Tuesday, June 3rd "2025" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 154, known as World Bicycle Day, World Cider Day, Love Conquers All Day. Your star sign is Gemini and your birthstone is Pearl (Alexandrite and Moonstone is also recognised).
1978 – The Guiness Book of Records entered the record books as the most-stolen book from British libraries. This is due to its popularity and high demand, leading to frequent “borrowing” that often doesn’t result in the books being returned.
Todays birthdays
1950 – Suzi Quatro (75), American singer, songwriter and bass guitarist (“Can the Can”, “Devil Gate Drive”), born in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
1960 – Vince Clarke (65), English synth-pop musician and songwriter (Erasure – “Love To Hate You”) and songwriter for Depeche Mode and Yazoo, born in South Woodford, London.
1964 – James Purefoy (61), English actor (V for Vendetta, Resident Evil, Momentum), born in Taunton, Somerset.
1974 – Kelly Jones (51), Welsh musician and a founding member, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Stereophonics (“Handbags and Gladrags”), born in Cwmaman, Wales.
1976 – Shane Lynch (49), Irish singer with boyband, Boyzone (“No Matter What”, “Baby Can I Hold You”, “Father and Son”), born in Donaghmede, Ireland.
1986 – Rafael Nadal (39), Spanish professional tennis player (22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles), born in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain.
1989 – Imogen Poots (36), English actress (28 Weeks Later, Need for Speed, Vivarium), born in Hammersmith, London.
Famous deaths
2016 – Muhammad Ali (b. 1942), American boxer nicknamed “the Greatest”, he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
The day today
1931 – The Baird Company televised the Epsom Derby, which was transmitted by the BBC. On the same day in 1981, Shergar won the Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths.
1937 – The Duke of Windsor, (the abdicated King Edward VIII), married American divorcee Mrs Wallis Simpson, privately in a château near Tours, France.
1969 – The innovative and much loved children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by American author, Eric Carle is published.
1971 – The London opening of “No Sex Please, We’re British” starring Michael Crawford. It became the longest-running comedy in theatre history before closing on 5th September, 1987.
1978 – The Guiness Book of Records entered the record books as the most-stolen book from British libraries.
2012 – The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant took place on the Tideway of the River Thames, as part of the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Despite the cold, wet weather, 670 boats took part, including military, commercial and pleasure craft. According to Guinness World Records, it was the largest ever parade of boats, surpassing the previous record of 327 vessels set in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 2011.
2017 – Eight people were killed and forty eight were injured in terrorist attacks when a van was deliberately driven into pedestrians on London Bridge. The three terrorists then carried out a stabbing spree in nearby pubs and restaurants before being shot dead by the police.
Today in music
1967 – Aretha Franklin went to No.1 on the US singles chart with her version of the Otis Redding hit ‘Respect’. A No.10 hit on the UK chart. Aretha scored her first UK No.1 20 years later with a duet with George Michael ‘I Knew You Were Waiting’.
1970 – The Kinks Ray Davies was forced to make a 6,000 mile round trip from New York to London to record one word in a song. Davies had to change the word ‘Coca- Cola’ to ‘Cherry Cola’ on the bands forthcoming single ‘Lola’ due to an advertising ban at BBC Radio.
1977 – Bob Marley & the Wailers released Exodus. The album featured the hits, ‘Jamming’, ‘Waiting In Vain’, ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘One Love’. In 1999, Time magazine named Exodus the best album of the 20th century.
1995 – Bryan Adams started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman’ Taken from the film ‘Don Juan De Marco’ it became Adams third US solo No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.
2006 – Red Hot Chili Peppers were at No.1 on the UK and US album charts with Stadium Arcadium the bands ninth studio album.
2019 – Court paperwork showed that George Michael left all of his £98 million fortune to family and friends and left nothing to his former boyfriends Kenny Goss and Fadi Fawaz. George’s sisters Yioda and Melanie were the main beneficiaries with them sharing equally all the major assets and his two London homes. There was also a horse racing stud farm for George’s dad Kyriacos as the singer ensured his family were taken care of.
Today in history
1162 – Thomas à Becket was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1170, he was brutally murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
1665 – James Stuart, Duke of York (later to become King James II of England) defeated the Dutch fleet off the coast of Lowestoft.
1839 – In Guangdong province, China, 1.2 million kg of opium were confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a justification to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War.
1865 – The birth of George V, King of England from 1910 to 1936 who married Princess May of Teck (Queen Mary) in 1893. He ruled during the First World War and changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917.
1899 – English cricket captain W.G.Grace became the first man to play Test cricket beyond the age of 50. He played his last game against Australia aged 50 and 320 days at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.