Dateline

Westminster

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Address

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Her Majesty and Prince Philip don’t plan to retire.[/caption]

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, Her Majesty addressed both Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster. The last of the six occasions on which she has done so was her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Repeating the vow she made during her Accession in 1952, the Queen pledged to “rededicate myself to the service of our great country.” During the event, a Diamond Jubilee window was unveiled to commemorate her 60-year reign.

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The sight baffled commuters on the London Underground. Who wouldn’t be a little nonplussed running into hundreds of Smurfs on the way to the office?[/caption]

Hartlepool,Yorkshire

Smurf Invasion Arrives by Train

HUNDREDS OF HARTLEPOOL UNITED fans followed their football team 230 miles to London for the season’s final football feature against Charlton Athletic—dressed as Smurfs. The Smurf invasion moved about the city on public transport quite unselfconsciously. Pictures of the fans went viral on the internet. Dressing up for the season finale has been a Hartlepool United tradition for 25 years.

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An ornate gold and garnet cross was discovered in the 7th-century grave.[/caption]

“Extremely Rare” Anglo-Saxon Grave Discovered

The mid-7th-century grave of a teenage girl found buried with a gold and garnet cross on her chest may be one of the earliest examples of Christianity supplanting paganism among the early Anglo-Saxons. The grave was one of a cluster of four uncovered at a site south of Cambridge. Archaeologists conclude that the rare find indicates the girl was of a noble or royal family, noting, “Christian conversion began at the top and percolated down.”

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Englebert Humperdinck Represents the Nation

Something of a darkhorse, 75-year-old crooner Englebert Humberdinck is representing Britain this year in the annual Eurovision song contest. His competition entry is a song titled “Love Will Set You Free,” in the heart-rending genre of magnanimous break-up songs.

Historic Change in Succession

At the State Opening of Parliament in May, the Queen announced her Government’s intent to introduce a bill to put an end to male preference primogeniture. A future first-born child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will inherit the throne regardless of whether it is a boy or girl. The biggest overhaul in succession laws since 1688 will also abolish the ban on Royal heirs marrying Roman Catholics.

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The change in succession is prompting new interest in a royal heir[/caption]

Hackney School Goes Oxbridge

Going up to interview at Cambridge and Oxford has always been a daunting experience for kids from tough urban area schools. In order to keep students from being overawed by the unfamiliar grandeur of Oxbridge surroundings, Brook House Sixth Form College in Hackney has re-created a “Don’s Room” study, replete with leather-bound books and a bust of Julius Caesar. The room is used for tutorials and seminars as well as interviews, and is described by students as having a “cozy atmosphere.”

Greenwich

Rebirth of the Cutty Sark

[caption id="Dateline_img6" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The 19th-century ship sits in a 21st-century setting[/caption]

FOLLOWING A DISASTROUS FIRE in 2007, the legendary tea-clipper Cutty Sark has received a £50 million renovation over the last five years. Now, the historic ship has been officially reopened to welcome visitors at its traditional dry dock in maritime Greenwich. Around 90 percent of the original fabric and fittings remain on the world’s last clipper—launched on the River Clyde in 1869. Mounted on steel supports to ease the strain on its ancient hull, the ship’s underside can be seen by visitors for the first time.

1976

It was a Very Good Year

RESEARCHERS COMMISSIONED to determine what makes children the happiest have constructed a historic model based on their findings. After polling 4,000 kids and adults on what constitutes a perfect childhood year, they determined that 1976 was the best summer to be a child in Britain—a long, hot summer characterized by weekend family getaways and hours of playing outdoors.

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If the spring weather has been any indication, 2012 won’t be ranking up there with children for long hours of outdoor play and plenteous sunshine.[/caption]

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Each of the yacht’s 1,200 pieces has a story to tell.[/caption]

Emsworth, Hampshire

Olympic Yacht Launched To Fanfare

AMONG THE MYRIAD ANCILLARY activities of the Cultural Olympiad accompanying the summer games, a 30-foot yacht named Collective Spirit was launched in Emsworth in front of a cheering crowd exceeding 1,000. The boat was constructed of more than 1,200 pieces of wood, each with a story behind them. Among the offerings included in the boat’s construction are Jimi Hendrix’ guitar, a piece of Brighton’s West Pier, a fragment of the Mary Rose and a Victorian police truncheon. Collective Spirit will sail the south coast this summer before arriving in Weymouth for the Olympic yachting events in August.

