ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
APRIL 11, 1985
THE first drink-driving case involving a Sinclair c5 came to a halt at Bow Magistrates court yesterday, as no one could decide whether it was a motor vehicle or cycle. The magistrate could not determine whether 21-year-old student Nicholas Botting was being charged under the correct law. So he walked out free.
APRIL 11, 2001
BORIS BECKER has spoken for the first time of his fling with a russian model in the broom cupboard of an upmarket london restaurant. he admitted that the encounter which led to the birth of a daughter, Anna, was the most expensive one-night stand of his life. It cost him a reported £2 million settlement, plus maintenance of £25,000 a month.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ETHEL KENNEDY, 96. The widow of robert F. Kennedy, her husband was assassinated in 1969 while she was pregnant with their 11th child.
She lost her parents in a plane crash in 1955, her son david in 1984 from a drug overdose and her son Michael in a ski accident in 1997.
THOMAS HARRIS, 84. The U.S. author is best known for The Silence of The lambs. The character hannibal lecter was inspired by a meeting harris — then a journalist — had in a Mexican prison with a doctor who had chopped up his lover.
BORN ON THIS DAY
GEORGE CANNING (1770-1827). The Tory politician was Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister for 195 years, until the tenure of liz Truss ended after just 49 days in 2022. canning’s time in office was brought to a close by his death from pneumonia after just 119 days.
GUSTAV VIGELAND (1869-1943). The Norwegian sculptor spent over 40 years building his own sculpture park in oslo. It is the world’s largest dedicated to the work of a single artist, and features 212 bronze and granite pieces of art. It was opened four years after his death.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION
Rosacea (coined 1876)
A) Skin condition causing redness. B) A flower from the rose family. c) The part of an animal it cannot reach to scratch. Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
To sow dragon’s teeth: meaning to stir up trouble; refers to the story of cadmus in Greek mythology who had slain a dragon and sown its teeth from which sprung up an army.
ON APRIL 11…
IN 1961, Bob dylan performed his first major gig in New york.
IN 1983, Gandhi won eight oscars, including Best director (richard Attenborough) and Best Actor (Ben Kingsley).
QUOTE FOR TODAY
I have the same goal I’ve had ever since I was a girl: I want to rule the world.
Madonna, U.S. singer and actress
JOKE OF THE DAY
HOW do chickens wake up on time? Alarm clucks.
Guess The Definition answer: A.