On This Day In British History - May 14th 1925 - Happy Birthday, Dad
A few things happened in British history, on this day.
In 1080 - William Walcher Bishop of Durham & Earl of Northumberland, was murdered. As revenge, William the Conqueror ravaged the area and took the opportunity to invade Scotland and build the castle at Newcastle Upon Tyne.
1727 - Thomas Gainsborough, English painter and founder of the English School of portrait & landscape painting, was born.
1796 - Edward Jenner became the first British physician to carry out a successful vaccination on an 8 year old boy against smallpox. His pioneering work laid the foundation for modern immunology techniques.
1847 - HMS Driver completed the first circumnavigation of the world by a steamship when it arrived back at Spithead on the Hampshire coast.
1881 - The death of Mary Jane Seacole, a British-Jamaican business woman and nurse who set up the "British Hotel" behind the lines during the Crimean War. She described it as "a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers" and provided succour for wounded servicemen on the battlefield.
1889 - The children's charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, was launched in London by Liverpool businessman Thomas Agnew.
The most important and relevant for me was
1925 - Joseph Gordon Holmes, my Father was born at Number 123 Roker Avenue, in Sunderland, then County Durham and now Tyne and Wear.
His parents were Joseph and Maggie Eva Holmes (nee Jobling)
He was an Artist, Writer, Historian, Organist, Pianist, Chorister, Local Preacher in the Methodist Church, and an overall kind, gentle, loving and humble man. But over and above all that, he was my Dad and I am proud to say so.
He has recorded his memoirs and also an historical account entitled "Six Important Years and How I Found Them" which I will publish online shortly.
Remembering you on your Birthday and always, Dad xx 💖
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