Events from the year1936 in theUnited Kingdom
This year is notable for the death ofGeorge V early in the year, the accession of his sonEdward VIII to the throne andhis subsequent abdication , resulting in the accession to the throne of his younger brotherGeorge VI (previously Albert,Duke of York ).
"The Year of the Three Kings", postcard 1936 4 January – England celebrates its first ever win over theAll Blacks inrugby union , in particular the two famous tries by "The Prince" HHAlexander Obolensky . 13 January –GPO Film Unit documentary Night Mail W. H. Auden and music byBenjamin Britten , is premiered at theCambridge Arts Theatre .[ 1] 20 January – KingGeorge V dies atSandringham House ,Norfolk , aged 70.[ 2] Edward VIII . 21 January – King Edward VIII breaks royal protocol by watching the proclamation of his own accession to the throne from a window ofSt. James's Palace , in the company of the still-marriedWallis Simpson . February –John Maynard Keynes 's influential economic textThe General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money 6–16 February –Great Britain and Northern Ireland compete at theWinter Olympics inGarmisch-Partenkirchen , Germany, and win 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals. 5 March – First test flight of theSupermarine Spitfire ,[ 3] Eastleigh Aerodrome . 11 April –Billy Butlin opens his firstButlins holiday camp ,Butlins Skegness inSkegness (Ingoldmells ),Lincolnshire .[ 4] Amy Johnson . 18 April –Ordnance Survey begins theretriangulation of Great Britain with its firsttriangulation station nearCold Ashby , Northamptonshire. 17 May –Barquentine Waterwitch is laid up atPar, Cornwall , the lastsquare rigged ship to trade undersail alone in British ownership.[ 5] 22 May –J. H. Thomas resigns from politics for leaking Budget proposals. 27 May – TheRMS Queen Mary leavesSouthampton on her maiden voyage toNew York . 28 May –Alan Turing submits his paper "On Computable Numbers" to theLondon Mathematical Society for publication, introducing the concept of the "Turing machine ". It is formally published on 12 November. 3 July 16 July –George McMahon tries to shoot KingEdward VIII during theTrooping the Colour ceremony. 24 July – TheGeneral Post Office introduces thespeaking clock .[ 8] 27 July – Opening of a newswimming pool atMorecambe , claimed to be the largest open-air example inEurope .[ 9] 28 July –Great Britain wins the1936 International Lawn Tennis Challenge at Wimbledon, the last British victory in what becomes theDavis Cup until2015 . 31 July – Public Health Act empowers local authorities to makebyelaws regulating building construction. August–September –Bournemouth typhoid outbreak : more than 700 people infected.[ 10] 1–16 August –Great Britain and Northern Ireland compete at theOlympics inBerlin and win 4 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals. 4 August – TheDuke of Grafton is killed in a crash while competing in theLimerick Grand Prix in Ireland, aged only 22. His cousin succeeds to the main title, but the courtesy titles fall into abeyance. 6 August – An undergroundexplosion atWharncliffe Woodmoor Colliery inSouth Yorkshire kills 58. 26 August – Signing of theAnglo-Egyptian Treaty which requires the withdrawal of British troops and recognisesEgypt as a sovereign state.[ 8] 31 August –Elizabeth Cowell becomes the first female British television presenter, making a broadcast fromAlexandra Palace .[ 8] 8 September – Arson attack on a bombing school building atPenyberth on theLlŷn Peninsula as part of theTân yn Llŷn campaign led bySaunders Lewis ,Lewis Valentine andD. J. Williams of theWelsh nationalist groupPlaid Genedlaethol Cymru [ 11] 30 September – Official opening ofPinewood Studios .[ 8] 4 October –Battle of Cable Street betweenOswald Mosley 'sBritish Union of Fascists and anti-fascist demonstrators in the East End of London.[ 3] 14 October – TheNight Ferry London withParis , starts operation.[ 12] 5–31 October –Jarrow March : 207 miners march fromJarrow toLondon in a protest against unemployment and poverty.[ 8] 20 October – Prime ministerStanley Baldwin confronts King Edward VIII about his relationship with Wallis Simpson. 22 October –Dod Orsborne , captain of the fishing vesselGirl Pat [ 13] 27 October –Wallis Simpson obtains adecree nisi in her divorce fromErnest Aldrich Simpson , removing a legal barrier to her marryingEdward VIII .[ 8] 2 November – TheBBC launches the world's first regular television service,[ 3] Baird electromechanical and the Marconi-EMI all-electronic405-line television systems . 