In this week: 21st to 27th June

In a week when a massive earthquake destroyed 3 cities in Iran and Checkpoint Charlie was dismantled, two former international cricketers and the current Real Madrid manager celebrate their birthdays.

21^st June

40 years ago: in 1980, German orchestra leader and songwriter Bert Kaempfert died suddenly after suffering a stroke at his home in Majorca. He was only 56 years old at the time. As well as leading his own orchestra, he is alaso remembered as the composer of the song "Strangers in the Night” made famous by Frank Sinatra.

30 years ago: in 1990, Manjil–Rudbar earthquake destroyed 3 cities (Rudbar, Manjil and Lushan) and 700 villages in Iran. 40,000 people were killed, 60,000 injured and 500,000 left homeless. British novelist Salman Rushdie donated $8,650 to the victims, despite the fatwa against him.

Birthdays

John Edrich – cricketer, former England opening batsman, 83.

Jeremy Coney – cricketer, former New Zealand captain and now known for TV and radio analysis, 68.

22^nd June

60 years ago: in 1960, the USA launched its first successful intelligence satellite, GRAB 1 (Galactic Radiation and Background). Its primary mission was to map Soviet air defence radar systems. It remained classified until 1968.

30 years ago: in 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Germany was dismantled. It remained an official crossing point between East and West Germany until reunification in October, when the guard house was finally removed. It is now on display in the Allied Museum located in the Dahlem neighbourhood in Berlin.

Birthdays

Doreen Mantle – South African/English actress, remembered as Mrs Warboys in BBC TV’s “One Foot in the Grave,” 94

Esther Rantzen – English TV journalist, remembered for presenting TV’s “That’s Life” and founder of Childline, 80

23^rd June

80 years ago: in 1940, the day after France surrendered to Germany in the 2^nd World War, Hitler toured occupied Paris and visited sites including Napoleon’s tomb.

25 years ago: in 1995, American medical researcher Jonas Salk who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine died.

 

Birthdays

Zinedine Zidane – French footballer, current Real Madrid manager, 48.

KT Tunstall – Scottish singer-songwriter, 45

24^th June

125 years ago: in 1895, Jack Dempsey, American world heavyweight boxing champion (1919–26) was born. His aggressive fighting style and tremendous punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history.

10 years ago: in 2010, Julia Gillard took office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia.

Birthdays

Mick Fleetwood – English drummer, founder of Fleetwood Mac, 78

Michele Lee – American actress, remembered as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie in Knots Landing, 78

25^th June

150 years ago: in 1870, Queen Isabella II of Spain abdicated after being deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1868. Her son, Alfonso XII, became King in 1874.

75 years ago: in 1945, Seán T. O’Kelly became the second President of Ireland.

Birthdays

Carly Simon – American singer-songwriter, 75.

Ricky Gervais – English comedian and actor, 59

26^th June

60 years ago: in 1960, British Somaliland gained its independence from the UK. On 1st July it united with the former Italian Somaliland to form Somalia.

50 years ago: in 1970, Riots broke out in Londonderry, Northern Ireland after Member of Parliament Bernadette Devlin was arrested for taking part in the Bogside Riots of 1969. She was sentenced to 6 months in jail, and served 4 months.

Birthdays

Georgie Fame – English singer, keyboard player, 77.

Sean Hayes – US actor, best remembered for playing Jack McFarland in American sitcom, Will and Grace, 50.

27^th June

125 years ago: in 1895, the first passenger train in the USA to be pulled by an electric locomotive began operating on the Baltimore Belt Line in Maryland.

60 years ago: in 1960, versatile British sportswoman Lottie Dod died aged 88. She was five times winner of Wimbledon, women’s amateur golf champion, Olympic medallist in archery, and founder of the England women’s field hockey team playing for them on 2 occasions.

Birthdays

Mary McAleese, Irish politician, 8^th President of Ireland (1997-2011), 69.

Michael Ball – English singer and radio presenter, 58.

In this week: 14th to 20th June

Birthdays rule the roost this week with 2 members of Slade, 2 former London Mayors and 3 music legends all celebrating their special days.

14^th June

25 years ago: in 1995, Pauline Clare was appointed Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, becoming the first female Chief Constable in Britain.

 

25 years ago: on the same day in 1995, Rory Gallagher, Irish blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter died from complications following a liver transplant, aged 47.

Birthdays

Donald Trump – US President, 74

Jim Lea – English songwriter, bass and violin player; and member of Slade, 71

15^th June

100 years ago: in 1920, the first advertised public radio broadcast in the UK took place. Dame Nellie Melba gave a song recital that was broadcast from the Marconi works in Chelmsford, Essex. The broadcast was heard in many countries.

10 years ago: in 2010, The Saville Report, an inquiry into Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in 1972, was published. It determined that British paratroopers had fired the first shot, without warning; had fired at unarmed civilians as they fled the scene; and had shot and killed a man who was already wounded. Prime Minister David Cameron apologised on behalf of the British Government.

Birthdays

Noddy Holder – English songwriter, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Slade, 74

Courteney Cox – US actress, famous for playing Monica in Friends, 56.

16^th June

60 years ago: in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense film Psycho was released.

40 years ago: in 1980, Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita was performed for the first time, at the Warehouse Theatre in London. It was adapted into a film in 1983.

