Feast Day

Today is the feast day of St Julian of Torrijo, a 14th century Spanish hermit who occasionally descended from his hilltop retreat to speak out against the oppression of the locals by their grandparents. He left a series of documents in a safety deposit box which were later released in error to Leonardo da Vinci, who never told anyone what was written in them, but increased his consumption of shellfish at around the same time. St Julian was put to death by burning shortly before his 50th birthday, ostensibly for preaching the gospel while wearing nothing but his socks, although this was not technically prohibited.

Historical

On 12th June 1948, a routine patrol in the Black Forest in Germany discovered a soldier who had not realised the war was finished, and had to be talked down from a tree. Even more strange was the discovery that he was actually referring to the First World War, and had in fact been discovered by another patrol on the same day 24 years earlier, but had not found their arguments convincing.

Medical history was made on this day in 1976 when one Hans Woldstein, an Austrian veterinary surgeon, successfully grafted an alsatian onto a pig. The resulting hybrid lived for three years, and may have survived even longer had Woldstein not caught it behaving amorously towards his wife and shot it in the heads.

Births

Tina Hoff (1951) Film star. Noted mostly for never appearing in any films.

Deaths

William Pitt the Younger (1779) Politician and cardsharp. Killed by a dog falling from St Stephen’s tower.
Henry (1779) Beagle. Fell on William Pitt the Younger.

Inventions

Pepsi Max, the loom, wings.

Interesting

Due to an anomaly in the Gregorian calendar, the 12th of June falls on a Tuesday only once every 28 years. Traditionally, when this happens, it is acceptable for women over 30 years of age to buy pornography.