A collection of royal memorabilia devoted to a 19th-century Princess Charlotte is to go on sale.
Princess Charlotte of Wales – George IV’s only child – was destined to become the nation’s Queen, but tragically died giving birth nearly 200 years ago in 1817 when she was just 21.
The auction includes bronze medals commemorating her death, inscribed with the words “Great Britain mourns. Her Princes weep!” and a portrait of Charlotte with her husband, Prince Leopold, estimated together to fetch up to £300. The Autumn Country House Sale by Sworders will be held on September 15 in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. The picture shows an aquatint portrait of Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold along with a cased bronze commemorative medal of the Princess.
Telescope is mistaken for rifle
Two North Dakota State University students got a scare when armed police officers mistook their telescope for a rifle.
Levi Joraanstad and Colin Waldera were setting up the telescope behind their apartment when they were blinded by a bright light and told to stop moving. They could not see who was shining the light and assumed it was a prank by other students.
An officer on patrol had spotted the two and thought the telescope was a rifle. Police say the students were never in danger and that it was a situation of “better safe than sorry”.
Tardy teacher to keep his job
A New Jersey, USA elementary school teacher has been allowed to keep his job, even though he was late for work 111 times over a two-year period.
An arbitrator criticised a claim by Arnold Anderson that the quality of his teaching outweighed his tardiness. The arbitrator said Anderson was late 46 times in the most recent school year to March 20 and 65 times the previous school year.
But it was found that the Roosevelt school district failed to give him adequate notice to correct his behaviour and that Anderson is entitled to progressive discipline before being fired. The teacher earns $90,000 a year.
Curry is a source of concern
Curry house owners are meeting for crisis talks amid concerns the rise of cheap supermarket takeaway-style deals and curbs on immigration are cutting into their business.
The last five years have seen a rise in big supermarkets offering curry “take-away” meal packs , and curry restaurants are also reeling from tightening immigration rules which forbid visas for non-European Union chefs offered less than £29,570 a year.
About 150 curry house owners will meet in Edinburgh next month to discuss the industry’s response as part of a series of televised crisis talks throughout the UK known as The Catering Circle. The curry industry generates more than £4.1 billion for the UK economy, with over 15,000 curry houses, according to The Catering Circle.
House fire hazard comes true
A western Pennsylvania couple who bought a neighbouring vacant house because they feared it was a fire hazard were right; it caught fire while they were at the county courthouse signing the deed.
Bradley and Penny Mason bought the house in Meyersdale intending to tear it down. It is located just feet from their home about 80 miles south-east of Pittsburgh.
A neighbour called the emergency services to report the fire at about 3pm on Wednesday and fire officials have determined the origin was suspicious. The fire marshal is still investigating the cause.