Patrick George Callaghan

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, was an explorer who commanded British Antarctic Expeditions of 1907 and 1914. He was Director of Equipment and Transport, Mobile Forces, during the North Russia Campaign of 1918-9. He was also Commander of the Quest Expedition of 1921, and author of “The Heart of the Antarctic” After catching Influenza, he died from heart failure in 1922. Lord Latham, Charles Latham was a Labour Leader of London County Council from 1940 until 1947. He joined the Labour Party in 1905, and in 1915 was elected President of the National Union of Clerks. He was also the Chairman on many trade concerns and a member of the London Passenger Transport Board. He was born in 1888. Sir Donald George Bradman, was Australia’s ace batsman, he scored numerous centuries since he first made 118 runs playing for New South Wales against South Australia in 1927. His highest Test score in England was 334  runs, at Leeds in 1930. His highest score was 452...

Codebreaker – Alan Turing’s life and legacy Location First Floor Suggested duration 30 mins Opening Dates Thu 21 Jun 2012 – Sun 30 Jun 2013 Cost Free More things about Communications and Computing , Physics and Maths Codebreaker is an exhibition developed by the Science Museum to celebrate the centenary of the birth of this pioneering British figure. Alan Turing is most widely known for his critical involvement in the codebreaking at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. But Alan Turing was not just a codebreaker. This British mathematician was also a philosopher and computing pioneer who grappled with the fundamental problems of life itself. His ideas have helped shape the modern world, including early computer programming and even the seeds of artificial intelligence. This exhibition tells the story of Turing and his most important ideas. At the heart of the exhibition is the Pilot ACE computer, bui...

Actress Yvonne Arnaud made her debut in 1911 at the Adelphi Theatre, London, in The Quaker Girl. Stage success followed in London and New York with The Girl in the Taxi 1912, Kissing Time 1919, Henry V 1934, Love for Love 1943, and Traveller’s Joy 1948. By 1924 she had entered films, appearing in Tons of Money, Canaries Sometimes Sing, A Cuckoo in The Nest, and many others. She was born in 1895.

Charles Spencer Chaplin – Dear Charlie Chaplin! Dear Charlie became Sir Charles Chaplin, receiving his knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1979. His film career had spanned 54 years, and in that time Charlie made a total of 81 films, only 5 were talkies and 67 were completed before his 30 th birthday. Sadly Charlie died at the good age of 88 and on Christmas Day in 1977 at his home in Vevey, Switzerland; at his bedside were Oona his fourth wife, their children, and grandchildren. Hannah Chaplin was Charles Mother and she had spent most of the later years of her life at an institute in England and for her remaining seven years she lived in the little house Charlie had bought for her close to the Pacific Ocean. Sidney Chaplin (Sid) was Charlie’s older brother and manager, he had retired to the South of France after the second world war and visit...

Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of Cork and Orrery; William Henry Boyle, was Rear Admiral Commanding the 1st Cruiser Squadron from 1926-28, and afterwards commanded the Reserve Fleet and then the Royal Naval War College 1928-32. He was First and Principal A.D.C. to the King from 1936-38. Count Maurice Maeterlinck was a Belgian poet and dramatist. He was born in Ghent in 1862 and began practising law until success followed his first poetical works Serres Chaudes in 1889. His play The Blue Bird aroused wide interest, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1911. By 1914 his works had been recorded on the papal index. Eden Phillpotts was a novelist and dramatist, who worked firstly in an insurance office then studied for the stage, but in fact became an author. He specialized in scenes of English life in Devonshire, particularly that of Dartmoor, and wrote many poems, plays, and novels. His works included The Human Boy, Children of the M...

Sir Charles Laughton. He was first a Scarborough hotel manager, then made his stage debut in 1926 in The Inspector-General. He was a Gold medalist of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and excelled in strong character parts particularly Shakespearean. His major film successes have been as Henry VIII in 1933, and as Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty. He was born in 1899. Sir Laurence Olivier first appeared at the Shakespeare Festival at Stratford-on-Avon and played with the Birmingham Repertory Company from 1925-28. He appeared at the Old Vic in 1936, and was Actor-producer in Romeo and Juliet. His many films included Wuthering Heights,   Henry V, and Hamlet. He was born in 1907. Sir Arthur Pinero was an actor from 1874 until 1881, when he became a dramatic author. He produced clever comedies at the Court Theatre, London from 1885-93 notably Sweet Lavender. Other plays included The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, The Gay Lord Quex, ...

  Baroness Emma Orczy She was a British novelist and playright of Hungarian noble origin. Famous for her books that portrayed her character of The Scarlet Pimpernel. A prolific writer, along with her husband, right up until her death in 1947.

