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April 8: Britain and France signed an agreement which
would shape the destiny of the 20th century. For the past 1,000
years these neighbouring nations had usually been at each other's
throats.
But old enmity was set aside with the signing of the Entente
Cordiale, a truly global deal to ensure that never again would
Britain and France go to war. Britain gave up some of its West
African possessions to France; France gave up its claim to the
shore of Newfoundland.
At the time, the Entente Cordiale was seen as a sensible step
towards each nation continuing the business of building ever-bigger
empires in the tropics - "the great game," as it was called.
But this sudden Anglo-French warmth caused ripples of alarm closer
to home. If Britain and France were to be allies in the West,
what might become of Germany in the event of war? In Berlin, the
military planners looked uneasily as this new friendship - and
planned accordingly.
 May
4: Charles Rolls and Henry Royce form Rolls-Royce car makers.
It was the start of a legendary partnership behind some fabulous
cars. More to the point, for the future security of Britain, it
was the start of a tradition of excellence which would produce
the engines which powered the Spitfire and Hurricane in the Second
World War and put Britain in the forefront of jet aviation just
after the war.
August 3: The Dalai Lama - spiritual leader of the Tibetan
people - was forced to flee from Lhasa as it was captured by the
British.
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In
brief
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July 1.
Magistrates at Hagley heard that Birmingham Motorcycle Club
had caused an obstruction by using a public road, Hagley
Hill, for a hill-climbing competition. Club secretary John
R Bedford was ordered to pay costs.
July 15. Wolverhampton Quarter Sessions
reported a reduction in crime with only 13 prisoners for
trial. Of these, only one can read and write.
August 12.
Two men were fined for illegal betting in Walsall after
an early police surveillance operation. To much laughter
in court, police described how they hid in a hamper on a
wagon to observe betting slips being passed.
October 21.
Following requests from the inmates,
Wolverhampton Workhouse agreed to substitute bread and dripping
for bread and butter on one day per week.
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