Bracknell, Berkshire

April Showers Set a Record

THE RAIN AND STORMS that blanketed Britain in April haven’t been seen in 100 years—in fact, since records began in 1910. On average, the island received 5 inches of rain, twice the April average. As rivers could not contain the runoff, widespread flooding across the island created misery from the Severn Valley to York. To add extra misery, below average temperatures made it also the chilliest April in 23 years. Despite the relief the rains brought to wildlife, farmers and gardeners, drought conditions persist across much of England and are likely to continue through the summer.

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These proud swans are gliding through the flooded streets in the shadow of Worcester Cathedral.[/caption]

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Record Scottish Exports in Food and Drink

Scottish food and drink exports were pushed to an all-time high last year, thanks to a strong performance by whisky. New records saw whisky exports increase 23 percent to £4.23 billion. The United States and France remain Scotland’s largest whisky markets.

Great Britain vs. U.S.A. in Hoops

For the first time since 1948, Great Britain will field an Olympic basketball team. Prior to Olympic competition, both men’s and women’s squads will tune up on July 18 and 19 against the USA teams in Manchester Arena. This will be the first time ever the nations have met on the hardcourt in Britain.

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Buckingham Palace

Three Towns Awarded City Status

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Despite the presence of St. Asaph’s Cathedral, St. Asaph’s becomes one of Britain’s smallest cities.[/caption]

AMONG THE COMMEMORATIONS marking the Diamond Jubilee, a competition was held to award three communities with city status. The civic honors were won by Chelmsford, Perth and St. Asaph. Though the accolade is entirely honorific, it is much coveted. St. Asaph, Denbighshire, home of St. Asaph’s Cathedral, becomes one of Britain’s smallest cities—with a population of 3,500.

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City Hall, London

Mayor Boris Bucks the Trend

LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS across Britain this spring brought significant losses to the parties in the UK’s governing coalition. The dominant Conservatives saw their control of local councils slip, while the Liberal Democrats have been voted out of office and marginalized across the country. London proved the exception. Conservative mayor Boris Johnson handily defeated the former Labour mayor Ken Livingstone in a rematch of their previous context. The colorful and outspoken Mayor Boris has proven to be among the most popular and high profile Conservative political figures in the country.

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Celebrating 250 Years of the Sandwich

Yes, it’s been 250 years since the fourth Earl of Sandwich putatively invented the culinary institution, demanding meat between hunks of bread so that he wouldn’t have to leave the gaming table to eat. In commemoration of the historic event, baking chain Greggs and supermarket giant Tesco are introducing new sandwich lines. Among Tesco’s new “Best of British” sandwiches is a Yorkshire Pudding wrap, replete with roast beef, roast potato and horseradish sauce.

Corgis Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee

The popularity of Permbroke Welsh corgis, the Queen’s favorite breed, has soared this year, according to the Kennel Club. Inquiries on the breed have increased by a third in the Diamond Jubilee year. Officially, Her Majesty owns three corgis: Holly, Monty and Willow.

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Prince Charles Champions Fish & Chips

At the World Fisheries Congress in Edinburgh, Prince Charles launched a campaign to secure the future of fish and chips. “Fish and chips are a part of British culture, one of our iconic national dishes,” said the Prince in his address. “Global fish stocks are deteriorating and we cannot ignore the fact, merely carrying on as if it is business as usual.”

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The Prince of Wales has long been a vocal champion of the prudent, sustainable use of food sources.[/caption]

On Your Mark, Get Set, Mow

The 2012 British lawn mower racing season got off to a muddy start this year with the series’ spring competitions in Billinghurst, Sussex. Three classes of competition mowers in 15-lap races quickly made a quagmire of the track in soggy May. The racing season continues through September.

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The Kittyhawk P-40 sat on the desert for 70 years.[/caption]

Sahara, Egypt

RAF Fighter Preserved in Sands of Time

HISTORIANS ARE ECSTATIC at the discovery of a World War II RAF fighter plane in the Western Sahara. The Kittyhawk P-40 was found almost perfectly preserved on the desert floor, untouched since it came down in 1942—200 miles from the nearest town. The P-40’s intact identification plates have allowed researchers to track its service history. One historian has described the find as “the aviation equivalent of Tutankhamen’s Tomb.”

Cardiff

Wales Boots It for Six

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Wales celebrates the defeat of France in Cardiff.[/caption]

FOR THE THIRD TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, Wales has accomplished the remarkable Grand Slam, winning the annual Six Nations rugby tournament with victories over each of their five opponents—lastly with a 16-9 win over France. Some 250,000 fans descended on Cardiff for the match—and for the raucous celebration which followed. For now at least, Wales can lay claim to be the strongest rugby power in the Northern Hemisphere.