Anniversaries 6th - 12th March 2017

Monday 6^th March

In 1957, the Gold Coast declared independence from the UK, creating the country of Ghana.

 

British comedian Frankie Howerd was born 100 years ago today. Most famous for TV series Up Pompeii and appearing in many Carry On… movies, he died of a heart attack in April 1992.

Tuesday 7^th March

250 years ago today, French-Canadian explorer and former governor of Louisiana, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville died. He is remembered as being the founder of New Orleans.

100 years ago the world’s first jazz record was released: Livery Stable Blues by the Original Dixieland Jass Band (note: jass was restyled as jazz later that same year).

Wednesday 8^th March

In 1942, José Raúl Capablanca died aged 53. Cuban world chess champion (1921–27), he was considered to be possibly the best chess player of all time.

It is 10 years since the death of John Inman, British comedy actor. Best known for his role as Mr Humphries in the television sitcom Are You Being Served? he was noted for his catchphrase ‘I’m free!’

Thursday 9^th March

The first documented discovery of gold in California happened on this day in 1842. Taking place at Rancho, San Francisco, it led to a small gold rush, with about 2,000 people coming to mine gold.

U2’s iconic album The Joshua Tree was released on this day in 1987.

Friday 10^th March

In 1937, Russian novelist, playwright, short-story writer and satirist Yevgeny Zamyatin died. His novel We strongly influenced both Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

In 1977, astronomers discovered a system of rings around the planet Uranus.

Saturday 11^th March

Joseph S. Cullinan, American oil industrialist and founder of Texaco died in 1937.

In 1952, Douglas Adams, British comedy writer and dramatist was born. Best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, he died in May 2001 from heart failure.

Sunday 12^th March

British actress Googie Withers was born 100 years ago on this day. A leading lady of the British stage and screen in the 1940s and 1950s, she is fondly remembered for her portrayal of the role of prison governor Faye Boswell in LWT’s Within These Walls in the 1970s. She died as recently as July 2011, at the grand age of 94.

           

In 1997, Australian Susie Maroney became the first woman to swim the Florida Straits – 112 miles (180 km) from Cuba to Key West, Florida.