ON THIS DAY
1066: The Battle of Hastings was fought at Senlac Hill, in Sussex, at which William of Normandy defeated Harold of England to claim the English throne. 1644: Quaker leader William Penn – founder of the state of Pennsylvania – was born in London. 1890: Dwight D Eisenhower – “Ike” – Second World War military leader and 34th US president, was born in Dension, Texas. 1893: The first performance of The Gaiety Girl, considered the first musical comedy, took place in London. 1913: Britain’s worst pit disaster took place at Senghenydd, Glamorgan – 439 died after an explosion. 1939: The Royal Navy battleship Royal Oak was torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow. 1944: Rommel the “Desert Fox” took cyanide tablets and died within minutes – before he could be arrested for his part in the plot to kill Hitler. 1947: Chuck Yeager in his Bell X-1 rocket plane became the first man to break the sound barrier. 1969: The 50p decimal coin was first issued in Britain, replacing the 10 shilling note. 1990: Five days after announcing his retirement through ill health, conductor Leonard Bernstein died. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: BBC presenters apologised after the broadcaster’s breakfast programme showed footage of a gorilla instead of Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. BIRTHDAYS: Ralph Lauren, fashion designer, 78; Sir Cliff Richard, singer, 77; Christopher Timothy, actor, 77; Justin Hayward, singer/musician, 71; Steve Cram, former athlete, 57; Steve Coogan, comedian/actor, 52; Michael Duberry, former footballer, 42; Shaznay Lewis, pop singer/ songwriter, 42; Usher, R&B singer, 39.