Traffic lights date as MPs stand at crossroads of history
Politics will dominate the week once again with tomorrow’s meaningful vote in the House of Commons but there are other stories making the news, writes Neil Hudson
Today sees the 150th anniversary of the world’s first traffic lights, which were installed in Parliament Square in London in 1868. They were invented by railway signal engineer J P Knight and were operated manually and powered by gas. A flaw in their design led to a gas leak and an explosion, which killed the police officer operating them. It was a false start for the traffic management system, which fell out of use for 30 years, eventually being taken up again in the US.
However, it’s worth noting that the world’s first fully automated traffic light system was tested and implemented on Park Row in Leeds in 1928. It improved road safety immeasurably, replacing the gas light system and taking human error out of the equation altogether. The lights were nicknamed ‘robots’ by the locals of the time.
Today will also see the auction of a doll once owned by the Queen and a gown worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. The Passion for Fashion sale also includes three floral dresses and other items worn by a young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Diana’s ivory Emmanuel silk evening gown, which the princess wore on an official visit to Bahrain in 1986, is expected to fetch up to £100,000.
Wednesday will see the beginning of the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, in which 28 boats will set off from the Canary Islands to row 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic, finally docking in Antigua. The fastest crews are expected to complete the journey in about five weeks, while others may take up to 90 days. Two crews from Yorkshire will be among the competitors, all of whom raise money for charity. More people have climbed Mount Everest and been into space than have rowed across the Atlantic. This newspaper will carry a special feature about the event, including interviews with crew members on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex will join a discussion about youth violent crime. Charles and Harry will meet Pride of Britain winner Omar Sharif, who rose from a life embroiled with gangs in London, and the pains of being homeless, to running his own personal fitness business. The Prince and the Duke will also speak with Prince’s Trust Ambassadors, families of victims of youth violent crime and community groups and practitioners at Clarence House.
A little light relief arrives mid week in the form of the European premiere of Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manual Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw, Meryl Streep and Colin Firth.
The premier will take place at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
The original, starring Julie Andrews, was released on December 23, 1964.
Wednesday also sees the beginning of awards season, with the nominations for the Screen Actors’ Guild announced in the US. The awards themselves will take place in January, along with the Golden Globes, swiftly followed in February by the British Film Academy Awards and then the Oscars.
Tuesday will see the long awaited meaningful vote on Brexit in the House of Commons (assuming there are no last minute hiccups). MPs are expected to reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s EU Withdrawal Agreement, which could spark a ‘constitutional crisis’ and lead to any number of political perturbations. What happens afterwards is anyone’s guess… POP UP: