Spike makes mention of his mother's personal physician - a Dr. Gull. This is Dr. William Gull (1816-1890), Physician-in-extraordinary to the royal family, and who some believe was Jack The Ripper.
In the unedited version, Giles revealed to Buffy in the graveyard that he murdered Ben to stop Glory resurfacing, however this was cut just before broadcast.
Nikki Wood (Principal Wood's mum) is seen before in Season 5 Fool for Love (2000) but it is a different actress than in Season 7.
Spike's flashback also bears some resemblance to the story of The Vampire Lestat. Lestat's mother, suffering from tuberculosis, becomes the first vampire to be sired by Lestat.