ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1 year ago… Snowflake petition
The Daily Star reports on a petition calling for “offensive” words such as bird, biddy and wench, referring to women, to be removed from the Oxford English Dictionary.
4 years ago… Brangelina divorce
Hollywood golden couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie formally split as she files for divorce from the actor after two years of marriage.
5 years ago… Jackie Collins dies
The British- born romantic novelist and sister of actress Joan, who sold 500million books, passes away aged 77 from breast cancer.
23 years ago… Southall rail crash
An Intercity 125 collides with a freight train in west London, killing six passengers and injuring more than 150.
30 years ago… Goodfellas hits cinemas
The hit gangster flick starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci is released.
35 years ago… Killer quake
A major earthquake strikes Mexico City leaving 20,000 people dead.
42 years ago... Paper boy murder
The killing of 13- yearold Carl Bridgewater
– shot dead as he delivered newspapers in Stourbridge, West Mids
– shocks the nation. His murder remains unsolved.
50 years ago… First Glastonbury Festival
The famous music festival debuts at Michael Eavis’ Worthy Farm in Somerset with tickets costing just £ 1. Acts include T. Rex.
75 years ago… Lord Haw- Haw convicted
Traitor William Joyce is sentenced to be hanged after his trial at the Old Bailey. He had broadcast on behalf of the Nazis during World War Two.
132 years ago… First beauty contest
The world’s first international beauty pageant takes place in Spa, Belgium. Marthe Soucaret, 18, from Guadeloupe, wins.
139 years ago… Shot US President dies
James Garfield, the 20th US President, dies of wounds suffered when he was gunned down in July by lawyer Charles Giteau.
664 years ago… English beat French
Edward, the Black Prince, leads an English army to decisive victory over French forces under King John II at the Battle of Poitiers during the Hundred Years’ War.