Quotes of the day

1626: Francis Bacon, philosopher and statesman, died – apparently killed by a chicken. He was trying to stuff it with snow as a method of preservation, caught a chill and died.

1865: Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Grant in Virginia, bringing the American Civil War to an end.

1898: Paul Robeson, actor and singer, was born in New Jersey. He is best known for his singing of Ol’ Man River in Jerome Kern’s celebrate musical Show Boat. 1906: Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell was born in London. As Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1951, he introduced NHS charges, causing Aneurin Bevan, the then Minister of Health, to resign.

1940: Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.

1983: Jenny Pitman became the first woman to train an English Grand National winner with Corbiere.

2003: Baghdad fell to American forces. A statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in pictures beamed around the world. 2005: The Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall.

Birthdays

Jean-paul Belmondo, actor,

87; Valerie Singleton, TV presenter, 83; Hannah Gordon, actress, 79; Alan Knott, former cricketer, 74; Dennis Quaid, pictured, actor, 66; Paulina Porizkova, model and actress, 55; Robbie Fowler, former footballer, 45; Rachel Stevens, pop singer, 42.

“People are dying alone, never mind having the wake for comfort for the family. It is a hugely difficult time for everyone. The grieving process has been very badly interrupted” – Stormont’s First Minister Arlene Foster.

“Bus drivers are doing their part for the country, we should be protecting them” – Bishara Maye, who criticised the lack of personal protective equipment after the death of her husband Nadir Nur.