Eight men who have done extraordinary feats. One walked extraordinary distances. One skied down K2. Several have climbed Everest and climbed other mountains over 8,000 without needing extra oxygen. Some of their firsts were done solo without using dogs or motorised transport. Together Mike Hearn and Borge Ousland walked for 2 months in total darkness, on paper thin ice, to the North Pole! Andrew Skurka - American backpacker -long distance hiker -7,778 miles Andrzej Leszek Bargiel - Polish dare devil skier who skied down K2 Borge Ousland -Norwegian explorer of North and South Poles Ed Stafford -UK first non-indigenous person to walk the entire Amazon River. Eric Larsen - American - North and South Pole plus Everest Leo Houlding- UK - rock climber - first to free climb El Capitan Mike Horn- South African - Poles explorer and climbed 8000+ without oxygen Nirmal Purja -Nepalese Mountaineer - climbed Everest, Lhotse & Makalu in 48hrs

I came across a 10 page article about*Celebrating Black lives In the World Wars * I have photocopied the second half and found out extra information about the 10 men and women mentioned. They are set out in the order they are mentioned in the article. Walter Tull - served in WW1 in the Middlesex Regiment killed in action on 25th March 1918 played football Robbie Clarke- William Robinson Clarke- WW1 airman. First black pilot to fly for Britain. Died aged 88 George Arthur Roberts- a Trinidadian soldier WW1- known as the coconut bomber , fire-fighter during Blitz (WW11) Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine (1969) -first black peer- cricketer, lawyer & politician - during WW11 responsible for West Indians employed in GB factories Princess Adenrele Ademole - a Nigerian princess trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital during WW11. Her patients called ‘fairy’. Adelaide Hall - American born UK based jazz singer and entertainer - one of the first entertainers to enter Germany before the war had officially ended - *Creole Love Call(1927) famous recording - career of 70 years - died aged 92 Philip Louis Ukric Cross DSO DFC, a Trinidadian, nicknamed The Black Hornet is often recognised as the most decorated Caribbean airman of WW11. He was a navigator and became an expert at precision bombing. By the end of the war he had flown 80 missions over Germany and occupied Europe. John Jellicoe Blair DFC - a Jamaican was also a navigator.He flew in Halifax Bombers flying from Yorkshire. He flew 33 missions over Europe during WW11. Ended war as a Flight lieutenant. Lilian Bader - enlisted in 1939 but dismissed after 7 weeks- reason father not born in UK. Later, when she heard RAF were taking citizens of West Indian descent she applied again and became one of the first black women to join the RAF- Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She trained in instrument repair - a trade newly opened to women. In the 1960s went to evening classes,studied at London University and became a teacher. John Henry Clavell Smythe, joined RAF and trained as a navigator- did 26 bombing missions, 27 th shot down - spent 2 years in German prison. In 1948 became senior officer aboard the Empire Windrush. Awarded MBE in 1951 Birthday Honours.

Sonia Gandhi, nee Maino, (1946) is an Indian politician born in Lusiana, Veneto, Italy. She is the President of the Indian National Congress. She took over as party leader in 1998, seven years after her husband Rajiv Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India and a descendant of Mahatma Gandhi), had been assassinated in 1991. She remained in office until 2017 when their son Rahul Gandhi became president. He resigned in 2019 and Sonia became president again. She is widely described as one of the most powerful politicians in the country and is often listed among the most powerful women in the world Veronica Michelle Bachet Jeria (b 1951) served as President of Chile from 2006-2010, and 2014-2018. She is the first woman to hold the Chilean presidency and the first female leader in South America. She is the first president of Chile to be elected since 1932. Rogoberta Menchu (b1959) is a K’iche Guatemalan human rights activist, feminist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala’s indigenous people. She founded the country’s first indigenous political party - Winaq. She is the first Maya Indigenous woman to ever run in a Guatemalan election. In 2007 and 2011 she was a candidate for the presidential election. She lost in the first round on both occasions but Winaq succeeded in becoming the first indigenous political party of Guatemala.

