ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
MARCH 1, 1989
IRAN has given Britain a week to denounce author Salman Rushdie or lose diplomatic ties with Tehran — an ultimatum instantly rejected by London. The Iranian parliament voted to break diplomatic relations unless Britain declared its opposition to Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses. MARCH 1, 1997
CAMILLA Parker Bowles is to be featured in a TV documentary to boost her image. She has been silent throughout her long relationship with Prince Charles — the only person involved to have done so.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JAVIER BARDEM, 54. The Spanish actor and husband of Penélope Cruz won an Oscar for No Country For Old Men. He said of the film: ‘Of course, I haven’t killed anyone, but when I did this film I needed to face up to the violence that I bring with me.’ He credits his love of heavy metal music and particularly AC/DC for teaching him to speak — and swear — in english.
JACK DAVENPORT, 50. The London-born actor said appearing in the BBC series This Life was ‘the only time I’ve ever been in something that was universally adored’. But the son of actors Nigel davenport and Maria Aitken can also count three Pirates Of The Caribbean films among the 40-plus he’s appeared in.
BORN ON THIS DAY
CAROLINE OF ANSBACH (1683-1737). The German-born Queen of Great Britain was crowned alongside husband George II in Westminster Abbey in 1727. Her dress was so heaving with jewels that a pulley had to be built to lift the skirt so she could kneel down. As per George’s instructions, the sides of both their coffins were removed so their remains could mingle after death. DORIS HARE (1905-2000).
The Welsh actress is best remembered as Reg Varney’s mother in the sitcom On The Buses. She had her first role at just three weeks — and her final role at 87. She said: ‘People say: “Where did you train?” I say: “Well, I didn’t. I was born, I was on.” I don’t remember my first appearance — I had very few lines.’
ON MARCH 1 . . .
IN 2006, the one millionth english-language article was published on Wikipedia. (It was about Jordanhill railway station, Glasgow.) IN 2021, Covid-19 vaccinations began for the over-60s in england.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Schmoo (coined 2018)
A) A jumper-like garment without a hole for the head to go through.
B) A style of clothing for the upper body in which the shoulders are cut away.
C) Chic and elegant. answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Everything in the garden is rosy (or lovely): Meaning that all is well; this phrase was an early 20th century phrase from the song made popular by Marie Lloyd and the english music hall.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
an archaeologist is the best husband any woman can get. Just consider: The older she gets, the more he is interested in her.
Dame Agatha Christie, English writer (1890-1976)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT do you get if you cross a cat with a lemon? a sourpuss.
Guess The Definition answer: a