As we waved goodbye to the "noughties" and welcomed a new decade, we also decided to move server, and had much more downtime than anticipated so many apologies for not being able to get on the site and post and read information - we hope that all is now back up and running smoothly and that we will go forward with no more interruptions!
A New Year is always a time of looking forward, and looking back, and it is worth remembering that on January 20th 2009, the world watched as the United States of America inaugurated its 44th president, Barack Obama. As the first African American president (whose mother Stanley Ann Durham was predominantly of English descent) we saw history in the making.
This year at British Local History we will be starting the year, slightly later than anticipated and with the thought of the recent snowy barrage of the UK which saw Britain grind to a standstill, that we would remember the severe storm which created the North Sea Flood on January 31st 1953.
In February we will move on to history repeating itself - with the recent political debate surrounding the use of identity cards being reintroduced after their abolishment in February 1952.
By March most of us will have forgotten our New Year's Resolutions to get fit, but if you were considering competing in the London Marathon (which was first run on 29th March 1981) it would be time to begin training in earnest!
Everyone will no doubt be aware that the 19th FIFA World Cup will be taking place in South Africa this year (and if you weren't aware, you are now!) but did you know that the English Football League was established on 22nd March 1888?
On April 2nd 1977 everyone's favourite 'steeple chaser' Red Rum won a record breaking 3rd Grand National - we'll be looking at this and horse-racing more nearer the time.
Going from our most famous four legged record holder, we move to 6th May 1954 where a certain Roger Bannister who finally broke the 4 minute mile on just two legs.
During the month of May we will also remind ourselves of Sir Francis Chichester, the famous aviator and sailor who successfully completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe on May 28th 1967.
The most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, Charles John Huffam Dickens dies on June 9th 1870 aged 58 in Higham, Kent - his works obviously still hold steadfast ground today..
As we head towards the warmer summer months and the longest day, fans of cricket may remember the excitement of Ian Botham becoming the first cricketer to score a century and take eight wickets in one innings of a Test Match in 1978.
This is just a taster of what is to come from the team at BritishLocalHistory.com. We would love to hear more from you so please keep the stories coming and help us keep history alive!
May we take this opportunity to wish you all a slightly delayed yet happy, healthy and historical 2010!
From all the BritishLocalHistory.com Team.