Information from Wikipedia about 9 great Asian leaders. Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC) first emperor of unified China Genghis Khan (c1158-1227) - originally known as Temujin, founder of the Mongol Empire - often regarded to be one of the greatest conqueror of all time. Timur (1336-1405) - first ruler and founder of the Timurid Empire - an undefeated commander and regarded as one of the greatest military leaders and tacticians in history. patron of educational and religious institutions. Kublai Khan (1215 -1294) - founder and first emperor of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1294) - first non-Han emperor to unite all of China Babur (1483-1530), born Zahir ud-Din Muhammad. founder and first emperor of the Mughal dynasty (c 1526-30) in the Indian subcontinent- national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Oda Nobunaga (1534- 1582) - regarded as the the first ‘Great Unifier’ of Japan. Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) -first monarch of the Empire of Japan- instigated the transformation of Japan from an isolationist, feudal state to an industrialized world power. Mahatma Gandhi (1869- 1948 - an Indian lawyer, anti-colonialist and political ethicist who employed non violent resistance to successfully lead India’s independence from British rule. Bapu - father - he was considered to be the *Father of the Nation * in India. Mao Zedong - Chairman Mao (1893-1976) - founding father of the People’s Republic of China - a controversial figure- regarded as one of the most important individuals of the 20th century - credited with transforming china from a semicolony to a powerful sovereign state with increased literacy and life expectancy.

Septimuis Severus (145-211) was born in Libya and became emperor of Rome from 193-211. He travelled to GB in 208. He strengthened Hadrian’s Wall and reoccupied the Antonine Wall. He invaded Scotland but fell fatally ill of an infectious disease and died on 4th February 211. Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761-1804) was born into slavery. Her ‘father’ was Sir John Lindsay who returned to England with her in 1765. She became a British heiress and a member of the Lindsay family of Evelix. She lived for 31 years at Kenwood House. Two of her sons were employed by the East India Company - William Thomas in England and Charles in India. Maharaja Sir Duleep Singh (1838-1893) was exiled to Britain aged 15. He was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He was befriended by Queen Victoria and she became godmother to several of his children. In June 1861 he was one of the first 25 knights in the Order of the Star of India. He died young, living most of his final years in the UK…

The History of the Asian Community in Britain is an excellent book - 45 pages of information- including 13 ‘case studies’ plus pictures. it begins in 1630s and takes through to Apache Indian -Steven Kapurat the beginning of the 21st century. ISBN 0750-32736-3. It was updated by Hodder Wayland in 2005. With a new cover it was updated in 2021. I have looked through the book and then gone into Wikipedia to find out extra information to cut down the research. East India Company appears for the first time on page 4. Abdul Karim - the Munshi is mentioned on page 9 Ayahs- Asian nannies are mentioned on pages 10/11. Lascars - Indian sailors are mentioned on pages 12/3. Kharchedji Rustomji Cama is mentioned on page 16 Cornelia Sorabji, the first woman to study law in Britain also o page 16 Rahjitsnhji, the cricketer, on page 17. Sophia Duleep Singh, a prominent suffragette, on page 24. Pedlars on page 30 Apache Indian (Steven Kapur) p45 This is my first attempt at Asian History’ !0 Case Studies mentioned in the book to follow. Work on Great Asian Leaders and Heroes to follow later.

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Bornfree - a slave in Dutch speaking Ulster County, New York. A former slave, bought and sold 4 times, became an outspoken advocate for temperance, civil and women’s rights in the nineteenth century. She ran away with her infant daughter Sophia. The abolitionist family, the Van Wageners, bought her freedom for $20 in 1827 - the year before New York’s law freeing slaves took effect. During the American civil war she played a major role in recruiting African-American soldiers to fight for the Union ( northern states) against the Confederacy (southern states) Her work earned her an invitation to meet President Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was the most important Black protest leader in the USA during the first half of the 20th century. W.E.B. Du Bois was an American socialist, historian, author, editor and activist. shared in the creation of the NAACP ( National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The Soul of Black Folk (1903)- a collection of essays - was a landmark of African American literature He was the editor of The Crisis ** for 24 years (1910-34). It contained many influential pieces. His autobiography Dusk of Dawn (1940) is regarded as one of the first scientific treaties in the field of American sociology. The United States Civil Rights act of 1964, enacted a year after his death, embodied many of the reforms he had campaigned for during hie life full equal civil rights and political representation for the black population. Sources used Britannica Online Encyclopedia Wikipedia

Rosa Parks is best known for refusing to move to the back of the bus. She was an American civil rights activist. She came from Montgomery where her young pastor was Martin Luther King. She lived to be 92. She was laid in state in the rotunda of the U.S. capital. She was the first woman and only the second Black person to receive the distinction, Source used Encyclopedia Britannica

