ON THIS DAY
September 10, 2019
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE SEPTEMBER 10, 1940
HITLER has ordered the bombing raids on London in the hope that the main force of the RAF may be tempted into reprisal raids on Berlin, so neglecting the Channel ports from which he plans to make his invasion attempt. It was emphasised that the RAF has no intention of falling into Hitler’s trap. They are continuing their smashing attacks on the Channel ports and other invasion bases in Germany, Holland and Belgium.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1976
IN THE greatest single act of mourning the world has ever seen, China’s 800 million people will stand for a three-minute silence a week tomorrow to mark the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. The 82-year-old warrior-poet of the Revolution, which turned China Communist 27 years ago, died at ten minutes past midnight on Wednesday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
COLIN FIRTH, 59. The Oscar-winning star of The King’s Speech played a Mr Darcy in both the TV series Pride And Prejudice (right) and the Bridget Jones films. Andrew Davies, who adapted the Jane Austen classic for the BBC, said the scene in which Firth emerges from a lake in a wet shirt was ‘intended to be a fullfrontal nudity scene’, and it’s possible that Colin’s ‘anxiety about love handles or something’ forced a script change. Firth’s brother was surprised by the casting, saying: ‘Darcy? But isn’t he supposed to be sexy?’ DAVID ‘DIDDy’ HAMILTON, 81. The former radio DJ and Top Of The Pops presenter says he has never spent a week out of work. He has written many books, including Beauty Tips For Women, and used to own several Rolls-Royces. In the late Sixties, he worked with Ken Dodd, who nicknamed him Diddy.
BORN ON THIS DAY
KARL LAGERFELD (19332019). The Hamburg-born creative director of Chanel (pictured) never shied away from controversy. In 2001, he had tofu pies thrown at him in 2001 by animal rights protesters furious about his use of fur. In 2012, he apologised to the singer Adele after calling her ‘a little too fat’, and later said he didn’t like Pippa Middleton’s face, adding: ‘She should only show her back.’ His cat Choupette travelled in a private jet and boasted a personal chef, bodyguard and two maids. CyNTHIA LENNON (1939-2015). The first Mrs John Lennon married the Beatle just before the release of the band’s first single, having met him in a lettering class at Liverpool College of Art. During divorce discussions, John offered her £75,000, insisting: ‘That’s like winning the pools, so what are you moaning about? you’re not worth any more.’ He eventually agreed to £100,000.
ON SEPTEMBER 10 . . .
IN 1964, The Kinks notched up their first number one, with you Really Got Me.
IN 2008, the 16-mile Large Hadron Collider was powered up in Geneva, Switzerland.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Vagus (coined c1830) A) Cranial nerves to the heart. B) A hiccough. C) A neck artery. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED
Cast aspersions: Meaning to spread doubt. From the 1600s, an aspersion is the act of sprinkling, originally with holy water but, in time, it meant with lies or accusations. Fancy being remembered around the world for the invention of a mouse!
Walt Disney, U.S. animator (1901-1966) I NEED new glasses before the new year... I want to be able to see in 2020.
Guess the Definition answer: A.