ON THIS DAY
ACCORDING to tradition, the waters of the flood abated and Noah’s Ark came to rest on this day.
■ 1895: At the Old Bailey, the trial of Oscar Wilde for homosexuality, then a crime, began.
■ 1921: The first motorcycle police patrols went on duty in London.
■ 1923: The marriage of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth) to the Duke of York (later George VI) took place at Westminster Abbey, the first Royal wedding there since 1383.
■ 1947: The English FA Cup Final (between Charlton Athletic and Burnley) was televised in its entirety for the first time.
■ 1957: The BBC TV series The Sky At Night, presented by Patrick Moore, was first screened.
■ 1986: An accident at the Soviet nuclear power station at Chernobyl resulted in a massive radiation leak.
■ 1989: American comedienne Lucille Ball died in Los Angeles.
■ ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: In a bid to help prevent the grapes at a Hampshire vineyard from succumbing to the unseasonable frost experienced around the country, hundreds of candles were lit.
■ BIRTHDAYS: Duane Eddy, rock guitarist, 80; Koo Stark, actress and photographer, 62; Roger Taylor, pop musician (Duran Duran), 58; Joan Chen, actress, 57; Jet Li, actor, 55; Channing Tatum, actor, 38; Jon Lee, singer and actor, 36; John Isner, tennis player, 33.