VD centre closes

3

February

1
‘Schoolbook’ declared obscene by courtOn this day in 1971 the proprietor of Stage 1 publishers was found guilty of having in his possession obscene books for publication for gain.

5
Anger at Hitler waxwork in BerlinOn this day in 2008 Madam Tussauds opened for business in Berlin, with waxworks of such notable German figures as Albert Einstein, Otto von Bismarck, Ludwig van Beethoven, Guenter Grass, Bertolt Brecht, Konrad Adenauer, Uwe Seeler, Kal Marx and supermodel Heidi Klumm.

24
Speaking clock launchedBritain’s first speaking clock service , known as ‘TIM’, was inaugurated on this day in 1936.

28
Homosexuality decriminalisedRoyal Assent was given to the Sexual Offences Act on this day in 1967, effectively decriminalising private homosexual acts between consenting adults over 21 years of age.

30
England win World CupThe England football team won the FIFA World Cup on this day in 1966, beating West Germany 4-2 after extra time.

The Venereal Diseases Research Centre at Harnham Down existed for almost a decade, without ever attracting the publicity enjoyed by its more famous neighbour, the Common Cold Unit. Read on...

The military base at Harnham Down, former home of the research centre

Picture: Flickr