8 May 2026
► EVENTS on 8 MAY;
On this day in 1886, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sold a carbonated beverage named “Coca Cola” as a patent medicine.
1902, Saint Pierre, the capital city of the Caribbean island of Martinique, was enveloped and totally destroyed when Mont Pelee erupted and created a pyroclastic flow, a fast-moving cloud of intensely hot gas and rock
Of the population of over 30,000 people, there was only one survivor, a man who had been imprisoned for drunkenness.
A pyroclastic flow can reach temperatures of 1,000C and travel at 700 km/h.
1928, Glenorchy, Tasmania, a crowd estimated at 10,000 assembled at the Elwick racecourse to witness the arrival of pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler and his wife, by plane from Launceston.
1928, Cloncurry, Queensland, the first Flying Doctor service commenced. Today, it is one of the largest aeromedical providers in the world, providing health care to people who do not have ready access to hospitals or doctors, due to immense distances in the Australian Outback.
1943, Wodonga, Victoria 26 military servicemen were killed when the bus they were travelling in was involved in a level crossing crash.
1968, Hobart, Tasmania, 400 letters arrived at various addresses, after having survived a plane crash at London airport.
1970, London, England, The Beatles released their 12th and final album, Let It Be.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1913, Solomon Joel Cohen, alias Sid James, in Johannesburg, South Africa – He was an actor and comedian who appeared in English movies from 1947. In the 1960s, he was regularly cast in the Carry On comedy films, and starred in the Bless This House sitcom from 1971 till his death, whilst performing on stage, in 1976.
1907, Kathryn Elizabeth Smith alias Kate Smith, in Greenville, Virginia U.S.A. She was a singer and recording artist. Some of her biggest hits were River, Stay ‘Way From My Door (1931), The Woodpecker Song (1940), The White Cliffs of Dover (1941), and Now Is The Hour (1947) She died in 1986.
1926, David Attenborough, in Isleworth, London, England – He is renowned broadcaster and naturalist, famed for his wildlife documentaries. He turns 100 today.
1940, Eric Hilliard Nelson alias Ricky Nelson, inTeaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A. He was a singer-songwriter, and actor who had 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1957 and 1973, including nineteen top-ten hits. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame posthumously on January 21, 1987. He died in 1985.
1940, Cathryn Antoinette Tennille, inMontgomery, Alabama, U.S.A. She was one-half of the 70s’ Grammy Award-winning duo, Captain & Tennille. Their first single, Love Will Keep Us Together, sold over a million copies.
1942, Jack Blanchard, in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. He is a guitarist, keyboardist and/vocalist who, with his wife Misty Morgan released fourteen singles between 1969 and 1976, including the 1970 country hit Tennessee Bird Walk.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
1994, George Peppard Jr,, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A, aged 65 – He was an actor who appeared in numerous movies and television productions including Breakfast At Tiffanys, How The West Was Won, Tobruk, The A Team and Night of the Fox.
1999, Dirk Bogarde, in Chelsea, London, England, aged 78. He was an actor and writer who appeared in movies such as Doctor In The House, A Tale of Two Cities, Night Flight From Moscow and A Bridge Too Far. .
2008, Richard Edward Arnold alias Eddy Arnold inNashville Tennessee, U.S.A., aged 89. He was a country singer who performed for 60 years, selling more than 85 million records from 1943.
2022, Dennis Waterman, in Madrid, Spain, aged 74 He was an actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series such as The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.
Today’s photo: A recent view of Arthur Square, New Norfolk. [Yours Truly]
Today’s Playlist –
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Dee Jay Rufus & Jazz Aughton – Never Gonna Give You Up | 2026 | 09:05 | – |
| 70s Classic Blondie – Heart of Glass | 1979 | 09:11 | 7/11/2025 |
| Allan Caswell & Lindsay Waddington – Twelve Good Men | 2026 | 09:14 | – |
| Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and Songs + Percy Faith Orchestra & Chorus – Leaving On A Jet Plane | 09:18 | 16/1/2026 | |
| + Robert Goulet – I Remember You | 09:22 | 15/6/2025 | |
| Adrian Payne – Molly | 2026 | 09:26 | 17/4/2026 |
| Harry James & His Orchestra – Red Roses For A Blue Lady | 09:32 | 5/7/2024 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Rick Nelson – Hello Mary Lou Ricky Nelson, born this day in 1940 in Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A. He died in 1985. | 1961 | 09:37 | 26/12/2021 |
| Captain & Tennille – The Way I Want To Touch You Cathryn Antoinette Tennille, born this day in 1940. Turns 86 today | 1975 | 09:41 | 23/2/2018 |
| For a Listener Demis Roussos – Forever and Ever | 09:44 | 24/10/2025 | |
| Ran Dels – The Martian Hop | 1963 | 09:50 | 25/7/2025 |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Johnny Cash – One On The Right | 1966 | 09:55 | 1/2/2019 |
| + Tornados – Popart Goes Mozart | 1966 | 09:58 | 17/4/2020 |
| Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan – Tennessee Birdwalk Jack Blanchard, born this day in 1942 in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. Turns 84 today | 1970 | 10:05 | 1/6/2025 |
| Julie Healy & George Langan – Never More To Part | 2026 | 10:10 | – |
| For a Listener Sarah Brightman – Scarborough Fair | 10:14 | – | |
| Cara McGillion – One Day At A Time | 2026 | 10:20 | – |
| Vintage Vinyl Lonnie Donegan – My Old Man’s A Dustman | 1960 | 10:23 | 19/1/2025 |
| Chucho Zarsoza & His Orchestra – Sombra En Los Medanos | 10:30 | – | |
| Eddy Arnold – Make The World Go Away Eddy Arnold died this day in 2008 in Nashville Tennessee, U.S.A., aged 89 | 1965 | 10:34 | 10/11/2014 |
| For a Listener Pussycat – Mississippi | 1976 | 10:37 | 27/2/2026 |
| Denis Waterman – I Could Be So Good For You Dennis Waterman, died this day in 2022 in Madrid, Spain Aged 74 | 1979 | 10:43 | 24/2/2023 |
| 70s Classic Village People – In The Navy | 1979 | 10:49 | 25/5/2025 |
| Anthony Snape – Red Dirt Road | 2026 | 10:53 | – |
| Chad Morgan – The Party In The Local Hotel | 10:56 | 26/1/2025 | |
| Ricki Starr & All Stars – Shooting Star | 1962 | 10:58 | 23/11/2014 |
| Joy Adams – If It’s Not Love | 2026 | 11:05 | 3/5/2026 |
| Country Road – Old style country songs + Caoimhe Murney – Wrong Road Again | 2024 | 11:11 | 9/5/2025 |
| + Colin Harney – Dance With Me Annie | 2022 | 11:13 | – |
| Chillin – Maybe Heaven Knows | 2026 | 11:20 | – |
| Vintage Vinyl Kay Starr – Rock And Roll Waltz | 1956 | 11:27 | 3/11/2023 |
| Joel Herron & His Orchestra – Look For The Silver Lining | 11:33 | 10/11/2023 | |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Lovin’ Spoonful – Daydream | 1966 | 11:38 | 6/10/2023 |
| + Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass – Spanish Flea | 1966 | 11:40 | 30/10/2020 |
| Lawson Vallery & Lene Lie – Lying In The Darkness | 2026 | 11:44 | – |
| Gary R Farmer – I’m Hanging Around | 2026 | 11:48 | – |
| Kym Cormack – Immediate Attraction | 2026 | 11:51 | – |
| Gerry & Pacemakers – Pretend | 1965 | 11:55 | 28/3/2025 |