The Death of Max (Hart to Hart).

It was 30 years ago today that Lionel Stander, famous for playing the role of Max, the butler and narrator, in the US TV show Hart to Hart, died.

The gravelly-voiced American actor, known for his roles in film, television, and radio, passed away on November 30, 1994, at the age of 86. He died of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California.

Born in January 1908, Stander's career spanned decades, with notable highlights including his work in classic films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and A Star Is Born (1937). He gained modern fame as Max, the loyal chauffeur and confidant in the popular 1980s TV series Hart to Hart.

Stander's Hollywood career was disrupted during the McCarthy era due to his blacklisting for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Despite this, he staged a successful comeback later in life, earning critical and popular acclaim.

Happy Anniversary to the Shakespeares

Today marks the 442nd anniversary of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway's wedding.

William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582. This date is derived from the marriage license issued in Stratford-upon-Avon. 

At the time, Shakespeare was a young 18, and Anne was older, at 26. Their union is often discussed for its peculiarities, including the age gap and the rapid wedding arrangements, possibly because of Anne being pregnant with their first child, Susanna, born in May 1583.

The licence was issued by the consistory court of the diocese of Worcester which allowed the marriage with just one proclamation of the marriage banns instead of the customary three successive Sundays.

William died in April 1616 at the age of 52 and was survived by his wife, who survived the Bard for seven years. Except for a few mentions in legal documents, Anne's life remains largely unknown.

We send our warmest wishes for a happy anniversary to Mr and Mrs Shakespeare, wherever they may be!

Peter Underwood - Noted British Paranormal Investigator

The renowned British author and paranormal investigator, Peter Underwood, died on November 26, 2014, at the age of 91. 

From childhood, his interest in the paranormal evolved into a professional path. At the age of nine, he claimed to see his father's ghost after his father died that day, marking his first paranormal encounter.

He became particularly associated with investigating iconic cases like Borley Rectory, often labelled "the most haunted house in England." 

Despite his commitment to the field and study, Underwood maintained a critical perspective. He estimated that most supernatural claims had rational explanations, though he remained intrigued by the inexplicable minority.

Described by Dame Jean Conan Doyle as “The Sherlock Holmes of Psychical Research” Underwood's death marked the end of a career that bridged the sceptical and spiritual dimensions of ghost hunting. 

He left behind a legacy of meticulous investigation and paranormal storytelling.

The Man Behind Modern Football: Ebenezer Cobb Morley

Ebenezer Cobb Morley, who lived from 1831 to 1924, is often considered the "father of modern football" because of his crucial role in shaping the foundation of association football (soccer) as we know it. He died on this day 100 years ago.

A solicitor by profession, Morley was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, and had a deep love for different sports. His influence on football stems from his organisational skills and vision for standardising the game.

Commemorative plaque at Freemasons' Tavern, London

In 1863, Morley wrote a letter to the newspaper “Bell’s Life“ proposing a governing body for football. A meeting at London's Freemason's Tavern led to the creation of the Football Association, the inaugural governing body for football. He served as its first secretary and later as its president.

He devised the first comprehensive set of rules of football known as “the laws of the game.” With the instruction “No player should carry the ball,” these rules distinguished football away from Rugby, establishing it as a separate sport. His vision led football to be regarded as a structured sport, rather than a local pastime.

Morley succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 92 and was interred at Barnes Cemetery, a now-deserted graveyard in south-west London.

The global appeal of football can be traced as far back as Morley's contributions, which ultimately propelled the sport right to the top.

The Iva Valley Shooting

The Iva Valley shooting, a tragedy that occurred during the colonial era in Enugu, Nigeria, happened 75 years ago today on November 18, 1949. 

A statue re-enacting the massacre
stands in the centre of Enugu

This event was pivotal in Nigeria's labour history and fueled the movement for independence from British rule.

The British government's exploitative practices at the Enugu colliery, which included inadequate pay and unsafe working conditions, fueled the miners' protest and ultimately led to the incident. Their grievances led to a strike operated by the Nigerian Trades Union Congress.

British colonial police, acting under orders to quell the strike, fired on unarmed striking miners who had assembled at the Iva Valley mine. It is estimated that 21 miners lost their lives, with many more being injured.

The Iva Valley shooting remains a significant moment in Nigerian history, remembered as a stark example of colonial exploitation and resistance. It fuelled the drive for Nigerian independence, which was achieved in 1960.

The Execution of Criminal Jack Sheppard

They hanged Jack Sheppard, an infamous 18th-century English criminal and folk hero, 300 years ago on 16th November 1724, at Tyburn, London. 

His death followed a series of dramatic prison escapes that captured the public’s imagination and made him a notorious figure in Georgian England.

Sheppard was a skilled thief and burglar who became famous for his ability to escape from incarceration. He claimed that he’s been led astray by “bad company and lewd women.”

