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Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs, may be a frail old man of 79 clinging on to life, but that hasn't stopped Britain denying him his release from jail. Biggs, along with his accomplices, stole £2.6 million (equivalent to £38 million today) from the Glasgow to London Royal Mail train in 1963...

The Clink - described in 1761 as "a very dismal hole" - was a notorious prison in Southwark, south-east London, which operated from the 1100s until it was burned down by rioters during the Gordon Riots of 1780. It housed both Catholic and Protestant religious non-conformists - depending on who...

Six people, including three children, have been killed after a fire ripped through a tower block in Camberwell, south London, on Friday. One of the children who died was just three weeks old. The 12-storey tower block, Lakanal House, which is occupied by around 94 flats and was built in the...

The Franklin Expedition set sail from England in 1845. Its mission was to traverse the Northwest Passage above Canada. The Royal Navy ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were assigned this task. After a few early fatalities the two ships became icebound in Victoria Strait near King William Island...

For years, the British have been complaining about the EU's barmy ban on bent bananas (which are naturally bent, of course) and other fruit and veg that the EU has deemed too wonky. EUphiles just dismissed all this as typical "EUphobe Britain" and its "EUphobe press inventing silly myths about...

According to the famous saying:" An Englishman's home is his castle" and, like anyone in a castle facing an external enemy, he will defend it by any means possible. But nobody told that to burglar Gregory McCalium. McCalium decided to break into his neighbour Frank Corti's home in Oxford...

The Great Train Robbery of 1963 is one of the most famous crimes in history. On 8th August 1963, the Glasgow to London travelling post office was robbed at Bridego Railway Bridge at Ledburn, near Mentmore, Buckinghamshire. A 15-strong gang, led by Bruce Reynolds and which included Ronnie...

When it comes to evil British killers, the Moors Murderers - Myra Hindley and Ian Brady - are right up there with Jack the Ripper, the Yorkshire Ripper, the Acid Bath Murderer, Dennis Nilsen, the Wests, Harold Shipman, Mary Ann Cotton and Beverly Allitt. In fact, only the United States has...

The families of 8000 British soldiers killed since World War II are to be given a new medal - the Elizabeth Cross. The silver medal will be in the shape of a cross and a wreath, with the symbols of England (rose), Scotland (thistle), Northern Ireland (shamrock) and Wales (daffodil) emblazoned...

Saturday was the first ever Armed Forces Day in Britain, when members of the public give their thanks to the British Armed Forces. Events were held the length and breadth of the country, from Land's End to John O'Groats. The events included marches through the streets by military personnel...

The Queen has yet again given another example why she and the monarchy are much loved whereas our corrupt politicians are much loathed, and why getting rid of the monarchy to become a republic - a form of government where a politician is Head of State, which can't be good - would be a big...

In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, celebrities and politicians the world over decided to pay their own tributes. Many did so on Twitter - including Britain's Foreign Secretary, David "Banana Boy" Miliband. Or so we thought. Britain's Sky News has been showing the Twitter messages on...

Britain's roads are amongst the safest in the world - the sixth safest in fact. Only Malta, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway have safer roads than Britain (it's interesting to note that in both Malta and Britain drivers drive on the left, and driving on the left is reputedly safer than...

The England Under21s are in the Final of the Under21 2009 European Championships after beating tournament hosts Sweden in a thrilling Semi-Final. England will play old foes Germany in the Final. England, managed by former England star Stuart Pearce, have been arguably the best team in the...

There's an advert on TV for the Specsavers opticians chain in which people who need glasses are victims of hilarious accidents, such as when a hard-of-seeing farmer is busy shearing his sheep and accidentally shears his poor old sheepdog in the process. At the end of each advert is the phrase...

During World War II, Britain planned to destroy the Nazis with a super-deadly weapon - thousands of poisoned sewing machine needles. Poisoned darts made from sewing machine needles were to rain down on German troops, in their tens of thousands, that would have brough death within minutes...

Newcastle United have unveiled their new away kit for the 2009/10 season - yellow and striped. Newcastle United - nicknamed the "Toon" - were relegated from England's top-flight division this year after being in it since 1993. Their home kit is the famous black-and-white stripes. Next year...

If you are ever walking through a green and leafy suburb of west London, and you happen to hear a high-pitched, banshee-like wail that goes through you even more than the sound of fingernails being scratched down a blackboard, it's probably a women's tennis match at Wimbledon. Like many sports...

One of the charming things about pretty little British villages is their quaint cottages with their thatched roofs. Drive through any village and there is bound to be at least one building with a thatched roof. In fact, there are more thatched roofs in Britain than any other nation in Europe...

Thousands of revellers have arrived in sunny Somerset for the 2009 Glastonbury Festival. The event, which is held on Worthy Farm near Pilton, Somerset, just six miles from the town of Glastonbury, is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. Overlooking the site...