Articles by Jo Foster

Blondie is a rock band from New York that has enjoyed enduring popularity since its inception by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein in 1974. With Debbie as lead vocals and Chris on guitar and bass, the band exuded a unique punk/new wave vibe. The band quickly took on new members, including Billy O'Connor on drums and Fred Smith on bass, although their stays were short-lived, as they were replaced ...

The nation's love of creating beautiful and functional gardens has been going on for centuries. According to the National Trust, manor houses and monasteries cultivated gardens in the Middle Ages that were well-ordered and useful, with rectangular beds and orchards providing fruit, vegetables and herbs for medicines. Credit: ukgardenphotos / CC 2.0 / Flickr However, it was in the Vict...

Located in the picturesque countryside next to Windsor Park, the famous Ascot racecourse is home to one of the most prestigious annual events on the horse racing calendar - Royal Ascot. The course is one of British horse racing's most popular destinations, with the Royal Ascot meeting attracting a 70,000 capacity crowd every summer. The racecourse was constructed back in 1711, after being fo...

Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go! The most prestigious trophy, the FIFA World Cup 2018, has kicked off in Russia and will continue until 15th July - with the world's top players making up the 32 finalists who are competing in the championship. Gareth Southgate's England have been drawn in Group G, alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama. Kicking off at 7pm, their first match is on Monday 18th J...

Postcards are among the three most collectable items in the world, along with coins and stamps. Deltiology (postcard collecting) is particularly interesting, as you can trace world history through the pictures - from famous places and people, to popular holiday resorts and landmark buildings. Postcards became popular not only because of their commemorative value, but also because they were c...

Father's Day is the annual celebration when people everywhere let their father know just how much he is appreciated. This year, it takes place on Sunday 17th June in the UK, although the event is held all over the world on different dates. Father's Day is traditionally on the third Sunday in June in the UK. Other countries who celebrate in June include the United States, France, Argentina, G...

The famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music, has captivated audiences for generations following its release in 1965. Based on the true story of the von Trapp family's flight from the Nazi invasion of Austria at the start of the second world war, it grossed $286 million at the box office worldwide - a record at the time. Starring Christopher Plummer as retired naval officer...

One of the oddest pieces of news to come out of Hollywood is the revelation that A-list movie star and celebrity Johnny Depp collects dolls. Famous for his role as dashing pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in the box office smash Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp has revealed he has a large collection of limited edition Barbie dolls. The famous brand was invented in 1959 by American wife...

Inspired by Charles Dickens's second novel, Oliver Twist, published in 1837, the musical drama film Oliver! was released in 1968 to great acclaim. It won six Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. Directed by Carol Reed and filmed in Surrey's Shepperton Film Studio, Oliver! regularly features in polls compiling the top 100 British films of all time. This classic story focuses on the life of a...

Some of the world records achieved by using marbles - including the dangerous, the mundane and the downright bizarre - will really make you ask, "Have you lost your marbles?" Those small, colourful, spherical-shaped glass balls have been used for entertainment for at least 5,000 years, and possibly longer. No-one actually knows who invented marbles or when they were first used. They've be...