20th July 2021
World Chess Day
Today, the International Chess Federation commemorates World Chess Day, which was created in 1924 by the Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDES). World Chess Day encourages more people to play and enjoy the game.
Moon Day
Every year, Moon Day is celebrated on July 20. This day commemorates the day humans first walked on the moon in the year 1969. The first step of mankind on the moon was reported by NASA to be the single greatest technological achievement of all time. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 carried the first humans to the moon.
World Jump Day
World Jump Day is observed on July 20 of every year. World Jump Day is exactly celebrated at 11:39.13 GMT, during which millions of people from the Western Hemisphere jump simultaneously. It is believed that by doing the coordinating jump, the earth would be moved from its orbit into a new one, and would stop global warming.
Space Exploration Day
Space Exploration Day commemorates the July 20th anniversary of man’s first historic landing and walk on the surface of another celestial body. What had once been a topic for science fiction stories, had become an awe inspiring reality. Sending astronauts to the Moon, increased mankind’s sense of dignity and self worth. On July 20, 1969, there was peace in Viet Nam. The New York City crime rate dropped dramatically. The brotherhood of mankind shared in this symbol for peace and progress in the world. Where the conflicts in the world brought out mankind’s destructive tendencies; sending astronauts to the Moon revealed mankind’s creative nature. The Apollo 11 astronauts came in peace for all mankind.
https://space.nss.org/space-exploration-day/
Lollipop Day
Without a doubt, Lollipop Day is a day that children of all ages can celebrate. We’re looking at you, grandparents — relive some childhood memories! Some people call lollipops suckers but they go by other names as well — lolly, or sticky pop. They come in many flavours but mostly fruit flavours for licking or biting.
A Selection of Birthdays
1600 Simon Ives, English court composer (d. 1662)
1709 James Harris, English philosopher, born in Salisbury (d. 1780)
1726 William Jones, English composer and curate, born in Lowick (d. 1800)
1766 Thomas Bruce, 7th earl of Elgin & Kincardine, British diplomat, born in Broomhall, Fife (d.1841)
1796 Edward Hodges, English organist and composer, born in Bristol (d. 1867)
1804 Richard Owen, English zoologist (Dinosauria), born in Lancaster (d. 1892)
1806 John Sterling, Scottish writer, born in Isle of Bute, (d. 1844)
1811 James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin & Kincardine and Governor (Jamaica), born in London (d. 1863)
1816 William Bowman, English anatomist, born in Nantwich (d. 1892)
1836 Thomas Allbutt, English physiologist (Diseases of the Heart), born in Dewsbury (d. 1925)
1838 George Otto Trevelyan, British statesman and biographer (d. 1928)
1872 Alexander "Alick" Maclean, Composer & conductor (Scarborough Spa Orchestra, 1912-35), born Windsor (d. 1936)
1877 Percy Dean, British naval lieutenant and politician who received the Victoria Cross for saving men during the raid of Zeebrugge, born Blackburn (d. 1939)
1889 John Charles Reith, 1st Baron Reith, British broadcasting executive and 1st director-general of BBC (1927-38), born in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire (d. 1971)
1893 George Llewelyn-Davies, English inspiration for the Peter Pan character, born in London (d. 1915)
1900 Maurice Leyland, English cricket batsman (41 Tests, 2764 runs @ 46.06; Yorkshire 1920-46, 1,000+ runs in 17 consecutive seasons), born in Harrogate, England (d. 1967)
1905 Molly Mary Nesta Keane, née Mary Nesta Skrine, and who also wrote as M. J. Farrell, was an Irish novelist and playwright. (d.1966)
1908 [Vincent] Mad Dog Coll, Irish-American mob hitman, born in Gweedore, Ireland (d. 1932)
1910 Cicely Veronica Wedgwood, Historian (William the Silent) Published under the name C. V. Wedgwood Specializing in the history of 17th-century England & Continental Europe, her biographies & narrative histories are said to have provided a clear, entertaining middle ground between popular & scholarly works. (d.1997)
1914 William John Phillips, British actor (Nothing but a Man, Z-Cars), born Birmingham (d. 1995)
1919 Edmund Hillary, Explorer and Mountaineer (1st to scale Mt Everest with Tenzing Norgay), born in Auckland, New Zealand (d. 2008)
1926 Patricia "Pat" Cutts, British actress (Coronation Street), born in London (d. 1974)
1927 Anthony John Cavendish, British MI6 agent/banker was a British MI6 officer who served in Germany and Austria during the early years of the Cold War. Born in London, but raised in Switzerland grew up speaking English, German, Swiss-German and French. Volunteered for the British Army in 1944 served in Secret Intelligence Middle East (SIME) (d.2013)
1928 Peter Ind, British jazz double bassist, born in Middlesex,
1930 Sally Ann Howes, British singer & actress (Truly Scrumptious-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Brigadoon), born in London
1931 Anthony Ernest (Tony) Marsh, Racing driver was a British racing driver from England. His Formula One career was short and unsuccessful, but he enjoyed great success in hill climbing, winning the British Hill Climb Championship on a record six occasions. (d.2009)
