Your History

Umpire and cricketer, Dickie Bird was one of cricket’s best-known and warmly regarded figures. Here, Mike Atherton, the the former England captain, and Times Chief Cricket Correspondent describes how no umpire before or since has been quite as famous. Dickie Bird had a long and illustrious career as an international umpire and a long-standing affiliation with his beloved Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The Nobel prizewinning physicist Rainer Weiss, whose measurements of gravitational waves validated Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity - and all down to what was described as a ‘chirp.’

Robert Redford was one of the most successful and influential figures in American cinema. A leading man who brought gravitas to stardom, he starred in hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Great Gatsby, and All the President’s Men, which he also produced. He later became a pivotal force in independent film with the founding of the Sundance Film Festival. Yet behind the fame was a man who distrusted Hollywood, guarded his privacy, and found solace in the wilderness of Utah.Aubrey Allegretti reads the obituary of Robert Redford, who died at the age of 89.

Ricky Hatton was a two-weight world boxing champion, beloved for his fearless style in the ring and his laddish charm outside it. Nicknamed “the Hitman,” he won 45 of his 48 professional bouts - and outside the ring, he fought his own demons with the same relentless spirit.

The Duchess of Kent—known in non-royal life as Katharine Kent—was a woman who balanced royal duty with profound personal conviction. She embodied a spirit of “royal empathy” well before it became associated with Princess Diana, and is remembered for her warmth, her passion for tennis and music, and her quiet dedication to charitable work behind the scenes.Image: Getty

From window dresser to fashion empire, Giorgio Armani reshaped modern fashion. This is his story, as told through the words of the obituary team at The Times.Image: Getty

A career Royal Artillery officer, Major General Brian Pennicott played a pivotal role in the Falklands War, by chance, becoming one of the few witnesses to Argentina’s surrender in 1982. That night, he toasted the Queen beneath her hastily rehung portrait with a bottle of whisky. In retirement, he settled on the edge of Salisbury Plain - never far from the sound of gunfire.

Stuart Prebble rose through television’s ranks to become ITV’s chief executive, but found his biggest hit away from the boardroom - turning middle-aged men complaining into comedy gold with Grumpy Old Men. The show became a cultural phenomenon, spawning spin-offs, books, and even a West End show.Image: Getty

Joan Anderson, an Australian model, introduced the hula hoop to America in the 1950s. However, when the toy became a worldwide craze, she received none of the credit. Photo Credit: Chris Riess and Amy Hill