100 years ago

An advertisement stated: “You'll hardly know yourself, so great will be the change in your health after you have given Beecham's Pills a fair trial. Perhaps the use of this homely, everyday phrase may seem a trifle extravagant in this connection, but one is bound to admit, at any rate, that this famous proprietary medicine has a wonderful effect upon ailing people in general, and those suffering from derangements of the stomach, liver, and bowels in particular.

“Consider for a moment how much strength, energy, and happiness you miss through not being able to free yourself from digestive disorders, and you will realise something of the value and efficacy of a medicine that really does cure those complaints.

“After taking Beecham’s Pills for a short time your organs of digestion will recover their tone, your liver and bowels will be cleansed and stimulated into proper action, and, as a consequence, your general health will be greatly improved. With such an experience you will not again be likely to let yourself run-down for want of a box of Beecham’s Pills. Sold everywhere in boxes, price 1/1½ (56 pills) & 2/9 (168 pills).”

 

50 years ago

Russia’s third spaceman had gone into orbit of the earth, and reported all systems in his Vostock III capsule working “normally”.

The man following Yuri Gagarin and Gherman Titov into space from Russia was Major Andrian Grigoryevich Nikolayev, aged 33. He sent a message back to earth saying he was feeling well, and had “withstood well the period of boosting and weightlessness”.

The Soviet news agency Tass said the flight – which followed a series of unmanned flights by Soviet satellites earlier in the year – was aimed at perfecting communications, guidance and landing of spaceships.

Russia’s first manned space flight was by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, and the second by Gherman Titov on August 6, 1961.

 

25 years ago

Television was heading for its biggest shake-up for years.

The terrestrial TV we had known for 35 years and more, was being fiercely challenged by satellites.

Extra channels and programmes were beaming into our homes from the sky.

The established framework of programme-making was coming under severe pressure as the Government turned the screws to allow independents more say.

The whole structure of financing the BBC was under scrutiny. And programme makers were facing further curbs on content through new legislation.

But TV was fighting back. The industry was calling on programme makers to stand up and defend their freedoms, their programmes and their right to question. The place where they were making their stand was Edinburgh Television Festival, an international showcase for TV people.