Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.This week. May 19th – May 25th
- 20th of May 1948. It used to be a German owned boat, used throughout the Second World War. But in May 1948 the HMT Empire Windrush first set sail from the Caribbean, bringing new settlers to the United Kingdom.
- 20th of May 1570. The Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius changes how we viewed the world with the publication of his atlas, the 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum'.
- 21st of May 1916. William Willett spent his years campaigning against the 'Waste of Daylight’ but was not around to see British Summer Time introduced in 1916.Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Jane Steel
Produced by Stuart Ross and Kerry McCarthy
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5:36
May 12 - May 18
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.This week. May 12th – May 18th
- 13th of May 1981. While conducting blessings to a crowd in St Peter's Square, Pope John Paul the Second is shot four times in front of twenty thousand witnesses.
- 15th of May 1536. After only three years as Queen, Anne Boleyn goes on trial at the Tower of London, accused of treason, adultery, and incest.
- 14th of May 1796. Edward Jenner conducts a groundbreaking experiment on his gardener's son, creating the world's first 'vaccination', and beginning the fight against smallpox.Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown
Produced by Luke Doran
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5:26
May 5 - May 11
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.This week. May 5th – May 11th
- 8th of May 1945. Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allied forces, and Victory in Europe Day – VE Day – was declared.
- 6th of May 1937. A disaster captured in real time, as the radio reporter Herbert Morrison reports on the crash of the LZ 129 Hindenburg airship.
- 9th of May 1671. The audacious attempt of the notorious Colonel Blood to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London, the last man to ever try such a feat.Presented by Ron Brown and Viji Alles
Produced by Luke Doran and Kerry McCarthy
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5:58
April 28 - May 4
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.This week. April 28th – May 4th
- 30th of April 1945. Deep beneath the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun take their own lives. The BBC announces it in a newsflash the following day.
- 29th of April 1429. A 17-year-old peasant girl enters the siege of Orleans to defeat English forces. Nearly five hundred years later Joan of Arc is canonised and becomes a patron Saint of France.
- 1st of May 1840. The world's first postage stamp is issued. Known as the Penny Black it revolutionised the postal service and has today become a collector’s item. Presented by Jane Steel and Viji Alles
Produced by Luke Doran and Clara Nissen
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5:43
April 21 - April 27
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to lifeBBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.This week. April 21st – April 27th
- 26th of April 1986. The Chernobyl power plant saw the worst nuclear accident in history, but are we still dealing with the fall out?.
- 23rd of April 1564. It's celebrated as the birthday of one of England's greatest ever writers, but was William Shakespeare actually born on this day?
- 27th of April 1994. After decades of white minority rule under apartheid, it was the first free elections in South Africa, a day that has became known as Freedom Day.Presented by Ron Brown and Caroline Nicholls
Produced by Luke Doran
South Africa