said to have exhibited art by his friends Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau . During the Great Depression, his family lost much of their wealth, so Dior began illustrating hats for The Figaro Illustrated. His hat designs struck a chord with Parisian women and local milliner Place Vendome, which ordered Dior’s collections. After designing briefly for designer Robert Piguet, Dior served in the French Army as a private first class in the Engineers in World War II. When he returned, Dior designed for Lucien Lelong in 1941. The House of Dior On December 16, 1946, the House of Dior was born; the same year the French Ministry of Production lifted cloth rations. French cotton millionaire Marcel Boussac backed Dior and his salon. Because Dior reestablished France as the center of the fashion world after World War II, the French Government awarded him the Legion of Honor for his accomplishments. Dior, who always wore conservative suits and ties, was nicknamed "Cri-Cri" by close friends. The hard-working designer reportedly went into seclusion twice a year and sketched new designs while soaking in his bathtub. Maison Dior is still located in its original home at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. Dior's "New Look" Presented in early 1947, Dior’s first collection was titled "Corolle" which means corolla , connected flower petals — an apt name to describe the collection of voluminous skirts that enveloped women like flowers. Coined by Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow, the "New Look" steered completely clear of the austere wartime silhouettes constructed with shorter hemlines due to rationed fabric. The "New Look" was a return to femininity, even heightened femininity with its structured bustier bodices, nipped-in waists, peplums and full skirts that flared out from the waist and created an exaggerated hourglass figure. Dior later wrote: "We were emerging from the period of war, of uniforms, of women-soldiers built like boxers. I drew women-flowers, soft shoulders, fine waists like liana and wide skirts like corolla." Socialites flocked to Dior’s "New Look" designs, no doubt hungry for beauty, elegance and luxury that World War II had stripped from fashion. Dior’s goal was "to make elegant women more beautiful; to make beautiful women more elegant." Other Dior silhouettes are the H-line or flat look, the Oval, the Tulip, the Zigzag, the Vertical and the Profile. Coco Chanel once said that Dior "upholstered" women instead of dressing them, according to "Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible." Christian Dior’s Death On October 23, 1957, just ten years after the "New Look" transformed


In which landlocked country of Europe were women denied the right to vote in national elections until 1971?

When and Where - (Women in World History Curriculum) When and Where ©1996-2016 womeninworldhistory.com Full suffrage occurs when all groups of women are included in national voting and can run for any political office. In most cases women won the right to vote in uneven stages. New Zealand in 1893 was first. Liberalism was a strong force in this pioneering land which increasingly rejected what it viewed as archaic attitudes from the Old World. The support of social reform issues, including temperance, gave New Zealand suffragists the edge they needed. The now famous Womens Suffrage Petition is credited with being a major force for this success. Signed by close to one quarter of the female adult population, the petition was the largest of its kind in New Zealand and other western countries. It is comprised of 546 sheets of paper, all glued together to form one continuous roll 274 metres long, with the signatures of over 10,000 adult women. A few Maori women signed, but at this time they mainly were concerned with achieving political participation rights for the whole tribe. The New Zealand breakthrough sent ripples throughout the world. New Zealand women suffrage supporters were invited to many countries to visit, lecture, and even join in demonstrations. Contingent of New Zealanders Supporting British Suffragists in a Parade London, 1910 In Europe, Finland, Norway and Iceland were among the first to grant female suffrage. Most other western governments only extended suffrage to women during or just after WWI, even though womens rights had been widely debated in their societies for many decades. Even though suffrage movements in the United States were large and vigorous in the early twentieth century, it took women there seventy-two years from first claiming the franchise in 1848 to achieving it in 1920. It was an equally long process in Britain where womens important work in WWI provided an opportunity for the government to act on suffrage without seeming to capitulate to the tactics of the more militant arm of England's suffragette movement. France was one of the last in Europe to enfranchise women, even though the demand for womens rights was first voiced by Olympe de Gouge during the French Revolution, and it was in France that the most radical critique of womens subordination was developed. French suffragists, however, throughout the early part of the 20th century faced opposition from politicians, many of whom were Socialists who feared women would support Catholicism and right-wing political conservatism. French women won the vote as late as 1944. French women, nonetheless, fared better than the Swiss. It took efforts of the Swiss Federation for Womens Suffrage from 1909 to 1971 before women in Switzerland were allowed to vote in national elections, and not until 1989 could women in the Appenzell Interiour Rhodes canton vote in their local elections. In colonized countries, women demanded the right to vote not just from stable republics, but from colonial powers. Anti-colonial nationalist movements in some cases encompassed womens suffrage. For example, in India in 1919, poet and political activist Sarojini Naidu headed a small deputation of women to England to present the case for female suffrage before a select committee set up to create a proposal for constitution reforms aimed at the inclusion of some Indians in government. Although the British committee found the proposition preposterous, they allowed future Indian provincial legislatures to grant or refuse the franchise to women. To the British surprise, many did, making it possible within a short span of time for women to be represented, however limited, on a par with men. Universal suffrage for all adults over 21 was not achieved, however, until it became part of Indias 1950 Constitution. Women in newly independent states in Africa typically won the vote around the year 1960. On winning national independence, most of the ex-colonized countries created constitutions which guaranteed the franchise to both men and women. In other countries, like


