ON THIS DAY
September 22, 2022
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE SEPTEMBER 22, 1955
THE legendary island of Rockall, the ‘sea area’ beloved of the meteorologists when gales are blowing up, emerged out of the Atlantic mists yesterday as Britain’s latest possession. [Prior to this it was terra nullius].
SEPTEMBER 22, 1984
Tommy Cooper’S heartbroken widow, Gwen, is to auction his lifelong collection of stage props. Going under the Christie’s hammer will be a suitcase full of fezzes, exploding top hats, wands, and props.
But 64-year-old Gwen is not doing it for the money. ‘I want the space for my son’s family to move in,’ said Gwen.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rupert Penry-jones, 52. The British actor starred in BBC dramas Spooks and Silk, and this year’s film The Batman. The son of To The Manor Born’s Angela Thorne and husband of Ballykissangel star Dervla Kirwan said he can’t rely on his good looks for roles: ‘Sometimes tall, blond chaps fall out of favour.’
Sue Perkins, 53. The TV presenter from London used to present The Great British Bake off alongside sidekick Mel Giedroyc and took over from Nicholas Parsons as the host of BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute last year. Perkins said: ‘My best presenting is when they say: let the shambolic oaf do her own thing.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
Anne of Cleves (15151557). The German-born fourth wife of Henry VIII had a beauty compared to ‘the golden sun’ by the King’s chief minister Thomas Cromwell. After the wedding night, Henry said: ‘I liked her before not well, but now I like her much worse.’ The marriage was annulled after six months.
Rosamunde Pilcher (1924-2019). The Cornish-born novelist wrote Coming Home and The Shell Seekers, which became the most popular paperback in the world. one critic described ‘Pilcherdom’ as ‘a world of strong women, wellmannered men, bracing landscapes, big dogs, loyal cleaning ladies and houses that smell of wax polish’.
ON SEPTEMBER 22 . . .
IN 1735, Sir Robert Walpole moved into 10 Downing Street. He is regarded as Britain’s first prime minister. IN 2007, french mime star Marcel Marceau died, aged 84.
WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Twinning (coined 2020)
A) A new version of the game of leapfrog. B) Partnering with a town or city abroad. C) Wearing the same clothes at the same time as friends or family. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED: Make a dead set at: Meaning to make a proper attempt to win the affections of; it derives from a 19th century idiom that refers to the way in which a dog such as a pointer or setter stands stock still with its muzzle pointing towards game.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Born down in a dead man’s town. And the first kick I took was when I hit the ground. Bruce Springsteen, U.S. singer-songwriter
JOKE OF THE DAY
I Just saw a burglar kick in his own door… He said that he was working from home. Guess The Definition answer: C.