Just thought i'd throw this thread in as a change from the usual US based threads.  A date ingrained into every UK town and city throughout the land. Today to the day 420 years ago Guy Fawkes was discovered underneath the houses of Parliment ready to ignite 36 Barrels of Gunpowder enought to kill the king and every politician taking there seats in Parliment the next day 5th November. The Gunpowder Treason and plot as it became known was led by a group of Catholics wanting to remove the Protestant king James the 1st and replace him with a Catholic king. If he was succesful and ignited the barrels it would have have changed our History to the present day. The only reason the plot was discovered was a member of the plotters sending a letter to his cousin telling him not to turn up for the opening of Parliment. The ring leader and the man who planned the Attack was a man called Thomas Catesby not Guy Fawkes. Fawkes was tortured on the rack in the tower of London to give up the names of the ring leaders after 4 days he gave the names and eventually some of the gang were shot down in a shoot out the 2 survivors were brought to the tower and sentanced along with Fawkes to be hung disemboweled and quarted. Fawkes knowing what was to be his punishment threw himself off the ladder as he was led up to be hung killing him instantly. Since that day in 1605 Bonfires are lit every 5th November here in the UK. A reminder of the plot is the Original death sentance of Guy Fawkes's signature still remains today before and after the torture where his signature is clearly differrent after being racked.

"V for Vendetta" ... excellent and timeless movie, along the Fawkes theme 👍 👍

Off Topic removed 

 

@Ralf001

A dear friend and ‘Old Peterite’ once remarked “we didn’t have Bonfire Night at my school, one doesn’t burn old boys’.