In which TV series does Anthony Head play Uther Pendragon?

Anthony Head | Merlin Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Head was born in Camden Town, London. His father was Seafield L S M Head (1919–2009), a documentary filmmaker and the founder of Verity Films, and his mother was the actress Helen Shingler. His older brother is actor and singer Murray Head. Both brothers have played the part of Freddy Trumper in the musical Chess at the Prince Edward Theatre, London, with Murray a part of the original cast in 1986, whilst Anthony was in the final cast in 1989. Career Edit Head was educated at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). His first role was in the musical Godspell; this led to roles in television on both BBC and ITV, one of his earliest being an appearance in the series Enemy at the Door (ITV, 1978–1980). In the early 1980s he sang with the band Red Box. In the late 1980s, he appeared in a story line series of twelve coffee commercials with Sharon Maughan for NescaféGold Blend. (A version made for the US featured the American brand name Taster's Choice.) The soap opera nature of the commercials brought him wider recognition, along with a part in the Children's ITV comedy drama Woof! Success on the stage and a number of brief appearances on American television, such as in the short-lived VR.5, led to accepting the role of Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997. For this role he lived full-time in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s, although his family continued to live in the UK. Head left the regular cast of Buffy during the show's sixth season and subsequently appeared several times as a guest star. In many interviews at the time, Head said he left the show in order to spend more time with his family, having realised that he had spent most of the year outside England, which added up to more than half his youngest daughter's life. He then appeared in Merlin in 2008 as Uther Pendragon; the reason as to why he left is unknown. Anthony guest starred in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Cabin Pressure several times as Hercules Shipwright. He now lives in Bath, England with Sarah Fisher. They have two children, Emily Rose, born in December 1988, and Daisy, born in 1991. Trivia He auditioned for the role of the Doctor in Doctor Who: The Movie but the part went to Paul McGann instead. He is vegetarian. His Chinese astrological sign is a horse. His astrological sign is Pisces. Anthony is left-handed.


'Fair Maid of February' was a once popular name for which small, white flower?

Snowball Flower Snowball Snowball, also called European cranberry bush or Guelder rose, is a handsome shrub of the honeysuckle family. It produces large, ball-shaped white flowers that grow in clusters. The plant is believed to be native to the Dutch province of Gelderland. Today, it is often grown in parks and lawns in the United States. It is a cultivated form of high bush cranberry and grows from 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 meters) tall. The flowers of the cultivated species are sterile and do not produce fruit, but a wild variety bears juicy, red berries. Scientific classification. The snowball is in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. It is Viburnum opulus. Snowdrop is the name of a group of flowering plants native Europe, the Middle East, and western Asia. Some species, including the common snowdrop of Europe, are commonly grown in gardens. Snowdrops bear nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers. Snowdrops are one of the earliest spring flowers, and they sometimes during warm spells in midwinter. Some snow-drops bloom in the fall. The common snowdrop is sometimes called the Fair Maid of February. Snowdrops grow from a small bulb that produces two or three narrow leaves and a flower stalk. The stalk of the common snowdrop usually grows from 4 to 9 inches (10 to 23 centimeters) tall. Snowdrops are easy to cultivate, and they grow best in partial shade and moist soil. The bulbs are planted 3 to 4 Inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters) deep in the fall. The plants multiply each year, and a few bulbs may eventually produce large clumps of snowdrops.


Which of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, when first presented at the Savoy Theatre in 1887, was billed as 'A New and Original Supernatural Opera in Two Acts'?

