1980  Queen Juliana of the Netherlands abdicated in favour of her daughter Beatrix

Remember Vic and Mary Stanbrook cycling the 3,750 miles and seven countries of the North Sea Cycle Route in 2006?  Bernie Friend who is from Southend (but we won't hold that against him) rode it solo and then wrote a book about it.

fr 25 ap 08

1792  Nicolas Pelletier became the first Frenchman to be executed by the guillotine

21 Market Hill in Framlingham changed earlier this year and no longer sells children's clothes but now deals in collectables and quirkynesses.  It's open Tuesday (market day), Friday and Saturday.  Definitely worth a peek, and not just because of the new proprietors' interesting dress sense.

fr 18 ap 08

What was Vanilla on the mini roundabout in Framlingham is getting a face lift to become Charlie Bear's Children's Clothes, clothes for children older than those catered for at Ruby and Ted just down the road we're told.

we 16 ap 08

1912  Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly the English Channel

... but the same night back home from Thailand for a few weeks Haggis and Rinda will be at the Framlingham White Horse for The Outlaws (Oh no, that's the wrong Outlaws) gig ...

su 13 ap 08

1741  The Royal Military Academy was established at Woolwich ... it moved to Sandhurst later

fr 11 ap 08

1939  Darts was banned in Glasgow pubs as too dangerous

Strictly rumour but gossip has it that Hopkins Homes submitted a planning application for the Bibby's site in Station Road, Framlingham yesterday.

su 6 ap 08

1896  The Olympic games were revived by Pierre de Coubertin

Sorry to keep banging on about this but the SNYB were sounding pretty

damn good in rehearsal yesterday for tonight's concert.  More pics here.

fr 4 ap 08

1981  Oxford won the Boat Race with the first woman cox - Susan Brown

Oh poo!  We now have to be in a large town near Chelmsford this Sunday so we can't use our two tickets for the South Norfolk Youth Band concert this Sunday.  Tell you what we'll put them on the notice board in the Framlingham Solar for someone else to use and enjoy.

we 2 ap 08

1967  Secret diarist Adrian Mole was born

Lots of reasons to see the South Norfolk Youth Band including there's lots of players, it's great to see young people enjoying music making, they've got a broad repertoire and this concert includes the Band and Bugles of the Rifles but the main reason is it's a very enjoyable experience.  They're playing at Fram College this Sunday and you can win two tickets here.

mo 31 mr 08

1889  The Eiffel Tower was completed

The Brewer saw a plumber's white van parked by Andy Tiernan's in Framlingham last week.  The Brewer knew it was a plumber's van because it had the large grey plastic pipe on top for moving copper pipe about ... written on the side of the plastic pipe was www.snakedelivery.com

Written in the dirt on the back of a white van our favourite graffito is This vehicle is powered by Olivia Newton John's knicker elastic.

th 20 mr 08

1987  Towser, a cat employed by the Glenturret Distillery, died having killed an estimated 28,899 mice in her lifetime

A Framlingham woman has been charged with stealing a dog.

mo 17 mr 08

1949  Clothes rationing ended in the UK

Framlingham Castle was getting a final brush up this morning for the press morning to show off its makeover; new exhibits, new audio guides for both groanies and sprogs, new games for all the family to take out on the grass, gone is the sentry box just inside the gate; and Lord Bruce-Lockhart fulfilling his first public duty as English Heritage's chairman; expect to see it on Anglia tv.

we 12 mr 08

1935  The 30mph speed limit for built-up areas was introduced

The Lion's Den may have closed (yes they're digging up Castle Street again) but unlike Hacheston Framlingham isn't losing a shop as the former LD will almost certainly become an ice cream parlour.  Kate was extremely pleased at this prospect but not impressed by this summer's Maverick Festival as she doesn't like that sort of music.  Give it a try is our advice.