Robert FitzRoy - sea captain who also founded the Met Office
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy, born in 1805 in Suffolk, was a distinguished 19th-century British naval officer, meteorologist, and explorer.
Six Things on
The Ridgeway - walking in the footsteps of the ancients
The Ridgeway is an ancient trackway described as Britain's oldest road running from Wiltshire to the Thames at Streatley. It has been extended to Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns to form an 87 mile National Trail.
John Taylor & Co. The largest bell foundry in the world
Since 1859, Loughborough Bellfoundry, home to John Taylor & Co bellfounders, has cast more than 25,000 bells hung in the cathedrals, churches, universities and public buildings of over 100 countries.
The Silver Birch - a robust and gracious British native tree
The silver birch is a slender elegant medium-sized British native tree. Famed for its white bark and its catkin blossoms and an attractive sight in its natural habitats, the tree is an increasingly popular choice as a decorative addition to new urban developments, as it grows very quickly and copes with a wide range of conditions.
Did a Welsh prince discover America?
Whilst it was generally believed that Columbus was the first European to discover America in 1492, it is now well known that Viking explorers reached parts of the east coast of Canada around 1100. What is less well known is that a Welshman may have followed in their footsteps, this time bringing settlers with him to Mobile Bay in modern day Alabama.
Punch and Judy - much-loved traditional miniature theatre
Punch and Judy is a traditional British puppet show featuring Mr. Punch and his wife Judy, and a number of supporting characters. Enjoyed by generations of children, it has become a seaside favourite. The performance, run by a single puppeteer from a small booth or tent, consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically Mr. Punch and one other, who usually falls victim to Punch's slapstick.
Six things to delight and entertain you every day.