2016 marks the 175th anniversary of, what is acknowledged to be, the first ever pleasure "excursion", organised by staunch Temperance supporter Thomas Cook. On the 5th July 1841, Thomas Cook organised, with the Midland Railway, to convey over 500 Temperance supporters the 11 1/2 miles from Leicester to Loughborough to attend a Temperance demonstration. The trip caused great excitement and was the first time that many had sat in a railway carriage - and all for a shilling. Thi