Let's discover history together
Discovering the history
Saturday, 2 May 2026
Annie G. Fox: The Nurse Who Stayed Calm Under Fire at Pearl Harbor
Friday, 1 May 2026
William Brailey: The Titanic Pianist Who Played Through Fear and Chaos
William Brailey: The Titanic Pianist Who Played Through Fear and Chaos
I have been finding out about some of the people who were on board Titanic.
And the past few days I have focused on the musicians. Today I want to tell you about
William Brailey. He was born on the 25th of October 1887 in Walthamstow. His
father was very involved in spiritualism.
He trained as a pianist and began performing at local
venues. In 1902, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as a musician, travelling
as far as Barbados. He left the army early in 1907 and returned to England to
continue his musical interest.
By 1911, he was working on board ships, where he met fellow
musician Roger Bricoux. In April 1912, he boarded the Titanic. Only days later,
as the ship was sinking, he and the other musicians continued to play. He may
have been afraid, but he chose to bring an element of calm with music.
He was only 24 when he tragically died and his body was sadly
never recovered.
Do you think acts courage like his are sometimes the most
powerful?
Sobek: The Nile God Who Embodied Both Life and Danger
Sobek: The Nile God Who Embodied Both Life and Danger
I have been learning a little about some of the many ancient
Egyptian gods. So lets find out a little
about Sobek.
At the start Sobek was linked to the Nile, which was the
lifeblood of Egypt. The river brought fertility and survival. But it could be
dangerous and unforgiving. It was the home of crocodiles. And Sobek took on
this form.
Sobek went on to become associated not just with the Nile’s
fertility but with its strength and its protection. In some areas, he was even
linked to the pharaoh. He represented power and military might.
Sobek was especially worshipped in places like
Crocodilopolis. There crocodiles were seen as sacred. They were even adorned.
It must have been a complex relationship.
Over time, Sobek became connected with creation myths and
even linked to other gods. This shows us that like many of the other gods he continued
to evolve. But his core identity remained the same. He was still tied to the
Nile and still embodied both life and danger. That dual nature makes him very
interesting. It perfectly illustrates the idea that as in life, not everything is easily defined as good or bad.
Do you think that worshipping a god like Sobek helped people
to feel more in control of the dangers around them?
Elsie Seetoo’s Extraordinary Journey Through War and Service
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Wallace Hartley: The Music That Carried Courage Into Titanic’s Final Moments
Wallace Hartley: The Music That Carried Courage Into Titanic’s Final Moments
I have been learning more about the people who on board the
RMS Titanic, and over the past few days I found out a little about the
musicians. Today I want to tell a little bit about Wallace Hartley, he was the man who led the
band in those final moments.
He was born on the 2nd of June 1878 in Colne, Lancashire. His family were both musical and religious. His father was a choirmaster, so music would have been around him from a very young age. Although he started his working life in a bank, he eventually started working with orchestras and then on ocean liners.
By 1909, he was playing on major ships when he was offered
the role of bandleader for Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 1912. He initially
hesitated as he had recently gotten engaged to Maria Robinson, and leaving her
must have been difficult.
On the night of the 14th of April 1912. After the iceberg hit,
Hartley and the other musicians began to play. It is often said they continued to
play until the very end. He must have felt fear but music was his way of
bringing calm.
Hartley tragically did not survive, his body was later
returned home. Thousands came to pay their respects. His violin which was a
gift from the woman he loved, has since become a symbol of that night.
Do you think you would have found strength in music, if you
had been there that night?
Amun: The Hidden God Who Rose to Power in Ancient Egypt
The Quiet Courage of Colonel Ruby Bradley
Annie G. Fox: The Nurse Who Stayed Calm Under Fire at Pearl Harbor
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BOSWORTH FIELD Bosworth Field was a hugely important part of British history, it was the start of the Tudor dynasty. Everybody has heard of...
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A Life of Duty and Sacrifice: John Thayer on Titanic I have been learning about some of the people who were on board the Titanic, I want t...