June 10th

Feast Day of St. Olivia of Palermo. According to legend Olivia was the beautiful daughter of a noble Sicillian family in the ninth century. When she was 13yo she was kidnapped by Muslims and taken as a slave to Tunis. Her abductors were so impressed by her virtue and beauty allowed her to live as a hermitess in a cave. There she is alleged to have performed miracles and attempted to convert Muslims to Christianity. 
Exasperated Muslim leaders imprisoned her, tortured her and after she converted her executioners who had tried to burn her to death, had her beheaded. Eye witnesses stated that at the moment of her death her soul was seen flying to heaven in the form of a dove. St. Olivia is the patron saint of musicians.


1719 Jacobite rising, The Battle of Glen Shiel in the Western Highlands of Scotland between Government troops and an alliance of Jacobites and Spaniards, resulting in a victory for the Government forces of George I.


1793 The Jacobins gain control of the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution, following the arrest of Girondin leaders.


1829 The first Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge took place. The University of Cambridge emerging victorious.


1911 English dramatist Terence Rattigan is born in South Kensington, London.


1921 Philip Mountbatten is born in Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece.
      

1922 American Hollywood Legend and singing superstar Judy Garland is born as Frances Ethel Gumm in Rapid Falls, Minnesota.
      

1923 Czech/English media proprietor and former M.P. Robert Maxwell is born in Slatinsky Doly, Czechoslovakian Republic as Jan Ludvik Hyman Binyamin Hoch.


1925 English actor, director and producer Lionel Jeffries is born in Forest Hill, London. After starring in many films during 1950s and 1960s such as ' Two Way Stretch', ' First Men in the Moon' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', in which he played Caractacus Potts' father despite being six months younger than Dick Van Dyke, Jeffries turned his hands to directing with great success in 'The Railway Children' and 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden' amongst others.
      

1934 Bradford born composer Frederick Delius died at Grez after long illnesses traced back to syphilis that he contracted during his time in Paris.


1940 Norway surrenders to Nazi Germany during World War II.


1942 Irish journalist and TV presenter Gordon Burns is born in Belfast. Was the original presenter of "The Krypton Factor" for 18 years. Gordon retired from presenting the BBC's North West Tonight in 2011 after 14 years as Chief Presenter.


1965 English Rose and actress Elizabeth Hurley is born in Basingstoke, Hampshire. She came to prominence in the early 1990s as the girlfriend of Hugh Grant, also for "wearing" a plunging black Versace dress held together by gold safety pins.
     

1967 The Six Days War ends as Israel and Syria agree to a ceasefire. 



1967 Oscar Winner, Spencer Bonaventure Tracy died from a heart attack in Beverly Hills, California, he was 67yo.


1971 English actor Michael Rennie died aged 61yo from an aortic aneurysm at his mother's home in Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire. He is probably best remembered for his role as the alien visitor Klaatu in 1951's film, "The Day The Earth Stood Still". 


1977 The Apple II, one of the first personal computers goes on sale at the initial price of $1,298.


1993 Top English comedian and TV presenter, Les Dawson died aged 62yo, at a hospital in Whalley Range, Manchester from a massive heart attack as he was undergoing an insurance medical for a film role.


2000 Former Lancashire and England fast bowler Brian Statham died in Stockport from leukemia aged 69yo. He played in 70 Test matches for England, taking 252 wickets at an average of 24.84.
     

2004 American singers songwriter Ray Charles died from acute liver disease in Beverly Hills aged 73yo.


Political News: The Chancellor Gideon Osborne announced further austerity cuts in a speech to the Tory High Command , " We have to continue with our efforts to wipe out the deficit, indeed we have to redouble our efforts. So it is in accordance with that aim that I intend to cut the letters 'G', 'N' and 'M' from the alphabet. We think that by removing these letters we shall save 'illio's of pou'ds. P'us we believe it wi'' be a 'massive boost for the Conservative Party, I mean who will vote for Ed 'illiba'd? Or 'igel Fara'e? Or even 'ick Cle'? Then again WHO WOULD VOTE FOR CLE'' anyway?" However the Deputy P.'. disa'reed a''ouncin' that he would be taki'' le'al action," Just who does Osbor'e thi'k he is? Well I'' telli'' hi'  'ow, we Lib De's will 'of sta'd for it! Or 'y 'a'es 'of 'Ick Cle'' !"
Despite this threat the Educatio' secretary, 'Michael 'I've has sent out " Cut Alphabets" to all schools whilst his 'e'esis Ho'e Secretary, Theresa 'At has advise'the Police to stro''ly e'force the 'ew laws.