ON THIS DAY

• 1452: Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was born at Fotheringhay, Northants.

• 1608: The first telescope was demonstrated by Dutch lensmakerhanslippershey.

• 1909: The first rugby match at Twickenham was played – Harlequins versus Richmond.

• 1925: London’s first red buses with roofed-in upper decks went into service. Police restrictions had previously prevented them being used in the capital, although they had been in operation in Widnes since 1909.

• 1935: Italian forces invaded Abyssinia after Mussolini’s bombers pounded border towns.

• 1940: The Empress of Britain, en route to Canada with child evacuees, was sunk by a German submarine. British warships rescued most of the 634 crew and passengers. • 1953: The photograph of William Pettit, wanted for murder, was shown on BBC TV by request from the police, the first time television was used in Britain to help find a wanted man.

• 1985: Hollywood heartthrob Rock Hudson died of Aids, aged 59.

• 1996: Cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He marked the date with a range of “10/2” branded Nike sportswear.

• ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A teenage mine worker was mauled to death by a female bear and her two cubs on an Alaskan island.

• BIRTHDAYS: Anna Ford, broadcaster, 76; Don Mclean, folk singer, 74; Donna Karan, fashion designer, 71; Mike Rutherford, rock musician, 69; Sting, singer, 68; Philip Oakey, pop singer (The Human League), 64.