ON THIS DAY
1505: Death of Ivan the Great, Czar of Russia. 1728: Captain James Cook, English naval officer and one of the greatest navigators in history, whose voyages in the Endeavour led to the European discovery of Australia, New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, was born. 1904: The New York subway opened. 1914: The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea. His major work was Under Milk Wood, which began as a radio play in 1954. 1936: Wallis Simpson, the future Duchess of Windsor, was divorced in Ipswich from her husband Ernest. 1958: The first edition of the BBC television programme Blue Peter was transmitted. 1967: The Queen launched the new Cunard cruise liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2, at a ceremony in Clydebank. 1971: The Republic of the Congo changed its name to the Republic of Zaire. 1986: It was Big Bang day on the Stock Exchange, the day the money market was deregulated. But the computer failed and a shambles ensued. 2010: A 1966 World Cup winners’ medal belonging to England player Nobby Stiles was bought for a recordbreaking £188,200 by Manchester United. BIRTHDAYS: John Cleese, comic actor, 77; Peter Firth, actor, 63; Glenn Hoddle, former footballer and manager, 59; Simon Le Bon, pop singer (Duran Duran), 58; Mark Taylor, former cricketer, 52; Lee Clark, former footballer and manager, 44; Vanessa-Mae, violinist, 38; Kelly Osbourne, reality TV star/fashion designer, 32. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “It was like an extended tutorial with a highly intelligent, obstreperous undergraduate” - Irish historian Professor Roy Foster describes what it was like working with Bob Geldof. “This is not a fair world. I’m 57 now and I’ve lived a life of extraordinary good fortune from start to finish – so much so I’m anticipating a piano falling on my head to redress the balance” - Actor Hugh Laurie on being awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “The British political class has never quite been so hopeless, but the same can be said for the USA” - Singer Morrissey. “Like a beached whale prancing around the dance floor” - Lord Sugar’s description of former chancellor Ed Balls’s performances on Strictly Come Dancing. “Honestly, I’ve never dyed my hair. I’ve had a few highlights once but I didn’t really get into that tin foil on your head, it’s not very masculine, is it, really? Sitting there, you look like a roast chicken. If I dyed my hair, I’d admit it” - TV chef Jamie Oliver.