Anniversaries

Births: Henry II, King of England, 1133; Anne Bronte ('Acton Bell'), novelist, 1820; Arturo Toscanini, conductor, 1867; Bela Bartok, composer, 1881. Deaths: Anna Seward, poet and novelist, 1809; Frederic Mistral, Provencal poet, 1914; Achille-Claude Debussy, composer, 1918; John Drinkwater, poet and playwright, 1937; Walter Susskind, conductor and pianist, 1980.

On this day: Robert (I) Bruce was crowned King of Scots at Scone, Perthshire, 1306; the British parliament abolished the slave trade, 1807; the first gold medal of the modern Olympic Games was presented, 1896; the European Community was established when the Treaty of Rome was signed by the 'Six', 1957.

Today is Lady Day (Feast of the Annunciation) and the Feast Day of St Alfwold, St Barontius, St Dismas, the Good Thief, St Hermenland, St Lucy Filippini and St Margaret Clitherow.