Text today

“Loved by God the Father” (Jude, verse 1)

Earthly fathers sometimes fail to affirm their children. Our heavenly Father has shown his love in the clearest way through the cross of his Son, our Saviour. JT 1651: Charles II, defeated by Cromwell at Worcester, fled to France, after famously escaping from Cromwell’s forces by hiding in an oak tree.

1777: British commander General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga in the American War of Independence.

1849: Frederic Chopin, Polish pianist and composer, died of tuberculosis in Paris, aged 39.

1860: The first professional golf tournament was held at Prestwick, Ayr, and won by Willie Park.

1899: British troops defeated the Boers at the Battle of Glencoe in Natal, South Africa.

1931: Mobster Al Capone, above, was jailed for 11 years for tax evasion.

1956: Calder Hall in Cumbria, Britain’s first largescale atomic energy station, was opened. 1960: The News Chronicle newspaper ceased publication.

1989: San Francisco was hit by an earthquake which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, pictured.

1991: Four ITV companies – TV-am, Thames, TVS and TSW – lost their licences under changes announced by the Independent Television Commission.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A pregnant Duchess of Sussex was said to be “running on adrenaline” as she visited Dubbo in Australia during on her first royal tour.

Jim Smith, former footballer and manager, 79; Rob Marshall, director, 59; Ziggy Marley, reggae singer, 51; Anil Kumble, former cricketer, 49; Eminem, rapper/actor, 47.