2007 is over, but which events in Britain will become History?
In some far off future, when the history books are written, and another generation of British school children are reading about those who have gone before, I doubt that there will be much mention of the year 2007. That year, so newly finished, had no single defining event, no death of a monarch, no end to a major war. That does not mean the year was without interest, however. There were several events that will be remembered, especially by the people who were around to see them.
Probably the single biggest event in Britain this past year was the resignation of Tony Blair. After ten years leading the country, Blair stepped aside and turned over the country over to Gordon Brown. Although the main reason for his resignation was probably the war in Iraqi, it was certainly a combination of factors. I believe that it will not be long before the Brits look back with fondness on a man who was a strong leader and oversaw the country during a period most notable for its prosperity.
The other big story on the island in 2007 has to be the summer floods. Although flooding is always a danger when you build in river basins, no one predicted the level of destruction that came about when a number of rivers, including the Thames, burst their banks this summer. Several cities lost whole neighbourhoods to the risings waters. Thousands of peope were evacuated from cities all over the south west. Even here in Oxford, I was evacuated from my office, and one of the major roads into the city was shut down for weeks.
No, 2007 wasn't the most eventual year, but it was eventful enough!
