1868 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST practical typewriter was patented by Christopher Latham Scholes. It was marketed in 1878 as the ‘Remington No.1.’ and cost $125. Originally both the machine and the person who operated it were known as typewriters. It opened up a whole new world to a generation of emancipated young ladies who, according to G K Chesterton, ' rose to their feet and said " We will not be dictated to " and immediately became shorthand typists

1902 ..... U.K ..... the Order of Merit was founded and Viscount Kitchener was among the FIRST  recipients

1940 ..... U.K ..... the BBC’s Music While You Work programme was FIRST broadcast on radio to brighten up the lives of munitions workers doing boring factory jobs

1956 ..... EGYPT ..... General Nasser became Egypt’s FIRST President after an election in which voting was compulsory and he was the only candidate

1970 ..... U.K ..... the world’s FIRST all-metal liner, Brunel’s 320’ Great Britain returned to Bristol from the Falkland Islands where it had lain rusting since 1886

1998 ….. U.K ..... Jane Couch became the FIRST woman boxer to be granted a licence to box in the UK ..... and ….. Prince Charles became the FIRST member of the Royal Family to visit the Cheshire Show since 1927

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