ON THIS DAY
NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY OF SYRIA
1860: The first world title fight took place near Farnborough, Hants, when Tom Sayers took on American John Heenan. After 37 rounds - two hours and 27 minutes - the match was declared a draw.
1937: A British attendance record at a football match was set when 149,547 people watched Scotland v England at Hampden Park, Glasgow.
1956: Premium Bonds were launched by Chancellor Harold Macmillan.
1960: American rock star Eddie Cochran died in a car crash near Chippenham while on tour with Gene Vincent.
1961: An attempt by Cuban exiles and US forces to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, and overthrow Castro’s Communist regime, was repulsed.
1984: Pc Yvonne Fletcher was shot dead outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in central London. She had been policing a small demonstration outside the embassy.
2013: Margaret Thatcher’s funeral was held at St.Paul’s Cathedral.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Prince Harry was praised for helping change attitudes after revealing he sought counselling to come to terms with the death of his mother.
BIRTHDAYS: Henry Kelly, DJ and game show host, 72; Jan Hammer, composer, 70; Olivia Hussey, actress, 67; Pete Shelley, singer/guitarist (Buzzcocks), 63; Nick Hornby, novelist, 61; Sean Bean, actor, 59; Muttiah Muralitharan, former cricketer, 46; Victoria Beckham, singer, fashion designer, businesswoman, 44; Rooney Mara, actress, 33.