ON THIS DAY

1710: Thomas Augustine Arne, composer who wrote the masque Alfred, which included the song Rule Britannia, was born in London. 1836:

Isabella Mary Mayson, who became Mrs Beeton of cookery-book fame, was born in London. 1890:

Dancer Vaslavnijinsky was born in Kiev. 1904:

The first main-line electric train in the UK left Liverpool for Southport. 1941:

The original incident used in Compton Mackenzie’s Whisky Galore occurred in the Hebrides when a cargo ship ran aground with her holds full of whisky. Islanders hid the quarter of a million bottles from Customs officers. 1955:

Death of jazz great Charlie “Bird” Parker, aged 35. 969:

1 Beatle Paul Mccartney married photographer Linda Eastman, while George Harrison was arrested for illegal possession of cannabis.

1977:

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat said he would not allow a single inch of Arab land to remain under Israeli occupation. 1987:

The Government gave the go-ahead to the Sizewell B nuclear processing plant in Suffolk. 1992:

Mauritius broke its links with the British Crown, becoming a fully fledged republic but remaining a member of the Commonwealth.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:

Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough warned that “nature is in crisis” and urged people to unite behind action to save it.

BIRTHDAYS:

Liza Minnelli, actress/singer, 78; James Taylor, singer-songwriter, 76; Anish Kapoor, sculptor, 70; Jerry Levine, actor/director, 67; Courtney B Vance, actor, 64; Aaron Eckhart, actor, 56; Graham Coxon, musician (Blur), 55; Pete Doherty, musician, 45.

Anwar Sadar