THIS WEEK

FEBRUARY 27, 2002 Much-loved comedian, writer and musician Spike Milligan (below) died, aged 83.

The Goon Show legend had always joked he wanted “I told you I was ill” on his headstone, but the Chichester Diocese refused.

Finally a compromise was reached and the words appeared in Gaelic on his grave in East Sussex.

MARCH 1, 1998 Titanic became the first film to gross more than one billion dollars.

The movie, which starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, was nominated for 14 Oscars and won 11 of them, including Best Picture and Best Director for John Cameron.

Its rerelease in 2012 helped push it over the $2bn box-office total.

MARCH 3, 1991 A video capturing the beating of African-American taxi driver Rodney King by four Los Angeles police officers shocked the world.

When the four were initially acquitted of all charges, riots broke out in the city, leading to the deaths of 55 people and more than 2000 being injured.

Two cops were later jailed.

MARCH 3, 1974 Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed at Ermenonville near Paris, killing all 346 aboard.

At the time, it was the deadliest plane crash in aviation history.

The flight was on its way to Heathrow when a faulty cargo door broke off, causing an explosive decompression.

MARCH 4, 1980 Robert Mugabe became Zimbabwe’s first black PM.

He held the position until 1987, before becoming president.