ON THIS DAY
1558: Calais, the last English possession on the mainland of France, was regained by the French. 1610: Galileo discovered the four satellites of Jupiter. 1789: The first national US elections were held: George Washington became the first president. 1844: Saint Bernadette of Lourdes (Marie-Bernarde Soubirous) was born. She was an asthmatic French girl who claimed to see vision of the Virgin Mary at a spring near her home. 1857: The London Central Omnibus Company started its first services. 1927: The transatlantic telephone service between London and New York opened, charging £15 for three minutes. 1967: BBC One began serialisation of The Forsyte Saga. It became compulsive viewing and resulted in clergymen changing the times of Sunday evening church services. 1989: Emperor Hirohito of Japan died, aged 87. He had reigned for more than 62 years. 1990: The leaning tower of Pisa was closed to the public for the first time in 807 years so work could begin to stop it leaning any further. BIRTHDAYS: William Peter Blatty, novelist/ screenwriter, 89; Hunter Davies, journalist and author, 81; Kenny Loggins, rock singer, 69; Erin Gray, actress, 67; Helen Worth, actress, 66; Nicolas Cage, actor/producer, 53; Nick Clegg, former Deputy Prime Minister and former leader of the Liberal Democrats, 50; Lewis Hamilton, Formula One racing driver, 32. QUOTES OF THE DAY “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes”– US Vice Presidentelect Mike Pence. “Grow up, Donald, grow up. Time to be an adult” – US Vice President Joe Biden’s advice to President-elect Donald Trump. “If 2016 was exciting, then this year could be tumultuous with President Trump, Article 50, elections all over Europe and maybe a eurozone crash” – Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. “Politics is about backing winners, not losers, no matter how repugnant the former may be”– Best-selling author Frederick Forsyth. “I am going back to the hypnotist” – Top model Naomi Campbell wants to stop smoking. “I am frightened because it is not a sport any more. It is dictated by business. The rich are getting richer and going to Mars. Nobody cares about the small clubs” – Barry Fry, director of football at Peterborough United, on the modern game. “This is total nonsense. Senior civil servants should be embarrassed that their union is asking for a pay rise at a time when the public sector is subject to necessary pay restraint - Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.