May 1st "2024" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 122, known as May Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day. If you were born on this day, you were likely conceived the week of August 8th in the previous year. Your star sign is Taurus and your birthstone is Emerald.
1840 – The first British Penny Black stamp went on sale. Invented by Rowland Hill, it was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp and it became valid for postage on 6th May.
Todays birthdays
1946 – Joanna Lumley (78), British actress (Absolutely Fabulous, The Avengers) and former model, born in Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
1951 – Antony Worrall Thompson (73), English restaurateur and celebrity chef (Ready Steady Cook), born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
1954 – Ray Parker Jr (70), American musician who wrote and performed the theme song for the 1984 film Ghostbusters, born in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
1975 – Nina Hossain (49), British journalist and presenter employed by ITN as the lead presenter of the ITV Lunchtime News, born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
1975 – Jodhi May (49), English actress (The Last of the Mohicans, The Other Boleyn Girl , Defiance), born in Camden Town, London.
Famous deaths
2015 – Ben E. King (b. 1938), American singer-songwriter and producer (Stand by Me”).
2019 – Peter Mayhew (b. 1944), English-American actor best known for his role as “Chewbacca” in the original Star Wars films.
The day today
1916 – The end of the Easter Rising in Ireland, following a week of bitter fighting in Dublin after Irish Nationalists rose against British rule on Easter Monday, 24th April. More than 400 lost their lives.
1930 – Pluto was officially named. The name Pluto was suggested by 11-year old Venetia Burney when she heard about the discovery of a new planet. The idea was forwarded to the scientists, and the name was officially adopted.
1955 – Stirling Moss and co-driver Dennis Jenkinson became the first British drivers to win the Mille Miglia. His Mercedes Benz finished 30 minutes ahead of the second car, driven by the legendary Argentinian, Fangio.
1982 – The Royal Air Force began a series of attacks on Argentina’s Air Force in the Falkland Islands. The air raids were the longest-ranged bombing runs at the time, with the Vulcan bombers traveling 6,600 nautical miles (12,200 km). While impressive, the damage done by the raids was repaired within 24 hours.
2017 – Mark Selby defends his world snooker title, beating John Higgins 18-15, at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
Today in music
1966 – The Beatles played live for the last time in the UK when they appeared at the NME Poll Winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool. The Beatles set included; ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Day Tripper’, ‘If I Needed Someone’ and ‘I’m Down’. Also on the bill, The Spencer Davis Group, The Fortunes, Herman’s Hermits, Roy Orbison, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, The Small Faces, Dusty Springfield, The Walker Brothers, The Who and The Yardbirds.
1976 – The Bellamy Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Let Your Love Flow’, the duo’s only US No.1, a No.7 hit in the UK.
1993 – George Michael, Queen and Lisa Stansfield went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘The Five Live EP’ which was recorded at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert held in April 1992, at Wembley Stadium, London.
2005 – Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Devils & Dust’ the American singer songwriters sixth UK No.1.
2015 – Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars gave The Gap Band a writing credit on their huge hit ‘Uptown Funk’, due to its similarities with their 1979 track ‘Oops Up Side Your Head’. ‘Uptown Funk’, which had topped the UK chart for seven weeks and the US chart for 14, originally had six songwriters but was now credited to The Gap Band as well.
Today in history
1118 – The death (aged 38) of Matilda of Scotland, Queen of England and the first wife of Henry I. She acted as regent of England during her husband’s frequent absences for military campaigns and she was known for her generosity towards the church where she founded and supported cloisters and hospitals for leprosy sufferers.
1707 – The Act of Union joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
1759 – Josiah Wedgwood founded the Wedgwood pottery company in Burslem, Staffordshire. Wedgewood was a prominent abolitionist of slavery. He mass produced cameos depicting the seal for the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade and had them widely distributed. He was also the grandfather of Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin.
1769 – The birth, in Ireland, of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Known as the Iron Duke, he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. He was Tory Prime Minister from 1828-30, becoming unpopular when he conceded Roman Catholic emancipation. His London house had its windows smashed by an angry mob on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
1840 – The first British Penny Black stamp went on sale. Invented by Rowland Hill, it was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp and it became valid for postage on 6th May. The Penny Black public house in Northwich, Cheshire is a Grade II listed, Tudor style building that was formerly the district’s post office.