Birthdays

Jürgen Klopp – German football coach, manager of Liverpool FC, 53

Phil Mickelson – US golfer, 50

17^th June

90 years ago: in 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signed the United States Tariff Act (also called the Smoot–Hawley Tariff) into law. It raised import duties to protect American businesses and farmers, but badly affected the global economy.

50 years ago: in 1970, The “Babes in the wood” murders. The bodies of two missing British children were found in a shallow grave in a wood at Waltham Abbey, Essex after a massive search.

Birthdays

Barry Manilow – US singer-songwriter, 77.

Ken Livingstone – English politician, 1^st Mayor of London, 75

18^th June

100 years ago: in 1920, Ian Carmichael, British stage, film, television and radio actor was born in Hull, Yorkshire. Best known for playing the gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey on TV and radio, Bertie Wooster in the TV series The World of Wooster, and for his roles in the films Private’s Progress, I’m All Right Jack, School for Scoundrels and Lucky Jim. 

In later years he returned to the TV screens in ITV’s The Royal. He died in 2010 at the age of 89 from natural causes.

80 years ago: in 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave his “Finest Hour” speech.

Birthdays

Paul McCartney – English singer-songwriter, 78

Moeen Ali – English cricketer, 33

19^th June

200 years ago: in 1820, British naturalist Joseph Banks died. He took part in Captain James Cook’s first great voyage (1768–1771), was President of the Royal Society for 41 years, developed the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew into one of the world’s leading botanical gardens, and advocated British colonisation of Australia

 

50 years ago: in 1970, Edward Heath became British Prime Minister in a surprise election victory for the Conservatives against Labour’s Harold Wilson.

Birthdays

Thelma Barlow - UK actress, best known as Mavis Wilton in Coronation Street. 91.

Boris Johnson – UK Prime Minister, 56

20^th June

200 years ago: in 1820, Manuel Belgrano, Argentine military leader, economist, and politician died. He played a key role in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the flag of Argentina.

30 years ago: in 1990, British Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major, proposed a new European currency, the Hard Ecu, which would circulate alongside existing national currencies rather than replace them.

Birthdays

Wendy Craig – UK actress, 86

Brian Wilson – Beach Boy 78.

In this week: 7th to 13th June

This week in history saw the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef along with a gambling debt murder in Chicago. Meanwhile 2 famous American musicians celebrate their 71st birthdays.

7^th June

250 years ago: in 1770, Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, and British Prime Minister (1812–27) was born

65 years ago: in 1955, the first episode of the television quiz show The $64,000 Question was broadcast on CBS in the USA. It was based on the radio quiz show Take It or Leave It, which began in April 1940.

Birthdays

Sir Tom Jones – Welsh singer. 80

Liam Neeson – Irish-American actor, 68.

8^th June

80 years ago: in 1940, in World War II: the British aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and the destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent were sunk by German battleships in the Norwegian Sea. (the failure to mount an effective rescue operation became a huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy.)
Click HERE for more info from HistoryToday.com

25 years ago: in 1995,

The first version of the PHP programming language was released by Greenlandic-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf. It was designed as a scripting language for web development, but has since evolved into a general-purpose programming language.

 

Birthdays

Ray Illingworth – English cricketer, 88.

Boz Scaggs – US singer, 76

9^th June

150 years ago: in 1870, British novelist Charles Dickens died aged 58 after suffering a stroke (famous for The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol and more).

90 years ago: in 1930, a Chicago Tribune reporter, Jake Lingle was killed during the rush hour at Illinois Central train station by Leo Vincent Brothers, allegedly over a $100,000 gambling debt owed to Al Capone.

Birthdays

Patricia Cornwell – US author, 64.

Michael J Fox – Canadian actor, 59

10^th June

80 years ago: in 1940, Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born American civil rights leader, who established the first major black nationalist movement in the USA, died in London aged 52.

20 years ago: in 2000, the Millennium Bridge in London opened. It closed again 2 days later because it swayed uncomfortably when people walked in step. It reopened in February 2002 after dampers were fitted to eliminate the problem.

Birthdays

Gordon Burns – Northern Irish broadcaster, best remembered for presenting the Krypton Factor, 78.

Elizabeth Hurley – English model and actress, 55.

11^th June

250 years ago: in 1770, English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia when his ship ran aground on it sustaining severe damage.

65 year ago: in 1955, a car span off the track during the Le Mans 24 Hour race in France. The driver, Pierre Levegh, and 83 spectators were killed and over 100 injured. It was the greatest loss of life in the history of motorsport.

Birthdays

Frank Beard – American drummer, member of ZZ Top, 71

Hugh Laurie – English actor, 61

12^th June

470 years ago: in 1550, Helsinki, the capital of Finland (belonging to Sweden at the time) was founded by King Gustav I of Sweden.

40 years ago: in 1980, Billy Butlin, British holiday camp entrepreneur died of stomach cancer aged 80.

Birthdays

Pat Jennings - Northern Irish footballer, 75.

Javed Miandad – Pakistani cricketer, 63.

13^th June

20 years ago: in 2000, the first North-South Korean summit (the Inter-Korean Summit) was held. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

15 years ago: in 2005, American pop singer Michael Jackson was acquitted on 10 counts of child molestation after a four-month trial.

Birthdays

Dennis Locorriere – American singer-songwriter, lead singer of Dr Hook, 71.

Ben Barba – disgraced Australian rugby league player, 31.