ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 12

❑ 1 year ago…Britney free

Pop star Britney Spears’ conservatorship, which had seen her father control aspects of the star’s life, is terminated after 13 years.

❑ 3 years ago… Comics legend dies

The US Marvel writer Stan Lee, who helped create characters including Spider-Man and The Avengers, dies aged 95.

❑ 26 years ago…Buzzcocks begins

Never Mind the Buzzcocks, the comedy panel game show with a music theme, hosted by Mark Lamarr, takes to the air on BBC2.

❑ 30 years ago…Ab Fab starts

The sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley is broadcast for the first time on the BBC.

❑ 38 years ago…Pound note axed

Chancellor Nigel Lawson announces the withdrawal of the green note to be phased out and replaced by £1 coins.

❑ 68 years ago…Ellis Island closes

New York’s historic immigration facility shuts after 62 years and processing 12million people.

❑ 78 years ago…Tirpitz sunk

The last major German battleship of the Second World War is sunk by RAF Lancaster bombers in Tromso fjord in Norway.

❑ 89 years ago…Nessie snapped

Hugh Gray takes the first known photograph of the supposed Loch Ness Monster while out walking in Scotland.

❑ 93 years ago… Grace Kelly born

The future American actress is born in Philadelphia and would go on to star in movies like Rear Window and High Society.

❑ 110 years ago…Scott’s body found

The dead bodies of British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and other members of his doomed expedition to the South Pole are found.

❑ 163 years ago…Circus first

French acrobat Jules Leotard becomes the first person to perform the trapeze in Paris. His one-piece costume would give its name to the traditional gym-wear.

❑ 987 years ago…King Canute dies

The Danish king who also ruled England from 1016 dies. Legend has it that he tried to stop the tide by the sea to demonstrate the limits on a king’s power.