In 1959, Castro's rebel army overthrew President Batista in Cuba; in 1964 the first edition of ToTP was broadcast; in 1973 the UK joined the EEC and in 2002 the Euro replaced 12 European currencies; and in various years there was a bit of a new year baby-boom, happy birthday to: andrewrichardson, Artemis the rider, BARRYTHEGERBIL, Batmanspeed, BBBoon, Be Em double U, beemoto, Biker_chic, bikerboy01, bikerhornet002, bikerjones50, Bikerman1983, Bikers123, Blakey00, blueboy1959, Bobrider, bootz76, boredbikerchick, brrm, caederus, CB1000, cheekycharli2015, Cheshirebiker, choppergrrrl, cln09, covmcd, damian manx, darkrider_london, David998, Dellis, Dodger9, ed123, eddstone, F1rebl4de, facking kwuck, flyingman, FlyingRope, freemann, gixer-si, Gixxermattie, GSXRTink, Guinnesman, hellonow, HOGZBOLUX, hotrod1959, HZ, iamfrommars, Indian1, isabel.rs, jacksparrowjack, James_from_CVT, Jay-bow, jimbob451, jimmyz, jonboy189, Jue182, kitana_abc, knucks, lionfish, Lovemybmw, Mach1, Mahone, Mark-1969, markt, mcrblokeuk, mediastarz, Michael.charles1, mick59, Mike_zx, mikebike-, mikey1, MORETHAN, motorcyclebikers, Mr. Orange, mrmintflava, nickr77, nottmbusa, numbnuts, paddockstand8, paul3spirit, peter piper, R0ll 0n, randompan, RednBlack, Rider5, River, rosa2007, RSV4Fun, sam9933, sapientia, Scottish Racer, Shropshire-lady, Simon Edser, simon0809, SirRoyston, skyrider, Solent, speeds, speedway, speedytriple, spikedabike, Sprinter13, steve62, STEVEO2012, striderduke, suzukibiker09, TBIRD R, Terrytt, thehairyone, tow-truck, trickster77, Tripitaka, ukstanley2002, Vandepor, wait4me, wilf2512, wilfreddy, Wolfie 1970, wreckincrew, X999, yamazaki, Yamma1, Yuga, zandra1978, Zoomtastic.

In 1960, JFK announced his candidacy for the US Presidency;
in 1979, Sid Vicious' trial for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen began;
in 1980, steel workers went on strike for the first time in over 50 years
and throughout the years a load of bikers, trikers and pillions were delivered in to the world. Happy Birthday to you all:

Abel2photo, adie46, azza020191, Babbers, bonnyjane, CRom116, Dougstretton, duke_k, fatbob1585, foehammer, hantsgirluk, hilda123, Ho4701, jttravelbug, Must be looped, Patsy2174, rambler, scaniap114, spitfire71, Springfield, stevemecheng, Stevensamson, Tallie, tubbs999, Tumbs, tvmoto, X Beanz X, xanthus400                                                                                                                                                                              

Happy Birthday A2P, hope you had a smashing burpday. Go on spoil yaself have a lime n lemonade ... You know you want to!

Feel the bubbles Dave ... ;)                                                                                                                                                                             

In 1924 King Tut's sarcophagus was uncovered in Egypt;
in 1977, Apple Computers was incorporated (unfortunately I wasn't able to buy-in at the time);
in 1996, Motorola released the first flip phone (how many early adopters felt like saying "Beam me up, Scotty."!);
and in 2000 we sadly saw the last of the Peanuts comic strips.

Throughout the years we began to celebrate the birthdays of our friends, and we haven't stopped yet!

Happy birthday:

27_b, Banginbiker, chaminator, cheadle nige, Dak3171, danielled, daytona5ta, derbycitymale, FionaJane, Fitzy500, flamenco, Honda guy, Hunty, Josh-151, Kinsella1986, ltherlove, mateyboy, midagebiker, MrHappy, Nigerate, paulvmcc2, paulywauly, PrincessofDarkness, Rachybabe, rageblack, rainbowhettie, Roadrunneriam, Shifter23, solofemale, Stupot1053, Tiggatiny, trident3, trueblue1234.

