Tuesday, April 29th "2025" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 119, known as World Wish Day, We Jump The World Day, Poem In Your Pocket Day, International Dance Day. Your star sign is Taurus and your birthstone is Diamond.
2011 – Prince William, who was second in line to the throne at the time, married Catherine Middleton (now the Princess of Wales) in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London.
Todays birthdays
1933 – Willie Nelson (92), American singer, guitarist and songwriter (“On The Road Again”), born in Abbott, Texas, United States.
1949 – Anita Dobson (76), English stage, film and television actress best known for her role as Angie Watts in Eastenders (1985 to 1988), born in Stepney, London.
1957 – Daniel Day Lewis (68), English actor (The Last of the Mohicans, Gangs of New York, Lincoln), born in Kensington, London.
1958 – Michelle Pfeiffer (67), American actress (Batman Returns, Dangerous Minds, What Lies Beneath), born in Santa Ana, California, United States.
1966 – Phil Tuffnel (59), former English international cricketer (Middlesex CCC, England), television and radio personality, born in Barnet, North London.
1970 – Uma Thurman (55), American actress (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Les Misérables, Batman and Robin), born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
1979 – Jo O’Meara (46), English singer and member of S Club 7 (“Bring It All Back”) between 1999 – 2003 and since they reformed in 2023, born in Romford, Greater London.
1980 – Kian Egan (44), Irish pop singer and a member of Westlife (“Flying Without Wings”). The group disbanded in 2012 and later reunited in 2018, born in Sligo, Ireland.
Famous deaths
1980 – Alfred Hitchcock (b. 1899), English-American director and producer (Psycho, Dial M for Murder, The Birds, Vertigo).
2014 – Bob Hoskins (b. 1942), English actor (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Mermaids, Nixon, Super Mario Bros).
The day today
1909 – In a revolutionary budget called ‘The People’s Budget’, Chancellor David Lloyd George introduced a new ‘supertax’ of sixpence in the pound for anyone earning more than £5,000 a year (£387.000 in today’s money). The new high level of supertax was to pay for old age pensions and re-armament of the forces.
1945 – Adolf Hitler married his longtime partner Eva Braun in a Berlin bunker and designated Admiral Karl Dönitz as his successor. Both Hitler and Braun committed suicide the next day.
1990 – Snooker player Stephen Hendry beat Jimmy White, to become the youngest ever world professional champion, aged 21 years and 106 days.
1993 – It was announced that Buckingham Palace would be opened to the public for the first time (during August & September) in a bid to raise funds to repair Windsor Castle.
1998 – David Hempleman-Adams became the first person to conquer adventuring’s grand slam’ when he reached the North Pole. He had walked to both Poles and climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents.
2008 – The unveiling, in his home town of Bolton, of the 8ft memorial statue to the legendary steeplejack Fred Dibnah which was unveiled on the anniversary of his birth (April 29 1938). Dibnah was also an industrial historian, mechnical engineer, steam engine enthusiast and television presenter. He was awarded the MBE in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to heritage and broadcasting.
2013 – Sweeping welfare system changes came into effect, with a single, monthly payment replacing benefits including tax credits, housing benefit, jobseeker’s allowance and income support. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith declared ‘The something for nothing culture is coming to an end.’
Today in music
1977 – The Jam released their first single ‘In The City’, which peaked at No. 40 in the UK charts. The English punk rock/mod revival formed in Woking, Surrey, fronted by Paul Weller, achieved 18 other Top 40 hits including four UK No.1’s.
1982 – Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni were named Songwriters of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards and their No.1 hit ‘Stand And Deliver’ released as the lead single from their third studio album, Prince Charming (1981) was named the best-selling single.
1998 – Steven Tyler broke his knee at a concert in Anchorage, Alaska delaying Aerosmith’s ‘Nine Lives’ tour and necessitating camera angle adjustments for the filming of the video for ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.’
2001 – A blue plaque was unveiled at 38 Aubrey Walk, Kensington, London to honor the musical heritage of the address where British singer Dusty Springfield lived between 1968-1972.
2007 – Arctic Monkeys started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their second album ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare.’
2016 – Fifteen of Prince’s albums made it into the UK chart as fans rushed to buy his music following his death on the 21st of April. Six were in the top 40 with The Very Best Of, Ultimate and Purple Rain at two, three and four.
Today in history
1429 – Joan of Arc arrived at the besieged city of Orleans. Her arrival and leadership had a significant impact on the French morale and strategy. The French, inspired by Joan of Arc, launched a series of attacks that ultimately broke the siege. On May 6, the French forces captured the English fort at Saint-Jean-le-Blanc thus giving them the victory.
1696 – There were many attempts on the life of William III, King of England, who attracted opposition, in part because he was a foreigner. On This Day, three would-be assassins, Rookwood, Lowick and Cranbourne, were executed for an attempt that failed.
1826 – The galaxy Centaurus A was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop. The galaxy is also known as NGC 5128 or Caldwell 77 and was discovered from Dunlop’s home in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
1879 – Thomas Beecham, conductor and founder of the London Philharmonic was born. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras and was a major influence on the musical life of Britain.
1884 – Oxford University agreed to admit female students to examinations. However, woman were not to be awarded degrees. It wouldn’t be until 1920 Oxford women were first awarded degrees.