1937 – The knighting of Pelham Warner, a cricketer, marked the first time the honour was conferred upon a sportsman.

1950 – Jeremy Paxman, British journalist and author, was born.

1963 – British businessman Greville Wynne, aged 44, accused of spying for the West was sentenced to eight years’ detention by a Moscow tribunal.

1964 – Interior designer and businessman Terence Conran opened his first Habitat Shop in London’s Fulham Road.

1967 – Britain, Ireland and Denmark officially applied to join the EEC.

1971 – The Daily Sketch newspaper, which was founded in 1909, was published for the last time. It was Britain’s oldest ‘tabloid’ newspaper.

1977 – Wallace Virgo, former head of the police pornography squad, was found guilty of taking bribes from Soho vice kings.

1983 – Aberdeen F.C. defeated Real Madrid 2-1 to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden.

1985 – Fifty six spectators died and more than 200 were injured in a flash fire at Bradford City stadium (Valley Parade football ground) during a match against Lincoln City. The inquiry into the disaster led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at the UK’s football grounds. One of the main outcomes of the inquiry was prohibiting the construction of new wooden grandstands at all UK sports grounds.

1988 – Athlete Zola Budd flew back to her home in South Africa following the diplomatic row over her eligibility to compete for Britain.

1988 – Kim Philby, the English born Soviet spy, died in the USSR.

2010 – David Cameron becomes Prime Minister after forming a coalition government between the Liberal Democrats and his own Conservative Party.

2013 – Wigan Athletic cause a major upset, defeating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to win the FA Cup.