Happy Birthday solofemale!

Have a smashing day, Donna. Hope all is well up there in the North, North of Scotland. Miss ya smiling face!                                                                                                                                                                             

Today marks the anniversary;
in 1967 of the death of Donald Campbell while attempting to break his own water speed record,
in 1986 of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott losing his battle after a drink/drug binge,
in 2004 of the NASA rover 'Spirit' landing successfully on Mars.
Perhaps not very uplifting anniversaries but if you believe in reincarnation then maybe a little rocking 'spirit' was reborn in some new bikers? as the following all drew their first breath on this day too:

35lell, adam1290, Amber wolf, AnubisDrako, BikerBouf, bikerpc, cakemix, catherine, CBR BOY, Classylass, cyc, diamondchick, dickie bird, DucatiriderJay, ernie666, fireflybandit600, fox1098, Frank Martin, franny, gabrielwolf, hotvrod, Jerryogara, johnboy4160, kwakzzr1100, Lobo, LottaTheFinn, mickster240, mollz, Nev265, nikmet, open road, Philw, RadiantRadian, shaksta, shep990, Shutty, SJW, smilesie, squishy94, tomhat, Weston, woosh, zedladd

Happy birthday all.                                                                                                                                                                              

1531, Pope Clemens VII forbade English King Henry VIII to re-marry (he decided to do his own thing anyway).

1971, one-day cricket was born when 46,000 turned up to watch England play Australia at Melbourne.
The test match had been rained off for several days previously. (Australia won by 5 wickets with 42 balls remaining for the cricket aficionados - but you'd know that anyway!)



and a bunch of our friends were safely delivered in to the world, making it a much better place (says me as doesn't recognise any of these names - so a bit of perving is called for!):

62paul, agusta, BigX, bikerider81, Blackstig, Buzz67, C J WackoJacko, CBL650, Charliemcdonald, chattyvon, craigy31, fazed1, gsxbob, hatty1959, hondo9950, Janey33, Jaysayshey, JaySTR, Joe the butcher, my2day2015, Racerjack19, Rachel-H, rico, rocket gaz, rover, siauk, Suzuki650, Talonbd, TDM9, the colonel, trikeytoe, wacker, waftyrob, Yammyr1, YZF600R, Ziperdydoda                                                                                                                                                                              

In 1977, music publisher EMI ended its contract with the Sex Pistols after reports of abusive behaviour at Heathrow Airport.

in 1983, Captain Kirk got arrested: the Royal Navy arrested Danish fisherman Captain Kent Kirk for
trespassing in British fishing territory.

in 1992, the US Government recommended doctors suspend the use
of silicone breast implants as fears grow they could leak and affect the health
of those using them. 
I wasn't working in the industry then, but I am now  

And the following all arrived in the world:
Adventurer75,
bellethomas, capitanbangtidy, couch50, DrPhil, easyrider67, faversham flyer,
Garfy22, Glaggs, iamjim84, Jackswood, Maid in Cornwall, Merlin675cc,
mylittleshed, Nick_Intruder, Openerup, puck67, recardo25, richtee, shazcatt63,
sphynx13, tailendcharlie, worldchild, yamahadaz, yorkshire1111

Happy birthday to you all.                                                                                                                                                                              

in 1789, America's first presidential election was held.
Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned property were allowed to vote;


in 1990 They closed the Leaning Tower of Pisa for the first time in its history on safety fears;

In 2006, Pink married her motocross-racer boyfriend Carey Hart on a beach in Costa Rica. Pink proposed to him during one of his races by holding up a sign that read "Will you marry me?" Hart pulled out of the race to say yes –dipstick!



