ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
DECEMBER 15, 1941 THE war in the Far East has made Britain’s scrap iron situation acute. Our war machine needs four times as much as it is receiving. Every citizen must take part in the search. Tell the Ministry of Works & Buildings where there is any disused machinery and offer your garden gate and railings. Your gate might bring down a German bomber.
DECEMBER 15, 1962
THE Queen danced the Madison and Twist at the Christmas staff party in Windsor Castle last night. Two bands played and a cabaret starred Andy Stewart, Michael Bentine and Beryl Reid.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HELEN SLATER, 54. The U.S. actress was six months out of drama school when she won the role of Supergirl for the 1984 film, which ended up as a flop. She turned to Superman star Christopher Reeve for advice on dealing with fame. She recalled that, after dinner in New York, ‘this fire truck pulled up to the building across the street. People were screaming … and here’s Superman and Supergirl on a bench opposite. Chris looked at me and said: “I guess it’s our night off.” ’. EDNA O’BRIEN, 87. The acclaimed writer was castigated for wickedness and irreligiosity in her native Ireland after the publication of her first novel, The Country Girls, in 1960. Her books were burned and she said critics thought ‘my talent resided in my knickers’. In September 1979, she was on the panel for the first edition of BBC’s Question Time, along with Derek Worlock (Archbishop of Liverpool) and politicians Teddy Taylor and Michael Foot — and, after Taylor’s death in September, is the sole surviving member.
BORN ON THIS DAY
L.L. ZAMENHOF (1859-1917). The PolishJewish physician created international language Esperanto, which he dreamed would unite people of different nationalities and help prevent war. Esperanto — meaning ‘hope’ — is said to be five times easier to learn than most European languages, but is only spoken by one million people. All three of Zamenhof’s children were murdered in the Holocaust.
ON DECEMBER 15…
IN 1993, the British and Irish prime ministers signed the Joint Declaration of Peace, which led to a ceasefire by the IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries.
IN 2001, the Leaning Tower of Pisa (right) reopened after 11 years and £20 million was spent to stop it falling over.
IN 2008, it was revealed Madonna’s ex-husband, film director Guy Ritchie, had received some £50million as part of a divorce settlement.