FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2 1976 The £45 million NEC was opened in Birmingham. 1989 The Russian military occupation of Afghanistan came to an end. 1990 South African president FW de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC). 1999 Glenn Hodd

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2

1976 The £45 million NEC was opened in Birmingham.

1989 The Russian military occupation of Afghanistan came to an end.

1990 South African president FW de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC).

1999 Glenn Hoddle sacked as England soccer boss.

Births: James Joyce, author of Ulysses, 1882; Hughie Green, presenter of Opportunity Knocks, 1920; Les Dawson, comedian, 1934.

Deaths: Bertrand Russell, philosopher, 1970; Boris Karloff, horror movie actor, 1969; Sid Vicious, of The Sex Pistols, 1979; Fred Perry, ex-Wimbledon men's singles champion, 1995; Gene Kelly, star of Singin' in the Rain, 1996.

Today's birthdays: David Jason, actor, 67; Graham Nash, musician, 63; Farrah Fawcett, once one of Charlie's Angels, 60.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3

1921 First showing of Charlie Chaplin's The Kid.

1959 Buddy Holly was killed in an air crash at Mason City, Iowa.

1966 The Soviet space vehicle Luna I landed on the moon.

1969 Yasser Arafat appointed leader of the PLO.

Births: Felix Mendelssohn, composer, 1809; Frankie Vaughn, singer, 1928.

Deaths: Woodrow Wilson, US president, 1924.

Today's birthdays: Val Doonican, entertainer, 79; Roy (Chubby) Brown, comedian, 62; Dave Davies, of The Kinks, 59.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4

1927 British driver Malcolm Campbell broke at world land speed record at 174.88mph.

1962 The Sunday Times launched a colour supplement.

1975 Edward Heath quit as leader of the Conservative Party.

1990 Richard Hadlee took his 400th Test wicket for New Zealand.

2001 Divers discovered the wreckage of Donald Campbell's Bluebird in Coniston Water 35 years after he was killed in attempting the world water speed record.

Births: Charles Lindbergh, American aviator, 1902.

Deaths: Karen Carpenter, of The Carpenters, 1983; Liberace, entertainer, 1987.

Today's birthdays: Norman Wisdom, comedian, 92; Dan Quayle, ex-US vice-president, 60; Alice Cooper, singer-songwriter, 59.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 5

1922 First edition of the Reader's Digest published.

1961 First edition of The Sunday Telegraph published.

1971 The US spacecraft Apollo 14 landed on the moon.

1988 Comic Relief was launched to combat suffering in Africa.

Births: Robert Peel, police pioneer, 1788; Frank Muir, broadcaster and writer, 1920.

Deaths: Thomas Carlyle, author and historian, 1881.

Today's birthdays: Michael Mann, Hollywood director, 64; Charlotte Rampling, actress, 61; Barbara Hershey, actress, 59; Sven-Gorran Eriksson, ex-England soccer boss, 59; Russell Grant, astrologer, 55; Jennifer Jason Leigh, actress, 45; Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester U soccer star, 22.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6

1778 Britain declared war on France.

1958 A plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed during take-off at Munich, killing seven players.

1968 The 10th Winter Olympic Games opened in Grenoble.

Births: Queen Anne, 1665; Babe Ruth, New York Yankees baseball legend, 1895; Ronald Reagan, US president, 1911; Billy Wright, ex-England and Wolves captain, 1924; Fred Trueman, England Test cricket pace bowler, 1931; Bob Marley, singer-songwriter, 1945.

Deaths: George VI, 1952; Arthur Ashe, ex-Wimbledon men's singles champion, 1993; Carl Wilson, of The Beach Boys, 1998.

Today's birthdays: Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress, 90; Patrick Macnee, from The Avengers, 85; Denis Norden, presenter of It'll Be Alright on the Night, 85; Jimmy Tarbuck, comedian, 67; Natalie Cole, singer-songwriter, 57; Axl Rose, of Guns-n-Roses, 45; Rick Astley, singer, 41.

WEDNESDAY February 6

1947 The Dead Sea Rolls were discovered west of the Jordan river.

1994 The Beatles arrived in the US.

1998 The Winter Olympics opened in Nagano.

2001 Ariel Sharon elected as Israeli Prime Minister.

Births: Thomas More, politician, 1478; Charles Dickens, author, 1812.

Today's birthdays: Eddie Izzard, comedian, 45; Garth Brooks, country singer, 45.