It happened this week...

JUNE 1

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1831: The magnetic North Pole was located by Sir James Clark Ross on his Arctic exploration expedition with Admiral Parry.

1880: The first telephone box for public use, in New Haven, Connecticut, went into service.

1911: Britain's first electric trolley buses began operating in Bradford and Leeds.

1915: Zeppelins carried out their first raid on London.

1935: Driving tests were introduced and L plates made compulsory in Britain.

1946: The first TV licences were issued in Britain, at a fee of £2.

1957: The first Premium Bond prize winners were drawn by the computer ERNIE, with a first prize of £1,000.

JUNE 2

1840: Thomas Hardy, English novelist and poet, was born in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, where his father was a stonemason.

1868: The first Trades Union Congress was held in Manchester.

1896: Marconi patented his broadcasting system using electromagnetic waves.

1941: Clothes rationing was introduced in Britain and not lifted until 1949. Some 60 clothes coupons were allowed each year for all except baby clothes. One dress used 11 coupons, and a man’s suit took 26.

1946: Italy abolished its monarchy and became a republic.

1953: Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on a dull, showery day. It was the first coronation to be televised.

JUNE 3