Anniversaries

Births: William John Thoms, founder and editor of Notes and Queries, 1885; John Bright, political reformer, 1811; Alphonse-Marie-Leon Daudet, author, 1867; Paul Hindemith, viola player and composer, 1895; Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, Fascist leader, 1896.

Deaths: Henry III, King of England, 1272; Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the throne, executed 1499; Jack Sheppard, highwayman, hanged 1724; George Alfred Henty, author of books for boys, 1902; William Clark Gable, actor, 1960; William Holden (William Franklin Beedle), actor, 1981; Arthur Bowden Askey, comedian, 1983.

On this day: Westminster Bridge was formally opened, 1750; the Suez Canal was formally opened at Port Said, 1869; the first cartoon film, The Enchanted Drawing, appeared, 1900.

Today is the Feast Day of St Afan, St Agnes of Assisi, St Edmund of Abingdon, St Eucherius of Lyons, St Gertrude of Helfta, St Margaret of Scotland, St Mechtildis of Helfta and St Nikon 'Metanoeite'.