The story goes that the Earl asked for the particular serving so that he could eat while continuing to play cards and his friends asked “to have the same as Sandwich”, according to the British Sandwich Association.

The first written record of the sandwich was in 1762 and the Kent town of Sandwich, which is the earldom of the Montagu family, is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the meal.

Sir Edward Montagu, a prominent naval commander, became the first Earl of Sandwich when he was offered a peerage in 1660.

Steve Laslett, one of the organisers of the Sandwich Celebration Festival, said Sir Edward Montagu chose the title because “at the time Sandwich was the premier sea port in England”.

“When he was offered the earldom he could have chosen Portsmouth but he chose Sandwich – today we could be eating a Portsmouth.”

Mr Laslett added: “The fourth Earl was a complex character.

“He’s First Lord of the Admiralty three times but he was a bit of a lad and he did stay up all night playing cards on many occasions.”

Foodsmith Sam Bompas said the Earl of Sandwich was eating with his fingers “when cutlery was de rigueur”.

Eating of record at the time was service á la française where all the food went on the table at the same time and there was an elaborate ritual of carving, aided by troops of servants,” said Mr Bompas.

“What you have with the sandwich is the shock of informality. He was a daring man to eat in such a way coming from his social background.”

Mr Bompas added that he found it odd that the sandwich did not exist before the Earl of Sandwich ordered meat between slices of bread.

“Other people were probably eating in that way anyway but they were people who weren’t written about,” he said.

‘It’s bizarre’

Over the weekend the east Kent town hosts sandwich-making competitions and re-enactments of the moment the fourth Earl of Sandwich asked for the food in bread.

Sandwich Celebration Festival organiser Mandy Wilkins said it had had interest from around the world, including America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France and Russia.

Ms Wilkins said: “The sandwich is a global food and Sandwich, our town, is just a little town full of medieval buildings.

“It’s bizarre that such an important food item should be named after us.”f

Americans are celebrating “the sandwich” in typical fashion:

On Sunday the 11th Earl of Sandwich, who shares his name with the fourth Earl after which the sandwich is said to be named, hosts a lunch in Sandwich.

John Montagu said: “I am delighted to wish a happy 250th birthday to the sandwich.

“My ancestor, the 4th Earl, could never have imagined that his simple invention would spawn a multi-billion dollar industry, employing hundreds of thousands of people in this country.”

According to the British Sandwich Association the industry employs more than 300,000 people in the UK and has a commercial value of over £6bn.

Lord Montagu added: “My favourite sandwich is a traditional one: roast beef and hot horseradish on freshly baked bread.”

BBC

BOURNEMOUTH, UK -  Blue goo from alien spaceships has been dropping on English citizens over the last week. 

Blue spheres of blue goo have been falling from the sky over England.  British authorities called in the U.N. Panel on Extraterrestrials to examine the goo and they have confirmed that the goo is from alien spaceships from Planet Gootan.

“Our scientists and extraterrestrial experts confirmed that the goo is from Planet Gootan.  It is harmless, but it is clearly a warming sign from the Gootans, who first landed on our planet on November 27, 2012,” said Dr. Susan Begley of the U.N. Panel.

The blue goo is contained in 15 inch sphere balls. The goo began falling on England last Thursday and has continued falling.

Paul Bernbee from Bournemouth found about a dozen of the balls in his garden.  “They’re difficult to pick up, I had to get a spoon and flick them into a jam jar,” said Bernbee.

The the jelly-like substance was “not meteorological” and could not be identified by any geologists or scientists in England, so they called in the United Nations.

Mr. Bernbee, a former aircraft engineer, said: “The sky went a really dark yellow color before the goo began to fall and then… it was everywhere.”

“As I walked outside to go to the garage there was an instant hail storm for a few seconds and I thought, ‘what’s that goo in the grass’?”

Bernbee refused to give his goo balls to the U.N. and plans on keeping the balls in his fridge in case “something cool happens to them.”

