This week in history

A NOVEMBER 16, 1989: A pillar of South African apartheid crumbled when beach restrictions were removed by president FW de Klerk. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The Cambridge Dictionary revealed its word of the year for 2021 was “perseverance”.

NOVEMBER 17, 1307: William Tell is reputed to have shot the apple off his son’s head on this day.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A device was created to allow dogs to video call their owners.

NOVEMBER 18, 1477: William Caxton issued the first dated, printed book from his printing press.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: NHS was given the green light to offer people living with HIV the first “long-acting injectable” to keep the virus at bay. NOVEMBER 19, 1863: Abraham Lincoln made his Gettysburg address. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Dyson opened a virtual reality store to allow customers to try out its products before choosing to buy them. NOVEMBER 20,1979: Anthony Blunt was stripped of his knighthood after being exposed as the Fourth Man in the Burgess, Maclean and Philby spy scandal.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: BBC Children In Need raised more than £39 million following its annual fundraising show.