1825: The Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public passenger service - built by George Stephenson - was inaugurated.

1888: The Central News Agency in London received a letter which began "Dear Boss, I keep on hearing the police have caught me, but they won't fix me just yet..." It was signed Jack the Ripper, the first time the name had been used.

1930: Bobby Jones of the US won the US National Amateur Championships tocomplete the first golfing grand slam.

1938: The 80,000-ton liner Queen Elizabeth was launched at John Brown's Yard in Clydebank.

1940: Imperial Japan signed a 10-year military and economic alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

1960: Bank Underground station in London opened the first travelator, or "moving pavement", in Europe.

1968: The rock musical Hair opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, the day after censorship in the theatre was lifted.

1979: Dame Gracie Fields, above, English comedienne, singer and music hall entertainer, died in retirement at her home on the Isle of Capri, aged 81.

1979: BBC's Question Time was broadcast for the first time, with Robin Day in the chair. He stayed with the show for 10 years.

1987: The Great Britain and European Ryder Cup Team defeated the US for the first time on US soil to retain the trophy.

On this day last year: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's comments that Western civilisation was superior to Islamic societies were offensive, inappropriate and inaccurate, Home Secretary David Blunkett said.

BIRTHDAYS: Sada Thompson, actress, 73; Gordon Honeycombe, broadcaster/writer, 66; Nicky Haslam, interior designer, 63; Baroness Blackstone, Arts Minister, 60; Alvin Stardust, pop singer, 60; Denis Lawson, actor, 55; Meat Loaf, rock singer, 55; Barbara Dickson, singer, 54; Michele Dotrice, actress, 54; Diane Abbott, Labour MP, 49; Shaun Cassidy, singer, 44.