ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

by JAMES MOORE

1 year ago… Speaker quits

After 10 years in the job, controversial House of Commons speaker John Bercow steps down from the role.

3 years ago… Truck terror

A terrorist supporting Islamic State ploughs into cyclists and runners in New York, leaving eight people dead.

15 years go… Deal Or No Deal hits TV

Noel Edmonds’ cult game show airs on Channel 4 for the first time. It would run for 11 years.

❑

27 years ago… River Phoenix dies

The star of movies including Stand By Me and My Own Private Idaho dies aged just 23 after a drug overdose.

36 years ago… Indira Gandhi assassinated

The prime minister of India is shot dead, aged 66, by two Sikh members of her bodyguard at her official residence in New Delhi.

45 years ago… Bohemian Rhapsody debuts

Queen release their classic song which will go on to become Christmas No1 and stay at the top spot for nine weeks.

49 years ago…

Post Office Tower blast

A bomb explodes at the top of London’s Post Office Tower, now the BT Tower, causing extensive damage but no casualties. Exactly who was behind the blast would remain unclear.

❑

65 years ago… Margaret drops wedding

After a two- year romance Princess Margaret announces she will not marry Captain Peter Townsend, who was divorced.

80 years ago… Battle of Britain ends

Hitler scraps invasion plans after the RAF thwart the Luftwaffe’s bid to gain air superiority in the Battle of Britain.

88 years ago… Mussolini takes power

Fascist politician Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy at the age of 38 and begins to build a dictatorship.

100 years ago… Dick Francis born

Born in Wales he would become a champion jockey, riding Devon Loch which fell close to winning the 1956 Grand National. He would also become a best- selling novelist.

503 years ago… Luther nails it

Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the church door at Wittenberg, Germany, triggering the start of the Protestant Reformation.