BORN ON THIS DAY

FLORENCE BALLARD (1943-1976). The original lead singer of The Primettes, later renamed The Supremes. Ballard, (pictured, left) one of 15 children born to a General Motors worker in Detroit, died aged 32 of a heart attack after earlier suffering from alcoholism. She had been forced out of the lineup, that also included Diana Ross (centre) and Mary Wilson, aged 24 by Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records — and Ross’s lover. ED YOST (1919-2007). The American pilot and inventor of the modern gas-burner hotair balloon. His company carried out secret Cold War operations that included dropping agents and propaganda leaflets over the Iron Curtain. Despite several crash landings, while setting balloon flight world records, he died while mowing his lawn.