time

The first African American woman & first Native American to hold a pilot's licence, Bessie Coleman was killed along with her mechanic, William D. Wills, 96 years ago today. She was 34. Born in Texas, the tenth of thirteen, she moved to Chicago at the age of 23; working in a barbershop, she learnt of flying by hearing pilots, returning from The Great War, talking about their exploits. Taking a second job she saved up with the intent of learning to fly, however US flying schools didn't admit women or black people, so with the encouragement and sponsorship of local black businessmen, she learnt French and moved to Paris to study. She became the first black person to earn an international Pilot's Licence. The only way to make a living as a civilian pilot was as a stunt pilot in the barnstorming air shows of the day, and she was a huge favourite (of both blacks and whites). AN advocate for equality between black & white, she refused to perform at one Texas show unless the planned arrangement of separate entrances for blacks & whites was scrapped. It was (though seating was still segregated). On 30th April 1926, she and Wills were reconnoitring in a recently bought plane for a stunt the following day, over Jacksonville, Florida. Wills was piloting, when he lost control; the plane turn over and Coleman was eject at approximately 2000ft AGL; she was killed on impact. Wills was unable to regain control and crashed not far from her body, also dying on impact. The cause of the crash was determined to have been a wrench left in the engine compartment during servicing jamming the flight controls.

Former sports presenter Dickie Davies is 89 today.

Singer April Stevens is 93 today. Her 1959 single Teach Me Tiger was banned by several stations for it's suggestiveness, one of the first releases to achieve that, which probably contributed to it only reaching number 86 on the Billboard chart. It's since featured in several films and TV, including Call the Midwife. Her biggest success was as part of a duet with her brother Antonio, performing as Nino Tempo & April Stevens, who reached number 1 on the Billboard chart in 1963 Deep Purple, which received a Grammy for best Rock & Roll record.

Its 29 years since council groudsman, guitarist & producer Mick Ronson died aged 46, from liver cancer. He played with everybody who was anybody but is mostly noted for his collaborations' with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars for a number of albums.

Former TV producer Derek Granger was 101 last week, and visited his old school. Local press being what it is, they can't tell their Dereks from their Davids.

A little local self-indulgence if I may. Brighton conservationist Selma Montford died over Easter, aged 87. She was instrumental in saving a fair amount of Brighton's historic architecture, including many listed buildings and a good chunk of Brighton Station. She was co-founder of the Brighton Society. She wrote several books on the history of Brighton, and, an accomplished artist, she sold work at the Royal Academy summer exhibitions.

Nowhere I can see that suggests its a Labour MP to whom the comments were made.

Jane Stevens, former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, and grandmother of Cara Delevingne, has died aged 85. She was also so the muse of Norman Hartnell, according to that report.

No more tomorrows for broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, who died 57 years ago today, aged 57. A lifelong chain-smoker, he died of lung cancer despite having his left lung removed two years previously.

US singer Ann Peebles is 75 today. Her only UK hit reached number 41, staying in the top 75 for 3 weeks. This at a time when The Wombles, Mud & Bay City Rollers were regularly Top 10!

Ronald van Stockum died last night, aged 105, per tweet.

I thought dilligaf was universally known, but maybe not. I'm sure everyone here is smart enough to figure it out. I deliberately left it anonymous, but people are free to state their preference if they so desire.

Singer Tony Christie is 79 today. His most well-known song is Amarillo, but its not as good as this one. For future HPDP consideration, he's also appeared in panto.

Gary Wiseman, drummer of Bowling for Soup, has dropped out of the band's UK tour and returned home with a 'mystery illness'. Suffered what was thought to be a panic attack last week, got checked, no problems with heart or blood, but no better so has returned home for assessment by his own doctor.

Yvonne Blenkinsop, last of the "headscarf revolutionaries" has died. Following two trawler sinkings in early 1968, she and a group of other women formed the Hessle Road Women's Committee to campaign for better safety for fishermen. A third trawler was lost at sea soon after, bringing the total to 58 lives lost. All the safety measures the group proposed were subsequently adopted.

France's Eurovision Song Contest winner of 1960, and French Sweepstake nominee, Jacqueline Boyer is 81 today.

Google translate is no help.

I wasn't prepared for the level of ire that would come my way if I offered that option! (besides, te origianl statement suggested William over Charles, so thats what I went with).

I have no idea if Nadine Dorries is dyslexic or not (I don't recall ever seeing it mentioned elsewhere), nor do I know if dyslexia can manifest itself in the way she describes, but I'm sure if she's right about this, with all the hours of TV she's got under her belt, there are other examples of this happening, which causes me to question why no-one ever picked up on it before. The only other explanation I can think of is that she's lying.

Was he picked in the Silver Screen DP?

Composer, conductor and arranger André Caplet died on this day 97 years ago, age 46, the consequences of being gassed while serving during the first world war. He conducted the Boston Opera between 1910 & 1914. and composed several pieces based on Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, amongst others. He's mostly remembered for his work arranging the compositions of his close friend Claude Debussy. This is his arrangement of Clair de Lune:

Fashion designer Issey Miyake is 84 today. He's the guy resposnible for Steve Jobs' black turtle necks.

Arguably, Fergie looks in better nick than Dalglish, this from the Liverpool v Manchester United match the other night. (Presumably before kick-off, I can't imagine him hanging around for photos after the final whistle).