ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE JULY 16, 1945
THE black-out ended in Britain last night. War-darkened streets of the big cities have returned to light. London was radiant — more so, with modernised lamps, than in pre-war days. The great switch- on coincided with the end of double summer time and thousands flocked into the streets.
JULY 16, 1947
Millwall FC have refused German prisoners of war admission to their ground. Manager Jack Cock said: ‘With loathing and detestation, we point-blank refuse to countenance the suggestion. This ground has been severely hit by the enemy’s attention, causing us great financial worry. it is not our desire to see a series of free fights at every match, which would certainly happen if we allowed these men on the ground.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Will FERRELL, 51. The star of Anchorman and Elf (right) is due to star in a parody of the Eurovision Song Contest — he says he’s been a massive fan since being introduced to the competition by his Swedish wife, Viveca Paulin, with whom he has three sons. Of his acting, he says: ‘i love goofing around, but i don’t feel the need to act the clown in private... although i confess i do sometimes put together outfits to annoy my wife.’ MARGARET COURT, 76. The Australian tennis star won a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles — one ahead of Serena Williams, who lost in the Wimbledon final on Saturday. now a senior pastor in Perth, Court was branded ‘a racist and homophobe’ by Martina navratilova for her views in the 1970s about apartheid and her recent claims that ‘tennis is full of lesbians’ and transgender children were the work of ‘the devil’.
BORN ON THIS DAY
Ginger ROGERS (19111995). The Oscar-winning U.S. star (right) was born Virginia McMath, but was known as Ginger after a cousin mispronounced her name. Best known for her musicals with Fred Astaire, she married and divorced five times, made 73 films and in the 1940s became America’s highest-paid woman. SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS (1723-1792). The English portraitist was the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts — the fountains and lights arranged around the statue of him at the London gallery reflect the alignment of the planets, moon and stars at midnight on the night of his birth. His subjects included Kitty Fisher, London’s most famous courtesan, whom he painted many times, once with her playing with his pet parrot.
ON JULY 16 . . .
IN 1969, neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins took off in Apollo 11 for the first attempt to land a man on the Moon. They fulfilled their mission five days later.
IN 1979, Saddam Hussein became president of iraq. He remained in office for 24 years.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Lumber (1617) A) A pawnbroker’s. B) Oblivion. C) A spur on the heel of a fighting cock. Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED
To feel the pinch: Meaning hardship and from the mid-1800s, it refers to the need to tighten a waistband when food is short.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
OLD people are scary and I have to face it: I am old and I am scary. Dame Maggie Smith, English actress
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHY does Kim Jong-un take binoculars with him wherever he goes? For proper gander purposes. Guess The definition answer: A.