ON THIS DAY

1860: The first world title fight took place near Farnborough, Hants, when Tom Sayers took on American John Heenan. After 37 rounds – two hours and 27 minutes – the match was declared a draw.

1937: A British attendance record at a football match was set when 149,547 people watched Scotland v England at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

1956: Premium Bonds were launched by Chancellor Harold Macmillan.

1960: American rock star Eddie Cochran died in a car crash near Chippenham while on tour with Gene Vincent.

1961: An attempt by Cuban exiles and US forces to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, and overthrow Castro’s Communist regime, was repulsed.

1984: Pc Yvonne Fletcher was shot dead outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in central London.

She had been policing a small demonstration outside the embassy.

2013: Margaret Thatcher’s funeral was held at St.Paul’s Cathedral.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A 90-year-old woman who was climbing the equivalent of a Highland mountain on her staircase exceeded her target to raise £10,000 for the NHS and a hospice.