Titanic - picture and vocabulary

A brief look at the history of the Union Jack in colour with flags to colour… The Union Flag better known as the Union Jack is the flag of the United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is one of the most famous flags in the world. Today it still retains an official or semi-official status in some of the Commonwealth Countries. It is found on the canton (upper left quarter) of many of their national flags. It is part of many ensigns (flags flown by a ship or submarine). The whole flag, or as a canton, appears on British empire and overseas territories, crown dependencies, diplomatic, government, governors and a few miscellaneous flags. Illustrated by David Woodroffe Information from Tony Batchelor

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was an abolitionist, civil rights activist, feminist and advocate of Social justice. He travelled to Britain in 1845 for 19 months, lecturing against slavery in the USA. Frederick was born on a plantation in Talbot County. He was born a slave. His birth name was Frederick Bailey. he did not know who was his father or the exact date of his birth. He later picked 14th February as his birthday and estimated he was born in 1818. Aged 7 he was sent to live at the Wye House plantation. His mother died when he was 10. Eventually he went to Baltimore to serve the Auld family. Sophia Auld started to teach him how to read. It was against the law and her husband her from teaching him. Frederick was an intelligent young man and taught himself how to read and write by observing others and watching white children. He read in newspapers about slavery, He taught others to read which got him into trouble and he was moved to another farm where he was beaten by the slave owner to break his spirit. In 1838 he escaped. He disguised himself as a sailor and carried papers to show he was a free black seaman. On 3rd September he boarded a train for the north. 24 hours later he arrived in New York a ‘free’ man. He married Anna Murray and took the surname of Douglas. They settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. There he met abolitionists - people who wanted to abolish slavery. He became an excellent speaker on the subject and became famous but feared of being captured and returned to slavery. In 1845 he travelled to Ireland and Britain lecturing against slavery in the USA. He became embroiled in controversies due to his electrifying capacity as an oratory and performer. He returned to the USA a free man, British abolitionists purchased his legal freedom. He also spoke about Women’s Rights. He attended the first ever women’s rights convention at Seneca falls, New York in 1948. During the Civil War 1961-6 he fought for the rights of black soldiers. When the Soth announced they would execute or enslave any captured black soldier he insisted that President Lincoln should respond- he responded by threatening to execute like for like. Frederick also sought equal pay and treatment for black soldiers. He wrote an autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, It became a best seller, He later wrote 2 more books about his life. Frederick died on 20th February 1895, aged 77 (?) from either a heart attack or stroke. His legacy lives on in his writings and monuments named after him. NOTE This is just a simple summary. There are 38 pages on Frederick Douglas on Wikipedia giving far more detail. Sources used Wikipedia Biography for Kids

James Fraser McLuskey (1914-2005) is known as Parachute Padre because he was awarded the Military Cross, during WWII, while with Special Air Services (SAS). He was a British Church of England minister who served as a military chaplain with the SAS during WWII. He later went on to become the minister of St. Columba’s, (1960-86) the larger of the Church of Scotland’s two congregations in London. He also served for one year as Moderator of the General Assembly (1983-4). He was born in Edinburgh on 19th September 1914. His family moved to Aberdeen where his father ran a laundry business. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School (1920-31), He returned to Edinburgh to take degrees in divinity and art. Fraser McLuskey, as he was known, spent several months on a travel scholarship where he became interested in the Confessional Church in Germany - church opposed to Hitler and the Nazis. Here he met his first wife, Irene Calaminus, the pastor’s daughter. Ordained in 1938 to be the Scottish secretary of the Student Christian Movement. In 1939 he became chaplain to the University of Glasgow (1939-47). In 1942/3 he took leave of absence to become an Army Chaplain. After parachute training he was posted to the SAS. He served in France, Germany and Norway and was awarded the Military Cross. ( See Independent for ‘citation’) His war time experiences can be read in Parachute Padre; Behind German Lines with the SAS: France 1944 ( See AbeBooks) Back in Britain he travelled throughout the country visiting families of men lost in action with the SAS, explaining the circumstances of their death. 1947-50 he was sub-warden at the Royal Army Chaplains’ Training Centre. He then returned to Scotland. He went first to Broughty Ferry East. In 1955 to New Kilpatrick on the outskirts of Glasgow where he had a congregation of 2,0000, While there his first wife, Irene, died of breast cancer. leaving him had 2 teenage boys to look after. In 1960 he moved to St. Columbia’s, Pont Street, London where he was involved in many Scots church and ecumenical activities. His first priorities were in preaching the pastoral work. . He believed in having Church of Scotland outposts in London so he united with the kirk in Dulwich. He also had a link with St. Andrew’s, Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1966 he married a divorced widow. Ruth Briant As moderator of the General Assembly 1983/4 he received the Queen at the centenary service of his church. He represented the Kirk at the reunion assembly in Atlanta of the Northern and Southern American Presbyterian churches. After 25 years at St. Columbia’s he retired to Edinburgh in 1986. After his retirement he remained influential in the Kirk. a moderating force in political matters and a supporter of a more evangelical approach. He spent his free time traveling the countryside where he had been with the SAS in WWII. Fraser McLuskey, the Parachute Padre, took his last jump: he died on the 24th July, 2005, aged 90.

