A cold spell claims a famous casualty......

[Weather-history]

The last few days of February 1881 was cold with an easterly flow across the UK. The famous person concern was returning home after having dinner with the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House. It was snowing and he went to the back door of his house. Took off his shoes but slipped on the powder snow and cracked the back of his head on the stone step. The head injury was a nearly 2" gash which bled.

The house was 10 Downing Street and the famous casualty was Prime Minister William Gladstone, the Grand Old Man himself. He made a full recovery and was to be prime minster well into his 80s.

William Gladstone

Edited December 2, 2006 by Mr_Data