Over two years, he managed to escape from custody four times, including from the notorious Newgate Prison. These escapades made him a celebrity, with many seeing him as a symbol of defiance against the oppressive legal system of the time.

However, his luck ran out after his final capture. The Old Bailey tried him, sentenced him to death, and executed him before a massive crowd. People believe he faced his execution with courage, cementing his legendary status in popular culture.

He became a favourite figure in verse, popular plays, romances, and burlesques. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, his fame and popularity in Georgian England possibly rivalled Robin Hood’s.

The Capture of Winston Churchill.

On 15 November 1899, 125 years ago in the Second Boer War, British politician Winston Churchill was captured by the Boers while working as a war correspondent for the Morning Post newspaper.

Illustration depicting the
ambushed train and the battle

He was accompanying an armoured train which was ambushed and derailed by the Boers near the town of Chieveley. After joining in to try and fend off the Boes, he was captured along with several other men and interned in a prisoner-of-war camp in Pretoria. 

Churchill pictured in 1895

Just a month into his internment he successfully made a daring escape slipping out through a latrine and scaling the camp’s walls in the still of night.  

He then embarked on a perilous journey, stowing away on a train and seeking refuge in a British sympathiser's house in Mozambique.

His escape made headlines in Britain, turning him into a national hero. This paved the way for his entry into politics, setting the stage for a career as the legendary statesman he became.

Death of Karen Silkwood - 13th November 1974

Karen Silkwood was an American chemical technician and union activist known for reporting concerns about corporate practices relating to health and safety in an Oklahoma nuclear facility. 

She was employed at the Kerr-McGee Cimarron Fuel Fabrication site in Crescent, Oklahoma making plutonium pellets.

After testifying to the Atomic Energy Commission about her safety concerns at the plant, she was found to have plutonium contamination in her body and home.

Her story was chronicled in the 1983 Academy Award-nominated movie “Silkwood” starring Meryl Streep. 

She was killed 50 years ago on 13th November 1974 in a car crash in circumstances that have never been satisfactorily explained. 

She had attended a 5.30 pm union meeting at the Hub cafe in Crescent, leaving at 7.10 pm. She got into her Honda Civic car to drive the 30 miles toward Oklahoma City for another meeting, but less than 30 minutes later, her body was discovered in the wreckage of her vehicle approximately 7 miles from the cafe.

Her family sued Kerr-McGee for the plutonium contamination she suffered from with the company settling out of court for US$1.38 million, whilst not admitting liability.

Warren Clarke

Today (12th November) is 10 years since British film and television actor Warren Clarke died. 

Best known for his roles as Andy Dalziel in the TV series “Dalziel and Pascoe” and Dim in the film “A Clockwork Orange”, he also appeared in numerous other films and TV series in a long and distinguished career.

Born in April 1947, Clarke grew up in and around the Oldham, Lancashire area. He was born Alan James Clarke but changed his name to Warren because his girlfriend at the time had a crush on actor Warren Beatty.

His standout movie role was Dim, one of the thugs who indulged in “ultraviolence” with their ringleader played by Malcolm McDowell. 

Numerous offers were made from Hollywood after the release of A Clockwork Orange, all of which Clarke turned down saying “It was stuff I didn’t want to be involved with.”

In an early role

The role of grumpy, police detective Dalziel clocked up 46 episodes. He loved playing a character who, as he said, “farts, scratches, behaves badly with women and did not bow to the liberal views of society.”

He was a keen golfer and was a Manchester City FC supporter from the age of seven.

Despite a successful career of over 50 years, Clarke died at the age of 67 on 12th November 2014 after a short illness.

The Execution of “Blueskin” Joseph Blake

Joseph Blake, better known as "Blueskin," was a notorious English highwayman and criminal in early 18th-century London. 

His nickname, "Blueskin," may have originated from a particular skin tone or appearance, though this is not fully certain. Blake became widely known for his involvement in a violent incident with the notorious magistrate and "thief-taker" Jonathan Wild, who was involved in capturing many criminals at the time.

Blake's most infamous moment occurred in 1724 when awaiting trial for his crimes, he attacked Wild in a fit of rage. Armed with a knife, Blake severely injured Wild in the courtroom. Although Wild survived the attack, this act intensified the public's interest in Blake's case.

After the trial, Joseph Blake was sentenced to death by hanging. He tried to escape Newgate Prison whilst incarcerated without success and never showed any remorse for his crime.

He was executed at Tyburn, London, on November 11, 1724 - 300 years ago. The event drew a large crowd, as executions at Tyburn often did. 

The Death of Author Stieg Larsson.

Twenty years ago today, on November 9th, 2004, Swedish crime novelist, journalist, and political activist Stieg Larsson died.

Best known for the trilogy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, he died from heart failure at the age of 50.