Gilbert and Sullivan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era partnership of librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). Together, they wrote fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore , The Pirates of Penzance , and The Mikado are among the best known. [1] Gilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas, where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion—fairies rub elbows with British lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates turn out to be noblemen who have gone wrong. [2] Sullivan, six years Gilbert's junior, composed the music, contributing memorable melodies [3] that could convey both humour and pathos. [4] Producer Richard D'Oyly Carte brought Gilbert and Sullivan together and nurtured their collaboration. [5] He built the Savoy Theatre in 1881 to present their joint works—which came to be known as the Savoy Operas —and he founded the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company , which performed and promoted their works for over a century. The Gilbert and Sullivan operas have enjoyed broad and enduring international success and are still performed frequently throughout the English-speaking world. [6] The collaboration introduced innovations in content and form that directly influenced the development of musical theatre through the 20th century. [7] The operas have also influenced political discourse, literature, film and television and have been widely parodied and pastiched by humorists. Contents Main article: W. S. Gilbert Gilbert was born in London on 18 November 1836. His father William was a naval surgeon who later wrote novels and short stories, some of which included illustrations by his son. [8] In 1861, the younger Gilbert began to write illustrated stories, poems and articles of his own to supplement his income. Many of these would later be mined as a source of ideas for his plays and operas, particularly his series of illustrated poems called the Bab Ballads . [9] One of Gilbert's illustrations for his Bab Ballad "Gentle Alice Brown" In the Bab Ballads and his early plays, Gilbert developed a unique "topsy-turvy" style, where the humour was derived by setting up a ridiculous premise and working out its logical consequences, however absurd. Director and playwright Mike Leigh described the "Gilbertian" style as follows: With great fluidity and freedom, [Gilbert] continually challenges our natural expectations. First, within the framework of the story, he makes bizarre things happen, and turns the world on its head. Thus the Learned Judge marries the Plaintiff, the soldiers metamorphose into aesthetes, and so on, and nearly every opera is resolved by a deft moving of the goalposts... His genius is to fuse opposites with an imperceptible sleight of hand, to blend the surreal with the real, and the caricature with the natural. In other words, to tell a perfectly outrageous story in a completely deadpan way. [2] Ages Ago , during the rehearsals for which Frederic Clay introduced Gilbert to Sullivan. Gilbert developed his innovative theories on the art of stage direction, following theatrical reformer Tom Robertson . [8] At the time Gilbert began writing, theatre in Britain was in disrepute. [10] Gilbert helped to reform and elevate the respectability of the theatre, especially beginning with his six short family-friendly comic operas, or " entertainments ," for Thomas German Reed . [11] At a rehearsal for one of these entertainments, Ages Ago (1869), the composer Frederic Clay introduced Gilbert to his friend, the young composer Arthur Sullivan . [12] Two years later, Gilbert and Sullivan would write their first work together. Those two intervening years continued to shape Gilbert's theatrical style. He continued to write humorous verse, stories and plays, including the comic operas Our Island Home (1870) and A Sensation Novel (1871), and the blank verse comedies The Princess (1870), The Palace of Truth (1870), and Pyg


Which is the only country in the world that bans women from driving?

