In Britain the custom of becoming engaged is still gen erally retained, though many young people dispense with it, and the number of such couples is increasing. As a rule, an engagement is announced as soon as a girl has accepted a proposal of marriage, but in some cases it is done a good time; […]
The Forms of Marriage In England and Wales there are four forms of marriage by banns, by ordinary licence, by special licence and by a registrar. Marriage by Banns is the form most usually adopted. Banns must be called for three consecutive Sundays in the Parish churches of both the future bride and the groom […]
Richard Gordon’s book Doctor in Love (1957) deals with the early stages of Dr Gordon’s career — first as a junior resident pathologist at a general hospital and later as an assistant to a general practitioner — and his courtship and subsequent marriage to Nichola Barrington, also a doctor by profession. The present extract gives […]
Stan Barstow was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1928, the son of a coal-miner. After finishing grammar school he entered the drawing office of an engineering firm. Seven years later he moved to a similar position with another company, then transferred to the sales department. A Kind of Loving is Barstow’s first published […]
When a child is born its parents may wish to announce the birth in a national or local newspaper. The announcement may read as follows: Smith. On February 12th, 1963, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, to Mary, wife of James Smith, 15 Blank Terrace, S. W. 3, a daughter. (The name can be added in […]
Twenty-one today, Twenty-one today! I’ve got the key of the door, Never been twenty-one before…
Nowadays undertakers organize things to such a degree that they really do undertake to cover every detail during this very painful and difficult period, from registering the death to printing the form of service for the funeral. An obituary notice is usually sent to a national or local newspaper and inserted in the “Deaths” column. […]
Morris Dancers. Punch, Judy and Toby. Maypoles’ Decorations. Three Weeks Paid Holiday per Year. Bank Holidays. The Patron Saints Days Imagine you are in a medium-sized English town. It is Saturday morning in April and the market place is fuil of noise. You hear the sound of music, at least one accordion, a drum, tin whistle […]
Christmas Day, 25th December. Most Families Decorate Christmas Tree. The Tradition of Giving Gifts. Children Leave a Long Sock or Stocking for Presents, Fruit and Nuts. Boxing Day, 26th December If you try to catch a train on 24th of December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. This is the day when many […]
‘For Auld Lang Syne’ — ‘In Memory of Past Times’. The First Person on New Year’s Day- the First Footer. A Piece of Coal, a Piece of Bread, and a Silver Coin At midnight on 31st December throughout Great Britain people celebrate the coming of the new year, by holding hands in a large circle […]
