ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
OCTOBER 6, 1943
Diplomats accredited to Vatican City are burning confidential papers, fearing that when the Germans retreat from Rome the neutrality of papal territory will not be respected. Even Cardinal maglione, the Vatican secretary of state, is said to be destroying reports that would betray the identity of informants inside Germany.
OCTOBER 6, 1944
THE BBC was thanked for its assistance to France during the Nazi occupation. French Broadcasting system spokesman Jean Gilbert said: ‘may i express our thanks for the marvellous broadcasts you have addressed to France during four dark years.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
BRUCE Grobbelaar, 60. the south african-born goalkeeper grew up in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and fought in the war of independence. he joined liverpool in 1981 and won six league titles, three Fa Cups and three league Cups. his infamous wobbly-knee antics in a penalty shootout against Roma also helped liverpool lift the European Cup in 1984 (pictured).
IOAN GRUFFUDD, 44. the Welsh actor, currently starring in ITV’s thriller liar, describes himself as ‘the guy with the unpronounceable name’ — it’s pronounced Yo-an Griffith — but he ignored his agent’s advice to call himself John.
BORN ON THIS DAY
JOAN LITTLEWOOD (1914-2002). the londonborn theatre director — once a communist — won a scholarship to RADA and worked as a cleaner after classes. her theatre Workshop put on a taste of honey and oh, What a lovely War! at the theatre Royal, stratford East in london. she once told michael Caine: ‘You can’t act, so you might as well f*** off up to the West End or get a job in films.’ he took her advice.
LE CORBUSIER (1887-1965), the swiss-born French pioneer of modernist architecture whose work inspired many of the brutalist buildings of post-war Britain. Recent histories have accused him of being a fascist who collaborated with the Vichy regime. in his later years, he spent most of his time living nearly nude in a cabin.
ON OCTOBER 6…
IN 1979, John paul ii became the first pope to visit the White house.
IN 2007, Englishman Jason lewis became the first person to circumnavigate the globe using only human power. he travelled by bike, roller-blades, pedal boat and kayak for more than 13 years.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION Swazzle (coined 1942) a) to shake liquid in an enclosed vessel. B) one who skulks or plays truant. C) a mouthpiece used by a puppeteer to make mr punch’s voice. Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Dropping like flies: to lose people at a rapid rate. From Brothers Grimm fairytale the Brave little tailor, in which the tailor kills seven flies with one blow and makes a belt to celebrate the feat.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
OUTSIDE every fat man there was an even fatter man trying to close in. Sir Kingsley Amis, English novelist (1922-1995)
JOKE OF THE DAY
What do you call a three-humped camel? Pregnant. Guess The Definition answer: C.