June 9th

Feast Day of St. Columba. He was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity throughout Scotland in the sixth century.         


Also the Feast Day of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne in the Lutheran Church . He was an Irish monk and missionary credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria. (Lots of crediting Irish abbots and monks in the sixth century). He founded a monastic cathedral on the island of Lindisfarne. He is the patron saint of Northumbria and firefighters, indeed the Trumpton Fire Brigade has a shrine to St. Aidan at their local headquarters.


1672 Peter the Great is born in Moscow.


1705 Peter the Not So Bad is born in Kiev.


1756 Peter the Really Poor To Middling is born in Vladivostok.


1856 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa head west to Salt Lake City carrying their possessions in hand carts to the accompaniment by The Osmond's singing Crazy Horses, (Yes they have been around that long!).


1870 Legendary English author Charles Dickens died after suffering a stroke at Gad's Hill Place, he was 58yo.

1873 London's Alexandra Palace burns down after being open for just 16 days! Luckily further damage was limited as the Trumpton Fire Brigade were attending a 'Pie 'n' Mash' festival, Barney McGrew being All England Pie 'n' Mash Champion. Their expertise in firefighting helped to stop the fire spreading to nearby properties.


1891 American composer Cole Porter is born in Peru,( no not Deepest,Dark Peru like Paddington Bear), Peru, Indiana!
   
1934 Jackie Wilson, American singer-songwriter known as Mr. Entertainer and top darts player is born in Detroit, Michigan.
      
1936 American/ Jewish comedian, actor and screenwriter Jackie Mason was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

1958 It's Goodbye Mr. Chips as respected English actor, Robert Donat died in London from a Cerebral Thrombosis aged 53yo.
  


1961 Canadian /American actor Michael J. Fox is born in Edmonton, Alberta.
   

1963 American actor and reprobate pirate, John Christopher Depp II is born in Owensboro, Kentucky.
      

1973 US racehorse Secretariat wins the American Triple Crown.


1977 Donkeys are to be given free carrots in the NHS.
   

1979 The Ghost Train fire at Luna Park, Sydney kills seven people. The Trumpton Fire Brigade were nearby at a kangaroo steak eating contest but due to their irrational fear of the occult, refused to attend the fire.
     

2013 Scottish author Iain Banks died from cancer of the gall bladder aged 59yo. At the time of his death Banks had written 26 novels and his 27th, 'The Quarry' was ready to be published.


Politics : Following the spat between himself and Theresa May, Michael Gove today announced that all Government Special Advisers will be in future pooled from ethnic minorities, " It is time to call a SPAD a spade," said the diminutive Pob look alike.