9 July

 10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 9 July:

1. This date in 1911 saw the birth of Mervyn Peake, writer best known for the Gormenghast books: Peake intended to write more than three, following his protagonist Titus Groan from cradle to grave, but Peake's untimely death prevented its completion.
2. In 1901 Barbara Cartland, British author of more than 550 romantic novels was born. There’s more to her than slushy romance novels. She also wrote health and cookery books, stage plays and recorded an album of love songs. In 1984 she was awarded the Bishop Wright Air Industry Award for coming up with the idea of long distance tows for gliders in 1931.
3. Born on this date in 1956 was Tom Hanks, American actor whose films include Splash, Philadelphia, Forest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, The Money Pit, Dragnet, Joe Vs. the Volcano, Turner and Hooch, Sleepless in Seattle, Apollo 13, Toy Story, A League Of Their Own, That Thing You Do, The Burbs, You've Got Mail and The Da Vinci Code.
4. In 1588, Sir Francis Drake was warned of the approach of the Spanish Armada, but insisted on finishing his game of bowls before going off to defeat them.
5. At 5:31 am on this date in 1357, a Saturday, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV laid the foundation stone of the Charles Bridge in Prague. We know the precise time because the palindromic number 135797531 was carved on the Old Town bridge tower, and because astrologers and numerologists had chosen this moment as the most auspicious time to start building a bridge.
6. The first Wimbledon Tennis Tournament took place on this date in 1877. It was an amateur Men's Singles event, held at the All England Croquet Club to raise funds for the club, since this new-fangled sport of lawn tennis was reducing interest in croquet. The tournament was won by Spencer Gore.
7. On this date in 1984, a bolt of Lightning struck York Minster. The south transept was seriously damaged, but the famous Rose Window survived. Some Christians interpreted this as God being peed off with the archbishop of York’s recent comments about the truth of the virgin birth.
8. The engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced on this date in 1947. They married that November.
9. In 1904, adventure story writer Henry Rider Haggard dreamed that his daughter’s black retriever, Bob, was lying dead near some water. In the morning, it was discovered that the dog was indeed missing, and was found dead three days later near a small dam. Haggard believed his dream was a psychic cry for help from the dog.
10. In 2005, Danny Way jumped over the Great Wall of China on his skateboard, becoming the first person to jump the wall without motorised aid.

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