this is the week that was
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Your support makes all the difference.18 March:
1913: John Steinbecker of western Texas, is granted US patent, No 1056602, for his mechanical scarecrow, with a wind-driven system of cogs that operate an automatic gun-firing mechanism for "scaring off birds".
1918: Prince Philip of Greece becomes a naturalised Briton.
1935: The 30mph speed limit is introduced for drivers in built-up areas.
1989: Britain's first National Fat Women's Conference is held.
19 March:
721BC: According to Ptolemy, the date of the first eclipse recorded by the Babylonians.
1928: The Industrial Fatigue Research Board declares that a cup of tea aids efficiency and curbs industrial discontent.
20 March:
1780: James Watt invents the duplicator. It was necessary in order to deal with the increased work load caused by his invention of the steam engine.
1809: Mary Bateman is executed at York. A crowd of 2,500 people pay threepence each to see the body at Leeds infirmary where it is dissected and the skin tanned and distributed.
1941: The BBC lifts its ban against employing conscientious objectors.
21 March:
1923: French scientists maintain that smoking is beneficial, claiming that nicotine acts as an anti-bacterial agent.
22 March:
1774: "Baa, baa, black sheep" is published in "Tommy Thumb's Song Book" by Mrs Mary Cooper.
1906: England beat France by 35-8 in the first rugby union international.
1907: The first taximeters appear in London cabs.
1907: The New York Post dismisses Debussy's music as "the dreariest kind of rubbish".
23 March:
1861: London's first trams come into operation. They are designed by Mr Train of New York.
1891: Goal nets (invented by J A Brodie of Liverpool) are first used in an FA Cup final.
1923: Publication of the song "Yes, we have no bananas" (words and music by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn).
1925: The State of Tennessee bans the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution.
24 March:
1877: The only dead heat in the Boat Race.
1958: Elvis Presley joins the army.
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