From our archives

5 years ago

David Cameron has applied to register the Tories as the “Conservative and Unionist

Party” in a bid to demonstrate his party’s commitment to Great Britain. The move comes as the Prime Minister flies into Scotland to address the Scottish Conservative conference. With the collapse in support for Labour, Mr Cameron will tell the gathering in Edinburgh that the Tories are “now the only party that can challenge the SNP”.

10 years ago

Shakespeare’s Hamlet may have got his name from a whirlpool in the Hebrides, according to new research by a Scots academic. It used to be thought that the “To Be Or Not To Be” prince was based on a Scandinavian legend about a character called Amblettt. However, Dr Lisa Collinson says William Shakespeare may have inadvertently based the character on an old name for the Gulf of Corryvreckan whirlpool between Jura and Scarba.

25 years ago

Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram was attacked on the field during the second half of the premier division match against Hibs at Easter Road yesterday and later was given a police escort from the ground. Lothian and Borders Police said last night that a man had been arrested and charged with assault and breach of the peace following an incident when a supporter “entered the field of play”. A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal.

50 years ago

Members of the Post Office Management Staff’s Association in Glasgow yesterday stopped work in support of the postal workers and attended at a rally in Green’s Playhouse. When James Kirkwood, branch secretary of the Post Office Engineering Union, addressed the rally, there were shouts of “Where are your members?” Mr Kirkwood said that a special branch meeting had been called for Monday, at which his members would decide whether to strike.

100 years ago

Among capable bodies of singers who have emerged during recent years are the William Morris choirs. Both senior and junior sections have done good work under their conductors, Mr William Robertson and Miss Carruthers Grieg, and at their concert last night in the St Andrew’s Hall they kept fully up to the standard of past achievement. For vocal soloists there were Mr John M’gregor and Mr William Merry.

1394: Prince Henry the Navigator, who sponsored Portugal’s voyages of discovery, was born in Oporto.

1678: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, composer and violinist, best known for The Four Seasons (1725), was born in Venice.

1789: The first Congress of the United States was held in New York.

1824: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded. 1890: The 1,710-feet Forth Bridge was officially opened by the Prince of Wales. 1924: Happy Birthday To You was published by Clayton F Summy.

1933: Franklin D Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd US President.

1941: British forces, assisted by local Norwegians, raided the German-occupied Lofoten Islands, destroying 11 ships. 1946: Housewives’ Choice, presented by Robert Mcdermott, began on BBC radio.

1967: North Sea gas was first piped ashore near Durham. 1969: At the Old Bailey, gangland twins Ronald and Reginald Kray were found guilty of murder and given life sentences.

1974: After the General Election, Edward Heath failed to persuade the Liberals to join a coalition and resigned. Harold Wilson became Prime Minister of a minority administration, which lasted for eight months until fresh elections secured a Labour majority.

1980: Robert Mugabe became the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, winning 57 of the 80 black seats in the 100-member Assembly. 1989: Six people were killed in a rail crash in Purley, Surrey.

Birthdays

Adrian Lyne, film director, 80; Shakin’ Stevens, singer/ songwriter, 73; James Ellroy, novelist, 73; Kenny Dalglish, pictured, former football manager, 70; Chris Rea, rock musician, 70; Tim Vine, comedian, 54; Evan Dando, rock singer, 54; Patsy Kensit, actress, 53; Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria, 22.