Who has made a difference to life in Britain since 1930?

Twiggy

Twiggy was born on September the 19th 1949 in North London. She was originally known as Lesley Hornby. When she was 16 she was named the face of ’66 by the Daily Express. She was internationally known as the first supermodel in the mid ‘60s.

Twiggy was in a film called The Boyfriend for which she won 2 awards from the Golden Globe. But this wasn’t the only film she was in; she was also in ‘Cinderella’, ‘There Goes The Bride’, ‘The Blues Brothers’, ‘Pygmalion’ and ‘The Doctor and the Devils’.

She married Michael Whitney in 1977 and she had her first and only child with him in 1978. It was a girl and they called her Carly. Michael died in 1983 from a heart attack. Twiggy remarried a man called Leigh Lawson in 1988.

Twiggy is now 59 years old and is still very famous with her own clothing line and a bed linen collection. She also has her own album called Midnight Blue and has been a guest judge on the top US reality show America’s Next Top Model. She has also got a few of her own books called ‘Twiggy in Black and White’, ‘Twiggy’s Guide to Looking Good’, ‘Twiggy’ and ’Twiggy by Twiggy’.

By Alice and Hannah

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Germany.

He is known for his theories of General relativity, special relativity and Brownian motion. Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921.

He lived in Germany, Italy Switzerland. United States. But he died on April18 1955 aged 76.

Demitri

Sir Bobby Robson

Bobby, as we all know, is one of the best ever football managers of all time.

Sir Bobby Robson was named the England manager on the 7 of July 1982. He also carried on managing England until 1990. In the 1990 world cup he took them to the semi finals.

After he signed to PSV Eindhoven he didn’t like the Brazilian star Romario. although they won the league in the 1990-91 season and the 1991-92 season, he left the club at the end of the season.

He moved to Sporting Lisbon in July 1992 and came third in his first season for the club. After he got sacked in 1994.

FC Porto signed him in 1994 Robson made a big impact to the team and won 1994-95, 1995-96 season. He signed a knew contract in1995 and left at the end of the season because of a medical issue.

He also carried on managing FC Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven, Newcastle United and he was a consultant for the Republic of Ireland football club.

Patrick

Princess Diana

Princess Diana was born on the 1st July 1961. When Diana was young she lived with her mother and father on the Queens estate Sandringham, where her father had rented Park House. Her dad had been a royal equerry for both King George VI and young Elizabeth II. Lady Diana was sent to boarding school and after that she went to West Heath public school in Kent.

After school she went to work in London, first as a nanny, occasionally as a cook and then as an assistant at the young England kindergarten in Knightsbridge.

When she was 20 she got married to Prince Charles on the 29th July 1981 and divorced him on the 28th August 1996. Whilst they were married they had two children. The first to come was Prince William on the 21st June 1982, next was Prince Harry on the 15th September 1984.

On the 31st August 1997 her life ended, she died in a car crash. It was announced in 2006 that a drink driver and the paparazzi following her was what ended her life.

Beth and Georgina

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935. He was a popular rock 'n' roll singer with teenagers.

In 1954, Presley began his career as one of the first performers of rockability, an uptempo fusion of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat.

Elvis Presley's first record, Heartbreak Hotel was released in 1956. Elvis also played guitar in some of his tracks.

Elvis sadly died on August 16, 1977.

By Stephen

Sir Alf Ramsey

Sir Alf Ramsey was born on the 22nd of January 1920 in Dagenham, Essex. He died on the 28th of April 1999 at the age of 79 in Ipswich.

His playing career started in 1944 at Southampton F.C. He played right back then he went to Tottenham Hotspur F.C in 1949 for £21,000. His football career ended 1955. He made thirty two appearances for England and scored 3 goals but unlike many other players Ramsey took an interest in the game and tactics. His natural leadership and his influence on the pitch earned him the nickname of “The General.”

His managerial career started at Ipswich Town F.C in 1955. He went on to win the championship title with them. He finished at Ipswich in 1963.

Later that year he was asked to manage England and he went onto be the first manager to win the World cup with the team in 1966.

Taking control of the national team in 1963, his first match was a 2 – 5 defeat at the hands of the French in the Nations cup (now known as the European Championships).

However, with 3 years to go before the side would be hosting the World cup finals, he confidently set about building a team that would fulfil his announcement that “We would win the World cup.” In 1966 his announcement became a reality.

Oliver, George and Callum

John Lennon

October 9, 1940 - As sirens wailed during a German Luftwaffe raid John Lennon is born at Oxford Street maternity hospital in Liverpool, England to Julia Stanley and Alfred Lennon.

Then in 1956 - John’s mother buys him a guitar.

July 15, 1958 - John’s mother is killed while crossing the road by an off-duty policeman.

In 1960 - in his final year of art school in Liverpool, John forms a group with Paul, George and Stu Sutcliffe.

January 1961 - The Beatles debut at the Cavern Club, Liverpool.

June 4, 1962 – George Martin signs The Beatles to Parlophone EMI

February 1963 – The Beatles begin their first UK tour. They take one night off to record the album Please Please Me in one session.

