ON THIS DAY

1772: The first travellers’ cheques were introduced by the London Credit Exchange Company. They could be used in 90 cities. 1785: The Daily Universal Register was first published by John Walter. It was renamed The Times in 1788. 1881: The first British postal orders were issued. 1890: Football nets were used in goals for the first time, for a match in Bolton. 1894: The Manchester Ship Canal was opened. 1901: Six states and two territories federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia. 1931: The Road Traffic Act came into force, introducing traffic policemen and compulsory third-party insurance. 1958: The EEC came into being. Its six members were France, Italy, West Germany, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Britain, Ireland and Denmark joined on this day in 1973. 1964: The first Top Of The Pops was aired, with Jimmy Savile as its presenter. 1992: Egyptian diplomat Butros Butros Ghali became the sixth secretary-general of the UN, taking over from Javier Perez de Cuellar. BIRTHDAYS: Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler), funk musician, 58; Dedee Pfeiffer, actress, 52; Michelle Holmes, actress, 49; Paul Lawrie, golfer, 47; Verne Troyer, American actor, 47; Jack Wilshere, footballer; 24. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “I started off as an ugly baby. When I was born, my mother was horrified. She said: ‘Oh my God he looks like a toad.’ She would not nurse me” - Actor Brian Blessed. “It’s not a pretty sight. It never was, but it is worse than ever now” - Actor Neil Dudgeon, star of Midsomer Murders, on his shortcomings on the dance floor. “Christ, I knew you couldn’t read. Can’t you count either?” - Alastair Campbell in a message to Labour peer Lord Prescott who taunted the ex-spin doctor with the words “What’s the score? What’s the score?” when his team Hull City beat Campbell’s beloved Burnley 3-0. “I’m surprised, delighted and proud. Even a little embarrassed. Especially since I opened the brown envelope expecting it to be a speeding ticket” Screenwriter Peter Morgan on his CBE. “For many of my clients, seeing Bill Cosby charged was the best Christmas present they have ever received” - Lawyer Gloria Allred who represents some of the women whom the US comedian allegedly sexually assaulted. “My body is my brain bag, it hauls me around to those places and in front of faces where there is something to say or see” - Actress Carrie Fisher who says she should not be judged by her physical appearance.