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Even without sound, this news item conveys a relaxed holiday atmosphere as people sunbathe on the beach, ramble in the countryside, go fishing, pose for photographs, enjoy all the fun of the fair and, of course, eat ice cream.

Bank holidays were the idea of banker Sir John Lubbock, who drafted the Bank Holiday Bill of 1871. When this piece of legislation was passed, it created the first secular holiday in British history. Sir John was one of 11 children and was tutored in natural history by Charles Darwin, who was a good friend of his father.

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