Anniversaries

Anniversaries

Births: Henry Gordon Selfridge, founder of Selfridge's department store, 1864; Pierre Mendes-France, politician, 1907. Deaths: Thomas Hardy, poet and novelist, 1928; Alberto Giacometti, sculptor and painter, 1966; Richmal Crompton (Lamburn), author and creator of "William", 1969. On this day: Charing Cross station, London, was formally opened, 1864; the Representation of the People Bill was passed, giving votes to women, 1918; the first women jurors were sworn in at the Old Bailey, 1921; the Open University awarded its first degrees, 1973. Today is the Feast Day of St Theodosius the Cenobiarch and St Salvius or Sauve of Amiens.