UK's first vertical launch rocket will blast off this year

I'm thinking that Black Arrow R3, launched 28 Oct, 1971, and successfully placing Prospero (aka X-3) into orbit should count as the UK's first. But that just doesn't sound so cool...

(Yes, from the wording of the first para, I'd bet that The Times' reporter is aware of R3 and Prospero. Though his story omits any mention of those.)

Dear Time: This kinda stuff is how I tell that a supposedly-good news source is barely worth my attention, and certainly not worth my money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Arrow#Launches

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_X-3

https://www.thetimes.com/article/space-quest-to-retrieve-sat...