Dame Kelly Holmes won two gold medals for running in the 2004 Olympic Games. She has held a number of British and European records.

Sir Francis Drake, one of the commanders in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, was one of the founders of England’s naval tradition. His ship, the Golden Hind, was one of the first to sail right around (‘circumnavigate’) the world.

There is a strong tradition of musical theatre in the UK. In the 19th century, Gilbert and Sullivan wrote comic operas, often making fun of popular culture and politics. These operas include HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. Their work is still often staged by professional and amateur groups.

Prior to the Reform Act (1832), the number of people who had the right to vote for members of Parliament was still very small. Only men who owned property of a certain value were able to vote. No women at all had the vote. Some constituencies were controlled by a single wealthy family. These were called ‘pocket boroughs. Other constituencies had hardly any voters and were called ‘rotten boroughs’.

In Northern Ireland, a newly qualified driver must display an ‘R’ plate (for restricted driver) for one year after passing the test.

The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. The government, public bodies and the courts must follow the principles of the Convention.

The Reform Act of 1832 had greatly increased the number of people with the right to vote. The Act also abolished the old pocket and rotten boroughs and more parliamentary seats were given to the towns and cities.

The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three volunteers. There are now more than 61,000 volunteers helping to keep the organisation running.

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.

To apply to become a permanent resident or citizen of the UK, you will need to: speak and read English; and have a good understanding of life in the UK.

During the Iron Age, the language the people spoke was part of the Celtic language family. Similar languages were spoken across Europe in the Iron Age, and related languages are still spoken today in some parts of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Many people in the UK are waiting for organ transplants. You can register to be an organ donor, which can make it easier for your family to decide whether to donate your organs when you die. Living people can also donate a kidney.

لە ساڵانی ١٨٣٠ و ١٨٤٠ گروپێک بە ناوی چارتیستەکان بانگەشەی چاکسازییان دەکرد. لەو کاتەدا بە گشتی ئەو هەڵمەتە وەک شکستخواردوو سەیر دەکرا. بەڵام تا ساڵی ١٩١٨ زۆربەی ئەو چاکسازیانەی بانگەشەی بۆ دەکرا پەسەند کران. هەروەها مافی دەنگدانی ژنان بۆ سەروو تەمەنی ٣٠ ساڵ درێژکرایەوە پاشان لە ساڵی ١٩٢٨ بۆ ژن و پیاوی سەروو ٢١ ساڵ. ساڵی ١٩٦٩ تەمەنی دەنگدان بۆ ١٨ ساڵ بۆ ژن و پیاو کەمکرایەوە.

The 1960s was a time of technological progress. Britain and France developed the world’s only supersonic commercial airliner, Concorde.

There are famous gardens to visit throughout the UK, including Bodnant Garden in Wales.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates’ Court.

The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. People eat pancakes, which were traditionally made to use up foods such as eggs, fat and milk before fasting. Lent begins the next day, on Ash Wednesday.

During Charles Il’s reign, in 1665, there was a major outbreak of plague in London (the Great Plague). Thousands of people died, especially in poorer areas.

During the Second World War, the Germans waged an air campaign against Britain, but the British resisted with their fighter planes and eventually won the crucial aerial battle against the Germans, called the Battle of Britain’, in the summer of 1940.

Belfast is located in Northern Ireland. It is also the capital city of Northern Ireland.

MPs are elected through a system called ‘first past the post’. In each constituency, the candidate who gets the most votes is elected.

The Prime Minister can be changed if the MPs in the governing party decide to do so, or if he or she wishes to resign. The Prime Minister usually resigns if his or her party loses a General Election.

In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic. A naval taskforce was sent from the UK and military action led to the recovery of the islands.

In 1314 the Scottish, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn, and Scotland remained unconquered by the English.