ON THIS DAY
FROM THE ARCHIVE MAY 13, 1982
A MAN in priest’s clothing tried to lunge at the Pope with a bayonet in Portugal last night. Shouting anti-Papal slogans, he was tackled by guards and led away. It was almost exactly a year since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul in Rome.
MAY 13, 1994
HOPELESSLY creased, stained and with one of its glitzy safety pins dangling, by yesterday morning, The Dress looked the worse for wear. But then, the night before it came. It was seen. And yes, it conquered. The black Versace gown worn by Elizabeth Hurley, pictured, at the London premiere of partner Hugh Grant’s film Four Weddings And A Funeral overshadowed everyone.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JOHNNY LOGAN, 68. What an apt time for him to be celebrating his birthday, as the Eurovision is taking place this week. The singer, right, won the contest for Ireland twice as a performer, in 1980 and 1987, and also composed our winning song, Why Me?, for Linda Martin in 1992. Logan is certainly looking well for a man getting close to his 70s, so What’s Another Year, eh, Johnny? YAYA TOURÉ, 39. The Ivorian midfielder is regarded as one of the best African footballers of all time, and he played for clubs including Monaco, Barcelona and Manchester City during a glittering career. Infamously, his birthday became a source of tension with the Man City hierarchy back in 2014, as the player’s agent complained that the club had not done enough to mark the occasion. ‘He [Touré] got a cake but when it was Roberto Carlos’s birthday, the president of Anzhi gave him a Bugatti,’ Dimitri Seluk whined. Touré later insisted the complaints were his agent’s idea, saying: ‘I was so p***ed [off]. I was telling him [Seluk], you should not do that, no need.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
RITCHIE VALENS (1941-1959). The American guitarist had hits with Donna and La Bamba. He was 17, and being hailed as ‘the next Elvis Presley’, when he died in the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, on what is known as The Day The Music Died (due to Don McLean song American Pie). CAROLYN FRANKLIN (1944-1988). The US singer-songwriter was eclipsed by her sister, Aretha Franklin — for whom she composed hits Angel and Ain’t No Way. She arranged Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart for another sister, Erma. She said of Aretha: ‘People won’t let me out of her shadow.’ Later, she studied law, but developed breast cancer. Her degree was awarded on her deathbed.
ON MAY 13 . . .
IN 1945, Winston Churchill, speaking on radio, accuses Éamon de Valera’s government of frolicking with the Germans and Japanese. IN 1989, Thousands of students begin a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square in Beijing as part of pro-democracy demonstrations.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Scabrous (coined c 1580) A) Wild and unmanageable. B) Critical. C) Indecent, scandalous, risqué, obscene.
Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED A beam in your eye: Meaning a fault that is greater in yourself than in the person with whom you are finding fault; the phrase comes from Matthew’s Gospel.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Without lies humanity would perish of despair and boredom. Anatole France, French novelist (1844-1924) JOKE OF THE DAY A BOOK just fell on my head. I’ve only got my shelf to blame. Guess The Definition answer: C