6 November –Terence Rattigan 's comedyFrench Without Tears [ 14] 12 November –Alan Turing 's paper "On Computable Numbers" is formally presented to theLondon Mathematical Society , introducing the concept of the "Turing machine ".[ 15] 16 November – King Edward VIII informs Stanley Baldwin of his intention to marry Wallis Simpson. Baldwin responds by informing the King that any woman he married would have to become Queen, and the British public would not accept Wallis Simpson as Queen. The King tells Mr Baldwin that he is prepared to abdicate if the government opposes his marriage. 25 November – The King tells Stanley Baldwin that he would be prepared to conduct amorganatic marriage with Mrs Simpson, which would allow him to carry on as King but not install Mrs Simpson as Queen. Stanley Baldwin informs him that this would not be accepted either (such a thing has never been known in British law). 27 November – Stanley Baldwin raises the issue of amorganatic marriage in the Cabinet, where it is rejected outright. 30 November –The Crystal Palace in south London is destroyed in a fire.[ 8] December –Henry Hallett Dale wins theNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly withOtto Loewi "for their discoveries relating to chemical transmission of nerve impulses".[ 16] The Instrument of Abdication 1 December –Alfred Blunt ,Bishop of Bradford , makes a speech which inadvertently leads to theabdication crisis becoming public in the British media.[ 17] 2 December – Stanley Baldwin confirms in a meeting with the King that amorganatic marriage would not be accepted, and in order to marry Mrs Simpson the King would have to abdicate.[ 18] 9 December – AKLM (Netherlands airline)Douglas DC-2 airliner crashes inPurley shortly after takeoff fromCroydon Airport , killing 14 (includingJuan de la Cierva and AdmiralArvid Lindman ) with just two survivors. 10 December –Abdication crisis : the King signs an instrument of abdication atFort Belvedere in the presence of his three brothers,The Duke of York ,The Duke of Gloucester andThe Duke of Kent . 11 DecemberParliament passesHis Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 , providing the legislative authority for the King to abdicate. The King performs his last act as sovereign by givingroyal assent to the Act. Prince Albert, Duke of York, becomes King, ruling as KingGeorge VI .[ 8] Princess Elizabeth , becomesheir presumptive . The abdicated King Edward VIII, now the Prince Edward, makes a broadcast to the nation explaining his decision to abdicate. He leaves the country forAustria . TheOireachtas of the Irish Free State passes theConstitution (Amendment No. 27) Act 1936 , removing most powers from the office ofGovernor-General of the Irish Free State , and theExecutive Authority (External Relations) Act 1936 assenting to the abdication and restricting the power of the monarch in relation to Ireland to international affairs. 18 December – Public Order Act prevents wearing of political uniforms with effect from 1 January next.[ 19] 25 December –Princess Alexandra of Kent , daughter ofThe Duke andDuchess of Kent , is born in London. This will be the last royal birth attended by theHome Secretary , in this case,John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon . TheLeft Book Club is founded byStafford Cripps ,Victor Gollancz ,John Strachey andHarold Laski .[ 21] W. H. Auden 's poemsLook, Stranger! [ 22] A. J. Ayer 's philosophical studyLanguage, Truth, and Logic Alfred Bestall 's text comicThe New Adventures of Rupert , the firstRupert Bear annual.Agatha Christie 'sHercule Poirot novelsThe A.B.C. Murders Murder in Mesopotamia Cards on the Table T. S. Eliot 'sCollected Poems 1909–35 ,[ 22] Burnt Norton ", first of theFour Quartets .The Geographers' Map Co.'s firstA to Z Atlas and Guide to London and the Suburbs Aldous Huxley 's novelEyeless in Gaza Michael Innes ' novelDeath at the President's Lodging [ 23] John Maynard Keynes ' textThe General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money F. R. Leavis ’ critical workRevaluation: tradition & development in English poetry .A. E. W. Mason 's historical adventure novelFire Over England H. J. Massingham 'sEnglish Downland and Hugh Quigley'sThe Highlands of Scotland , first inBatsford 'sThe Face of Britain series.Lancashire: cradle of our prosperity andWarwickshire: Shakespeare's country , first inThe King's England Arthur Mee .George Orwell 's novelKeep the Aspidistra Flying Michael Roberts edits theanthology TheFaber Book of Modern Verse .Dylan Thomas ’Twenty-five Poems ,[ 22] And death shall have no dominion ".W. B. Yeats edits the anthologyTheOxford Book of Modern Verse 1892–1935 .7 January –Hunter Davies , Scottish-born author and journalist 8 January –Dennis Gillespie , Scottish footballer (died 2001) 12 January –Sir William McAlpine, 6th Baronet , engineering construction executive (died 2018) 15 January –Richard Franklin , actor (died 2023) 16 January –Michael White , impresario and film producer (died 2016) 20 January –Frances Shand Kydd , mother ofDiana, Princess of Wales (died 2004) 28 January –Bill Jordan , economist and politician 29 January –Patrick Caulfield , painter and printmaker (died 2005) 7 February 9 February –Clive Swift , actor (died 2019) 10 February –Joss Naylor , fell runner (died 2024) 18 February –Philip Jones Griffiths , photojournalist (died 2008) 24 February –Lance Reventlow , playboy, entrepreneur and racing driver (died 1972) 13 March 26 March –John Malcolm , actor (died 2008) 28 March –Peter Mayer , publisher (died 2018 in the US) 29 March –Richard Rodney Bennett , composer (died 2012 in the US) 3 April –Tony Garnett , television producer (died 2020) 7 April –Peter Eckersley , television producer (died 1981) 10 April –John Howell , Olympic long jumper 21 April –Edna Savage , singer (died 2000) 24 April –Vera Rich , poet and translator (died 2009) 29 April –Jacob Rothschild , investment banker (died 2024) 4 May –Stanley McMurtry ("Mac"), cartoonist 9 May 10 May 13 May –Matt Simpson , poet (died 2009) 15 May –Ralph Steadman , caricaturist 16 May –Roy Hudd , comedian (died 2020) 23 May 26 May 27 May 1 June –Gerald Scarfe , cartoonist and illustrator 2 June –Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth , bishop and theologian 7 June –Chris Bryant , screenwriter (died 2008) 17 June –Ken Loach , film director 20 June –Philip Lowrie , actor (died 2025) 22 June 23 June –Gordon Lewis , Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer 24 June –Tony Brown , cricketer and administrator (died 2020) 26 June –Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart , Scottish politician (died 2020) 27 June –Shirley Anne Field , actress (died 2023) 28 June –Malcolm Harding , English-born Canadian Anglican bishop 30 June –Malcolm Hickman , English cricketer 3 July –Anthony Lester , barrister and politician (died 2020) 5 July –James Mirrlees , Scottish economist and winner of the 1996 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (died 2018) 7 July –Christopher Mallaby , diplomat (died 2022) 8 July –Tony Warren , television screenwriter (died 2016) 9 July –Richard Wilson , Scottish actor and director[ 25] 11 July –John Stride , actor (died 2018) 16 July –Mary Parkinson , journalist and television presenter 20 July –John Sillett , football player and manager (died 2021)[ 26] 26 July –Mary Millar , actress (died 1998) 30 July –Ted Rogers , comedian and game show host (died 2001) 1 August 2 August 3 August –Edward Petherbridge , actor, writer and artist 7 August –Brian Barry , philosopher (died 2009) 8 August –Jan Pieńkowski , author and artist (born in Poland; died 2022) 11 August –Jim Thompson , Anglican bishop (died 2003) 14 August –Trevor Bannister , actor (died 2011) 17 August –Arthur Rowe , Olympic shot putter (died 2003) 24 August –A. S. Byatt , novelist and poet (died 2023) 3 September –Mike Ellis , hammer thrower 5 September –Robert Alexander, Baron Alexander of Weedon , barrister, banker and life peer (died 2005) 7 September -George Cassidy , jazz musician, music teacher ofVan Morrison (died 2023) 10 September –Michael Hartshorn , British-New Zealand organic chemist (died 2017) 11 September –Brian Plummer , writer and dog breeder (died 2003) 14 September –Nicol Williamson , actor (died 2011) 19 September 20 September –Andrew Davies , Welsh writer 30 September –Meg Johnson , actress (died 2023)[ 28] 1 October 4 October –Giles Radice , politician (died 2022) 6 October –Bob White , cricketer (died 2023) 9 October –Brian Blessed , actor 17 October –Dolores Mantez , actress (died 2012) 21 October –Simon Gray , playwright (died 2008) 24 October –Bill Wyman , rock bassist 25 October –Martin Gilbert , historian (died 2015) 30 October –George Sassoon , scientist and writer (died 2006) 31 October –Gordon Beningfield , wildlife artist and broadcaster (died 1998) 2 November –Eddie Colman , footballer (died 1958) 7 November –Gwyneth Jones , soprano 8 November –Bob Holman , Christian socialist (died 2016) 16 November –Geoffrey Thompson , businessman (died 2004) 22 November –John Bird , satiric actor (died 2022)[ 29] 23 November –Robert Barnard , writer, critic and lecturer (died 2013)[ 30] 16 December –Maurice Setters , footballer (died 2020) 17 December –Tommy Steele , actor and singer 21 December –Peter Tinniswood , scriptwriter (died 2003) 22 December –James Burke , broadcaster, science