‘Rex and Biz’ Actress Enid Stamp Taylor… And friends! Enid and two cherished companions on holiday at Portmeirion North Wales in the August of 1937. I thought it would be nice to open-up this wet June with a bright and breezy summer shot of Enid Stamp Taylor. The holiday village of Portmeirion was the setting for the famous TV series of ’The Prisoner’ starring Patrick McGoohan. Enid is pictured snapped by family members ‘The Poritts’… The architect Clough Williams-Ellis was the brainchild behind ‘Portmeirion’ – the Italianate village known as ‘The Xanadu of Wales’…  and it’s likely he was a friend to Enid.

PORTAL of Hungerford, Marshal of the R.A.F. Viscount; Charles Frederick Portal. He served for a time in the Army in the First World War, and before it ended was a Colonel in the Royal Flying Corps. He commanded the British Forces in Aden from 1934-35, and in April 1940 became A.O.C.-in-C., Bomber Command. In October of the same year he became Chief of Air Staff until 1945. He was born in 1893. Sidney Webb. Lord Passfield, was a Labour politician, Londoner by birth and an expert economist. He helped to found the London School of Economics, and as a Labour politician, he and his wife, Beatrice Webb, took active interest in unemployment and social conditions. He was President of the Board of Trade in 1924; and was Secretary for the Colonies from 1929 until 1931. He wrote several books, and was born in 1859. Auguste Piccard was a Swiss balloonist and scientist, and was the first since Coxwell and Glaisher to make a balloon ascent into the stratosphere in 1931 and a second...

Enid in Love… Posted on May 19, 2010 by Patrick | Leave a comment The simple art of the classic beauty is delightfully portrayed in this early picture of Enid Stamp Taylor. Thought to have been taken when Enid was in her late teens, it shows the deep sentimentality and loving way that she displayed throughout her short life. Tragedy beset Enid’s life; losing her younger brother at the age of only 9 years, then others members of her family. It is truly remarkable that we can now look back on this lovely lady’s life some  One Hundred Years on, and appreciate the talent and effort that she gave to the early British Film and Stage.

Col. Thomas Edward Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) later T.E. Shaw, was one of the most romantic figures of the First World War, his expert knowledge of Arab affairs led to the Government engaging him on special work. He organized and led an Arab army and held Damascus until relieved by General Allenby. Afterwards, shunning publicity, he became Aircraftman Shaw in the RAF. Sadly, he was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1935. Lord Kindersley (baron) Robert Molesworth Kindersley. At fifteen years old he began his working life as a clerk on 15 shillings a week and eventually to Governor of the Hudson Bay Company from 1916 until 1925. A Director of The Bank of England, he was High Sheriff of Sussex in 1928, and President of the National Savings Committee from 1926 until 1946. Sir Alexander Fleming was the discoverer of penicillin. He came to London from Ayrshire in the eighteen-nineties and spent some time in a shipping office before turning to medicine...

Major Sir Malcolm Campbell was the first man in a racing car to reach 150 miles per hour, on Pendine Sands, Carmarthen, in 1925. He did set up higher records in America in his famous Bluebird cars, and in June 1947 tried to beat his own speed-boat record of 141.74 miles an hour with a jet-propelled boat, but had to postpone the attempt after achieving 110 miles an hour. 1885-1949. Cyril Maude was a London born actor, but obliged for health reasons to live first in Canada and then in America. He made his first stage appearance in Denver, Colorado, and his London debut in 1888. He played many successful comedy roles over the years. 1862-1951. Sir Bernard Spilsbury was a British pathologist, crime diagnostician, and authority on forensic medicine. He took his medical degree in 1905 and lectured at St. Bartholomew’s and other London Hospitals. He was Pathologist to the Home Office for 25 years and was called in by Scotland Yard in nearly every important case of sus...

Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of Cork and Orrery; William Henry Boyle, was Rear Admiral Commanding the 1st Cruiser Squadron from 1926-28, and afterwards commanded the Reserve Fleet and then the Royal Naval War College 1928-32. He was First and Principal A.D.C. to the King from 1936-38. Count Maurice Maeterlinck was a Belgian poet and dramatist. He was born in Ghent in 1862 and began practising law until success followed his first poetical works Serres Chaudes in 1889. His play The Blue Bird aroused wide interest, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1911. By 1914 his works had been recorded on the papal index. Eden Phillpotts was a novelist and dramatist, who worked firstly in an insurance office then studied for the stage, but in fact became an author. He specialized in scenes of English life in Devonshire, particularly that of Dartmoor, and wrote many poems, plays, and novels. His works included The Human Boy, Children of the Mis...

Duke of Abercorn. James Albert Edward Hamilton. He was in the Life Guards and afterwards a Conservative MP for the City of Londonderry. In 1913 he succeeded to the title of Treasurer to the Kings Household. He was Governor of Northern Ireland for six successive years from 1922. He was born in 1869. Stephen Donoghue was one of the most famous English jockeys in racing history. He began riding in 1909 and achieved his first big success winning the Cambridgeshire stakes in 1910. He rode 143 winners in 1920 and won the Derby six times from 1915 to 1925 thus establishing a record on the turf. He was born in 1884. Amy Johnson. (Mrs. James A. Mollison) She worked for a time in a London solicitor’s office. Then after qualifying as a pilot, established her first record with a solo flight to Australia in 1930. Next year she flew to Japan and then with her husband flew to the Cape. Sadly, she perished in an air accident in 1941. She was born in 1904. Dame Sybil Thorndike....