And we celebrate the birthdays of:
Alloitious, apriliamad, bad Marky, banditboy12, brokendriver, captainale, charliedee, disturbed01, Druboy, Frank W, genaleah, genuine guy, gixxer72, goldfrappe, gsx 1400, hardtail7170, hdnt, Heinz57, hellrider2012, hilto66, hondanickcbr, jo1971, Kawasakikaren1, Lake, metalmelter, mousee51, pantera2075, poppy 11, smi1er, stancey, steviensa, stewartuk63, Timax53, Timax54, tri675, TriplePaul, triumphwonder                                                                                                                                                                              

in 1940 the rationing of sugar, meat and butter began (those were the days eh?);

in 1974 the Loch Ness monster was photographed (honest - I get these 'facts' from the interwebby so it MUST be true!)

in 2004 the (then) biggest ever passenger ship was named RMS Queen Mary 2, by Lizzie II 

and we celebrate the birthdays of our fellow BMers (I'm sure none of whom remember rationing):
955 Ivan, Amber212, Andi, Angel6661, bazstreetfighter, BevVFR7, Biker-Roj, Bmwman1, Chromeium, crazyfrog62, Dan76, Davie44, Daz the ninja, delwyn30, Emmajf87, fazey, Flat-Rabbit, harleychopmik, Iain1, Ivan TTT, January, Joanne121, Keefy74, KTM_Chris, lets_be_pirates, MARY MACKINNON, mely930, mochdre, riffrafftaff, Soldier1968, witchystick                                                                                                                                                                              

way back in 1799 Income Tax was introduced by William Pitt the Younger to raise funds for the Napoleonic Wars - how long ago did they end exactly??

in 1888 the London Financial Times was launched - it became the Financial Times

in 2016 (YES, TODAY) engine #60103 (The Flying Scotsman) returns to the tracks after a £4.2m / 10 year restoration. Whoop-whoop!!

and today a madscot and fellow bikers celebrate birthdays, happy birthday one and all:

alex fowler, AlexorAl, baza 2458, bigtom69, boggle49, bucktorius, Budgie..., buster675, cheeky_biker, chuttle, CX_Rider, fishbas12, gixxer9181, gradan, greenbluejuice, gts2pro, harrison, homegirl, jimbob_-_-, Johnorob, littlemex69, littlewheels, madkingjohn69, madscots, martylondon, MC Fazer, ratbag, robbo10, Rockabillyman1, sazzled, shoveltrouble, Superten, swingbowler, Tonyd46888, TonyWarrior, twowheeledmisfit, ukdiceman, Will1050, Willy Ekerslike, wwolf250, YamahaStacey, zakdak, zerena1                                                                                                                                                                             

Happy Birthday, to the crazy KayCat!
Have a lovely day ;)                                                                                                                                                                             

In 1840 the Penny Post was introduced with mail being paid for at a standard rate by the sender rather than the recipient. On the first day 112k letters were posted in the London area alone.

in 1985 Sir Clive Sinclair demonstrated the C5 electric car. It only cost £399 but top speed was only 15mph (driving licence not required) and by October of the same year the company was in receivership

Big birthday greeting today to ma pals kaycat and Steve_H, indeed happy birthday to all those celebrating today:

abadassbikerlad, axorman, Banditgary, bikemad01, bodge, Bugwit, Danirgs, djc182, F40 K, happyhippy121, HarlonNayl, hermann69, kaycat, Kickboxer, kthebigyin, lewi-blackmun, Magpieboy, martin, mcsimple, mojo65, pastypirate, philwebb, plug, rederik, richana12001, serena, south6, spidersmith, Steve_H, Trevor123, wingbiker, zilvafoxx                                                                                                                                                                             

thank you hugs xx

                                                                                                                                                                             

in 1569 they had the first state lottery in England with tickets being sold at St Paul's Cathedral. National lotteries continued until 1826 when it was felt that the inducement to gambling was a "great moral evil, helping to impoverish many"

and in 2016, we woke to the news of a great loss to the world of music and entertainment in David Bowie.

