October 18th "2024" Daily Prep

Welcome to day 292 of the “leap” year! Known as Chocolate Cupcake Day, Mashed Potato Day, World Menopause Day. Your star sign is Libra and your birthstone is Pink Tourmaline.
Red Rum, three times winner of the Grand National at Aintree, died at the age of 30, an exceptional age for a horse. He was buried by the Aintree winning post where his grave is marked by an engraved stone, listing his Grand National record.
1995 – Red Rum, three times winner of the Grand National at Aintree, died at the age of 30, an exceptional age for a horse. He was buried by the Aintree winning post where his grave is marked by an engraved stone, listing his Grand National record.
Todays birthdays
1955 – Timmy Mallett (69), English TV presenter (Wacaday, Timmy Towers), broadcaster, author and artist, born in Marple, Greater Manchester.
1956 – Martina Navratilova (68), Czech-American former professional tennis player (18 Grand Slam singles titles). Widely considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, born in Prague, Czech Republic.
1960 – Jean-Claude Van Damme (64), “The Muscles from Brussels” is a Belgian martial artist, actor (Universal Soldier, Double Impact, Bloodsport), filmmaker, and fight choreographer, born in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium.
1977 – Simon Rix (47), British rock bassist (Kaiser Chiefs – “Ruby”, “Everyday I Love You Less and Less”), born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
1978 – Mike Tindall (46), English former rugby union player, playing outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, born in Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Famous deaths
2020 – Robbie Coltrane (b. 1950), Scottish actor, comedian and writer (Harry Potter film series, Nuns on the Run, GoldenEye).
The day today
1922 – The British Broadcasting Corporation was officially formed, to operate from Marconi House in London, under the management of John Reith. It established a nationwide network of radio transmitters to provide a national broadcasting service.
1910 – The trial began at the Old Bailey of the American Dr. Crippen, accused of murdering his wife Cora Henrietta Crippen. Born in Michigan in 1862 Hawley Harvey Crippen moved to Camden in 1897 and became the first suspect to be captured using the aid of wireless telegraphy. When he and his lover Ethel Neave were spotted escaping on board the liner Montrose the authorities were alerted and Crippen was arrested as the liner entered the St. Lawrence River.
1977 – Hilary Bradshaw became the first woman to referee a rugby match when Bracknell played High Wycombe.
1998 – Richard Bacon, presenter of the BBC TV programme ‘Blue Peter’ was sacked for taking cocaine.
2014 – A flock of sheep was left feeling rather woolly-headed after accidentally munching on £4,000 worth of cannabis plants that had been dumped in their field, at the edge of Fanny’s Farm in Merstham, Surrey. By the time that the police arrived, much of the evidence had been eaten.
Today in music
1967 – The Bee Gees were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Massachusetts’, the group’s first of five UK No.1’s. Engelbert Humperdink was at No.2 with ‘The Last Waltz’ and Traffic were at No.3 with ‘Hole In My Shoe.’
1979 – Buggles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Video Killed The Radio Star.’ A studio band featuring producer Trevor Horn. Famously, it was the first ever music video shown on MTV in North America.
1986 – Former Eastenders actor Nick Berry was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Every Loser Wins.’ Berry had played barman Simon Wickes in the TV show. It also gave BBC records its first ever UK No.1 single.
2005 – Madonna admitted that she wrote a grovelling letter to Abba asking if she could sample their music on her latest single ‘Hung Up.’ The singer had to seek permission to sample ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ and became only the second act that Abba has allowed to sample their work. The Fugees used part of ‘The Name Of The Game’ on their 1996 track ‘Rumble In The Jungle.’
2008 – Adele appeared on Saturday Night Live along with then US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The show earned its highest ratings in 14 years with a total of 17 million viewers. Adele who performed ‘Chasing Pavements’ and ‘Cold Shoulder’, topped the iTunes charts the following day and the singer’s debut album jumped thirty-five places to No.11 on the US chart the following week.
Today in history
1016 – The Battle of Assandun (Essex). The battle was the conclusion to the Danish reconquest of England. The Vikings, led by Canute the Great were victorious over the Anglo-Saxons led by King Edmund Ironside.
1541 – The death of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland; the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII.
1826 – Britain’s last state lottery was held, prior to the launch of the National Lottery in 1994.
1851 – Herman Melville’s book Moby-Dick was first published as ‘The Whale’ by Richard Bentley of London.
1871 – The death of Charles Babbage, English mathematician, inventor and mechanical engineer who originated the concept of a programmable computer. He is considered a ‘father of the computer’ as he is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs.