Happy Anniversary: Turkey in a spin

William Hartston
Sunday 16 May 1993 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

HERE are some dates to celebrate in the coming week, traditionally a busy period for funfairs, fast food, females, fraud, felony, failure and bifocals.

17 May:

1620: The world's first merry-go-round is seen at a fair in Philippolis, Turkey.

18 May:

1920: Oxford University gives equal status to women professors.

1955: England's first Wimpy Bar opens in London.

19 May:

1977: Mrs Sandra West is buried in San Antonio, according to the terms of her will: 'next to my husband, in my lace nightgown . . . in my Ferrari, with the seat slanted comfortably.

1989: A defendant in a fraud trial at Cardiff Crown Court super-glues her mouth shut 'to draw the public's attention to the mistrial and injustice in this court'.

20 May:

1895: Miss Lilian Murray becomes Britain's first female dental surgeon.

1959: In Paris, Guy Trebert becomes the first person to be arrested after identification through an Identikit picture.

21 May:

1898: The first motor-car bumper is fixed on a prototype at the Imperial Nesseldorf wagon factory in Moravia. On a test run to Vienna it falls off within 10 miles and is not re-attached.

1923: The International Congress of Dancing Masters in Paris condemns the foxtrot and tango.

22 May:

1921: Chicago institutes fines on women with bare arms and short skirts.

1929: Mussolini bans beauty contests as immoral.

1959: Alabama bans a children's book that features a black rabbit marrying a white one.

23 May:

1785: A letter written by Benjamin Franklin gives the earliest description of bifocals.

1797: A Gillray cartoon gives the Bank of England the name 'Old Lady of Threadneedle Street'.

1988: Fleming Koch and Nina Tolgard wed in the first underwater marriage ceremony on a reef in Mauritius. The vows are taken in divers' language.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in