CROW ANNIVERSARIES

CROW ANNIVERSARIES

July 25 - July 31

Friday July 25

1959 First cross-channel journey of the SRN-1 hovercraft.

1964 Russian cosmonaut Svelana Savitskaya became the first woman to walk in space.

Births: Arthur James Balfour, Prime Minister, 1848.

Today's birthdays: Iman, model and wife of David Bowie, 53; Nelson Piquet Jr, Formula 1 racing driver, 23.

Deaths: Freddie Mills, light-heavyweight boxing champion, 1965; Vincente Minnelli, movie director, 1986; Ben Hogan, US Open legend, 1997.

Saturday July 26

1908 The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) was set up in the US.

1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal.

1956 A machine to pick Premium Bond winners was unveiled.

1974 The US House of Judiciary Committee recommended the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

1987 Irishman Steve Roche won the Tour de France.

1993 Graham Gooch quit as England Test cricket captain.

Births: George Bernard Shaw, dramatist, 1856; Aldous Huckley, author, 1894; Stanley Kubrick, movie director, 1928.

Today's birthdays: Danny La Rue, entertainer, 81; Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones, 65; Helen Mirren, actress, 63; Kevin Spacey, actor, 49; Sandra Bullock, actress, 44; Kate Beckinsale, actress, 35.

Deaths: Eva Peron, Argentina leader, 1952.

Sunday July 27

1942 Sweet rationing began in Britain.

1953 The Korean War came to an end.

1956 Jim Laker took all 10 wickets in an innings in the match between England and Australia.

1965 Edward Heath became leader of the Conservative Party.

Births: Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, aircraft pioneer, 1882.

Today's birthday's: Shirley Williams, Liberal Democrat politician, 78; Bobby Gentry, country singer, 64; Alan Border, ex-Australia Test batsman, 53; Christopher Dean, ice-skating partner of Jayne Torvill, 50.

Deaths: William Wyler, producer of Ben Hur, 1981; James Mason, actor, 1984; Bob Hope, comedian, 2003.

Monday July 28

1914 The Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia beginning the First World War.

1945 A B-52 light bomber plunged into the side of the Empire State Building in New York.

1966 The Government published the Marine Broadcasting (Offences) Bill which made pirate radio illegal.

1988 Paddy Ashdown became leader of the Social and Liberal Democrats.

Births: Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit and Jemina Puddleduck, 1866; Sir Karl Popper, philosopher, 1902; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, wife of President John Kennedy, 1929.

Today's birthdays: Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies cricket legend, 72.

Deaths: Antonio Vivaldi, composer, 1741; Johann Sebastian Bach, composer, 1750.

Tuesday July 29

1907 Robert Baden-Powell launched the Boy Scouts movement.

1945 The BBC introduced the Light Programme.

1948 The 14th Olympic Games opened in London.

1958 The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (Nasa) was set up.

1965 The Beatles' film Help opened in London.

1976 Fire damaged the world's longest pier at Southend.

Today's birthdays: Sally Gunnell, British Olympic hurdles champion, 42; Andi Peters, television presenter, 38; Fernando Alonso, Formula 1 racing driver, 27.

Deaths: Vincent Van Gogh, painter, 1890; Cass Elliott, of the Mamas and Papas, 1974; David Niven, actor, 1983; Mike Reid, from EastEnders, 2007; Phil Drabble, author and broadcaster, 2007.

Wednesday July 30

1935 First Penguin paperback books went on sale.

1999 It was revealed that the twin towers at Wembley were to be demolished as part of a re-development plan.

Births: Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights, 1818; Henry Ford, car pioneer, 1863; Henry Moore, sculptor, 1898.

Today's birthdays: Paul Anka, singer-songwriter, 67; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, 61; Kate Bush, singer-songwriter, 50; Daley Thompson, British decathlete, 50; Laurence Fishburne, actor, 47; Hilary Swank, actress, 34.

Deaths: Otto von Bismarck, German politician, 1898; Ingmar Bergman, director, 2007; Richard Stott, ex-editor of the Daily Mirror, 2007.

Thursday July 31

1965 Cigarette advertising was banned on British television.

1991 The BBC's Lime Grove studios were closed.

Today's birthdays: Evonne Goolagoong-Cawley, ex-Wimbledon ladies champion, 57; Wesley Snipes, actor, 46; Norman Cook, musician, 45; J K Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, 43.

Deaths: Andrew Johnson, US President, 1875; Hedley Verity, England Test cricketer, 1943; Jim Reeves, country singer, 1964; Caitlin Thomas, wife of Dylan Thomas, 1994.