ON DAY THIS

1066: Harold of England defeated the Norwegians under Harold Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, unaware that William of Normandy was preparing to invade the south coast.

1660: Samuel Pepys drank his first cuppa, after reading that tea made the body active and lusty.

1818: The first blood transfusion using human blood, as opposed to earlier attempts with animal blood, took place at Guy’s Hospital in London.

1872: Sir Charles Cochran, English impresario dubbed Britain’s Greatest Showman, was born. From 1914 to 1949, he presented some of the best musicals and revues, including five by Noel Coward, two by Rodgers and Hart and two by Cole Porter. His chorus girls were known as “Mr Cochran’s Young Ladies”.

1897: Britain’s first motor bus service started in Bradford.

1962: Sonny Liston won the world heavyweight boxing title, knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round in Chicago.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Rio de Janeiro’s annual Carnival parade was delayed for the first time in a century, as Brazil continued to battle the coronavirus pandemic.