ON THIS day
■622: The traditional starting day of the Islamic era, when a persecuted Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina.
■1723: Sir Joshua Reynolds, English portrait painter who was elected first president of the Royal Academy in 1768, was born.
■1821: Mary Baker Eddy, US religious leader who founded the Christian Science movement, was born.
■1918: The last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, was murdered by the Bolsheviks along with his entire family in the cellar of a house in Ekaterinburg.
■1935: The world’s first parking meters went into service in Oklahoma, devised by newspaper editor Carlton Magee.
■■1945: The first atomic bomb was detonated at an airbase in the desert of New Mexico.
■1953: Hilaire Belloc, writer of many talents, died. He had written his own epitaph, which read: “When I am dead, I hope it may be said, his sins were scarlet but his books were read.”
■1965: The seven-mile Mont Blanc road tunnel was opened, linking France with Italy.
■1970: The first state of emergency in Britain since 1926 was called by Prime Minister Edward Heath as dockers went on strike.
■■BIRTHDAYS: Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, 79; Frank Field, former MP, 78; Ruben Blades, actor, 72; Lorraine Chase, actress, 69; Stewart Copeland, rock musician (The Police), 68; Michael Flatley, dancer, 62; Miguel Indurain, former cyclist, 56; Johnny Vaughan, TV and radio presenter, 54.
Let us know your community events
Write to What’s On, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR or email ecletters@walesonline.co.uk including your name, address and daytime contact number. Don’t forget to tell us where and when your event is taking place and what it’s all about.
■ The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%