A massive column of billowing smoke, thousands of feet high, mushrooms over Nagasaki, Japan, after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Aug. 9, 1945. (AP Photo/U.S.Signal Corps)

Feature writer Derek James takes a look back at what was happening in the world on August 7 throughout history.

On this day in Norwich of 1808 - A special committee was set up to investigate the state of the sewers after they overflowed again during heavy storms which flooded out many homes and shops.

Elsewhere in the world

1721 - Prisoners at Newgate Prison were offered a pardon if they agreed to be inoculated to test Dr Charles Maitland’s theories on the subject. Seven men volunteered – and all survived to live in freedom.

1870 -The Elementary Education Act was passed, giving compulsory free education to every child in England and Wales between the ages of five and 13.

1945 - The second atomic bomb of the war was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, pictured above. A B-29 plane delivered the blast killing approximately 70,000 people, with thousands dying later of radiation effects. The attack came three days after the U.S. dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on the Japanese City of Hiroshima.

The attacks brought about Japan’s unconditional surrender, and the war ended when the papers of surrender were accepted aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri on September 2, 1945.

1963 - Ready Steady Go! was transmitted by ITV to rival the BBC’s Top of the Pops – presenter Cathy McGowan became known as “Queen of the Mods”.

1979 - Brighton established the first nudist beach in Britain, despite protests from those who feared great depravity.

- Have you got a nostalgia story? Contact Derek James on 01603 772420 or derek.james@archant.co.uk