ON THIS DAY
December 22, 2017
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
DECEMBER 22, 1939 HITLER, alarmed by the number of rail crashes in Germany, has ordered a reinforced railway coach for himself. To test it, storm troopers were ordered to sit inside as it was run into a goods train at 50mph. They escaped, shaken. It was later dumped 120ft down an embankment — but no one could be found to sit in it this time. DECEMBER 22, 1955 Cyanide-laced mince pies were posted to Sir Richard Pim, Royal Ulster Constabulary Inspector General. Suspicious, Sir Richard — known as ‘Lucky Pim’ in wartime — did not eat any. The poison plot could have been the work of the IRA or another group banned in the province.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Noel Edmonds, 69. The former presenter of noel’s House Party and deal Or no deal (pictured) started as Radio 1’s youngest Dj in 1969. He once said two melon-sized ‘orbs’ containing his parents’ souls always follow him, adding: ‘If you’re a positive person, you will undoubtedly have orbs around you.’ JAMES BURKE, 81. The northern Irish science historian covered the 1969 moon landings for the BBC — the tape of which was reputedly wiped when horse racing was recorded over it. Burke hosted Connections and Tomorrow’s World and said in the Sixties the BBC hired non-scientists, ‘so that if we understood it, anyone would’. But he was being modest — the author of 11 books has ‘one of the most intriguing minds in the Western world’, says the Washington Post.
BORN ON THIS DAY
MAURICE GIBB (1949-2003), who with twin Robin and older brother Barry formed the Bee Gees, pop’s most successful trio — their 1977 soundtrack to Saturday night Fever sold 40 million alone. Gibb wed Lulu in 1969 (pictured), but it lasted just four years. Lulu said: ‘We were two spoiled little pop stars, each too used to having our own way.’ JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988). The U.S. artist, whose paintings are currently being shown at London’s Barbican, died of a heroin overdose aged 27. A friend of Andy Warhol, he once dated Madonna, who owns some of his work. Blondie’s debbie Harry was the first to buy a Basquiat. She paid $200. One sold for £85million this year.
ON DECEMBER 22…
IN 1882, American Edward H. Johnson invented Christmas tree lights. IN 1943, English author Beatrix Potter died, aged 77. She left her home and land in the Lake district to the national Trust.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION Horripilate (coined 1623) A) To get goose pimples. B) Walk with long strides. C) Crush with criticism.
Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
To broach a subject: Meaning to open up a subject for discussion. Comes from inns centuries ago, when a barman would hammer a tool known as a ‘broach’, into the base of a new barrel to tap into it.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
WE are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow-worm. Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
JOKE OF THE DAY
HOW do fish celebrate Christmas? They hang reefs on the door. Guess The Definition answer: A.