BORN ON THIS DAY

LEONA HELMSLEY (1920-2007). New York-born hotelier and billionaire dubbed the Queen of Mean for her tyrannical behaviour. In 1989, Helmsley was convicted of federal income tax evasion and jailed. A former housekeeper testified that she’d heard her say: ‘We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes’. In her will, she left her Maltese dog, Trouble, a $12 m trust fund. COLIN WELLAND (19342015). Liverpool-born Z-Cars actor and screenwriter, pictured, who won a Bafta for his role as English teacher Mr Farthing in the 1969 film Kes. Before turning to acting, he’d taught art at a secondary modern in Lancashire, where pupils called him ‘ Ted’ because of his Teddy Boy curly hairstyle. After turning to writing, in 1982 he won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Chariots Of Fire.