On the brighter side, we still celebrate birthdays; today those of:

Alixsus96, Banjo299, bikerman45, BikerShane, Bobb, bomber42, busygirl, chrishonda, CookieHeydon, crazzybrother, DollyDayDream, emzee1977, fastyam, GingerCraig, Gracielacieloo, HDBreakout, lotus11, Missy sunshine, Perdy, rockandrob, ruby-tuesday, SAAB, Spudy boy, stuw, sumodwarf, Sussexcouple, tonykatone, xfireballx                                                                                                                                                                             

in 1950 a British submarine collided with a Swedish oil tanker in the Thames and sank

in 1970 the Boeing 747 completed its maiden Transatlantic flight. The 'Jumbo Jet' held the passenger capacity of 660 for 37 years until the Airbus A380 came along with a capacity of 850. It takes hoors tae get on and off those things!

and most important, we have birthdays to celebrate with:
angel09, baby4, callis, Chew, chrisl333, daifedd65, davies2002, Digsylo, fb, fib265, Geo2009, gsr600 bev, gushud, gwill64, Heather gg, horseybabe, Katy-tart, Kazz, Keithj, kes49, MartinTheBiker, mickkrose, Nightentity, NZ Hellcat, old red, Passionista, pgbigmac, repsolroy, Sassy Big Boy, slaptom994, stuartd, Tineka, vn800, Westy67, willis, yoll, zypp33

Big hugs to you all.                                                                                                                                                                               

in 1961 Capital Records grudgingly released the first Beatles single 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand'  in the USA as they said "see how it goes".
It only became their faster ever selling single! Not bad for a bit of a punt.

Wonder how many of these boys and girls have had it played at their birthday parties:
1000cc, Ade61, andy1961, bigsteve13, Cage, Cariad13, chocolate, Exjak, gazatates, havehard, Hawkeye, jan65boy, joeslow, Kawasakiz751, liddlelady, littledog, lolly1333, motowest, nks13, odd.bod13, paddy36, refund, rex1450, sicboy, sprintex98, Touchrtm

Happy birthday to you all.                                                                                                                                                                             

in 2016 I went out for a two hour lunch with colleagues and then a two hour dinner with BM friends - a good day.

However, only a few years back, in 2013, HMV went in to Administration - who buys anything in the high street these days? Even if you wanted to, there's only banks, pound shops, charity shop, Greggs, Subway and tattoo/nail parlours left!

On the brighter side, a few people will have candles to blow out today, hope you all have your wish come true:
6bikerkev9, Andyink72, anguna, Big billy, Biker4Neurosupport, bikething, Bladeboyrr6, bmwk12rs, Dave028, DaveN, deansharman, Ducati bob, Elsinore 76, exsoldiersamyork, FenderJon, Fuzzygoth, herisson, jjhge2006, kartmenasz, LisaD, lonelywolf, Manwithbike, McFlufferson, Mike 75, motoguz1, n00blar, north65, petewick, philmiles, Reefcliff, Rocketrob, rodneyukblake, Sparkup, Spelly, sps guy, sweetdebula, Talldarkhandsome, toonarmy, Tunefull, velvet7, woodman                                                                                                                                                                             

in 1797 London haberdasher John Hetherington wore the first top hat and was fined £50 (even these days that's enough to be missed) for 'causing a disturbance'. Oh, to be on the cutting edge of fashion!

I'm sure these folk strike a glamorous pose in their leathers:

3triumph, 49er, ace1551, ashgsxr, Brownhole, brummie, Buellster, Busa77, Carrie.j, cheryl-dd, chirpy1, Clivey752, fairies1, fireblade61, Hornet lass, Hover, jimmbo, Midway_phil, pan1100man, Phantom1539, pixidogg, rallynewbie, Red, seabass, simon yeo, skippy112, steve.colman, stevo1347, The lost one, Tony Richardson, Tonyni, topcat64


Happy birthday all.                                                                                                                                                                              

In 1707 the Act of Union was passed, merging the Scottish and English parliaments.

in 1950 the words "Hello children. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin." announced the first radio broadcast of Listen with Mother.

I'm sure some of these guys remember the latter:
Alan1000, Anna_GSXR, Banksy1964, bblade, big nasty, chunkystarfish, dante68, grizzer, jaxrocks, kawasaki kev, kit carson, lloffty5, localboy, Mrsaxlrose, nicovelo, Papa Smurf, Pault180, quarterpounder54, redneck44, Taff8990, Tee-Jayk3, tobby, turner1956, westyorks65