ON THIS DAY
IT’S DAY 203 OF 2015
ROy CASTLE, late presenter of the longrunning BBC TV show Record Breakers set a world best when he wingwalked for 203 minutes from Gatwick to Paris in 1990. His record was broken in 2010. BASED in New york, the first commercial producer of what eventually became the record player was the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company, which set up shop at 203 Broadway in 1878 — though at first music was recorded and played on cylinders. THE fuselage of the original Concorde, in mid flight, was 203 feet long.
THERE ARE 162 DAYS LEFT
THE first pillar post box in the UK was installed 162 years ago in Botchergate, Carlisle, two years before the first boxes appeared in London. Their colour at the time was not bright red but green. WHEN Red Rum won the Grand National for a record third time in 1977, ridden by Tommy Stack, he carried 162 lb (11 stone 8lb). The horse i s now buried at the winning post at Aintree racecourse. ENGLISH Premier League teams play 38 games each season and this is regarded as excessive. In Major League Baseball the teams play 162 games every season.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
OSCAR-nominated Terence Stamp, 77, East End born star of The Collector, Superman II, The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Valkyrie — he turned down the main role in the 1966 film Alfie, suggesting it went to his housemate at the time, Michael Caine. ACTOR Rhys Ifans, 48. The Pembrokeshi-reborn star of Notting Hill and The Amazing Spider-Man had a swallow tattooed on his arm to match his now ex-girlfriend Sienna Miller’s inking. DOCTOR WHO and EastEnders actress Bonnie Langford, 51. Aged six ( right) she won ITV’s Opportunity Knocks, singing Shirley Temple’s On The Good Ship Lollipop. She claims to be shy and uses the name ‘Doris’ when out in public. FORMER football player, manager, chairman and presenter Jimmy Hill, 87. The threetimes married Londoner is credited with many innovations within the game. And in 1972 he stood in as a linesman when watching a game between Arsenal and Liverpool — after a linesman pulled a muscle.
BORN ON THIS DAY
BRITISH screenwriter, actor and film director Bryan Forbes ( 19262013). Born John Theobald Clarke in East London, he cast his wife, Nanette Newman (both pictured), as one of the i mmaculately dressed and totally subservient spouses in The Stepford Wives in 1975. OxFORD don Rev William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930). Stalwart of New College, Oxford, where he remained for six decades. He became famous for his verbal confusions, now know as ‘spoonerisms’, such as: ‘It is now kisstomary to cuss the bride.’
ON JULY 22nd...
IN 1706, England and Scotland agreed a Treaty of Union, which created the country we know as Great Britain. IN 1376, according to legend, the Pied Piper appeared in Hamelin and agreed to rid the town of rats. IN 1933, aviator Wiley Post completed the first round-the-world solo flight, taking seven days, 19 hours.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.
Mario Andretti, former world champion racing driver
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back? A stick.