ON THIS DAY
August 7, 2015
IT’S DAY 219 OF 2015
TWO decades ago, there were 219,000 households in the UK without a television. Today, as people use the internet more, that figure has risen to 1.05 million.
HAVANA cigars from Cuba were first imported to Britain 219 years ago — and they weren’t rolled on the thighs of beautiful women, as the myth went, but on a desk.
THE 1980 flop Heaven’s Gate, starring Jeff Bridges, was originally 219 minutes long. But after being roundly panned by critics, the director cut the western to just 149 minutes.
INDIAN cricketer Virender Sehwag hit a then world-record 219 runs against the West Indies in a one- day international in 2011. That record is now held by another Indian batsman, Rohit Sharma, who scored 264 against Sri Lanka last year.
THERE ARE 146 DAYS LEFT
ONE of the best loved police dramas in television history, Hill Street Blues, famous for the line ‘let’s be careful out there’ said by Sgt Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad, right) ran for 146 episodes in the Eighties.
THE fastest speed recorded on the UK’s roads last year was 146 mph — which was clocked on two separate occasions on the M25 when drivers were caught speeding.
ACCORDING to nasa, there are 146 moons in our solar system. Another 27 moons are awaiting confirmation of their discovery.
THE lantern at one of the most dramatic of locations in the British Isles, the Bishop Rock lighthouse in the Scilly Isles, is 146 ft above high-tide level.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
COMEDIAN and actor Alexei Sayle, 63. The bad boy of alternative comedy in the Eighties, he inherited his extreme Left politics from his parents, who were both members of the Communist Party of Great Britain.
ACTRESS Charlize Theron, 40 (pictured). The South African Oscar-winning star of Monster was 15 when she witnessed her mother shoot dead her alcoholic father.
ACTOR David Duchovny, 55. Recently divorced from actress Tea Leoni, the new York-born star of The X-Files has a mother from Aberdeen and a father whose family is from Russia. His surname means ‘spiritual’.
IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, 57. The Worksop-born rocker is well known for his alternative pursuits, including a career as a commercial pilot, making beer and competitive fencing.
BORN ON THIS DAY
NEWSREADER Kenneth Kendall (19242012). Indian-born presenter of BBC news for four decades before becoming host of Eighties game show Treasure Hunt. Within three months of his death, his grief-stricken partner, Francis Fear, killed himself.
WORLD War I spy Mata Hari (1876-1917), born Margaretha Zelle. Before her life in espionage, she was unhappily married to a naval officer, and they had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy died in childhood, possibly after being poisoned by a disgruntled maid. Hari herself was executed by firing squad after being arrested in Paris.
ON AUGUST 7TH...
In 1993, Buckingham Palace opened to public visitors for the first time — with 4,314 paying the £8 entrance fee on its opening day.
In 1840, Parliament raised the minimum age of chimney sweeps from 14 to 16.
In 1711, Queen Anne, a racing enthusiast, instituted the first Royal Ascot race meeting.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
EXPERIENCE is simply the name we give to our mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1814-1900)
JOKE OF THE DAY
HOW do you approach an angry Welsh cheese? Caerphilly.