Following his death in 1965, Winston Churchill was given a state funeral. He remains a much-admired figure to this day, and in 2002 was voted the greatest Briton of all time by the public.

The Elizabethan period is also remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.

The first farmers arrived in Britain about 6,000 years ago. The ancestors of these first farmers probably came from south-east Europe. These people built houses, tombs and monuments on the land.

The group used civil disobedience as part of their protest to gain the vote for women. They chained themselves to railings, smashed windows and committed arson. Many of the women, including Emmeline, went on hunger strike.

The White Tower in the Tower of London is an example of a Norman castle keep, built on the orders of William the Conqueror.

Charles Dickens (1812-70) wrote a number of very famous novels, including Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for ‘you must present the person in court’. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

In the middle of the 19th century the potato crop failed, and Ireland suffered a famine. A million people died from disease and starvation.

British directors, including Sir David Lean and Ridley Scott, have found great success both in the UK and internationally.

The money raised from National Insurance Contributions is used to pay for state benefits and services such as the state retirement pension and the National Health Service (NHS).

The Speaker is chosen by other MPs in a secret ballot.

J K Rowling (1965-) wrote the Harry Potter series of children’s books, which have enjoyed huge international success. She now writes fiction for adults as well.

The most serious cases in Scotland, such as murder, are heard at a High Court with a judge and jury.

By law, each local authority has to make its electoral register available for anyone to look at, although this has to be supervised. The register is kept at each local electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales). It is also possible to see the register at some public buildings such as libraries.

The laws passed after the Glorious Revolution are the beginning of what is called ‘constitutional monarchy’. The monarch remained very important but was no longer able to insist on particular policies or actions if Parliament did not agree.

During the reign of Henry VIII, Wales became formally united with England by the Act for the Government of Wales. The Welsh sent representatives to the House of Commons and the Welsh legal system was reformed.

In 1860 Florence Nightingale established the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. The school was the first of its kind and still exists today, as do many of the practices that Florence used. She is often regarded as the founder of modern nursing.

Local authorities provide a range of services in their areas. They are funded by money from central government and by local taxes.

The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066. Tours are given by the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, who tell visitors about the building’s history. People can also see the Crown Jewels there.

The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of departments. This includes ministers (called ‘Secretaries of State’) responsible for subjects such as education, health and defence.

In the Middle Ages, Parliament began to develop into the institution it is today. Its origins can be traced to the king’s council of advisers, which included important noblemen and the leaders of the

The Canterbury Tales was one of the first books to be printed by William Caxton, the first person in England to print books using a printing press.

In Scotland, 31 December is called Hogmanay and 2 January is also a public holiday. For some Scottish people, Hogmanay is a bigger holiday than Christmas. New Year, 1 January, is a public holiday. People usually celebrate on the night of 31 December (called New Year’s Eve).

Shortly before Emmeline’s death in 1928, women were given the right to vote at the age of 21, the same as men.