29th April 1958

29th April 1958

On This Day… 29th April 1958 My Fair Lady dazzles London   The Broadway musical My Fair Lady opened for its first night in London, to a rapturous reception.   The event, at the Drury Lane theatre, was star-studded: Ingrid Bergman, Dirk Bogarde, Terence Rattigan...
18th April 1740

18th April 1740

On This Day… 18th April 1740 Sir Francis Baring Born   Merchant and merchant banker. Born at Larkbear, Exeter. He founded the bank that bore his name with his brother John. Director of the East India company from 1779. Grandfather of Thomas and of Evelyn. Died...
17th April 1999

17th April 1999

On This Day… 17th April 1999 Brixton Nail Bomb   The bomb which injured 48 people, was planted by neo-nazi bomber David Copeland, who was also responsible for similar bomb attacks in Brick Lane and The Admiral Duncan pub in Soho. Copeland was sentenced to six...
16th April 1938

16th April 1938

On This Day… 16th April 1938 Clapham Odeon Opened   Cinema. Designed by George Coles. The use of neon lights on its exterior gave it a distinctive look at night. It closed in 1972, but permission to demolish it was refused. It reopened as ‘The...
15th April 1887

15th April 1887

On This Day… 15th April 1887 Lady Violet Bonham-Carter Born   Politician and diarist. Born where her parents were living at the time, at Eton House, John Street (now Keat’s Grove), Hampstead, as (Helen) Violet Asquith, daughter of PM Herbert. Involved in...