Walter R. Hammond.   Played for Gloucestershire as an amateur cricketer in 1920, and when he turned professional in 1923 scored over a thousand runs in his first season for that county. Afterwards, he played for England against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies. John Berry Hobbs.   Starting on the ground staff of Surrey County Cricket Club, he was eventually made a playing member and excelled as a batsman. By 1935, when he retired, he had made the  then unsurpassed record of 197 centuries, including twelve in Tests against Australia. During his career he played many times for England.

Harry L. Hopkins was President Roosevelt’s closest friend and adviser and acted as his personal representative during the Second World War. He was given the responsibility of administering the Lend-Lease Bill and visited London and Moscow in 1941. He was formerly U.S.A Secretary of Commerce and born in 1890. Sir Malcolm Sargent has been called “Britain’s Ambassador of Music” He has conducted all over the world and was Conductor in Chief of The Royal Choral Society from 1928, The Halle’ Orchestra 1939-43, The Liverpool Philharmonic 1942-8 and The Huddersfield Choral Society from 1932. He was born in 1895. Bobby Howes was an English stage comedian, who began as a boy at the Battersea Palace. Later he was in a stage dancing team for two years, and with the Royal Gotham Quartette for three years. He served in the First World War and appeared in many revues and plays. He was born in 1895.

Interesting People From The Past… PORTAL of Hungerford, Marshal of the R.A.F. Viscount; Charles Frederick Portal. He served for a time in the Army in the First World War, and before it ended was a Colonel in the Royal Flying Corps. He commanded the British Forces in Aden from 1934-35, and in April 1940 became A.O.C.-in-C., Bomber Command. In October of the same year he became Chief of Air Staff until 1945. He was born in 1893. Sidney Webb. Lord Passfield, was a Labour politician, Londoner by birth and an expert economist. He helped to found the London School of Economics, and as a Labour politician, he and his wife, Beatrice Webb, took active interest in unemployment and social conditions. He was President of the Board of Trade in 1924; and was Secretary for the Colonies from 1929 until 1931. He wrote several books, and was born in 1859. Auguste Piccard was a Swiss balloonist and scientist, and was the first since Coxwell and Glaisher to make a balloon ascent into the s...

Charles Spencer Chaplin – Dear Charlie Chaplin! Dear Charlie became Sir Charles Chaplin, receiving his knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1979. His film career had spanned 54 years, and in that time Charlie made a total of 81 films, only 5 were talkies and 67 were completed before his 30 th birthday. Sadly Charlie died at the good age of 88 and on Christmas Day in 1977 at his home in Vevey, Switzerland; at his bedside were Oona his fourth wife, their children, and grandchildren. Hannah Chaplin was Charles Mother and she had spent most of the later years of her life at an institute in England and for her remaining seven years she lived in the little house Charlie had bought for her close to the Pacific Ocean. Sidney Chaplin (Sid) was Charlie’s older brother and manager, he had retired to the South of France after the second world war and visited...

Interesting People From The Past… Thomas Henry Cotton was a Golf champion. He became a professional at Langley Park in 1927. He won the Kent Professional Championship 1926-30; British Open, 1934, 1937; also Italian, German and Czechoslovak Open. He also represented Great Britain v. America in 1929 and 1937. He was born in 1907. David Herbert Lawrence was an English author and poet, best known for his works: The White Peacock (1911) Sons and Lovers (1913) The Rainbow (1915 suppressed by the police) The Plumed Serpent (1926) and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928 banned in England) He was born in 1885. Virginia Woolf was a writer and critic. In 1912 she married Leonard Woolf an author and publisher, and with him controlled the Hogarth Press, which he founded in 1917. Her works include The Voyage Out (1915) A Room of One’s Own (1929) and The Waves (1931) She was a member of The Bloomsbury Group, and was born in 1882.

Alexander Alekhine was a Russian chess player. After taking a law degree, entered the Russian Foreign Office, and served in the Red Cross in the First World War. He won the world record for blindfold chess and held championships of the world record from 1927 until his death, except for 1935-37. He was born in 1892 and wrote many books on chess. He died in 1946. Francis Dodd (R.A.) Artist. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art, and was an official artist of the First World War. His portraits of generals and admirals on active service were published in 1917, and two of his works are in the Tate Gallery, of which he was a trustee from 1929-35. He was born in 1874. Myra Hess (later Dame) was born in London. She studied the piano at the Royal Academy of Music, passing her first examination at the age of seven. Later her fine renderings of some of the earlier classics, such as Bach, Mozart, and others, brought her world-wide success as a pianist. She was born in 1890...