ON THIS DAY
June 29, 2020
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
JUNE 29, 1971
MUHAMMAD ALI, the former world heavyweight champion, won his longest fight yesterday. After a four-year struggle, Ali — formerly Cassius Clay — delivered a knockout to the US Government’s convention that he is a [Vietnam War] draft- dodger when eight Supreme Court justices ruled that his refusal of conscription was rooted in his religious beliefs as a Muslim.
JUNE 29, 1991
MRS THATCHER brought the curtain down on a unique career by announcing her retirement, after 32 years as an MP, at the next election. ‘I’m free, I’m free,’ she said. ‘Now I can really speak my mind.’ only once did the Iron lady’s ebullience slip. Tears welled in her eyes as she recalled the morning last November when she had to tell the Cabinet she was resigning as Premier after 11 years.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MARCUS WAREING, 50. The Michelinstarred chef and restaurateur from Southport, was trained by Gordon Ramsay, and is a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals. Asked how he’d spend £10 on a final meal, he said: ‘I’d buy as much Yorkshire tea and biscuits as I could and keep eating them until I died. I’d want chocolate biscuits. Hobnobs would do. or Jaffa Cakes, maybe.’
KATHERINE JENKINS, 40. The Neath- born mezzosoprano, former Welsh Choirgirl of the Year and Face of Wales 2000, is the most successful artist in British classical chart history. Jenkins said that her biggest regret was taking cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy as a student, but declared: ‘I’m a classical singer, not a saint.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
LITTLE EVA (1945-2003). The U.S. singer (real name eva Narcissus Boyd) was asked to sing The loco-Motion while babysitting for its writers, Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It was eva’s only UK top ten hit, in 1962, and earned her $30,000 in royalties. eva joked that Kylie Minogue’s 1980s version was ‘all right, but mine is better. You can’t improve on perfection.’
ROBERT EVANS (1930-2019). The American film producer and actor oversaw classics including Rosemary’s Baby, love Story, The Godfather and Chinatown. But his personal life was as wild as any character in his movies. evans’ seven wives included love Story star Ali MacGraw, who left him for Steve McQueen. His marriage to actress Catherine oxenberg lasted just 12 days.
ON JUNE 29…
IN 1613, the Globe Theatre in london, where most of William Shakespeare’s plays were first performed, was destroyed by fire. IN 2003, Hollywood actress Katharine Hepburn died, aged 96.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Quiddity (coined late 14th century)
A) Randomness B) Money C) The essential nature of a thing Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
The English disease: The French originally used the phrase in reference to syphilis, but after the Industrial Revolution, it meant bronchitis — caused by england’s damp climate and smog. It can also relate to class, industrial unrest and football hooliganism.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where’s it going to end?
Sir Tom Stoppard, British playwright
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT did the fisherman say to the magician? Pick a cod, any cod…
Guess The Definition answer: C