On this day

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), August 19, 2008

August 19, 1953 MARJORIE Copley, 22, who lived at Crosland Moor, was the first woman employee of David Brown and Sons to pass the Higher National Certificate examinations in mechanical engineering.

1856 Condensed milk was patented.

1897 The London Electric Cab Co began operating the first taxi-cab in the West End and the City. The black and yellow electric cars went at 9mph.

They had a range of just up to 30 miles, but proved uneconomical and were withdrawn in 1900.

1942 Canadian and British Commandos raided the French port of Dieppe.

1987 The Hungerford massacre, when gun-crazy Michael Ryan shot dead 16 people in the Berkshire town and then killed himself.

BIRTHDAYS Richard Ingrams, former editor of Private Eye, 71; Ginger Baker, rock drummer, 69; Jill St John, actress, 68; Billy J Kramer, Sixties pop star, 65; Former US President Bill Clinton, 62; John Deacon, rock musician (Queen), 57; Kevin Dillon, actor, 43; Matthew Perry, actor (pictured), 39; Erika Christensen, actress, 26.