12th May

125 years ago today, on 12^th May 1890, the first official cricket County Championship match got underway at Bristol, where Gloucestershire took on Yorkshire.

For many years, it was thought that the competition had started in 1873; indeed, a special commemorative stamp was issued by the Post Office in 1973. But it was not formally organised until 1890 when 8 counties contested the competition, namely Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire.

County champions that first year were Surrey, who also held on to their title for the following 2 seasons. Back at Bristol, Yorkshire took the spoils in the opening fixture by 8 wickets, with their aggressive all-rounder George Ulyett scoring the first century in the competition.

Other notable anniversaries/birthdays

 

The most famous nurse of all, Florence Nightingale was born on this day in 1820. She died in 1910, aged 90 --->

One of the funniest men ever, Tony Hancock was born in Birmingham on this day in 1924 (listed as 1925 in other places)

Eddie Fisher

<--- In 1959, actress Elizabeth Taylor married for the 4^th time, to American entertainer and singer Eddie Fisher.

The birthday of English comedian, actress and writer Catherine Tate (47)