On this day ...

DECEMBER 14

1503: French astrologer and prophet Nostradamus was born.

1895: George VI was born. He succeeded his brother Edward VIII when he abdicated, and led the British through the war years.

1901: The first table tennis tournament was held at the Royal Aquarium, London.

1911: Roald Amundsen, Norwegian explorer, became the first man to reach the South Pole – 35 days ahead of Captain Scott.

1918: Women over 30 voted in a British general election for the first time.

1922: John Reith was appointed general manager of the fledgling BBC.

1962: Mariner II sent back the first close-up pictures of the planet Venus.

2012: Twenty-seven people, including 18 children, were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, US.

2014: Actor Peter O’Toole, above, died. He received eight Oscar nominations for films including Lawrence Of Arabia, without ever winning.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The number of criminals caught with knives or offensive weapons hit its highest level for six years, official figures revealed. BIRTHDAYS: Barbara Leigh-Hunt, actress, 83; Janette Scott, actress, 80; Mike Scott, singer (The Waterboys), 60; Chris Waddle, commentator and former footballer, 58; Miranda Hart, above, comedienne, 46; Tammy Blanchard, actress, 42; Michael Owen, footballer, 39; Vanessa Hudgens, actress, 30.