Saudi Arabia women test driving ban | World news | The Guardian Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia women test driving ban It was not a mass movement but about 30 or 40 women across the country took the wheel Saudi women hail a taxi in Riyadh, a more traditional method of getting around than driving themselves Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia women test driving ban It was not a mass movement but about 30 or 40 women across the country took the wheel Friday 17 June 2011 12.25 EDT First published on Friday 17 June 2011 12.25 EDT Close This article is 5 years old At just after 10 o'clock on Friday morning Maha al-Qahtani swapped places with her husband, Mohammed, and took the wheel of the family car. For the next 50 minutes, she drove through the Saudi capital, along the six-lane King Fahd Road, through Cairo Square, down the upmarket Olaya Street with its shopping malls, Starbucks, Apple store and boutiques. "No one tried to stop us. No one even looked," the 39-year-old civil servant said. "We drove past police cars but had no trouble." In fact, the biggest problem for Qahtani was her husband sitting next to her in the family Hummer. "He kept telling me to slow down or speed up. He was very fussy," she said. This is Saudi Arabia , the only country in the world that bans women from driving motor vehicles. Qahtani was part of a small but striking movement of women determined to do something about it. The exact number of Saudi women who protested was unclear. It was certainly not a mass movement. By mid-afternoon a handful had driven in Riyadh, a few in the southern port city of Jeddah, a couple in Dammam in the east, perhaps 30 or 40 overall in a country with a population of 27 million including migrant labourers. But it was a breakthrough. In the closed and authoritarian kingdom, such open and premeditated dissent is extremely rare. Under the spotlight of international attention, Saudi Arabia's rulers had clearly decided to allow the protest to go ahead. "It is not the issue of women's driving itself which poses a problem, it is the challenge to authority," said a political analyst, Khaled al-Dhakil. "But … change is eroding that authority." This was the closest Saudi Arabia has yet got to the revolutionary upheavals of the Arab spring. A "day of rage" declared in March was, outside areas dominated by the Shia minority, a non-event. A lack of tradition of public protest and heavy security presence rapidly ended any efforts at mobilisation. Last month seven women were arrested for driving. Manal al-Sharif, a 32-year-old who had posted a video on the internet of herself at the wheel, was held for 10 days , made to sign a pledge not to drive again and banned from talking to the media. On Friday, a different mood prevailed. Police appeared to be under orders not to intervene. In Jeddah, one woman said she had been detained by soldiers and escorted home. Others reported being ignored. But when Qahtani, who holds American and international driving licenses, tried driving again in the afternoon, she was stopped after 30 minutes by police, given a ticket for driving without a Saudi licence, and sent home. The question now is whether this signals forthcoming concessions from the authorities. King Abdullah, a relative moderate reigning since 2005, is known to be sympathetic but constrained by a conservative religious establishment. The support of the clergy has been crucial to the house of Al Saud and successive kings have been careful not to antagonise them. Earlier this year, clerics issued a fatwa against challenging the royal family's authority. Many clerics claim the driving ban prevents vice by stopping women interacting with male strangers – despite the enforced proximity with a hired driver. Wajeha al-Huwaider, the activist who filmed Sharif's drive, said the "big campaign" might make the government rethink. "Driving is a basic simple right. Denying it is hurting the image of the country. Even if the ban is nothing to do with religion, it is also hurting the image of Islam ," she said. Social networking sites such


Which one of the castles that form the group known as 'The Iron Ring', built in the 13th century by Edward I on the Welsh coast, stands on the island of Anglesey?

List of Famous Castles Arundel Castle   Restored Norman Castle in West Sussex, England Arundel Castle is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel under William the Conqueror. From the 11th century onward, the castle has been in the family of the Duke of Norfolk, and is still the principal seat of the Howard family. The castle was damaged in the English Civil War and then restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a Grade I listed building. The keep and gatehouse have been open to the public since 1800 and the gardens since 1854. Today you can visit the keep, castle, chapel and gardens. There is a Restaurant and a Gift Shop, and a range of events in the grounds along with educational and private tours. The castle is also available as a film location and for Corporate Events, Conferences, Pivate Functions and Banquets. Dover Castle   Well Preserved Norman Stone-Keep Castle in Kent, England Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history During the reign of Henry II the castle began to take recognisable shape. The inner and outer baileys and the great Keep belong to this time. The keep was one of the last rectangular keeps ever built. In 1216, a group of rebel barons invited Louis VIII of France to come and take the English crown. He had some success breaching the walls but was unable ultimately to take the castle. The castle, secret tunnels and surrounding land are now owned by English Heritage and the site is a major tourist attraction. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is officially head of the castle, in his conjoint position of Constable of Dover Castle, and the Deputy Constable has his residence in Constable's Gate. Castle Howard    Stately Home in Yorkshire, England Castle Howard is not a castle but a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, 15 miles (24 km) north of York. Most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh. It is a Grade I listed House with spectacular Landscaped gardens Castle Howard has been the home of part of the Howard family for more than 300 years.It is one of the largest country houses in England, with a total of 145 rooms. The castle is familiar to television and movie audiences as the fictional "Brideshead", both in Granada Television's 1981 adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and a two-hour 2008 remake for cinema. Today, it is part of the Treasure Houses of England heritage group. Windsor Castle   Evolved Norman Motte and Bailey Castle in Berkshire, England Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years, dating back before the time of William the Conqueror. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel (the burial place of 10 monarchs), and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature. It is now a major tourist attraction, parts of it open to the public. During the winter months an additional five rooms, known collectively as the Semi-State Rooms, are included in the visitor route. Château Comtal de Carcassonne   Well Preserved Medieval Cathar Castle in Languedoc-Roussillon, France The Château Comtal (Count’s Castle) is a medieval castle within the Cité of Carcassonne, the largest city in Europe with its city walls still intact. The Medieval Cité lies within the modern city of Carcassonne in the Aude department, of which Carcassonne is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc. Although the outer curtain wall of the cité is French, and the whole site has been substantially restored, the Château Comptal has a strong claim to be called a " Cathar Castle ". When the Catholic Crusader army arrived in 1209 th