What else happened in 1909?
* Unemployment stood at 698,000, 7.7 per cent of the working population
* A manual worker earned 23 shillings a week, with a dozen eggs costing a shilling, a pound of butter 1s2d and a pint of beer two shillings. A pair of ladies’ shoes cost 7s11d, a man’s suit 6s11d and a girl’s school frock 2s8d.
* 168 men and boys were killed in a pit disaster in West Stanley, County Durham
* Louis Bleriot became the first man to fly across the English Channel, completing the 22 mile journey from Calais to Dover in 37 minutes. He received a prize of £1,000 for his achievement.
* The first rugby football match to be played at Twickenham Stadium was won by Harlequins against Richmond