Today's the Day - 17th October

On this day 60 years ago, Britain’s first nuclear power station, Calder Hall in Cumbria, was officially opened.

 

A clock at Calder Hall registering power
transferred to the National Grid

Opened by the Queen, it actually began operating in August of the same year, becoming the first nuclear power station in the world to generate power on an industrial scale.

The first nuclear power station in the world began operations on an experimental basis 2 years previously in the Soviet Union, but the output generated was significantly lower than that at Calder Hall.

The town of Workington, situated 15 miles up the coast from Calder Hall, became the first town in the world to receive heat, light and power from nuclear energy, and within 4 hours nuclear-powered electricity had reached London.

Birthdays and anniversaries today include:

Rita Hayworth

US actor and dancer Rita Hayworth was born on this day in 1918. She died in 1987 aged 68 with Alzheimer's disease being a contributing factor.

Actor Guy Henry, better known as Henrik Hanssen in BBC’s Holby City is 56 today.

South African golfer Ernie Els, nicknamed “The Big Easy” celebrates his 47^th.