1945 – World War II officially ended when Japanese officials, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, surrendered on behalf of their country.

1949 – The birth of Moira Stuart, British journalist and the first African-Caribbean female newsreader on British television. Her 26-year career with BBC Television News was brought to a close on 3rd October 2007, when the BBC announced her departure. The BBC initially declined to comment on why she was no longer being used, although rumours circulated within the BBC and commercial newsrooms that Stuart had been removed because she was considered ‘too old’ at 57.

1973 – The death (aged 81) of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (JRR Tolkein), English writer and poet, best known as the author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

1974 – Edward Heath’s Morning Cloud III was sunk in a Force 9 gale in the English Channel. Two people were killed – including Mr Heath’s godson.

1979 – Police discovered the body of a young woman – thought to be the twelfth victim of the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ – in an alleyway near the centre of Bradford.

1980 – John Arlott, cricket commentator, retired at Lord’s after 35 years of broadcasting for the BBC.

1994 – Entertainer and television presenter Roy Castle died from lung cancer at his Buckinghamshire home, just two days after his sixty second birthday. He was a lifelong non-smoker and blamed his illness on years of playing the trumpet in smoky jazz clubs. His widow, Fiona, worked with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation for many years after her husband’s death. She was a key figure in campaigning for the British smoking ban which came into effect during 2007 and has seen smoking banned in virtually all enclosed public places.

1996 – British boxer Frank Bruno achieved his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion when he outpointed Oliver McCall to win the WBC title at Wembley Stadium in London.

1997 – Six freelance photographers and a dispatch rider were jointly charged with manslaughter following the car crash in Paris in which Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed were killed.

1999 – Sir Bobby Robson, veteran ex-England manager and self-confessed Geordie, became manager of Newcastle United. Appointed at the age of 66 he was the oldest manager in the league. His first home game in charge was particularly memorable and impressive: an 8–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. The result remains the club’s record Premier League home win.

2013 – The death, aged 87, of broadcaster and presenter David Jacobs whose career spanned 7 decades. He had been at the BBC since 1945 and hosted shows including Housewives’ Choice, Pick of the Pops, Juke Box Jury and Any Questions.