22 years since the Hatfield rail crash

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It was the latest in a series of rail accidents which led to scores of deaths. The subsequent inquiry found the cause was a cracked rail and exposed failings by privatised railway infrastructure company Railtrack, later replaced by Network Rail.

100 years ago (1922)

The British Broadcasting Company – later Corporation – was formed by a consortium of British and American electric companies to establish a nationwide network of
radio transmitters to provide a national broadcasting service.

The following December, John Reith was appointed as its managing director.

33 years ago (1989)

East Germany’s communist leader Erich Honecker was forced to step down and replaced with the less hardline Egon Krenz.

The official cause was “ill health” but the real reason was his failure to enact political reforms. Shortly after coming to power Krenz ordered the Berlin Wall to
be demolished.

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