8 November

10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 8 November:

Bram Stoker

1. Born on this date in 1847 was Bram Stoker, author of Dracula. Although an invalid in early childhood – he could not stand or walk until he was seven – he became an outstanding athlete and football player at the University of Dublin. He said: "No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be."
2. In 1656, Edmond Halley was born. The English astronomer and mathematician is best known for the Comet named after him and for his work predicting its orbit. He also produced the first meteorological chart ever published and commanded a war sloop on the first sea voyage undertaken exclusively for scientific purposes.
3. This date in 1929 saw the birth of Ken Dodd, singer and comedian who created the Diddymen.
4. The Louvre Museum, in Paris, opened to the public for the first time on this date in 1793. Until the French Revolution, the King's art collection had been strictly for the private pleasure of the Court, but revolutionary leaders decided to open the collection to the public.
5. In 1982, a Meteorite fell on a house in Wethersfield Connecticut. No-one was hurt. By coincidence, another house less than a mile away had been hit on April 8, 1971. No one was hurt on that occasion either.
6. In 2000, the diameter of a Table Tennis ball increased by 2mm to 40mm.
7. In 1995, Francis Thomas attributed at least some of his phenomenal success in exams (he'd passed 70 O levels, 16 A levels, 1 S level; and an Open University degree) to wearing warm slippers. “It’s important to have comfortable feet,” he said.
8. In 1996, George Sogcwe from Zwide, South Africa, faked his death so he could hear what was said about him at his funeral. After 2 hours of listening to the compliments and weeping of his family and friends, he sat up.
9. In 1974, Covent Garden’s famous flower and vegetable market moved to a new location across the Thames.
10. In 1994, the physical education department at a high school in Winnetka, Illinois was renamed Department of Kinetic Wellness.

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