ON THIS DAY
MARCH 21, 1967
SLOT machine banks, where customers can draw £10 at any time of the day or night, are on the way. The machines are to be fitted outside some branches of the Westminster Bank. Customers will be issued with a plastic card. When this is inserted in the machine, an envelope containing £10 will come out.
MARCH 21, 1968
IN A television interview last night, Prince Philip gave frank answers to a panel of journalists. Have you detected any change in the public attitude to the Monarchy? ‘In 1953, we were a great deal younger — a young Queen and a young family were infinitely more newsworthy and amusing. Now we are getting to middle age. I dare say that when we are a bit more ancient there might be a bit more reverence again.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TIMOTHY DALTON, 71. The English actor played James Bond in The living Daylights and licence To Kill, after Roger Moore retired. He dropped out of Rada to join the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and said: ‘It took a year to undo the psychological damage done by the oppressive teachers.’ LORD HESELTINE, 84. The former deputy prime minister was sacked as a government advisor earlier this month after rebelling over Brexit. He and his wife claim to have culled nearly 300 grey squirrels in their back garden in just six months to protect birds and trees. On his 58th birthday, the then environment secretary scrapped the poll tax and replaced it with the council tax.
BORN ON THIS DAY
AYRTON SENNA (1960-94). The Brazilian three-time Formula One champion died after hitting a wall while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Asif Kapadia’s Senna became the highest grossing British documentary of all time, earning more than £3 million — a record since overtaken by Kapadia’s documentary about singer Amy Winehouse. JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750). The German composer fathered 20 children but only 13 survived into adulthood. He had a sense of humour, writing a mini comic opera Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (‘Be still, stop chattering’), which told the story of characters addicted to coffee and premiered at a leipzig coffee house. IN 1935, Persia was officially renamed Iran. IN 1999, comedian Ernie Wise died aged 73. IN 2006, Twitter was launched. The first tweet was posted by co-founder Jack Dorsey and said: ‘Just setting up my twttr.’
WORD WIZARDRY NEW WORD OF THE DAY
LDR — long-distance relationship. GUESS THE DEFINITION Brendice (coined 1673) A) Cup in which one’s health is drunk. B) A brief respite in the weather. C) Noise of a thunderclap. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED
Clean bill of health — originates from a document signed by the authorities to certify that when a ship set sail, no infectious disorder existed on board.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
I HAVE not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. Thomas Edison, inventor (1847-1931)
JOKE OF THE DAY
HOW do you make a chicken salad? Step 1: Make a salad. Step 2: Give it to a chicken. Guess The Definition answer: A