NATIONAL DAY OF TUNISIA

1831 The magnetic North Pole was located by Sir James Clark Ross on his Arctic exploration expedition with Admiral Parry.

1880 The first telephone callbox for public use, in New Haven, Connecticut, went into service.

1911 Britain's first electric trolleybuses began operating in Bradford and Leeds.

1915 Zeppelins carried out their first raid on London.

1935 Driving tests were introduced and L plates made compulsory in Britain.

1946 The first TV licences were issued in Britain, at a fee of £2.

1953 Gordon Richards became the first jockey to be knighted. Six days later he won the Derby at his 28th attempt.

1957 The first Premium Bond prize winners were drawn by the computer ERNIE, with a first prize of £1,000.

1958 The Clean Air Act came into force.

1966 Folk fans at the Royal Albert Hall booed Bob Dylan for performing with an electric guitar.

ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Hundreds of Britons were preparing to quit India over fears it was on the brink of war with its nuclear neighbour Pakistan.

BIRTHDAYS: Bob Monkhouse, comedian and broadcaster, 75; Edward Woodward, actor, 73; Morgan Freeman, actor, 66; Robert Powell, actor, 59; Brian Cox, actor, 57; Jan Harvey, actress, 56; Jonathan Pryce, actor, 56; Ron Wood, rock guitarist, 56; Powers Boothe, actor, 54; Gemma Craven, actress, 53; Martin Brundle, racing driver, 44; Mark Curry, actor, 39; Nigel Short, chess player, 38; Jason Donovan, actor/singer 35; Alanis Morissette, singer, 29.