Anne Askew, (married name Anne Kyme (1521-1546) was an English writer, poet and Protestant martyr. She was condemned as a heretic in England during the reign of Henry VIII. She is the only woman on record known to have been tortured in the Tower of London and burnt at the stake. She is also one of the earliest female poets to compose in the English language. She is the first woman to demand divorce using scriptural grounds. Anne was born in 1521 in Lincolnshire, England. Her father was Sir William Akew a gentleman in the court of Henry VIII. Her father arranged for her eldest sister Martha to marry Thomas Kyme. Martha died before the marriage so to save money her father had Anne married to him instead. Anne was a devout Protestant, studying the Bible and memorizing Biblical verses and remained true to her beliefs for the whole of her life. Her pronouncements against transubstantiation ( the belief that the bread and wine at Holy Communion actually changed into the body and blood of Christ) created controversy in Lincoln. Her husband was Catholic. They had 2 children before he threw her out for being a Protestant - alleged that she was seeking divorce so this did not upset her. In London she was a ‘gospeler’ or a preacher to all. March 1545 husband had her arrested. He demanded she returned to Lincolnshire but sh escaped. Early 1546 arrested then released. May 1546 arrested and tortured in the Tower of London. 18th June 1546 convicted of heresy and condemned to be burned at the stake. 16th July 1546 martyred in Smithfield, London (Read ‘Background on 1546’, ‘Plain speaking’, ‘Arrest and interrogation’ plus ‘Execution’) Those who watched her execution were impressed by her bravery. Anne listened to BIshop Shaxton when he preached from the pulpit. She audibly expressed agreement when he spoke anything considered truth. Anything contrary she exclaimed There he misseth, and speaketh without the book She did not scream until the flames reached her chest. After her death Anne Askew’s autobiographical and publishished Examinations - in its original form - chronicle her persecutions and offer a unique look into 16th century femininity, religion and faith. (Read ‘Legacy’ and ‘Examinations’) Anne Askew was an intelligent, articulate Christian woman who used written Scripture as her defence. *God hath geven me the gyfte of knowledge, but not of utterance, And Salomon sayth, that i Wolde not throw pearles amonge swyne, for acornes were good ynoubh * Matthew ch7 v 6

