Famous deaths
2018 – Chas Hodges (b. 1943), English musician and singer. He was the lead vocalist, pianist and guitarist of the musical duo Chas & Dave.
On This Day 2025
Hello, … Welcome to day 331 of the year.

Thursday, November 27th Daily Prep.

Known as Lancashire Day, Adopt a Turtle Day, National Bavarian Cream Pie Day. Your star sign is Sagittarius and your birthstone is Topaz.
1944 – Between 3,500 and 4,000 tons of explosives stored in a cavern beneath Staffordshire detonated, killing 68 people and wiping out an entire farm. The explosion was heard over 100 miles away in London, and recorded as an earthquake in Geneva.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 tons of explosives stored in a cavern beneath Staffordshire detonated, killing 68 people and wiping out an entire farm. The explosion was heard over 100 miles away in London, and recorded as an earthquake in Geneva.
Today’s birthdays
1959 – Charlie Burchill (66), Scottish musician and and co-founder of Simple Minds (“Don’t You, Forget About Me”; “Belfast Child”), born in Glasgow, Scotland.
1961 – Samantha Bond (64), English actress (Downton Abbey), known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in four James Bond films during the Pierce Brosnan era, born in London.
1978 – Mike Skinner (47), English singer-songwriter and rapper with The Streets (“Dry Your Eyes”, “Blinded By The Light”), born in Chipping Barnet, London.
1981 – Gary Lucy (44), English actor (The Bill, Hollyoaks, Footballers’ Wives, Eastenders), born in Chigwell, Essex.

1983 – Professor Green, born Stephen Paul Manderson (42), English rapper and TV personality (Lip Sync Battle UK), born in London Borough of Hackney, London.

1986 – Oritsé Williams (39), English singer and founding member of boyband JLS (“Beat Again”, “Everybody in Love”), born in London.
Famous deaths
2011 – Gary Speed (b. 1969), Welsh professional footballer and manager (Sheffield United and Wales).
The day today
1914 – Miss Mary Allen and Miss E F Harburn became the first two trained policewomen to be granted official status in Britain when they reported for duty at Grantham, Lincolnshire.
1920 – The birth of Harry “Buster” Merryfield, English actor best known for starring as Uncle Albert in the BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses.
1924 – The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City, and it became an American tradition, especially known for its huge balloons, which were introduced in 1927.
1944 – Between 3,500 and 4,000 tons of explosives stored in a cavern beneath Staffordshire detonated, killing 68 people and wiping out an entire farm. The explosion was heard over 100 miles away in London, and recorded as an earthquake in Geneva.
1966 – The first Lancashire Day to commemorate the day in 1295 when Lancashire first sent representatives to Parliament, to attend the Model Parliament of King Edward I. The county has two AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) – The Forest of Bowland and Arnside/Silverdale.
1975 – Ross McWhirter, TV presenter and co-editor of The Guinness Book of Records, was assassinated by two Provisional IRA gunmen after he had offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for several high-profile bombings.
1976 – The four millionth Mini was produced and left the production line marking a significant milestone in the vehicle’s 41-year production run. The classic Mini was in continuous production for 41 years, starting in 1959 and ending in 2000 with the final car rolling off the line at the Longbridge plant.
2000 – A 10-year-old schoolboy, Damilola Taylor, died after being stabbed in the leg by a gang of hooded attackers near his home in Peckham, south London.
2012 – Police admitted that the late Sir Cyril Smith, former MP for Rochdale, was a sex abuser of boys in the late 1960s. Despite not being charged, after inquiries in 1970, 1998, and 1999, the CPS stressed that changes in procedure meant a prosecution would be pursued today.
2014 – A new treatment for bladder cancer was shown to completely cure some people, in the first significant breakthrough in the disease for 30 years. Scientists from Queen Mary University of London discovered that an antibody allowed cancer cells to be picked up by the immune system and eradicated before they could spread.
2014 – The registration plate “25 O” was sold at a DVLA auction for £518,000, setting a new British record for the most expensive private number plate ever sold at a public auction. The buyer was John Collins, owner of the classic Ferrari dealership Talacrest, who bought it for a Ferrari 250 SWB which was formerly owned by Eric Clapton.
2016 – German Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg clinches his only F1 World Driver’s Championship with victory at the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winning the title by 5 points over teammate Lewis Hamilton.
2017 – Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle announce their engagement.
2024 – Former UK Foreign Secretary and Conservative Party leader William Hague was elected Chancellor of Oxford University in November 2024 and formally took up the role on February 19, 2025. Lord Hague, who is the 160th person to hold the position, succeeded Lord Patten of Barnes, who retired at the beginning of 2024 after serving for over 20 years.
Today in music
1962 – The Beatles recorded their first BBC radio session at the BBC Paris studio on Regent Street in London. They played ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘P.S. I Love You’, the tracks were aired on the BBC Light Program ‘Talent Spot.’

