When I was born
I am British, of pure Scottish blood in the last few generations, although there are foreign ancestors if you go back far enough (see Genealogy basic), but born and raised in England (except for a brief period in Scotland). I have lived in England all my adult life. I was actually born in Malmesbury. I share a birthday with Jimmie Rodgers (the singing brakeman), Patsy Cline (the famous country singer), Graham Bradley (the former British jump jockey), Yves Saint Martin (the former French champion jockey) and Harry Secombe (a British TV presenter who was also a comedian and singer) among others.
In the year of my birth
I was born in the same year as Brenda Webb, Elaine Bickerstaffe and Gaynor Hopkins, all of whom changed their names before becoming successful. I am, of course, a huge fan of all three singers. Click on the links to identify their stage names. Many other excellent singers, both male and female, were born in the same year.
In football (soccer), Tottenham Hotspur were English league champions in the year of my birth while Newcastle United won the FA Cup. Hibernian were Scottish league champions while Celtic won the Scottish Cup. Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish were born.
In Horse racing, the year of my birth was not especially notable in Britain or the United States, either for big-race winners or new-born foals, but Native Dancer was around at the time though not yet of racing age.
In golf, Ben Hogan won two of golf's majors. Sam Snead and Max Faulkner each won one of the other two.
In tennis, Maureen Connolly won the women's US Open tennis, it being the first of her nine consecutive grand slam titles before injury terminated her career. Doris Hart won the equivalent Wimbledon tennis title. She won six grand slam titles altogether but also lost in four finals to Maureen Connolly. Evonne Goolagong was born, eventually to become Evonne Cawley.
In motor sport, Juan Manuel Fangio won the first of his five Formula One world championship titles.
My age really shows when I look at transport and royalty. I was born in the age of steam, in the year when the Britannia class locomotives first emerged from the works. They began service initially on London to Norwich expresses during the reign of King George VI. Meanwhile, volunteers of the Talyllyn Railway ran passenger trains for the first time, thus beginning the worldwide heritage railway movement.
Jean Lee became the last woman hanged in Australia, a few years before Ruth Ellis suffered the equivalent claim to fame in Britain.
The Stone of Scone temporarily returned to Scotland, making its public reappearance there on the altar of Arbroath Abbey. It was not until 1996 that the British government conceded that the stone's rightful place is in Scotland, since when it has been housed there, returning south only when required for special occasions.
I Love Lucy made its television debut.
Winston Churchill was re-elected as British Prime Minister after six years in opposition.
The author Bill Bryson was born in the United States, but later made his home in Britain.
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