Burnley & Pendle Citizen - the local newspaper for our community

On this day - MAY 4

From the Bolton Evening News, first published Tuesday 4th May 2004.

1471: The Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Tewkesbury in the War of the Roses.

1780: The first Derby was run at Epsom.

1839: The Cunard shipping line was founded by Canadian Sir Samuel Cunard.

1896: The Daily Mail, founded by Lord Northcliffe, was first published -- price one halfpenny.

1904: Charles Rolls and Henry Royce signed a provisional agreement to produce Rolls-Royce cars.

1926: The General Strike began, the first in British history. It was called off on May 12.

1970: US National Guardsmen shot dead four students during an anti-war protest at Kent State University in Ohio. Two more students were killed at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

1974: Abba reached the top of the pop charts with Waterloo, the Eurovision song contest winner.

1979: Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first woman Prime Minister.

1990: Latvia declared itself an independent democratic republic in the first stage of withdrawal from the Soviet Union.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Child welfare campaigners welcomed Government plans to ban childminders from smacking youngsters in their care.

BIRTHDAYS: Eric Sykes, comedian/writer, 81; Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt, 76; Ron Carter, jazz bassist, 67; Paul Gleason, actor, 60; John Watson, former racing driver, 58; Michael Barrymore, entertainer, 52; Liz Robertson, actress and singer, 50; Pia Zadora, actress, 50; Jane Kennedy, Department for Work and Pensions minister, 46; Randy Travis, country singer, 45; Oleta Adams, singer, 50; Jay Aston, singer (Buck's Fizz), 43.

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