2 Ιουνιου

Anniversary of the first sound transmission

Marconi

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Marconi

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Approximately 86% of the world's population owns a smartphone and we have Alexander Bell to thank for the technology that started it all. It was on this day 148 years ago that Bell transmitted the first sound between two receivers.

An accidental discovery involving the twang of a reed around an electromagnet during work on their harmonic telegraph led Alexander Bell and Thomas Watson to find that they could hear that twang on the other end. Just under a year later Bell was able to summon Watson from another room by speaking via sound transmission on an instrument he had created. Fast forward to today that technology has improved beyond what even Bell probably would have considered possible, and we would be lost without our phones.

In other technological news, today also marks the anniversary of the first wireless patent by Marconi in 1896. Known as the creator of Radio, the Marconi name now has around 800 patents in the world of wireless technology so to celebrate the history of invention we're drinking the Marconi.

The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album was released in the US

Although technically released on June 1st The Beatles' American audience had to wait an extra day to enjoy the album and its iconic cover.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was The Beatles' eighth album but the first one to provide identical track listings on both the US and UK versions. It was a huge success and held a number-one spot in the States for 15 weeks. No singles were released from it and the album wasn't banded so fans could listen to the album as a continuous piece of music until they eventually had to flip the disc. Not an issue we would face today but that's the magic we miss out on in today's music industry. The joy of holding a brand-new album doesn't exist like it once did and this one in particular had so many cool features with the wallet containing not only the iconic imagery but cutouts, full lyrics to every song and a psychedelic design on the inner sleeve.

The success of the album no doubt played a part in Sir Paul McCartney receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the White House which coincidentally happened on the same day 43 years later in 2010. The award celebrates musicians that have made an impact on the music industry by entertaining and informing their audiences, and inspiring new generations to do the same. We're toasting The Beatles with the Macca Margarita inspired by Sir Paul McCartney himself.

Anniversary of the Queen's Coronation

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned this day in 1953 - although she ascended the throne a year earlier.

Confusing? Just a touch. The Queen's father died on 6th February 1952, but it took a while to get the coronation organised. Over 8,000 guests had to find room in their calendars and, as February was no time for a coronation, the event needed to be held in summer - hence the delay. In those royalist days, more than 3 million people turned out to line the streets of London, while the ceremony itself was broadcast in over 40 languages, reaching a global audience of a whopping 40 million.

We will be toasting Her Majesty with a Royal Mojito or two, and as much sunshine as we can find. Then celebrating her 70 years as Monarch with a Queen's Jubilee Martini.

Republic Day in Italy

Folk in Italy have the day off work today, to celebrate their country's national day, the Festival of the Republic, or Festa della Repubblica.

On this day, back in 1946, Italy held a referendum to determine its form of government (monarchy or republic) to follow the end of World War II and the fall of Fascism. The country voted out the king (who had supported Mussolini during the war) and became a republic, and male members of the royal House of Savoy were sent into exile.

We will be marking the day with a fine and meditative Italian cocktail, the Negroni. It dates back to long before the country became a republic, and an aristocrat named Camillo Negroni, who it is said, wanted an Americano with "a bit more kick". Gin adds oomph to the consummately Italian pairing of Italian red bitter liqueur and sweet vermouth. Build in the glass, and savour.

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