100 years ago

The national memorial service for Captain Scott and his gallant comrades of the ill-fated Antarctic expedition was held at St Paul’s Cathedral with a solemn simplicity that was deeply impressive.

His Majesty the King, Ministers of State, and representatives of national life in many of its phases attended the service, as did also the Lord Mayor of London and the chief city dignitaries. At an early hour in the morning, groups of people commenced to assemble in the precincts of the Cathedral, and the announcement that no tickets of admission were required brought together a huge concourse soon after 9 o’clock.

All the available accommodation in the Cathedral was soon occupied, and at 10 o’clock the announcement “church full” had to be exhibited. The great gates had to be closed and there were even then some hundreds of men and women waiting on the steps in the hope that they might yet be admitted.

Flags flew at half-mast along Ludgate Hill and in the churchyard, and the sense of mourning was emphasised by the atmospheric gloom which enveloped the Cathedral and necessitated the lighting of the arc lamps. The memorial service opened with the hymn Rock Of Ages, in which the entire congregation joined.

50 years ago

Despite the collapse of the Common Market talks, it was a fair bet that more people from this country than ever before would be taking their holidays on the Continent this year.

Travel agents were working round the clock to deal with the flood of bookings – and the biggest percentage of them were for holidays in Europe. As far as price was concerned, European holidays fell roughly into two categories. The average cost of the more exclusive holiday (15 days, by air) would be in the region of £50 to £60, while the more popular holidays, with less luxurious hotels, worked out at between £40 and £50.

One very important thing to remember was that a modest continental holiday cost very little more than a moderately expensive British one.

25 years ago

Eastenders star Anita Dobson was to leave the top-rated TV series. The 37-year-old actress was said to have told the soap’s senior production staff she did not want her contract renewed when it expired in April.

Four months before, Anita, who played Dirty Den’s ex-wife Angie Watts, was quoted as saying she had “had enough” of appearing in the soap opera, which regularly attracted more viewers than any other TV programme. Leslie Grantham, who played her ex-husband Den, was also reportedly thinking of leaving to star in another TV series.