ON THIS DaY

■1633: Bananas were displayed in a London shop window - the first time the fruit had been seen in Britain.

■1710: The Copyright Act came into effect, allowing authors to hold exclusive rights to their work for up to 50 years after death.

■1820: The first British settlers arrived at Algoa Bay in the eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

■1829: William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was born in Nottingham.

■1849: The safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt of New York - he made it in only three hours and later sold the rights for 400 dollars to pay debts.

■1868: Actor George Arliss was born. He was the first British star to win an Oscar - in 1929 for his role as Disraeli.

■1917: Canadian troops captured Vimy Ridge.

■1924: The first book of crosswords was published in New York.

■1955: Ruth Ellis shot dead David Blakely outside a pub in north London - an act for which she was subsequently hanged.

■1970: Paul McCartney announced that he was leaving The Beatles for personal and professional reasons.

■1971: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, the People’s Republic of China hosted the U.S. table tennis team for a week-long visit.

■1998: The Northern Ireland peace deal was reached, called the Good Friday Agreement.

■ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The death toll from a cyclone that ripped into southern Africa had now tipped 1,000.

■BIRTHDAYS: Gloria Hunniford, above left, TV and radio presenter, 80; Paul Theroux, author, 79; Steven Seagal, actor and director 68; Lesley Garrett, above right, soprano, 65; Nicky Campbell, TV presenter, 59; Mandy Moore, singer/actress, 36; Haley Joel Osment, actor, 32.

Let us know your community events

Write to What’s On, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR or email ecletters@walesonline. co.uk including your name, address and daytime contact number. Don’t forget to tell us where and when your event is taking place and what it’s all about.

■ The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2016 was 62.8%