Jane Mathison Haining (1897-1944) was a Scottish missionary for the church of Scotland in Budapest, Hungary. On 17th July 1944 she died in the infamous German concentration camp of Auschwitz. Jane, born on 6th June 1897, at Lochenhead farm, Duncore, Dumfrieshire, Scotland was the fifth child of Thomas and Jane Mathison. Her mother died giving birth to their sixth child in 1902, Jane was about 5. She grew up as a member of the Craig Church in Dunscore, part of the United Free church of Scotland. In 1909 she won a scholarship to Dunfries Academy where she boarded in the Moat Hostel for Girls. She graduated as the school’s dux (top pupil). After graduating she trained at the Athenaeum Commercial College in Glasgow. From 1917-27 she worked in Paisley for J.and P. Coats Ltd, a thread manufacturer, first as a clerk then as a secretary. She attended Queen’s Park West United Free church and taught Sunday School. This is when she thought about becoming a missionary. In 1927 she attended a meeting in Glasgow of the Jewish Mission Committee where the Rev. Dr. George Mackenzie discussed his missionary work. I have found my lifework! she reportedly said to a friend. Jane continued to work at Coats for nearly a year and a half - her manager at work was ill (5 months) and it took a year to train her replacement. She then did a 1 year diploma course at Glasgow College for Domestic Science in domestic science and housekeeping. After this she worked temporarily in Glasgow and then in Manchester as a matron. In 1932 she saw an ad in Life and Work for a matron in a Jewish girls’ mission school in Budapest, Hungary. ( See ‘Secretarial work, retraining’) She went for further training at St. Colm’s Women Missionary College in Edinburgh. her dedication service happened on 19th June 1932. The next day she left for Budapest. Jane liked Hungary and Budapest and soon became fluent in the language. She dedicated herself to helping helping her pupils Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30th January 1933. She was well liked by both her pupils and colleagues who regarded her as the best matron they had ever known. WW11 broke out on 3rd September 1939. Jane was on holiday in Cornwall with Margit Prem, the head of the school in Budapest. They immediately returned to Budapest. In 1940 she was advised to return home. She stayed saying Hungary was neutral. In 1941 Jewish refugees, from all over German occupied Europe, fled to Hungary to escape the Holocaust. On 19th March 1944 the German Wehrmacht invaded Hungary. Late April, early May, 1944 the Gestapo arrived. ( See ‘Arrest’ for charges) 15th May deported to Auschwitz - given no. 79467. Selected for work rather than gas chamber. 17th July died in hospital of cachexia and intestinal catarrh. In 1997 Jane was recognised by Yad Vashem in Israel as Righteous Among the Nations.

Alfred the Great was the king of th e West Saxons from 871-886 and king of the Anglo-Saxons c.886-899. He is venerated as a saint by some Christian traditions. The Anglican community venerate him as a Christian hero with a feast day or commemoration on 26th October. He is often depicted in stained glass windows in C of E parish churches. Alfred was the youngest son of King AEthelwulf. Three of his brothers AEthelbald. AEtheberht and AEthelred, reigned in turn before him. After ascending the throne he spent several years fighting Viking invasions. In 878/9 he had a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington. (He did not win all the battles) With the Vikings he created Danelaw in the North of England. He saw the Viking leader. Guthrum converted to Christianity. He became the dominant ruler in England Alfred had a great love of the church. As a child he had made the difficult journey to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. As king he now turned to rebuilding of civilisation and religion among his people. The Danes had destroyed nearly all th churches and schools in the land. He restored communications with Rome and invited scholars and monks from the Europe and Ireland to come and help in the revival of learning in England. He encouraged the building of churches, monasteries and schools. Alfred studied and translated into Anglo-Saxon the Psalms. He also translated from Latin into Old English certain works that were regarded at the time as providing models of ideal Christian kingship and ‘most necessary for all men to know.’ From his followers he won the title ‘Protector of the Poor’. Bishop Asser of Wales was set the task of writing the king’s biography - he emphasised Alfred’s positive aspects. He presented Alfred as the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. By the time of the Reformation Alfred was seen as a pious Christian who promoted the use of English rather then the Latin He was given the epithet as ‘the Great’ by writers in the 16th century not by his contemporaries. He reigned for 30 years. He died aged just 50.King Alfred was never canonised (although HenryV1 asked Pope EugeneIV in 1441 to canonise him). History Today published an article The Most Perfect Man in History- I have enclosed most of the article. I desire to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works Alfred’s translation of passage from* Consolation of Philosophy* by Boethius Source used Wikipedia