Sally Nixon of Dexter said that she was gardening when she was hit by three goo balls.  “They knocked me to the ground and I was covered in icky stuff,” said Nixon.  “It was gross.”

Nixon said that the spheres containing the goo have an exterior shell with a softer inner but have no smell, aren’t sticky and do not melt.”

Dr. Begley offered no explanation as to why the Gootans may be dropping goo but told WWN that the goo may be intended for the aliens from Planet Zeeba that have been spotted in England.  “The Zeebans have come to earth to help humans fight against The Gootans.  We know that this goo is harmless to humans, but it is deadly to Zeebans.”

So, if you are in England…  mind the goo!

WOODLAND, UK -  An tiny village is the latest community to be hit by the phenomenon known as “the hum”.

Residents of Woodland, in County Durham, claim that every night a noise permeates the air similar to the throb of a car engine.

It is sometimes so strong that it even shakes the bed of one of the householders.  It causes residents to act in overly sexual ways and it makes residents who here it much smarter.

No matter how hard they look, the community cannot find the source of the problem and, at their wits end, have called in the council to investigate.

The 300-strong population is the latest around the world to be hit by the rumble which has in the past led to wild conspiracy theories blaming it on UFOs, government experiments and abandoned mine shafts.

It is so widespread that it has even featured on the television show The X Files.

Its most famous occurrence was in Bristol in the 1970s when more than a thousand people complained of the consistent drone causing nosebleeds, sleeplessness and headaches.
It vanished as mysteriously as it arrived and was never explained.

Residents of Woodland, a community consisting of one main street surrounded by farmland, claims their version of “the hum” is constant from midnight until 11am every night (day) and stops them sleeping.

There are no pylons, factories or abandoned mines nearby.

The noise started about two months ago and has been plaguing the isolated village every day since.

Marylin Grech, 57, a retired store detective, said: “In certain areas of the house you can hear it more loudly. It is definitely from outside, it’s in the air, all around, very faint.  “I don’t mind it though, it’s improved my sex life with my wife dramatically.”

“It vibrates through the house. We’ve turned all the electricity off in the house and we can still hear it, so it’s not that.

“Sometimes we’ll be in bed and it vibrates right through our bed, like a throbbing.”   This “throbbing” seems to stimulate the sexual organs.

“It’s not tinnitus, that’s a high-pitched sound and this is very low. If I put my fingers in my ears it stops, so I know it’s not in my head.

“At 4am it’s so clear, because we live in such an isolated place with no traffic, it’s heaven.”But it leaves a buzzing in your head for the rest of the day.”

Gary Hutchinson, an environmental protection manager at Durham County Council, said: “I can confirm that we received a call regarding a humming sound in the Woodland area earlier on June 1 and we will now make further enquiries before deciding what action we will take.”

LIVERPOOL, U.K -  The Mersey Monster has reappeared!

The “monster” was snapped off Seacombe Ferry at 9am yesterday by photographer Mark Harrison.

Paul Renolds, from the Blue Planet Aquarium, who studied the photos, said: “It is virtually impossible to actually identify, but this is the time of year when large numbers of basking sharks, the second largest shark species in the world after whale sharks, head towards waters off the Isle of Man.”

He added: “If it is not a basking shark, it could be a smaller species of whale or a dolphin because there are around 23 different species in UK waters.”

LONDON – President Obama toasted the Queen last night.   He was the only one toasting.

The president and the orchestra at Buckingham Palace this evening were a bit out of synch.

When the president toasted the Queen the orchestra misunderstood a pause and what seemed to be a cue from the president for “God Save the Queen” to begin playing.

Chevy Chase, as Clark Griswold, was leading the band.

“Ladies and gentlemen please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast,” the president said, putting down his note cards and grabbing his glass. “To her majesty the Queen.”

The president paused, the guests stood, and the orchestra prepared to play.

But the president wasn’t done speaking.

“The vitality –“ the president said before the orchestra began.

Then the familiar tune – you might know it better as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” – started up.

