ON THIS DAY
1314: The Battle of Bannockburn took place – Robert the Bruce inflicted a crushing defeat on Edward II of England. 1825: William Henry Smith, English newsagent and bookseller, was born. He joined his father’s newsagent business and took full control in 1846, building WHSmith, the biggest chain of newsagents in Britain, before going into politics. 1859: Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman travelling through Italy, saw the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino and was inspired to found the International Red Cross. 1895: Jack Dempsey, US world heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926, was born. Known as the Manassa Mauler, he was the most popular boxer of his time. 1947: The series of ‘’flying saucer’’ stories started when a pilot, Kenneth Arnold, reported seeing nine discshaped objects over Mount Rainier, Washington. 1948: The Berlin Airlift began when the USSR blockaded Berlin, requiring the Allies to fly in food and other essential supplies. 1981: The bridge over the Humber Estuary opened to traffic - its official opening by the Queen took place on July 17. BIRTHDAYS: Jeff Beck, rock guitarist, 72; Mick Fleetwood, rock drummer (Fleetwood Mac), 69; Peter Weller, actor, 69; John Illsley, musician, 67; Curt Smith, musician, 55, Sherry Stringfield, actress, 49; Glenn Medeiros, pop singer/songwriter, 46; Stuart Broad, cricketer, 30. QUOTES OF THE DAY: “Hillary Clinton may be the most corrupt person ever to seek the presidency” - Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for the White House, attacks his likely Democrat rival as “a world-class liar”. “Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take” - Top golfer Rory McIlroy, who has decided not to go to the Olympic Games in Rio because of the Zika risks involved. “I obviously was very honoured the Princess Royal was conducting the ceremony because I’ve known her quite a long time. It’s the only time in my life I think I’ve ever felt nervous in front of her. I am sure her daughter probably told her to threaten to let the sword slip maybe just for the fun of it” Record-breaking jockey Tony McCoy after receiving his knighthood. “When you have that label, your IQ drops way down in people’s eyes. I thought some day I would be so old it wouldn’t worry me. But it still does” Veteran actor Burt Reynolds ,80, cringes at being called a sex symbol. “I don’t think I ever was a ladette. I’m actually a bit of a nerd. You try to be cool, but underneath it I was too much of a goody-goody” - Actress Donna Air.