The British nationality Act of 1948 gave citizens of the UK and Colonies status and the right of settlement in the UK. This resulted that between 1948=1970 nearly half a million people moved form the Caribbean to Britain which faced sever labour shortages after WW11. These immigrants were later referred to as the Windrush generation. because many of them had come to the UK on the ship called HMT Empire Windrush. The only official records of many ‘windrush’ immigrants when they had originally come to the UK were the landing cards which were collected when they disembarked from ships in UK ports. Over subsequent decades these cards were routinely used by British immigration officials to verify dates of arrival for borderline immigration cases. Any one from the Commonwealth, who arrived before 1973 was granted an automatic right to remain, unless they left for more than 2 years. For the next 40 years anyone in that category were never given or asked to provide documentary evidence of their right to remain. In 2009 landing cards were earmarked, by the Labour government , for destruction, as part of a broader clean up of paper records. It was implemented in 2010 by the incoming coalition government. Whistleblowers and retired immigration officers warned managers there would be a problem- these cards were the only record of their arrival. Theresa May was Home Secretary when the hostile environment policy was introduced in October 2012. The idea was to reduce UK immigration figures promised in the 2010 Conservative Manifesto. (See hostile environment policy) In 2018 we had the Windrush scandal. People were wrongly detained, denied legal rights,lost jobs or homes, passports confiscated, denied medical care, threatened with deportation. At least 83 cases cases were wrongly deported -many of those affected had been born British subjects and had arrive in the UK before 1973. These were part of the 'Windrush generation. Since then a hardship scheme has been set up by the Home Office Those classified as illegal immigrants were to be compensated scheme. Very little of the £200 -£570 million set aside has been paid up -just £46,795 ( See Hardship scheme) On 19th March 2020 the Windrush Lessons Learned Review concluded that the Home Office showed an inexcusable ’ ignorance and thoughtlessnes’ and what had happened had been ’ foreseeable and avoidable’. (See W L L Review) November 2020 the Equality and Human Rights Commission said the Home Office had broken the law by failing to obey public-sector equality duties by not considering how the policies affected black members of the Windrush generation. Dexter Bristol and Paulette Wilson are 2 examples of how the ‘Windrush generation’ were seriously let down.

Saint Oswald ( c.604-642)was king of Northumbria (634-642) until his death and is venerated as a saint. As a youth he was exiled to Iona, Columbia’s island, in the Scottish kingdom of Dal Riata in Northern Britain, where he was converted to Christianity. His brother Eanfrith became king of Bernicia but was killed by Cadwallon in 633/4 after attempting to negotiate peace. Oswald fought Cadwallon in the battle at Heavenfiels, near Hexham. He had a vision of Columba before the battle which he described to his council. They all agreed to be baptized and accept Christianity after the battle. Before the battle he erected a wooden cross. He knelt down, holding the cross in position until enough earth had been thrown to make it stand firm. He then prayed and asked his small army to join him. In the battle which followed Oswald was victorious. Cadwallon was killed. The tall, fair, blued eyed King Oswald reunited Norhthumbria and re-established the Berniccian supremacy. He established himself as the most powerful king in Britain. Adomnan describes Oswald as ‘ordained by God as Emperor of all Britain’. He was able to speak the 4 languages of Britain- Britons, Scots, Picts and English. He was on good terms with the West Saxons. He stood sponsor tot the baptism of king Cynegils and married his daughter Kyneburga. Oswald asked for a bishop from the Irish of Dal Riata. The first, an ‘austere’ bishop, was not successful. The second, Aidan proved to be very successful. He was given the island of Lindisfarne as his episcopal see. The Venerable Bede mentions that Oswald initially interpreted Aidan’s preaching because he did not know English well. Bede recounts Oswald’s generosity to the poor and strangers. One Easter, while dining with Aidan. he hears from a servant that there is a crowd in the streets begging for alms from the king. Oswald gives his * silver dish full of dainties* to them and the dish is broken up. Aidan is so impressed he takes Oswald’s right hand and says May this hand never perish. Saint Oswald died fighting the pagan Mercians under Penda in 642 in the battle of Maserfoeld. Bede says he ended his life in prayer when he realised he was about to die. His head and limbs were placed on stakes. His bones were dispersed as relics, but his head was buried at Lindisfarne - later taken to Durham when the monks fled before the Danish invasion. . After his death, according to Bede, the site where he died * Oswestry or Oswald’s Tree became associated with miracles and legend. Sources used The Churches Year by Charles Alexander Wikipedia

John Herschel Glenn Jr. (18th July 1821-8th December 2016) was the first American to orbit the earth . He orbited the earth 3 times. He named his spacecraft ‘Friendship 7’ it happened on the 20th February because there had been 10 postponements because of bad weather or technical problems. During the flight a warning light came on to say that the capsule’s vital heat shield was loose but entry and splashdown went smoothly. He went on to become a democratic US Senator for Ohio (1974-1998). Aged 77 he flew into space again.

In 1941 penicillin was used for the first time on a human. Albert Alexander was a policeman from Oxford. he had a sever facial infection. His condition improved but supplies of penicillin ran out and died. Alexander Fleming and Ernest Chain shared a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for their pioneer work in penicillin. Source used On This Day The history of the World in 366 days