1941: Following a Ministry of Home Security circular on the carrying of gas masks, a Mrs Mellows organised four lectures aimed principally at housewives of active servicemen, on how to handle a gas situation. The second talk was held on this day. Each lecture covered: latest information about gas attacks; first aid for gas casualties; how to protect yourself and dealing with incendiary bombs and fires. All lectures were very well attended. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
The world’s first mini roundabout (a roundabout without a central island) was opened in Peterborough in 1969. It was designed by Frank Blackmore a traffic engineer at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory from 1960 to 1981, who struggled to get the idea of a mini roundabout accepted, though it is now considered by many experts to be the most cost-effective junction design ever devised.
The mini roundabout was situated near London Road and Oundle Road and when it first openned Frank Blackmore stationed himself at the roundabout with a loud hailer to tell drivers what to do. It was replaced by traffic lights in 2008.
Note: Benfleet claims to be the site of the first mini roundabout, but Peterborough got there first!
Reference:
https://www.theguardian.com/th...
Image Wikimedia Commons: public domain