The president kept going: “ — of the special relationship between our peoples and for the words of Shakespeare to this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,” the president said as the awkward moment played out.

The Queen looked ahead as the UK anthem played.

“To the Queen,” the president finally said.

He lifted his glass to her, she smiled a bit uncomfortably.

But because the song was playing, no one drank from his or her glass, including the president, who put his glass down on the table.

Then once the song was over, everyone raised a glass.

It almost felt like one of those moments at the Academy Awards when the speech from the recipient for Best Original Screenplay goes on too long and the orchestra tries to hustle him or her off the stage.

Here’s the Fumbler in Chief:

Here’s a handy list of five things to keep on the lookout for at the Royal Wedding.

The Royal Wedding is only a few hours away and every one all over planet earth is waiting with bated breath to hear Kate and William say “I do” in their fancy British accents.

We here at WWN have decided that watching the wedding should not have to be a snore-fest so we have put together a list of the top five things to look for during the wedding, scavenger hunt style.

1. Expressionless faces – Brits are known to have fewer muscles in their faces. This prevents them from smiling. That or it could just be the fact that they live under a grey cloud everyday of their lives. Either way, be sure to look out for blank expressionless stares coming from the crowd as the young couple confirms their nuptials.
2. People with bad teeth – While you are watching two people get married that you do not know; why not make a tally of all the people who you see who have poor dental hygiene. You might find this hard due to the Brits inability to smile, but perhaps you can catch someone in the crowd yawning.
3. Yards of beer – What would a proper English wedding be without beer? It is reported that the British government is allowing street venders to sell yards of beer to those who wish to watch the procession as it passes by. Don’t forget to mark your score card. If you can catch a beer induced brawl, that is a double score.
4. Kate Middleton’s garter belt – Inside sources have informed WWN that although Kate will not be throwing her bouquet into the crowd, Prince William will be flinging her garter belt. You will probably only have a few seconds to catch this one, so stay sharp.
5. Al Qaeda Jihadists – What would a world televised event be these days without the threat of a terrorist? It is unlikely that you will see any jihadists in the crowds considering the extreme security. But if you are lucky enough to spot one, then you should send your resume to Scotland Yard.

Make sure to keep a tally and report back with how many of each item you witnessed during this every important world event.

All sightings should be converted into points using the following point scale: Numbers 1 through 3 are worth 5 points per sighting, Number 4 is worth 300,000 points and Number 5 is worth 1,000,000 points.  The person with the most points wins. Good luck and don’t forget to set your alarms.

LONDON – The Royal Family made a big deal about Diana Spencer being a virgin, but they don’t mind that Kate Middleton is not a virgin.  

To the surprise of Royal watchers around the world, The Royals  are not bothered by the fact that Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, have been living together off and on during the course of their eight-year romance, which began in university days.

Nor are they bothered that Kate Middleton has slept with eight other men. They just chalk it up to a “sign of the times.”

The Royal’s  sure have changed their attitude to virginity from the days preceding Charles and Diana’s 1981 marriage. At that time, there expected (some say demanded) that Diana not have dated, much less slept, with anyone, including Charles before her engagement to the heir to the throne.  Diana’s own  uncle came out publicly to declare her a “bona fide” virgin.

The more modern approach gives many royal watchers hope that William, 28, and Middleton, 29, will fare better in their marriage than Charles and Diana, whose very public marital breakdown tarnished the image of the royal family.

Kate’s uncle came out and said, “Kate is going to bring a lot of experience to the royal bedroom!”

Royal expert, Professor Susan Begley of Oxford University, said ” William is his own man.  He’s living “in sin” with Kate and he knows she’s been with other men, but he doesn’t care. “The fact that William and (Kate) have had a relationship for eight years speaks for itself.”

William’s decision to live with his fiancee has been met, in general, with a shrug from the British people.  Brits, who are rarely virgins when they get married, are comfortable with the royal family having updated its unwritten behavior codes to bring them more in line with widely held social values.

