Looking Back -Royal Kidnap Attempt

On this day in 1974, Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips were returning to Buckingham Palace after attending a charity film screening in the City. As their chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce drove along Pall Mall it was forced to halt by another car which blocked the route. Six shots were fired at the royal car, injuring four people, but the couple escaped unhurt. The assailant had emerged from a light coloured vehicle and had fired the shots, whilst at the same time trying to jump into the Princess's car.
Two of the injured were Inspector James Beaton, the Princess's private detective, who managed to fire a shot at the man before he was injured, and
the chauffeur, Alex Callender, one of the Queen's senior drivers. Both men were taken to Westminster Hospital where they underwent surgery. Also injured was a police officer, who attended after hearing the shots, and was hit in the stomach, together with a man who had been passing by in a taxi. Rowena Brassey, Lady-in-waiting to Princess Anne was also present but escaped injury. The man was eventually arrested after being brought to the ground by a police officer. The Princess was said to be shocked but not injured in any way. It was later revealed that the shooting had been an attempt to kidnap the Princess. The assailant had sent a letter to the Queen demanding £3m for her release. Ian Ball, 26, was prosecuted for the attempted murder of the princess's detective, and various offences under the Offences Against the Person Act. Ball was sentenced to life imprisonment and placed in a mental hospital. His attempt to kidnap Princess Anne remains the closest attempt anyone has made on abducting a member of the Royal Family.

Today's Smile

Brainteaser

For today's brainteaser you are given the names of six famous people. Can you identify the link between them? A clue: the link is not between the people themselves but between their names.

Can you spot what it is? If so e-mail me with your answer garlant@btinternet.com

01 John Major

02 Gloria Hunniford

03 George Cole

04 Simon Cowell

05 Sharon Osbourne

06 Joan Collins

Good luck with this, but it is tricky!

Two Little Pals

Niagara Falls

I find the picture on the right, of a frozen Niagara Falls, fascinating. It's as if the power of the water has been encapsulated in the ice. The picture was taken in 1911.

Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s. The Niagara Falls are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. Niagara Falls is made up of three drops, Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side.These two major sections are separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. The Falls are 167 ft (52m) high. More than six million cubic feet of water falls over the crest line every minute at high flow. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.