Friday, August 8th "2025" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 220, known as International Beer Day, International Cat Day, Tarantula Appreciation Day. Your star sign is Leo and your birthstone is Peridot.
1940 – The German Luftwaffe began a series of daylight air raids on Britain and so began The Battle of Britain which would continue into the following October.
Todays birthdays
1937 – Dustin Hoffman (88), American actor (The Graduate, Tootsie, Kramer vs Kramer, Rain Man), born in Los Angeles, California, United States.
1953 – Nigel Mansell (72), English retired racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series, born in Worcestershire.
1961 – Simon Weston (64), Welsh veteran of the British Army who is known for his charity work and recovery from severe burn injuries suffered during the Falklands War, born in Wales.
1961 – David Evans (64), British musician, singer, and songwriter known by his stage name ‘The Edge’ with U2 (“With Or Without You”), born in Barking, East London.
1966 – Chris Eubank (59), British former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1998, born in Dulwich, London.
1974 – Brian Harvey (51), English singer and lead vocalist with boy band East 17 (“Stay Another Day”, “It’s Alright”), born in Walthamstow, Greater London.
1981 – Roger Federer (44), Swiss former professional tennis player, born in Basel, Switzerland.
1981 – Bradley McIntosh (44), English singer, rapper, record producer and a member of the pop group S Club 7 (“Bring It All Back”), born in Lambeth, London.
Famous deaths
2022 – Olivia Newton-John (b. 1948), English-Australian singer-songwriter (“Xanadu”, “Physical”) and actress (Grease, Two of a Kind).
The day today
1953 – Nigel Mansell, English racing driver was born. He won both the Formula One World Championship in 1992 and the American CART Indy Car World Series in 1993 making him the only person to hold both titles simultaneously. Until October 2014 Mansell remained the most successful British Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins, with 31 victories. On 12th October 2014 his victories were equalled by (and have now been surpassed by) Lewis Hamilton.
1963 – The Great Train Robbery, in which over £2.5 million was stolen, took place near Bletchley, Buckinghamshire. The day of the train robbery also happened to be the 34th birthday of Ronnie Biggs, one of the robbers.
1991 – John McCarthy, Britain’s longest-held hostage in Lebanon, was freed after more than five years in captivity. He had been held hostage since April 17, 1986.
1991 – The Warsaw Radio Mast in Poland malfunctioned and collapsed. When it was constructed in 1974, it was the tallest structure in the world at 2,120.7 ft tall. It remained the tallest until it collapsed on this day.
2002 – The UK’s biggest undertakers Co-op funeral services, reported that bereaved families preferred pop songs to hymns at funerals. Unusual choices requested included ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ by Queen and ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ by Wham!
2014 – The World Health Organization announced the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
2017 – The Walt Disney Company announces plans to create its own streaming service, cancelling ties with Netflix.
Today in music
1960 – 16-year old Brian Hyland went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ it made No.8 in the UK. Also a UK No.1 for Bombalurina featuring TV presenter Timmy Mallett in 1990.
1963 – The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Sweets For My Sweet’, the group’s first of three UK No.1’s. The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and was originally recorded by The Drifters.
1966 – In response to John Lennon’s remark about The Beatles being bigger than Jesus, The South African Broadcasting Corporation banned all Beatles records.
1988 – American hip hop group N.W.A released Straight Outta Compton on Ruthless Records. The album redefined the direction of hip hop and in 2017, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
1992 – Snap! started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Rhythm Is A Dancer’ the dance group’s second and last No.1 was also a Top 5 US hit.
1995 – Coolio’s hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise” was released. The single sold over 6 million copies worldwide and was Billboard Song of the Year, 1995.
1998 – The Spice Girls had the UK No.1 single with ‘Viva Forever’, their 7th UK chart topper. Brandy and Monica were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Boy Is Mine’.
2010 – John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, had his parole hearing delayed until early September so that officials could gather additional information. The 55-year-old Chapman became eligible for parole in 2000 after serving 20 years, but had been denied his freedom five times.
Today in history
1296 – The Stone of Scone, on which Scottish kings had been crowned for centuries, was seized by King Edward I of England. It was officially returned to Scotland in 1996.
1503 – King James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh.
1588 – In a nine-hour battle off Gravelines, the English fleet engaged with the Spaniards in their last naval confrontation. The defeat of the Armada saved England from invasion and the action has enduring historical significance as the first major naval gun battle under sail.
1647 – At the Battle of Dungans Hill in County Meath, English Parliamentary forces defeated Irish forces. The battle was very bloody, with over 3000 deaths, and had important political repercussions. It contributed to the collapse of the Confederate cause and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649.
1834 – The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed in Britain. The Act dropped the system whereby parishes cared for their poor by a rate of poor relief and replaced it with the workhouse.