ON THIS DAY
1485: Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory was published. He wrote the tale of knightly love and chivalry while in prison for armed assault and rape. 1635: British public inland postal services were established, with charges of two to eight pence. 1910: Wife-poisoner Dr Hawley Crippen was arrested on SS Montrose as it was entering Quebec. He had left his dismembered wife in a cellar at home and was travelling with Ethel le Neve, his mistress, who was dressed as a boy. Crippen was the first criminal to be captured by the use of wireless telegraphy. 1912: The world’s first film censorship law was passed in the United States. It was not against obscenity but the interstate transportation of films showing prize fights. 1919: The Weimar Republic was established in post-war Germany. 1950: Britain’s first self-service store, Sainsbury’s, opened in Croydon. 1956: At Old Trafford, England bowler Jim Laker took all 10 Australian wickets in the second innings for 53 runs, after a first innings haul of 9 for 37. 1964: Jim Reeves, American country singer, was killed in an air crash. 1965: Cigarette advertising on British TV was banned. 1975: Irish pop group the Miami Showband were ambushed and murdered by Protestant gunmen near Newry in Northern Ireland. 2010: A four-strong British rowing team smashed a 114-year-old record for crossing the North Atlantic. Their time – 43 days, 21 hours, 26 minutes and 48 seconds – knocked 11 days off the previous 55-day record set in 1896 by Norwegian fishermen George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: An escaped lynx that was missing in Devon for more than three weeks was captured. BIRTHDAYS: Geraldine Chaplin, actress, 73; Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster, 73; Evonne Cawley, former tennis player, 66; Andrew Marr, journalist, broadcaster and political commentator, 58; Wesley Snipes, actor, 55; Norman Cook, record producer (aka Fat Boy Slim), 54; JK Rowling, author, 52; Dean Cain, actor, 51; Emilia Fox, actress, 43.