The day - today

[Pigmy Pony]

OK, so it wasn't actually 40 years ago today, but too funny not to post!

"Get your own Charles, this is all mine"

Both southerners, so probably no mushy peas and no gravy

[Macca]

'How big can you make your hair?'

[Barry]

2 May 1519
Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist and man of science, died at the age of 67.

2 May 1933
The Loch Ness Monster legend was born as the Inverness Courier reported 'an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface'.

2 May 1997
Tony Blair, at age 43, became the youngest PM in 185 years as Labour routed the Tories in the general election.


Birthdays:
David Beckham, footballer, 49
Lily Allen, singer, 39.

[Barry]

Apologies for the delay - I was otherwise preoccupied.

1 May 1707
The Union of Scotland and England was proclaimed.

1 May 1840
The first Penny Black stamps went on sale five days before the official issue date.

1 May 1931
US president Herbert Hoover opened the Empire State Building in New York. At 1,250 ft high it was the world's tallest building.

1 May 1994
F1 ace Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash, age 34, at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.

1 May 2009
Carol Ann Duffy became the first female Poet Laureate.

Birthdays:

Rita Coolidge, singer, 79
Joanna Lumley, actress, 78
Ray Parker Jr, singer, 70
Wes Anderson, director, 55

[Pigmy Pony]

Apologies for the delay - I was otherwise preoccupied.

1 May 1707
The Union of Scotland and England was proclaimed.

1 May 1840
The first Penny Black stamps went on sale five days before the official issue date.

1 May 1931
US president Herbert Hoover opened the Empire State Building in New York. At 1,250 ft high it was the world's tallest building.

1 May 1994
F1 ace Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash, age 34, at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.

1 May 2009
Carol Ann Duffy became the first female Poet Laureate.

Birthdays:

Rita Coolidge, singer, 79
Joanna Lumley, actress, 78
Ray Parker Jr, singer, 70
Wes Anderson, director, 55

For a whole eleven months that title belonged to the Chrysler building, imo a much better looking building. But then I do like things art deco

[Barry]

I agree.

It's difficult to get excited about skyscrapers, but I always thought the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were particularly elegant in a minimalist sort of way.

[Barry]

3 May 1494
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica.

3 May 1808
A duel was fought between two hot air balloonists over Paris.

3 May 1934
Author H G Wells predicted there would be a major world war by 1940.

3 May 1979
Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female PM as the Tories won the general election.

Birthdays:

Francie Valli, singer, 90
Ben Elton, comedian, 65
Rob Brydon, actor/comedian, 59

[Pigmy Pony]

4 May 2014 - Science students at the University of Leicester concluded that the wooden puppet Pinocchio (who was prone to telling lies and whose nose would double in length for each lie) could only have told a maximum of 13 lies. After 13 lies it was concluded that the nose would be 140 metres long and the force exerted downwards would cause his neck to snap. I'm no scientist but I'm sure the type of wood in question would affect the results.

4 May 1945 - The North Germany Amy surrendered to British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

[Macca]

4 May 2014 - Science students at the University of Leicester concluded that the wooden puppet Pinocchio (who was prone to telling lies and whose nose would double in length for each lie) could only have told a maximum of 13 lies. After 13 lies it was concluded that the nose would be 140 metres long and the force exerted downwards would cause his neck to snap. I'm no scientist but I'm sure the type of wood in question would affect the results.

[Pigmy Pony]

6 May 1954 - Medical student Roger Bannister (25) becomes the first to run a sub-4 minute mile, recording 3:59.4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford.

6 May 1979 - Six rock-cut tombs found at Heysham, Lancashire became Grade 1 Listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Even more importantly, they made the cover of The Best of Black Sabbath album.



6 May 2023 - Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey. The 40th reigning monarch to be crowned there since 1066.