ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
March 23
❑ 1 year ago… Hero Harry
Harry Kane nets a penalty to become England’s all-time record goalscorer, with 54 international goals, as the Three Lions defeat Italy 2-1 in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
❑ 3 years ago… Ship shocker
The cargo vessel Ever Given runs aground across the Suez Canal, blocking the vital trade route. It takes six days to free her.
❑ 4 years ago… First lockdown
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces the first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown as the pandemic grips the nation.
❑ 9 years ago… Celeb divorce
American TV star Kris Jenner and former athlete Bruce Jenner, divorce after 13 years of marriage. Bruce would later announce he had become a trans woman and has the new name Caitlyn.
❑ 13 years ago… Liz dies
Movie star Elizabeth Taylor, known for her roles in films such as Cleopatra, passes away aged 79, in Los Angeles.
❑ 26 years ago... Titanic gongs
James Cameron’s movie Titanic wins 11 Oscars, including best picture and best director.
❑ 41 years ago... Star Wars flops
US President Ronald Reagan announces the Strategic Defense Initiative, dubbed Star Wars. The plan to create a space-based system to shoot down Soviet nuclear weapons would later be scrapped.
❑ 52 years ago… Smashing stunt
Motorbike daredevil Evel Knievel breaks 93 bones while successfully jumping over 35 cars in a stunt.
❑ 90 years ago… Aintree thriller
Golden Miller, ridden by Gerry Wilson, wins the Grand National in the record time of just over nine minutes.
❑ 103 years ago… Speedster born
Donald Campbell who would go on to set land and water speed records is born in Horley, Surrey. He would die in Bluebird K7 while trying to break another on Coniston Water in Cumbria in 1967.
❑ 136 years ago… The Football League kicks off
The first meeting of the world’s oldest professional association football league is held at Anderton’s Hotel in London.
❑ 167 years ago… Lift off
The world’s first passenger elevator, designed by Elisha Otis, is installed at a new five-storey building in New York city.