ON THIS DAY
1452: Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was born at Fotheringhay, Northants. 1608: The first telescope was demonstrated by Dutch lens-maker Hans Lippershey. 1909: The first rugby match at Twickenham was played – Harlequins versus Richmond. 1925: London’s first red buses with roofed-in upper decks went into service. Police restrictions had previously prevented them being used in the capital, although they had been in operation in Widnes since 1909. 1935: Italian forces invaded Abyssinia after Mussolini’s bombers pounded border towns. 1940: The Empress of Britain, en route to Canada with child evacuees, was sunk by a German submarine. British warships rescued most of the 634 crew and passengers. 1953: The photograph of William Pettit, wanted for murder, was shown on BBC TV by request from the police, the first time television was used in Britain to help find a wanted man. 1985: Hollywood heartthrob Rock Hudson died of Aids, aged 59. 1996: Cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He commemorated the date with a range of “10/2” branded Nike sportswear. ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Benedict Cumberbatch hit back after he was criticised for making speeches on stage attacking the government over the refugee crisis. BIRTHDAYS: Anna Ford, broadcaster, 74; Don McLean, folk singer, 72; Sir Trevor Brooking, football pundit, 69; Donna Karan, fashion designer, 69; Richard Hell, rock singer/writer, 68; Mike Rutherford, rock musician, 67; Sting (Gordon Sumner), singer, 66; Philip Oakey, pop singer (The Human League), 62; Jana Novotna, former tennis player, 49; Simon Gregson, actor, 43.