“We live in a modern age and it’s only normal that people shag a dozen or so people of the opposite sex, or same sex, before  they settle down,” said James Moxley, 36, an engineer from Birmingham. “It’s probably best that they lived together before making a commitment.”

Some historians say it’s about time the royals shed their prudishness about the past of new entries into their family. When Charles and Diana wed, his history of dating was not an issue. Charles may well have wanted to marry girlfriend Camilla Shand, but she was not seen as an appropriate choice because she had had several previous boyfriends. She became Charles’ second wife decades later.

The only aspect of Kate’s previous sexual life that ruffles some Royal feathers, is that one of her previous lovers is the man pictured below:

Queen Elizabeth doesn’t mind.  She thinks it’s “jolly” that Kate slept wth Harry before William.  “As long as she’s servicing the royal family, I’m happy.”

Royal attitudes toward sexuality have never been based on fixed rules but rather unwritten conventions. The code of behavior has evolved – slowly – over the centuries as social values change. It is the monarch who sets the tone, so the views of Queen Elizabeth II have prevailed for nearly six decades.

The new tone from Queen Elizabeth is welcome news to all Brits.  In fact, on the wedding day, the Queen recommends all Brits, “Shag away on Kate & William Day!”

LONDON – World War Two German bomber, from the 1940s, are once again dropping bombs on England!

Brits were shocked on Friday to see old Nazi bomber planes flying overhead again and – dropping bombs!

This fighter plane attack comes soon after British oceanographers found a The Dornier 17  in the sea just off the Kent coast, southeast England, in an area known as the Goodwin Sands.

The plane came to rest upside-down in 50 feet of water and has become partially visible from time to time as the sands retreated before being buried again.

Apparently, this aeronautical find, reawakened some Nazi fighter spirits.   “It wasn’t long after we announced the discovery that we saw the Nazi planes overhead, dropping bombs!” said lead researcher Dr. Thomas Hillstrom of Kent.

The worst of it all for the Brits:  these ghost pilots have no fear of dying.  They’re already dead!

The Dornier 17, known as “the flying pencil,” dropped fifteen bombs on Dover last night.  British anti-aircraft missiles tried to take the Nazi planes down, but were unsuccessful.  The Dornier 17 was designed as a passenger plane in 1934 and was later converted for military use as a fast bomber, difficult to hit and theoretically able to outpace enemy fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns.

Six hundred Bits have already died in the latest bombing raid.  “We were sitting around watching Peep Show when suddenly there was a bomb hitting our garage.  It was quite unsettling.”

British Prime Minister Cameron Brown has called on Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, to halt the bombing raids, but Merkel said she has no knowledge of the attack.  “We don’t order ghost planes to drop bombs.”

Meanwhile, the Brits are planning to attack Berlin.  Stay tuned…

PORT TENNANT SWANSEA, UK – An overly imaginative 20 something thinks that a house  looks like Hitler

Charli Dickenson, 22, recently tweeted about a house that resembles Adolph Hitler. When recently asked about her decision to post the picture of the racist house she was quoted with the following.

“I walk past the house all the time, but I had never noticed the Hitler likeness before. But then, at the weekend, I was in the car with my boyfriend and we were stuck in traffic and I just said to him, ‘That house looks like Hitler.’ We both laughed. I took a picture and posted it on Twitter.”

Hundreds of thousands of internet trolls have seen the image and claim that the slanted roof resembles Hitler’s quaff, the door lintel is his signature tiny moustache, and that the upper his eyes.

“My house doesn’t look like Hitler. That is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard. It is a house with a slanted roof. What kind of idiot sees Hitler in that!” exclaimed one of the owners of the house who happen to be an elderly Jewish couple that knows little about the internet and nothing about Twitter.

“I tend to agree with the owner that it does not look like Hitler. However, I do think that this house looks like Charlie Chaplin.”

Or maybe more like John Waters.

Or maybe more like John Waters with Charlie Chaplin’s hat.