February 7, 1964 – The Beatles embark on their first US tour.

January 1965 - John composes ‘‘Help!”

June 20, 1966 - the American album Yesterday and Today is released with the infamous “butcher cover.” It was later recalled after complaints.

June 1, 1967 - Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is released.

August 22, 1968 - Cynthia files for divorce. Paul soon writes “hey Jude” to comfort John’s son, Julian.

May 8, 1970 - Let It Be is released.

September 9, 1971- the album Imagines is released.

June 12,1972 - John and Yoko released Sometime In New York City/Live Jam.

November 2, 1973 - John releases the album Mind Games.

February 17,1975 – Rock `N` Roll is released .

In 1980 Former Beatle John Lennon was shot dead by an unknown gunman who opened fire outside the musician's New York apartment.

Michael

Stephen Hawking

He was born on the 8th of January 1942 in Oxford. At the age of 11 Hawking went to St Albans school. 10 years after he went to school, he showed his first symptoms ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

He got a DECtalk, a voice synthesizer with an American accent, to help him speak. Now he relies on it to talk with the movement of one eye. We believe it’s his left but it may be his right.

He was married to Jane Wilde but he divorced in 1991. After this first divorce he got married to his nurse Elaine Manson. But in October 2006 he decided to divorce again. In 1967 he had his first child, Robert. Two years later his wife gave birth to a baby called Lucy and 10 years after Lucy was born he had another child, Timothy.

He studied gamma ray emissions after the Big Bang.

He has appeared in many films and programmes such as Family Guy, The Simpsons and The Superhero Movie.

He went into space in April 26, 2007. There he experienced, for the first time, zero gravity.

Nick & Wyatt

Lewis Hamilton

As we all know that Lewis Hamilton is a legendary formula 1 driver with loads of victories to his name so get ready to enjoy the thrilling biography of LEWIS HAMILTON!!!!!!!!:

The star Lewis Hamilton was born January 7th 1985. Lewis’s real name is actually Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton. Wow!

When Hamilton had his first ever experience in a car (at a playground) his instructor said that he would be a world champion. What a mind reader.

When Lewis Hamilton first became a formula 1 driver against Felipe Massa ( a Spanish formula 1 racer ) he amazingly came 3rd in his first ever world grand prix. For the next three years he always came 2nd.

In 2007 his luck still hadn’t changed he still came 2nd behind Felipe Massa. Bad luck.

In 2007 Hamilton’s luck changed in the Canadian Grand prix in Montreal. He didn’t come 3rd or 2nd, but amazingly he came 1st. What a victory.

At the beginning of 2008 Hamilton lost his championship to Massa, (unlucky).

But in the next grand prix Hamilton was sure back on track and in the lead in the pole position. Because of his stunning few races before, Hamilton had gained an amazing lead in front of everyone. If Hamilton finished 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th he would win the championship. It was an exiting race with Hamilton in 4th place and then in 5th. The whole race was great until the last corner. Hamilton currently in 5th place but it was raining. The car in front of him had his dry tyres on so he had to slow down. This was Hamilton’s chance. A matter of seconds later Hamilton had powered past him into a championship winning position if he could stay there up to the line. Hamilton stunningly finished 4th and in his championship winning pole position. A matter of seconds later Hamilton was being given his trophy on the shimmering podium.

Hamilton is currently driving for Mclaren Mercedies.

What a life.

By Sam

Queen Elizabeth II

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (Queen Elizabeth 2nd) was born on the 21st April 1926. Her surname name was originally Saxe-Coburg-Gotha but was changed to Windsor during the First World War by her grandfather. On the 20th of November 1947 Elizabeth married Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Three years into their marriage they had two children. Since then she had two more children and eight grandchildren. She is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror, and is also the great - great – granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

On the 2nd of June 1953, Queen Elizabeth 2nd was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey in London. Elizabeth 2nd is also queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, the Bahamas, St Lucia, Nevis and many more. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002, which means 50 years of being queen, with parties, free concerts and a huge firework display.

Amber, Nimmy and Chloe

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was a British novelist who was born 13th September 1916. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and he became one of the world’s best selling authors. One of his sisters died from appendicitis.

Roald Dahl first went to Cathedral school, thereafter he was sent to several boarding schools in England.

In November 1939, Roald Dahl joined the Royal Air Force. He continued on to advanced flying, he was made Pilot Officer. One night he was running low on fuel, the plane hit a boulder and crashed. He fractured his skull, smashed his nose and was blinded.

In 1953 Roald Dahl was married to an American actress called Patricia Neal, at Trinity church in New York City. In 1983 they got divorced.

A meeting with C.S.Forester inspired Roald Dahl first published work. His first children’s book was the Gremlins. His most famous books are the Twits, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach.

Roald Dahl died at the age of 74 on the 23rd November 1990. He died of a rare blood disease at his home.

Alex

Douglas Bader

Douglas Bader’s full name was Douglas Robert Steuart Bader. He also had a nickname “Dogs Body.” He was born on 21st February 1910. His father died when Douglas was 12. Douglas died on 5th September 1982. In his career he was one of the best R.A.F fighter pilots in World War II.

