Common ground
The Commonwealth Games began as the British Empire Games in 1930, yet they did not originate in Britain. The event was instigated by a Bobby Robinson, a sports reporter on a local newspaper in Hamilton, Ontario, who also acted as manager for the Canadian track and field team at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. The games were held in his home town, Hamilton, and 11 countries participated: Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland (which meant the Irish Free State as well as Northern Ireland), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British Guiana, Newfoundland and Bermuda. The only women’s events were in swimming. In spite of its small size, the games did inspire one innovation which continues to be used in the Olympics: putting winning medallists on pedestals for the medal ceremony.
Who cares?
Andy Burnham proposed a National Care Service. How many people receive care?
– On 31 December 2025, 685,000 people in England received some sort of adult social care.
– 490,000 of these received care in a community setting, including their homes.
– 140,000 lived in residential care homes.
– 55,000 lived in nursing homes.
– 250 were in prison.
Source: Department of Health and Social Care
Drowning deaths
How many people drown in Britain?
– In 2024 there were 193 confirmed accidental water fatalities, a 51% fall on the average between 2010 and 2013.
– 61% were on inland waterways.
– 84% were men.
– 37% of those who died were not intending to enter the water, but slipped and fell while doing something else.
– The worst month was May (28 deaths), followed by August (25) and July (21).
Source: National Water Safety Forum
Adapt and die
Emily Wilson, whose translation of The Odyssey was cited as an influence by Christopher Nolan, said his adaptation was ‘abysmal’. Which authors have disliked adaptations of their works?
– Truman Capote said Breakfast at Tiffany’s ‘was the most miscast film I’ve ever seen. It made me want to throw up.’
– P.L. Travers cried through Mary Poppins and asked: ‘Why was Mary Poppins… transmogrified into a soubrette?’
– Stephen King said The Shining was ‘like a big, beautiful Cadillac with no engine inside it’.
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