30th August

Denis Healey was born today in 1917. Who? I hear you cry, gentle reader. He was a Labour MP, Cabinet Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer with the bushiest eyebrows in politics. He was mercilessly lampooned by the impressionist Mike Yarwood with the immortal phrase 'Silly Billy'. So, happy birthday, Denis, 95 today.

In other news ...
Marcus Antonius committed suicide today in Alexandria in 30BC. He'd just lost a war against Octavius Caesar and not even his famous wife, Cleopatra, could shake him out of his depression. He did 'what's fine, what's Roman' (that's your actual Shakespeare) after his bodyservant refused to kill him with his sword.

Incidentally, there's a rather good bio of Cleopatra out shortly from Constable Robinson in their Brief History of ... series, by my old mate MJ Trow.

2nd June

I absolutely refuse to mention the Jubilee. Oh, dear, I've blown it.

In other news ...
Rex Harrison died today in 1990. He was suave and sophisticated and is best known for the following roles:

• Rex Harrison in Blithe Spirit
• Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady
• Rex Harrison in Cleopatra
• Rex Harrison in The Agony and the Ecstasy.

For My Fair Lady he won an Academy Award and a Rex.