4th
1829 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST regular scheduled bus service was introduced in London. It was horse-drawn and ran between Marylebone Road and Bank Road. Bus is a shortened version of the Latin ‘Omnibus’ meaning “for all”
1840 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST of Cunard’s line of mail and passenger steamers set sail from Liverpool for America. The small wooden paddle steamer. Britannia was the FIRST of the line and they became renowned for their reliability and the safety of their transatlantic service
1859 ..... U.K ..... a meeting of Scottish residents of London decided to form a corps known as “The London Scottish Rifle Volunteers”. In the South African war the Regiment sent a Service company to the Gordon Highlanders. On September 16th 1914 in the Great War the London Scottish were the FIRST Territorial Unit to land in France and on October 31st 1914 they were the FIRST T.F. Infantry to be in action at Messines
1886 ..... U.S.A ..... the Statue of Liberty, America’s “everlasting FIRST lady” was presented by the people of France to the people of the USA on the 100th anniversary of American Independence. She weighed c225 tons, was c150’ tall and was made by Bartholdi. She was placed on Bedloes Island in New York harbour and her 3 1/2 ton beacon came to symbolise freedom for generations of immigrants. After being corroded by years of wind and sea air she was taken down in 1984 but was replaced by a new flame in time for the centennial celebrations in 1986
1908 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST purpose built cinema to seat over a 1000 people - the Gem - opened in Great Yarmouth
1914 ..... Georgia 'Tiny' Broadwick was the FIRST woman to make a parachute descent from an aircraft using a manually operated parachute with a rip cord
1935 ..... U.K ..... Stag Party was FIRST broadcast. It was a huge success but the title was soon changed to Bachelor Party. The show's signature tune was "We're Nobody's Husbands Now"
1985 ..... U.S.A ..... the FIRST feature film originally shot in black and white to be converted to full colour was the 1942 James Cagney biopic of George M Cohan Yankee Doodle Dandy. The special prints with their computer-applied colour were released by MGM
2000 …..U.K ..... Venus and Serena Williams became the FIRST two sisters to play at Wimbledon and on 6th July became the FIRST two to play against each other
2002 ….. U.K ..... Steve Fossett became the FIRST balloonist to fly solo around the world when he landed in Australia
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