LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) – The silver cup given to the
winner of the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games staged
in Athens in 1896 sold for 541,250 pounds ($860,000) in London
on Wednesday, breaking the auction record for Olympic
memorabilia.

Breal’s Silver Cup stands just six inches tall and was
offered for sale at Christie’s auction house by the grandson of
the victor, Greek athlete Spyros Louis.

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer-songwriter Adele was nominated for four Ivor Novello Awards on Tuesday and female acts dominated the shortlist for the coveted songwriting honors.

Adele, who conquered the 2011 charts with her second album “21″ and swept all before her at the Grammys and BRITs earlier this year, was nominated for best song for “Rolling in the Deep” which she co-wrote with Paul Epworth.

LONDON (Reuters) – A seventh century gospel discovered in a saint’s coffin more than 900 years ago, and the oldest European book to survive fully intact, has been acquired by the British Library for nine million pounds ($14 million), the library said on Tuesday.

The manuscript copy of the Gospel of St. John called the St. Cuthbert Gospel was produced in the northeast of England in the late 7th century and was placed in the saint’s coffin on the island of Lindisfarne, probably in 698.

LONDON, April 17 (Reuters) – A seventh century gospel
discovered in a saint’s coffin more than 900 years ago, and the
oldest European book to survive fully intact, has been acquired
by the British Library for nine million pounds ($14 million),
the library said on Tuesday.

The manuscript copy of the Gospel of St. John called the St.
Cuthbert Gospel was produced in the northeast of England in the
late 7th century and was placed in the saint’s coffin on the
island of Lindisfarne, probably in 698.

LONDON (Reuters) – Singer Robin Gibb, a founding member of the disco-era hit machine the Bee Gees, is in a coma after contracting pneumonia, his official website said on Saturday.

A spokesman for the 62-year-old, who has been battling cancer, was not immediately available to comment on reports in the British media that Gibb had been surrounded by close family in a London hospital and may have only days to live.

LONDON (Reuters) – Jim Marshall, dubbed the “Lord of Loud” for his pioneering work on guitar amplifiers used by some of the greatest names in rock music, has died aged 88.

A spokeswoman for the company he founded said he passed away in Milton Keynes, southeast England, on Thursday morning. She could not confirm reports that he had been suffering from cancer and had a series of strokes.

LONDON (Reuters) – Jim Marshall, dubbed the “Lord of Loud” for his pioneering work on guitar amplifiers used by some of the greatest names in rock music, has died aged 88.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall,” said a statement on his company’s website.

LONDON (Reuters) – British punk band The King Blues, who drew inspiration from anti-government demonstrations and were at the forefront of a political protest movement in pop music, have split, they said on their website.

Formed in 2004 and led by frontman Jonny “Itch” Fox, the Londoners tackled the hot issues of the day in their songs, most recently expressing public discontent at spending cuts and high unemployment rates under Britain’s current centre-right coalition government.

LONDON (Reuters) – Samples of soil and blades of bloody grass purportedly from the spot where Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 will go on sale in Britain later this month and are expected to fetch 10-15,000 pounds ($16-24,000).

Mullock’s auctioneer in western England said it was confident the artefacts were genuine, because they came with a letter of provenance from original owner P.P. Nambiar who collected them after the revered “Father of the Nation” was shot by a Hindu radical.

LONDON (Reuters) – Samples of soil and blades of blood stained grass purportedly from the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 will go on sale in Britain later this month and are expected to fetch 10-15,000 pounds.

Mullock’s auctioneer in western England said it was confident the artefacts were genuine, because they came with a letter of provenance from original owner P.P. Nambiar who collected them after the revered “Father of the Nation” was shot by a Hindu radical.