ON THIS DAY
1820: George III, longest-lived and longest-reigning King of England, died at Windsor aged 81.
1856: Queen Victoria instituted Britain’s highest military decoration, the
Victoria Cross.
1880: WC Fields, US comedian who claimed he wouldn’t act with children or animals, was born in Philadelphia.
1886: Karl Benz patented the first practical car with petroldriven internal combustion engine. It had three rubber-tyred wheels and went at 9.3mph.
1916: Zeppelins bombed Paris for the first time.
1942: Desert Island Discs started on BBC Radio, presented by Roy Plomley. His first castaway was comedian Vic Oliver.
1951: Actress Elizabeth Taylor, above, 19, divorced her first husband, hotel chain heir Nicky Hilton.
1980: Jimmy Durante, “Schnozzola”, American comedian, died aged 87.
1985: Oxford University dons refused to grant Margaret Thatcher an honorary degree.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
A study suggested that early risers were less likely to develop some mental health problems than “night owls”.
IT WAS THE first time she had been to Scotland – and Dolly Parton had a Royal surprise awaiting her when she arrived in Glasgow on May 16, 1977.
“When they told me on the plane I was appearing in front of the Queen I just jumped up and down telling everyone,” she told the Evening Times.
The country star had been told en route from the US that her concert in the city would be performed in front of Her Majesty as part of the King’s Theatre’s allstar Royal Variety Show marking the Silver Jubilee celebrations.
We reported: “As male travellers gaped at the stunning American country singer, Dolly told the Evening Times: ‘They kept it a surprise from me until I was on the flight over.’”
Dolly continued in her “delicious Southern drawl”, according to the reporter: “It’s just one of the biggest thrills of my life.
“When I was a little girl I grew up in a world of kings and queens and princes and princesses in fairy tales. Now I’m going to meet one.”
The article continued: “Wearing a stunning yellow T-shirt and tight-fitting blue jeans tucked into brown boots, Dolly added: ‘I’ve never been to Scotland before and I’m really looking forward to it.’”
Writing in The Herald, sister title of the Glasgow Times, Ken Smith said: “As a young reporter I was sent to Glasgow Airport to meet Dolly Parton as she arrived.
“Two burly chaps in her entourage tried to block me approaching her, but a lovely Dolly – goodness she is tiny – beckoned me over, told me she was stunned that a little ole country girl was going to meet a real live queen, and insisted that I drop by to say ‘Hi’ at the show...”
Backstage after the concert Dolly was photographed talking to the Duke of Edinburgh, with Sydney Devine and Lena Zavaroni looking on.
Dolly has returned to perform at in Glasgow many times since, including a memorable appearance in 2014. The Herald’s reviewer said: “Dolly’s spirit of female empowerment coursed through the set, which celebrated her new album, Blue Smoke, among old favourites and greatest hits, from the matriarchy-championing Coat of Many Colors, to the sisterhood call-to-arms of 9 to 5 – an anthem for the unsung woman, and one of many crowning moments in a career that’s spanned nigh-on five decades and 100 million record sales, and all from the confines of a