View todays celebrity birthdays and find out what happened in history today.
What : day is it
1861 – The Post Office Savings Banks opened in Britain.
1888 – Walter Bentley, British car designer, was born.
1915 – The opening of Britain’s first Women’s Institute, (regularly referred to as simply the WI) at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales (Pictured). Its two aims were to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. It is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK.
1945 – World War II: Japanese troops in Hong Kong surrendered. The surrender was accepted by Royal Navy Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt.
1947 – John Cobb set a world land speed record of 394.2mph.
1960 – Donald Campbell destroyed Bluebird in a crash at 350mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in north west Utah. He was only slightly hurt.
1915 – The opening of Britain’s first Women’s Institute, (regularly referred to as simply the WI) at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales (Pictured). Its two aims were to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. It is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK.
1945 – World War II: Japanese troops in Hong Kong surrendered. The surrender was accepted by Royal Navy Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt.
1947 – John Cobb set a world land speed record of 394.2mph.
1960 – Donald Campbell destroyed Bluebird in a crash at 350mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in north west Utah. He was only slightly hurt.
1968 – Britain introduced a ‘two tier’ postal system – First and Second Class. Letters and parcels bearing the more expensive 1st class stamps would be given priority of delivery.
1977 – T. Rex star Marc Bolan is killed instantly when the car driven by his wife, singer Gloria Jones, hits a tree in Barnes, south London.
1981 – Two British political parties – the SDP and the Liberals – voted for an alliance.
1992 – Black Wednesday, when the GB Pound Sterling was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by currency speculators and was forced to devalue against the German mark.
2000 – Cyclist Jason Queally claimed Britain’s first medal of the Sydney Olympics.
2002 – The world’s first self cleaning glass was launched after being developed by scientists at the leading glass company of Pilkington’s in St Helens.
2017 – Singer Charlotte Church marries musician Jonny Powell in Cardiff.
Did you know that on this day in 1983, Arnold Schwarzenegger gained US citizenship at 36 years old? He had been dreaming of moving to America from his farm in Austria since he was only 10.
“That’s screaming! A good many dramatic situations begin with screaming.” Barbarella (Jane Fonda) #moviequotes
Is the Eye of Sauron the left or the right one?
Barry Manilow wrote State Farm’s “Like a Good Neighbour” jingle.
Aunt Jemima pancake flour, invented in 1889, was the first ready-mix food to be sold commercially.
The Code of Hammurabi decreed that bartenders who watered down beer would be executed.
A group of Winds is called a Break.
When watching a movie I always sit there thinking ‘I wonder what I’m doing right now in that movie universe?’
“give me the meatballs and eat my bowl” #misunderstoodlyrics
A group of Finches is called a Charm.
Fly East or West, and you can control day and night. Fly North or South, and you can control the seasons.
“Come play with us, Danny.” – Grady Twins in The Shining #moviequotes
“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” – B. B. King
“Life happens. Adapt. Embrace change, and make the most of everything that comes your way.” – Nick Jonas
“I say it every day – I’m the luckiest man on earth.” – Marc Anthony
“I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.” – Lauren Bacall
“Everyone said that if you want to be a real actor, go to New York. If you want to sell out, go to L.A. And I thought, ‘I want to sell out’!” – Jennifer Tilly
“I don’t mind getting punched in the nose by a guy standing in front of me. It’s getting stabbed in the back that I can’t handle.” – Mickey Rourke
2018 – Xi’an, China, introduced a pedestrian lane for people who walk while looking at their phones.
1993 – The Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, fell into the sea following a landslide, making news around the world.
1805 – The first Trooping of the Colour took place on Horse Guards Parade. It was Edward VII who moved Trooping the Colour to its June date, because of the vagaries of British weather.