ON THIS DAY
May 23, 2023
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
May 23, 1998
THE people of Ulster turned out in record numbers yesterday to deliver a massive vote for peace. Exit polls showed between 70 and 75 per cent had voted ‘Yes’ to the Good Friday Agreement. If the predicted ‘Yes’ figure is matched when the result is declared today, there will be little room for doubt that a majority of Protestants and Catholics are behind the deal.
May 23, 2000
THE worlds of theatre and film united to pay tribute to Sir John Gielgud last night, following his death on Sunday at the age of 96. Leading the tributes was Lord Attenborough, who described Sir John as ‘probably the greatest theatre actor, the greatest classical actor’.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
RICHARD AYOADE, 46.
The actor, comedian and broadcaster first found fame as socially awkward technician Maurice Moss in comedy series The IT
Crowd. As well as regular presenting roles on television, including
Travel Man and Have I
Got News For You, he has also written two children’s books. On studying law at Cambridge, he said: ‘To the amazement of all who taught me, I graduated. I have, out of respect to The Law, never practised it.’ GEORGE OSBORNE, 52. Born Gideon Oliver Osborne in London, he changed his name at 13, saying: ‘I couldn’t think of anyone who I liked or who was successful who was called Gideon.’ In 2010, at the age of 38, he became the youngest Chancellor for more than a century.
BORN ON THIS DAY
ALICIA DE LARROCHA (1923-2009). The 4ft 9in Spaniard was described as ‘one of the few international women pianists to bring a feminine approach to the keyboard’. She started playing the piano at the age of two, was a soloist with the Madrid Symphony Orchestra by 11 and won her fourth and last Grammy at 69. NIGEL DAVENPORT (1928-2013). The British actor played Lord Birkenhead in Chariots
Of Fire and the Duke of Norfolk in A Man For All Seasons. He had botched surgery to fix a childhood squint after a director said: ‘That young man will never get anywhere unless he does something about his eyes’. This left the actor with what he called his ‘dodgy’ stare, which he became known for.
ON MAY 23. . .
IN 1934, gangsters Bonnie and Clyde were killed in a police ambush in Louisiana.
IN 1430, Joan of Arc was captured ahead of her trial for heresy, witchcraft, violating divine law and dressing like a man.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Butte (c1600s)
A) An isolated mountain rising abruptly. B) A wet ploughed field. C) The windward side of a hedge. answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED Have a good innings:
meaning to have enjoyed a long and fulfilling life or career; it comes from cricket in which an ‘innings’ is the time a batter spends at the crease during which runs are scored.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
He who praises everybody, praises nobody.
Samuel Johnson, English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT did the dalmatian say after lunch? That hit the spot.
Guess The Definition answer: a.