He died from climbing the stairs to his office in Stockholm and was rushed to hospital but could not be revived.

Although his Millenium Trilogy would later become internationally acclaimed, he did not live to see them published or their success. The manuscripts were submitted to his publisher a short while before his death and the first book was published posthumously in 2005.

Larsson’s sudden, unexpected passing led to a complicated legal battle between his long-term partner and his family as his will was unwitnessed, hence invalid.

The Disappearance of Lord Lucan

Lord and Lady Lucan pictured in 1963

50 years ago on 8th November 1974, British aristocrat Lord Lucan disappeared from his London home after his children’s nanny was found bludgeoned to death and his wife was attacked.

Throughout the following years, hundreds of claims of his sightings worldwide were made, but none were ever substantiated. 

Richard George Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, known as “Lucky” was a prominent member of London high society, known for his love of gambling.

On the previous evening Sandra Rivett, the family’s nanny was found bludgeoned to death in the basement of Lucan’s estranged wife’s London home. Soon after Lady Lucan was also attacked but she managed to run to a nearby pub to raise the alarm, alleging Lucan was the attacker. 

Sandra Rivett

Afterwards, Lucan visited friends and was described as being in a distressed state before disappearing entirely. Later his car was found abandoned and blood-stained in Newhaven on the English south coast. 

It is assumed that Lucan fled the country. He was never found and is presumed dead. Finally, in 1999, he was officially declared dead in absentia.

The Passing of Howard Keel

7th November 2004 saw the death of Howard Keel, American film and television actor and singer.

He is remembered for his many Hollywood musicals and in his latter years, his role as Clayton Farlow in the TV series Dallas.

Born April 13, 1919, in Gillespie, Illinois, he rose to fame through his work on both stage and screen. Known for his tall, charismatic presence and booming voice, he became one of the definitive leading men of Hollywood's Golden Age musicals.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Keel experienced a resurgence in popularity through his role as the oil tycoon Clayton Farlow on the hit TV show Dallas.

He passed away on November 7, 2004, 20 years ago, but he left a lasting legacy as one of the standout voices of Hollywood’s musical era.

The Ufton Nervet Rail Crash

The Ufton Nervet rail crash occurred 20 years ago today on November 6, 2004, near the village of Ufton Nervet in Berkshire, England. 

The Level Crossing pictured in 2012

A high-speed First Great Western train from London Paddington to Plymouth collided with a stationary car deliberately left on a level crossing by its driver. 

The crash tragically resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to 71 others. This incident remains one of the most devastating rail accidents in the UK in recent decades.

At around 18:12 GMT at a level crossing near Ufton Nervet, a First Great Western HST (High-Speed Train) carrying over 180 passengers struck a stationary car that had been driven onto the crossing and abandoned there by its driver.

Seven people died, including the car’s driver, the train driver, and five passengers, and there were 71 reported injuries, ranging from minor to severe.

The now-disused level crossing and replacement road bridge pictured in 2022

The car on the track had been deliberately abandoned by its driver in what was later determined to be a suicide attempt. 

The high-speed impact led to the train derailing and overturning, with multiple carriages coming off the track and causing extensive damage.

The Oldest Heavyweight Champion

Today, 30 years ago in 1994, American boxer George Foreman (aged 45) became the world’s oldest heavyweight champion after knocking out Michael Moorer (aged 26) in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

He also broke the record for the greatest age difference between champion and challenger.

Southpaw Moorer had won the WBO title beating Bert Cooper and went on to unify the titles beating Evander Holyfield. Foreman had been on the comeback trail for several years after coming out of a 10-year retirement.

George Foreman

Moorer controlled the pace from the beginning and built up a substantial lead. By the start of the 10th round, trainer Angelo Dundee told Foreman that the only way he could win would be by KO and that the time had come. 

Moorer fended Foreman off for most of the round until a combination caught him flush on the jaw. Foreman was declared the winner by KO and became the champion.

Foreman later stated that his strategy was to let Moorer fight his usual fight and wait for him to slip up, while Moorer insisted that Foreman just got “lucky”.

Foreman v Moorer Highlights

Death of Henri Matisse - 3rd November 1954

Today is the 75th anniversary of the death of French artist Henri Matisse, considered by many as the most important French painter of the 20th century.

Born in December 1869, Matisse is known primarily for his bold use of colour and is one of the founders of fauvism, which characterised strong colour and fierce brushwork (fauves in French translates as wild beasts).

One of his iconic works from this period is Woman with a Hat (1905), which shocked audiences with its use of expressive and vivid colour (see left).

Matisse’s work greatly influenced modern art and continues to inspire modern-day artists in diverse fields. His collaboration with Pablo Picasso and their influence on each other's art became a defining relationship in modern art.

His pieces are celebrated for their playfulness, simplicity, and emotional depth.

Further reading: Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954) Essay - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.