May 29th "2024" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 150, known as Composting Day, National Biscuit Day, National Snail Day. If you were born on this day, you were likely conceived the week of September 5th in the previous year. Your star sign is Gemini and your birthstone is Emerald.
1954 – Diane Leather, of Birmingham University, became the first woman to run a mile in under 5 minutes. Her time was 4 min 59.6 seconds.
Todays birthdays
1949 – Francis Rossi (75), English musician and co-founder of Status Quo (“Rockin’ All Over the World”, “Down Down”), born in Forest Hill, London.
1959 – Rupert Everett (65), English actor (My Best Friend’s Wedding, St. Trinian’s – 2007), born in Burnham Deepdale, Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
1967 – Noel Gallagher (57), English musician, singer and songwriter with Oasis (“Don’t Look Back in Anger”) before splitting in 2009, born in Longsight, Manchester.
1970 – Roberto Di Matteo (54), Italian professional football manager (Chelsea, Aston Villa) and former player (Lazio, Chelsea, Italy), born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
1975 – Mel B (49), English singer, songwriter who rose to fame as part of the Spice Girls (“Wannabe”, “2 Become 1”), born in Hyde Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Famous deaths
1849 – Anne Brontë (b. 1820), English novelist and poet (Agnes Grey, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall).
1984 – Eric Morecambe (b. 1926), English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the double act Morecambe and Wise.
The day today
1953 – Sir Edmund Hillary and his sherpa Tenzing Norgay, became the first men to reach the summit of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. The news of the British expedition broke in Britain on Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Day, 2nd June. The Queen knighted Edmund Hillary later that year.
1954 – Diane Leather, of Birmingham University, became the first woman to run a mile in under 5 minutes. Her time was 4 min 59.6 seconds.
1968 – Manchester United become the first English club to win the European Cup, beating Portuguese side Benfica by four goals to one.
1982 – In the first Papal visit to Britain since 1531, Polish born Pope John Paul II prayed alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first ever pontiff to visit the cathedral. He was acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century and was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history. He visited 129 countries during his pontificate, was the second-longest serving Pope in history and the first non-Italian Pope since 1523.
2014 – Canoe fraudster John Darwin, who was found to have benefited from faking his own death in 2002, was ordered by a court to pay a £40,000 lump sum to the authorities after two of his pensions matured. A “Proceeds of Crime Act” hearing at Teesside Crown Court heard that Darwin had so far only paid back £121 of the £679,073.62 he was found to have benefited from his ‘death’. Anne Darwin, now split from her husband, has repaid more than £500,000 under a separate Proceeds of Crime order after selling properties held in her name.
Today in music
1962 – Chubby Checker won a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording for ‘Let’s Twist Again’ and Ray Charles won Best Rhythm & Blues Recording for ‘Hit The Road Jack’.
1965 – The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Help Me Rhonda’, the group’s second US No.1. The recording session was interrupted by the Wilson brothers’ drunken father, Murry, who arrived at the studio to criticize the Boys enthusiasm. The recording reel continued to record the confrontation, which still circulates among fans.
1977 – Manchester band Warsaw, (later to become Joy Division) made their live debut supporting The Buzzcocks at The Electric Circus, Manchester, England.
1997 – The Manic Street Preachers won the best song award for ‘A Design For Life’ at the 42nd Ivor Novello awards. Other winners included The Spice Girls for Hit of the year with ‘Wannabe’, Elvis Costello for Outstanding contribution to music, George Michael won Songwriter Of The Year and Most Performed work for ‘Fastlove.’
2005 – Gorillaz scored their first UK No.1 album when ‘Demon Days’ went to the top of the charts.
Today in history
1660 – Charles II marched into London and was restored to the throne, 11 years after the execution of his father Charles I.
1798 – The United Irishmen Rebellion against British Rule took place. Between 300 and 500 United Irishmen were massacred by the British Army in County Kildare, Ireland.
1829 – The death of Humphry Davy, the English scientist who invented a lamp for miners that enabled them to work safely in the presence of flammable gases.
1871 – Whit Monday (celebrated the day after Pentecost) became the first official Bank Holiday in Britain.
1884 – The first steam cable tramway began operating, in London’s Highgate.