More and more evidence is coming to light that Dr. Wakefield was on the right track when he researched the connection between the MMR vaccine and intestinal inflammation in the vaccinated children. Was Dr. Andrew Wakefield Right After All? Wakefield’s Lancet Paper Vindicated New Published Study Verifies Andrew Wakefield’s Research on Autism But how did Dr. Wakefield first get into the sights of the UK vaccine industry and how was the campaign against him mounted? Martin Walker, the author of "Dirty Medicine" and a number of other books on health, closely followed the case that eventually resulted in Dr. Wakefield's exile from the UK. He describes how it all happened and how the vaccine manufacturers were able to bring down the full weight of government and the courts against both Wakefield and the many parents who were suing for recognition of the damage vaccines had done to their children. "As a campaigner of 40 years, I think that what surprises me most about Dr Wakefield’s case, is how easily and how completely we were defeated by the pharmaceutical companies, how over a thousand parents and children were written out of history together with their adverse drug reactions. Part of this defeat for the parents, the children and the doctors concerned was grounded in an unfortunate understanding that pharmaceutical company executives were decent people and humanitarians. In fact the pharmaceutical companies, their corporate structure and their relentless pursuit of profit, their fraudulent practices represent one of the last remaining shibboleths, in our society which need to be completely reformed, democratised, divested of vested interests and made public from top to bottom." We do learn from experience. That is why we should pay attention to how this case went so wrong and why the campaign to ruin those researchers and to leave the damaged children by the wayside was mounted in the first place. So it won't happen again. Here is Martin Walker's essay....

He was a soldier in the Roman army and, according to the venerable Bede, was brought to faith in Christ by a fugitive priest to whom he gave shelter. The saint exchanged clothes with the priest, allowing him to escape and ensuring his own martyrdom. Some writers, including St Bede, place his martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (286-303).   Saint Alban's tomb was venerated as early as 429 by St Germanus of Auxerre. The town of Verulamium is either his home town or the place of his martyrdom; near it a monastery was founded, around which grew the English town of St Albans.

He was a soldier in the Roman army and, according to the venerable Bede, was brought to faith in Christ by a fugitive priest to whom he gave shelter. The saint exchanged clothes with the priest, allowing him to escape and ensuring his own martyrdom. Some writers, including St Bede, place his martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (286-303).   Saint Alban's tomb was venerated as early as 429 by St Germanus of Auxerre. The town of Verulamium is either his home town or the place of his martyrdom; near it a monastery was founded, around which grew the English town of St Albans.

Reader Nicholas Chapman provides an exploration of moves towards Orthodoxy in Britain and later America in a transatlantic connection between the Reformation and the First World War. Our thanks to Fr. Gregory Hallam at St. Aidan Orthodox Church in Manchester (where this talk was given) for the recording.

Dan Evans speaks to BBC Breakfast's John Watson before playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester.

First national-scale groundwater model in Great Britain developed  British Geological Survey

… a big upset in his Davis Cup debut on Friday, defeating Spaniard ….

Harmanpreet Singh-led outfit has lifted its game steadily in the Olympics and is likely to throw a different challenge against Great Britain

Harmanpreet, Sukhjeet, Lalit Upadhyay and Raj Kumar Pal scored for India in the shootout, which had more drama in store than one expects in pure action.

“Sreejesh is a legend, he is one of the best we have. He is saving us from day one. But when you ask him, he will say it was a team effort, so team first, then individuals,” said Harmanpreet.

Dilip Tirkey, who was present at the stadium to witness the match, praised the Indian team for defending well after Amit Rohidas’ expulsion owing to a foul early in the second quarter.

Three of Great Britain's Olympic heroes, Justin Rose, Bradley Wiggins and Jessica Ennis-Hill, returned home on Tuesday, but they did so in very different ways.

