On this day ...

NOVEMBER 24

1815: Grace Darling, lighthouse-keeper’s daughter and heroine of the wreck of the Forfarshire, was born.

1849: Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy, was born in Manchester.

1859: On The Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin was published.

1864: Henri de ToulouseLautrec, French painter famous for his scene of Paris low-life, was born in Albi, southern France.

1962: The satirical TV programme That Was The Week That Was went out live from the BBC for the first time, introduced by newcomer David Frost, with material written by equally unknown John Cleese.

1963: Lee Harvey Oswald, charged with killing president Kennedy, was shot dead by club owner Jack Ruby at Dallas Police Headquarters.

1965: The Government imposed an experimental 70mph speed limit on motorways.

1991: Freddie Mercury, abovem lead singer of the rock group Queen, died aged 45.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: People were warned to prepare for cold weather, as ice and snow was set to hit.

BIRTHDAYS: Pete Best, former Beatle, 77; Billy Connolly, above, comedian, 76; Graham Price, former rugby player, 67; Sir Ian Botham, broadcaster, charity fundraiser and former cricketer, 63; Denise Crosby, actress, 61; Paul Thorburn, former rugby player, 56; Colin Hanks, actor, 41; Katherine Heigl, actress, 40.