Born on this Day 18th April
1480 Lucrezia Borgia
1740 Sir Francis Baring
1882 Leopold Stokowski
1946 Hayley Mills
1954 Rick Moranis
1956 John James
1961 Jane Leeves
1958 Les Pattinson
1976 Melissa Joan Hart

Died on this Day
1955 Albert Einstein
1993 Dame Elisabeth Frink
2001 Tony Bartley

Music
1959 Cliff Richard’s self-titled debut album entered the UK charts.

1965 ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ became the first no. 1 album by a folk/rock singer/songwriter.

1966 Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club was sold by the receiver after becoming bankrupt.

1981 Yes announced they were to split up, with Steve Howe and Geoff Downes forming Asia.

1985 The first pop album to be released in China was by Wham!

1987 ‘The Def Jam Soul attack’ tour appeared in the UK with stars including Oran Juice Jones, Chuck Stanley, Tashan and Alyson Williams.

Sport
1903 Bury beat Derby County 6-0 to record the most decisive victory ever seen in a FA Cup final.

1993 Essex runner Eamonn Martin won the NutraSweet London Marathon in his debut at the distance.

1993 England won the Rugby World Cup 7 a side tournament at Murryfield beating Australia 20-1 to 17 in the final.

People & Showbiz
1881 The Natural History Museum opened in London.

1965 56 people were arrested in Brighton, as Mods and Rockers converged on seaside resorts.

1966 ‘The Sound of Music’ was awarded the Oscar for Best Film.

General Events
1865 The first Gun-Dog trials were held at Southill in Bedfordshire.

1881 The Natural History Museum opened in London.

1949 Eire renounced ties with the British Commonwealth and became the Republic of Ireland.

1949 The Scout’s first bob-a job week began in Britain.

1978 Spain abolished the death penalty.

1981 The first demonstration of the CD player was held in Europe.

1995 Lofty the cheetah made a meal of a prize peacock which flew into his enclosure at Colchester zoo, in Essex, while visitors to the zoo witnessed the event.