1976 – 20 Golden Greats by Glen Campbell started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart. During his 50 years in show business, Campbell released more than 70 albums and has sold over 45 million records.

1981 – The British Phonographic industry placed advertisements in the press claiming that ‘home taping was wiping out music’. The Boomtown Rats, 10cc, Elton John and Cliff Richard all backed the campaign.
1986 – Bon Jovi were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, it peaked at No.14 in the UK. Released as the first single from the album Slippery When Wet, in 2009 it was named the 20th-greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.
1991 – Freddie Mercury’s funeral service was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest, for 35 of his close friends and family, with Elton John and the remaining members of Queen among those in attendance. Mercury was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery, West London.
1997 – A fan brought the funeral of INXS singer Michael Hutchence to a standstill when he tried to launch himself from a 20 ft high balcony with a cord around his neck. He was removed by police and taken away to a psychiatric unit.
2005 – Tony Meehan drummer with The Shadows died aged 62 from head injuries sustained in a fall at his London flat in Maida Vale. Had the 1963 UK No.1 single ‘Foot Tapper’ plus 28 other UK Top 40 singles. Left The Shadows in 1961 to work as a session drummer with Joe Meek. Also had the UK No.1 hit ‘Diamonds’ with Jet Harris.
2006 – Sir Cliff Richard lost a battle to extend the number of years that musicians could receive royalties for their records. Richard wanted copyright to last 95 years, rather than the present 50 years, but an independent review recommend the terms would not change. Sir Cliff’s earliest big hit ‘Move It’, recorded in 1958 would start to come out of copyright in 2008.
2021 – Taylor Swift’s extended version of ‘All Too Well,’ with a running time of 10:13, went to No.1 on the US Hot 100, becoming the longest song ever to top the chart. Don McLean had held the record since 1972, when ‘American Pie,’ running 8:36, went to the top of the charts.
Today in history
1295 – English King Edward I calls what later became known as “The Model Parliament” extending the authorities of its representatives. This assembly is significant because it was the first to include representatives from both the nobility and the commons (knights from counties and burgesses from towns), setting a precedent for future parliaments. Edward summoned this parliament primarily to gain approval for raising money to finance his wars in France and Scotland.
1582 – William Shakespeare, aged 18, married Anne Hathaway. They had a daughter in 1583 and a twin boy and girl in 1585. The boy died aged 11.
1720 – Female pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny went on trial and were subsequently convicted and sentenced to death; their executions were postponed because both were pregnant, and Bonny was eventually freed, though Read died in prison.
1826 – British pharmacist John Walker invented the matchstick by accident. Walker was experimenting with flammable pastes to use in guns. He created the match when the wooden tool he used to mix the substances in his paste scraped and caught fire. Walker never patented the matchstick.
1874 – The birth of Chaim (Azriel) Weizmann, first president of Israel, who was a chemistry professor in Geneva where he became active in the World Zionist Movement. After settling in Britain in 1904 he assisted the British munitions industry during the First World War when he devised a way of extracting acetone (needed for cordite) from maize. In return, the British government promised to help his cause and establish a Jewish state in Palestine.