July 18, 1984
Nelson Mandela is awarded the Joliot Curie Gold Medal for Peace
Just over a month after Nelson Mandela was jailed for life he was awarded the Joliot Curie Gold Medal for Peace by the World Peace Council (WPC). This is the highest award given out by the WPC.
July 19, 1984
Captain Lynn Rippelmeyer is the first woman captain a Boeing 747 aircraft
In 1984 Lynn Rippelmeyer became the first female captain of a 747 airplane. She was also a member of the first all-female crew and the first person to captain a 747 Trans-Atlantic flight. She was also the first flight attendant to retrain as a commercial airline pilot
July 20 1837
London Euston railway station opens
London Euston opened on July 20 1837. The original Euston railway Station was London’s first mainline station and connected London with Birmingham. It was redeveloped in the 1960s, and remains one of the busiest stations in the UK.
July 21 1853
New York’s Central Park voted to be created
In New York state legislature, it was decided that 750 acres would be set aside on Manhattan Island to create Central Park. It was completed in 1856.
July 23 1903
Ford sells first car
Ford sold their first automobile, the Ford Model A on July 23 1903. Ernest Pfennig, a dentist from Chicago, was the first owner. The car came in either a 2 or 4 seat model, with a maximum speed of 28 mph (45 km/h)
July 24 1967
First modern hospice is created by Dr Cicely Saunders
Dr Cicely Saunders created the first modern hospice. She set about to revolutionise palliative care after falling in love with a patient who would later die. She experienced grief from the death of her father and a friend at the same time, and after seeking finance created St Christopher’s Hospice. The hospital combined modern methods including teaching, clinical research and holistic methods to deliver the best care. Their aim was to serve the spiritual needs of patients and their family members. Their motto was “you matter because you are you, you matter to the last moment of your life”.
