Best of British Innovations

When it comes to birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones, naturally we take some time to reflect on years gone by. We look back in awe of the growth, the achievements, the accolades and the great memories.

The Queen’s birthday is an occasion which is without a doubt embraced greatly by all across the nation. With street parties taking place up and down, everyone’s in the mood to celebrate our Great British heritage.

So as we celebrate, it’s only right that we take pride in ‘the best of British’.

It’s fair to say that when it comes to innovation and invention, Britain is fairly great (can you see what we did there?). With that in mind, here are some of the best bits from the rich British heritage; which one do you think reigns supreme?

Invented in 1874 by JS Fry & Sons, this is an item the whole world is grateful for. Transformed from a hot drink, Bristolians created this fantastic food that was solid at room temperature but melted in the mouth.

Discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1772, the consumption of water was revolutionised. As he revealed to the world how to make carbonated water, Johann Schweppes began manufacturing fizzy drinks.

Used the world over, the idea of dispensed cash was brought to life by John Shepherd-Barron in 1967. A discovery made in the bath, Shepard-Barron sold his idea to Barclays who installed the first ATM outside their Enfield branch. At this time customers could withdraw a maximum of £10.

As a generation that is glued to our phones, we should stand to salute Alexander Graham Bell, who patented his telephone model in 1876.

Computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee created the first server in 1989, with the web going live in 1991. It was free to use and its first page explained how to search and set up a site.

A Scottish engineer, John Logie Baird, was the first person to demonstrate a working television in 1926. An essential bit of kit these days, early reactions to the television were sceptical, with one journalist describing him as a lunatic!

Did you know that the 4th Earl of Sandwich popularised the Sandwich, as we know it today? It is recorded that he asked for meat to be served between slices of bread, to avoid interrupting a gambling game. This story may have been rumour, but it is speculated that soon people may have started ordering “the same as Sandwich”, and the name stuck!

Happy 90th birthday to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II! Let’s hope the great British innovations keep on coming.