historian, author and television producer 25 December –Princess Alexandra of Kent , daughter ofThe Duke andDuchess of Kent 18 January –Rudyard Kipling , writer,Nobel Prize laureate (born 1865 in British India) 20 January – KingGeorge V (born 1865) 2 March –Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , granddaughter of Queen Victoria (born 1876 in Malta; died in Germany) 20 March –Cunninghame Graham , politician, adventurer and writer (born 1852) 30 April –A. E. Housman , poet (born 1859) 14 May –Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby , Field-Marshal (born 1861) 4 June –Mathilde Verne , pianist and educator (born 1865)[ 31] 14 June –G. K. Chesterton , writer (born 1874) 25 July – SirHenry Wellcome , pharmaceutical entrepreneur and philanthropist (born 1853 in the United States) 4 August –John FitzRoy, 9th Duke of Grafton , peer and racing driver (born 1914; killed while racing) 19 August –Hugh Lygon , aristocrat (born 1904) 21 September –Frank Hornby , inventor, businessman and politician (born 1863) 14 October –Edmond Holmes , educationalist, writer and poet (born 1850 in Ireland) 2 November –Martin Lowry , chemist (born 1874) 11 November –Sir Edward German , composer (born 1862) 10 December –Bobby Abel , cricketer (born 1857) 29 December –Lucy, Lady Houston , political activist, suffragette, philanthropist and promoter of aviation (born 1857) ^ Morrison, Blake (1 December 2007)."Stamp of excellence" .The Guardian . Retrieved8 July 2010 .^ "George V (1865–1936)" .BBC . Retrieved25 September 2012 .^a b c Palmer, Alan; Palmer, Veronica (1992).The Chronology of British History . London: Century Ltd. pp. 380– 381.ISBN 0-7126-5616-2 ^ "Skegness" .Butlins Memories .Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved29 June 2010 .^ Bouquet, Michael (1971).Westcountry Sail: Merchant Shipping 1840–1960 . Newton Abbot: David & Charles.ISBN 0-7153-5033-1 ^ "Lawn Tennis: F. J. Perry Wins Again".The Times ^ Burton, Mark (3 February 1995)."Fred Perry, Wimbledon's true champion, dies at 85" The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved27 June 2012 . ^a b c d e f g h Penguin Pocket On This Day . Penguin Reference Library. 2006.ISBN 0-14-102715-0 ^ Riddell, Jonathan; Tomkinson, Nicolette.This Is Your Way Sir . Capital Transport. p. 17.ISBN 978-1-85414-343-3 ^ Cotes-Preedy, D. (17 April 1937)."The Bournemouth Typhoid Outbreak" .British Medical Journal .1 (3980):825– 826.doi :10.1136/bmj.1.3980.825 .PMC 2088641 PMID 20780616 . ^ Davies, John (1994).A History of Wales . Penguin.ISBN 0-14-014581-8 ^ Compagnie Internationale de Wagon-Lits et de Grands Express Europeens sleeping car National Railway Museum.^ "Both Orsbornes Sent to Gaol".The Manchester Guardian . 23 October 1936. p. 11.ProQuest 484065518 . (subscription required) ^ Ellis, Samantha (30 July 2003)."French without Tears, London, 1936" .The Guardian . Retrieved16 July 2010 . ^ Turing, A. M. (January 1937)."On computable numbers, with an application to theEntscheidungsproblem " Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society 42 :230– 265.doi :10.1112/plms/s2-42.1.230 . Retrieved24 December 2017 . ^ "The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1936" . Retrieved29 January 2008 .^ Cooke, Alistair (1995).Six Men ISBN 1-55970-317-2 ^ "Edward VIII: Abdication timeline" . BBC News. 29 January 2003. Retrieved22 August 2011 .^ "Public Order Act To-morrow".Nottingham Evening Post . 31 December 1936. p. 1. ^ Johannessen, Neil (1994).Telephone Boxes . Princes Risborough: Shire Publications.ISBN 0-7478-0250-5 ^ Lewis, John (1970).The Left Book Club: an historical record . London: Gollancz.ISBN 0-575-00586-6 ^a b c Cox, Michael, ed. (2004).The Concise Oxford Chronology of English Literature ISBN 0-19-860634-6 ^ Keating, H. R. F. (1982).Whodunit? – a guide to crime, suspense and spy fiction . London: Windward.ISBN 0-7112-0249-4 ^ "Mary McIntosh" .www.bl.uk . Retrieved12 November 2022 .^ "Richard Wilson" .BFI . Archived fromthe original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved26 December 2020 .^ John Sillett: The man who sent the Cup to Coventry ^ "Anthony Payne obituary" .The Guardian . 4 May 2021. Retrieved1 August 2021 .^ Meg Johnson obituary ^ "John Bird obituary" .The Guardian . 28 December 2022. Retrieved30 December 2022 .^ Mike Ripley (25 September 2013)."Robert Barnard obituary | Books" . theguardian.com. Retrieved25 September 2013 . ^ Schonberg, Harold C. (1998).The Great Pianists . New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 524.ISBN 978-0-67164-200-6 1936 in the United Kingdom at Wikimedia Commons
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