Douglas joined the R.A.F in 1928, but after only 2 years of fighting, he crashed resulting in the loss of both his legs. They were replaced with tin legs. Finally he learned to walk again and was told to retire because of medical reasons.

6 long years of his dreams ripped apart because of his legs. He got requested to join the R.A.F for the war in 1939. He scored his first kill during the battle of France in 1940. In 1941 Douglas was captured and sent to a Prisoners of War camp. But his record of escapes got him in Colditz castle prison for escaped POW’s. He made friends with a German called Adolf Galland. Adolf could get wooden legs from Churchill. Churchill sent the wooden legs in an English bomber and after the delivery the bomber carried on bombing Germany.

By Samuel, Phoebe and Josh

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was born on the 13th October 1925. She was born in Gratham in Linconshire England. She studied chemistry at Somerville College Oxford and then went to train as a barrister.

In 1959 she won a seat as a MP from Finchley as a conservative. She backed Keith Joseph in his bid to become Conservative Party leader. He had to drop out so she entered the contest herself and became leader of the conservative party in 1975. Margaret went on to become the first woman Prime Minister in the 1979 general election.

In 1983 she was re-elected. She took a hard line against trade unions, survived an assassination attempt and defiantly opposed the Soviet Union.

She was re-elected for a third time in 1987. She then resigned from her post in November 1990.

Margaret’s time as Prime Minister was the longest since that of Lord Salisbury.

By Alex and Ellie

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong’s birth was on the 5th of August 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. In 1947 he started studying aerospace engineering at a university named Purdue University. While he was studying aerospace engineering, he got a call up from the navy on January 26, 1949 and he accepted the offer. Neil Armstrong first witnessed the Korean War on August 29, 1951. He flew 78 missions in the war with a total of 121 hours in the air and it was most in January 1952. He left the navy on August 23 1952, and became a lieutenant for the United States Naval Reserve. Armstrong was in the right-hand seat of B-29 Superfortress on March 22, 1956.

Neil Armstrong graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. While in Purdue he met Janet Elizabeth Shearon and they were married on January 28, 1956 at the Congregational Church. The couple had three children together – Eric, Karen, and Mark. Karen died of pneumonia, related to her weakened health, on January 28, 1962.

Neil Armstrong’s first flight was in 1966. Neil was on the moon with a man named Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong’s second and last flight was on July 20, 1969 when he went to the moon; it took him 8 days, 14 hours and 12 minutes in space. Neil’s full name is Neil Alden Armstrong. Neil Armstrong is part German, Scottish & Irish. Buzz and Neil stayed exploring the moon for over 21 hours.

After the Apollo mission in 1971, Neil Armstrong started teaching about Aerospace Engineering at a University. But after working for 8 years he resigned in 1979 due to the fact that the structure had changed at the university.

Neil Armstrong’s flight was a year after his father died and 9 months after his mother died. He met his 2nd wife at a golf tournament in 1992 and her name was Carol Held Knight. They were married in Ohio, June 12th 1994. Neil Armstrong’s school that he learned in (not the one he taught in) announced that their new engineering hall wil be named the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering in his honour in October 2004.

Neil’s parents are Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise Engel, and his siblings are June and Dean. The family had to move to 20 different towns in 15 years because of the company Stephen worked with.

Martin, George and Jack

Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was born on February 15th in the 3rd century. His Parents died when he was very young.

He was a saint and a bishop and lived in Patara of Lucia. The Roman Emperor (who was against bishops, priests and saints) sent, St Nicholas, to prison.

He was finally released and attended the council of Nicaea. He died on December 6th AD 343 and was buried at his local cathedral.

St Nicholas gave gifts to the poor and people now believe that Saint Nicholas is Santa Claus even though he died over 1,000 years ago.

Since the 1930’s Santa Claus has become more and more popular, especially since the Coca-Cola advert had started. Some people believe that Santa is an elaborate lie and doesn’t exist. Nowadays children all over the world look forward to Christmas because of receiving presents from Santa. However there are also many children will not receive presents from Santa.

Ryan and Emily

Adolf Hitler

On the 20th April, 1889, the German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was born.

After Germany failed to conquer England in 1918, Hitler wanted to create an unforgettable empire that would make Germany the most powerful country in Europe. In 1939 he became Chancellor of Germany and took control over Germany.

Adolf Hitler had hated Jews, black people and Gypsies so when he came into power, they all were sent to Concentration camps. Concentration camps were places where the Jews, black people and Gypsies had to work all day, then after a few months, get put in a gas chamber and be choked to death.

Also in 1939, he and his Nazis invaded Poland. England and France were friends with Poland, so they declared war on Germany. Hitler’s Germans, Benito Mussolini’s Italians and Emperor Hirohito’s Japanese made the Axis Powers and England, France and America made the Allies.

For 5 brutal years the two sides fought. During the final days of the war in 1945, Hitler married his long-time mistress Eva Braun. The next day they committed suicide.

Samuel