1066: Harold of England defeated the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, unaware that William of Normandy was preparing to invade the south coast.

1660: Samuel Pepys drank his first cuppa, after reading that tea made the body active and lusty.

1818: The first blood transfusion using human blood - as opposed to earlier attempts with animal blood - took place at Guy's Hospital in London.

1872: Sir Charles Cochran, English impresario dubbed Britain's Greatest Showman, was born. From 1914 to 1949, he presented some of the best musicals and revues, including five by Noel Coward, two by Rodgers and Hart and two by Cole Porter. His chorus girls were known a "Mr Cochran's Young Ladies.

1885: It snowed in London, the earliest recorded winter fall - despite reports that on 12 June, 1791, there had been snow sighted over the capital. That was recorded as late summer, not winter, snow.

1897: Britain's first motor bus service started in Bradford.

1915: The Battle of Loos began, at which the London Regiment's 18th Battalion went "over the top" into No Man's Land, kicking a football and yelling furiously.

1933: More than 25,000 queued to see The Shroud Of Turin when it went on show to the public for the first time in 400 years at Turin Cathedral.

1962: Sonny Liston won the world heavyweight boxing title, knocking out Floyd Paterson in the first round in Chicago.

1977: Freddie Laker's first Skytrain service began between Gatwick and New York.

LAST YEAR: Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was branded a liar and hypocrite by a lawyer for the family of arms expert David Kelly as the Hutton inquiry drew to a close.