1934 Douglas Ernest Vernon Padgett Born Bradford is a former English cricketer, who played more than 500 first-class matches and represented England in Tests twice, both in 1960. Cricket writer Colin Bateman recorded Padgett was, "nimble, happy anywhere in the order, he was a great technician and one of the best batsmen of his era on a bad wicket"
1935 Lord Peter Palumbo, English real estate developer/multi-millionaire Former Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain Chairman of The Pritzker Prize for Architecture. born London
1935 Ted Rogers, comedian born Kennington London, started career as a Redcoat entertainer. Best known for hosting the Yorkshire Television game show 3-2-1 from 1978 to 1988 (d.2001)
1938 Diana Rigg, Actress (Emma Peel-Avengers, Game of Thrones), born Doncaster (d.2020)
1938 Roger Hunt MBE Born Glazebury, Lancashire, is a former England footballer who played as a forward in England's World Cup winning side of 1966. Eleven years with Liverpool, he was the club's record goal scorer with 286 goals until being overtaken by Ian Rush. Nonetheless, Hunt remains Liverpool's record league goal scorer. Under Bill Shankly, Hunt won two league titles and an FA Cup. Regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players,
1943 Wendy Richard, English actress (EastEnders), born in Middlesborough, (d. 2009)
1945 John Lodge, English bassist, vocalist, and songwriter (The Moody Blues), born in Birmingham,
1945 Johnny Loughrey, Irish singer, born in Newtownstewart (d. 2005)
1951 Jeff Rawle, Actor, born Birmingham. He is an actor & writer, known for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Doc Martin (2004) and Rebecca (2020)
1956 Charlie Magri, Tunisian British world champ flyweight boxer (1983), born in Tunis, Tunisia
1956 Paul Cook, English rock drummer (Sex Pistols), born in London
1958 Mick MacNeil, Scottish keyboardist (Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me"), born on the Isle of Barra
1968 Julian Rhind-Tutt, Actor, born West Drayton, Middlesex Julian Alistair Rhind-Tutt. He is an actor and producer, known for Stardust (2007), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Green Wing (2004).
1971 Edward Simon Hunter (Ed) Giddins, Former Cricketer (promising Sussex pace bowler, England A 1995) who played in four Tests from 1999 to 2000. born in Eastbourne, educated at St. Bedes Preparatory School in Eastbourne where he first showed his talent for cricket whilst playing for the school team. Played for four counties during his career – Sussex, Warwickshire, Surrey and Hampshire. Banned from cricket for 18 months and dropped by Sussex after testing positive for cocaine in 1996
1971 Sandra Oh, Korean Canadian actress (Grey's Anatomy), born in Nepean, Ontario
1978 Charlie Korsmo, actor (Dick Tracy, What About Bob)
1981 Damien Finbarr Delaney, Irish footballer is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Delaney began his career at Cork City. He later played for Leicester City, Hull City and Queens Park Rangers before moving to Ipswich Town in 2009. He became a free agent after leaving the club in August 2012
1987 Nicola Benedetti, Scottish classical violinist, born in West Kilbride
1991 William Tomlin, British actor
On this Day in British History
1654 Anglo-Portuguese treaty, Portugal comes under English control
1712 The Riot Act takes effect in Great Britain.
1871 British Columbia joins the confederation of Canada.
1911 Generals Henry Wilson/Auguste Dubail sign plan for British Expeditionary army in case of war with Germany
1944 Heavy storm hampers British offensive at Caen
1956 Great Britain refuses to lend Egypt money to build Aswan Dam
1981 England set for innings loss v Aust, Botham hits 100 in 87 balls
1982 Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings: 11 British soldiers and 7 military horses killed in Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb attacks during military ceremonies in London
Northern Ireland
1914 Armed resistance against British rule begins in Ulster
2014 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland wins wire-to-wire by 2 from Sergio Garcia & Rickie Fowler
Scotland
1304 Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold of the war
1773 Scottish settlers arrive at Pictou, Nova Scotia (Canada)
1793 Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie completes the first European east-to-west crossing of America north of Mexico
Deaths in History
1398 Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, heir to the throne of England, dies at 24
1704 Peregrine White, First English child born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, dies at 83
1819 John Playfair, Scottish geologist/mathematician, dies
1881 Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, English 1st baron of Hesketh, dies
1897 Jean Ingelow, English poet (b. 1820)
1901 William Cosmo Monkhouse, English poet and critic (b. 1840)
1912 Andrew Lang, Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and anthropologist (Andrew Lang's Fairy Books), dies at 68
1942 Patric Cobb, British sea officer, dies in battle
1944 Arthur J Treadwell, English mayor of Stoke Newington, dies at about 71
1953 Jan Struther, British author (b. 1901)
1962 George MacAulay Trevelyan, English royal historian, dies at 86
2003 Nicolas Freeling, English writer (b. 1927)
2006 Ted Grant, British Trotskyist (b. 1913)
2007 Ivor Emmanuel, Welsh singer and actor (Zulu, Show Boat, Kiss Me, Kate), dies of a stroke at 79