Archives, Room Use Only - QC531.T98 1884

British Geological Survey recreates Great Britain in Minecraft  Eurogamer.net

To estimate the losses of wild pollinators across Great Britain, a study mapped records of 353 wild bee and hoverfly species, collected across the country from 1980 to 2013. It found that a third of species decreased, while a tenth increased. On average, the geographic range of bee and hoverfly species declined by a quarter, which equates to a net loss of 11 species from each 1km grid square (with uncommon species more harshly affected), highlighting a significant risk to biodiversity, pollinators, and their ecosystems.

Watford fighter Ellie Harber took her 2020 record to five wins from five, culminating last weekend at the IFMA Great Britain Team Trials at Watford’s Woodside Leisure Centre.

A HAMPSHIRE student is celebrating boxing success after giving a knockout performance in a national competition.

Precious data points logged on paper are in dire need of a hero. Could it be you?

… a big upset in his Davis Cup debut on Friday, defeating Spaniard ….

Great Britain took their first steps towards the next Winter Olympics when they emerged from the opening game of their qualifying tournament in Nottingham with a hard-fought 4-3 victory.

Great Britain set up a winner takes all encounter against old rivals Hungary in Nottingham on Sunday when they took another step on the road to the Beijing Winter Olympics by beating Estonia 7-1.

Great Britain's hopes of reaching the next Winter Olympics were dashed on Sunday when they were defeated 4-1 by their old rivals Hungary in a winner takes all clash.

Former Great Britain captain Alex Danson-Bennett has retired from hockey after failing to fully recover from a 'life-changing' head injury.

It was left to Jason Kenny to add to the family's cycling silver after wife Laura defied doctor's orders but could not defy the odds.

Louis Smith will represent Great Britain for the first time since his double Olympic medal-winning performance at London 2012 after being named in the squad for the European Championships.

MARTHA KELNER IN RIO: It is a sign of how far gymnastics in Britain has advanced that an Olympic medal was expected when the men's team took to the competition floor in Rio on Monday night.

Rising heptathlon star Katarina Johnson-Thompson is relishing the prospect of a future showdown with Olympic champion and Great Britain team-mate Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Phillips Idowu and Shara Proctor have withdrawn from the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Zurich.

With just 198 days to go until the Rio Oympics, Katarina Johnson-Thompson has gold in her sights after being revealed as the face of paint company Dulux's Colour of the Year for 2016.

The Scottish runner has been in fine form and she leads a team packed with medal prospects. Performance director Neil Black said he is 'pleased with the blend of the team' for the championships.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT THE LONDON STADIUM: Johnson-Thompson, there was a degree of redemption, considering it was this discipline that wrecked her chances in the heptathlon.

Great Britain suffered a third straight defeat on their tour of New Zealand after they were beaten 23-8 in Christchurch. The series whitewash increases the pressure on Wayne Bennett.

Great Britain's underwhelming tour of the southern hemisphere came to a humiliating end when they were condemned to a 28-10 defeat by Papua New Guinea.

Tributes have been paid to Widnes legend and former Great Britain captain Frank Myler, who has died aged 81.

Gold medal favourites New Zealand suffered a shock defeat to Japan in their opening rugby sevens match of this summer's Olympics.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Jo Konta emerged again as the last surviving British player when she powered into the last 16 of the US Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over China's Shuai Zhang.

Some of Britain's biggest Flat meetings, headed by the June jewels of Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, are shrouded in uncertainty after racing was shut down until the end of April.

Jen Atkin, 26, from Ulceby, Lincolnshire, won the longest-running pageant in the UK at a glittering national final in Leicester, after ditching takeaways and hitting the gym regularly to lose 8st.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Sam Ward is now facing a battle to continue playing after being struck in the face with a hockey ball during an Olympic Games qualifier this month.

The double Olympic champion won team pursuit gold at London 2012 alongside Dani King and Joanna Rowsell, but all three will be lining up for England in the individual pursuit in Glasgow.

Katie Archibald and Laura Trott won golds on Sunday as Great Britain completed the European Elite Track Cycling Championships in Guadeloupe with an eight-medal haul, six of them gold.

Laura Trott and Great Britain experienced the unfamiliar feeling of returning from a Track World Championships without a gold medal following the final day of the titles.