October 16th "2024" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 290 of the “leap” year! Known as World Food Day, Dictionary Day, World Spine Day, World Allergy Awareness Day. Your star sign is Libra and your birthstone is Pink Tourmaline.
1958 – Britain’s most popular children’s television programme ‘Blue Peter’ was first broadcast on BBC TV. The first presenters were Leila Williams and Christopher Trace.
Todays birthdays
1959 – Gary Kemp (65), English songwriter, musician (Spandau Ballet – “Gold”, “True”) and actor (The Krays), born in Smithfield, London.
1964 – Stephen Lamacq (56), English disc jockey known by his nickname Lammo (BBC Radio 6), born in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
1965 – Simon Bartholomew (59), British musician (The Brand New Heavies – “Midnight At The Oasis”), born in Ealing, London.
1967 – Davina McCall (57), English television presenter (Big Brother, Million Pound Drop, Don’t Try This at Home), born in Wimbledon, London.
1997 – Charles Leclerc (27), Monacan racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Ferrari, born in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Famous deaths
2020 – Robbie Coltrane (b. 1950), Scottish actor, comedian and writer (Harry Potter film series, Nuns on the Run, GoldenEye).
The day today
1902 – Britain opened its first ‘Borstal’ detention centre, at the village of Borstal in Kent. The institution was designed to keep boys, especially first offenders, away from adult criminals in prisons; to teach them a trade and to reward good behaviour.
1958 – Britain’s most popular children’s television programme ‘Blue Peter’ was first broadcast on BBC TV. The first presenters were Leila Williams and Christopher Trace.
1979 – Comedy sketch show “Not the Nine o’Clock News” debuts on BBC2, starring Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Gryff Rhys Jones and Pamela Stephenson.
1987 – Southern Britain began a massive clear-up operation after the worst night of storms in living memory. BBC Weatherman Michael Fish faced criticism, as he had reassured viewers that the worst of the stormy weather would be across Spain and France.
1996 – British Home Secretary Michael Howard announced stringent new gun controls following the mass shooting in March 1996 of children at a school in Dunblane, Scotland.
Today in music
1965 – The Beatles recorded ‘Day Tripper’ at Abbey Road studio’s London in three takes, they then added vocals and other overdubs, completing the song before the end of the day.
1969 – Bobbie Gentry was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,’ the singers only UK No.1.
1982 – Culture Club appeared on UK TV’s Top Of The Pops performing ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me’. They were booked on the show thanks to Shakin’ Stevens being ill and not able to appear. The song became a major hit after their memorable performance on the music TV show.
1988 – Whitney Houston had her third UK No.1 single with ‘One Moment In Time.’ The song was recorded to celebrate the Seoul Olympic Games of 1988.
2017 – Ed Sheeran broke his wrist and elbow in a biking accident, forcing him to cancel dates on his tour of Asia. He called his time off “the most depressing six weeks of my life.”
Today in history
1555 – English bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burnt at the stake for denying the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. A small area paved with granite setts forming a cross in the centre of the road outside the front of Balliol College marks the site.
1793 – Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, is beheaded aged 37. Antoinette’s trial began on 14 October 1793; she was convicted two days later by the Revolutionary Tribunal of high treason and executed by guillotine at the Place de la Révolution.
1813 – The Battle of Leipzig began. It was the largest European battle before World War I. Also known as The Battle of Nations, it took place in Leipzig, Germany. It was fought between Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia, who won against the French Empire and Polish, Italian and German troops.
1834 – The original Houses of Parliament were almost completely destroyed by fire. The blaze, which started from overheated chimney flues, spread rapidly throughout the medieval complex and developed into the biggest conflagration to occur in London since the Great Fire of 1666. Westminster Hall and a few other parts of the old Houses of Parliament survived the blaze and were incorporated into the New Palace of Westminster, which was built over the following decades.
1847 – The English writer Charlotte Bronte’s novel “Jane Eyre” was published by Smith, Elder & Co.