Friday, 31st July 1970 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 51 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings cloudy with temperatures between 11°C and 23°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Leo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Friday, 31st July in London, GB.
On 31st July 1970, London experienced cloudy conditions as the city carried on under the influence of the Leo zodiac sign, with the moon in its waxing gibbous phase. London, situated on the Thames in south-east England, has served as the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom for nearly two millennia, functioning as a major global centre for finance, culture and politics. The waxing gibbous moon indicated a phase approaching fullness, typically associated with increasing energy and momentum.
Historical events of significant consequence occurred on this date across different eras. In 1972, the British Army's Operation Motorman brought an end to the self-declared autonomous area of Free Derry in Northern Ireland, though hours after this operation concluded, three car bombs detonated in the village of Claudy, causing further casualties and destruction. Similarly, in 2007, Operation Banner, the British Armed Forces' extensive campaign in Northern Ireland spanning 38 years, officially ended following a military stalemate and ceasefire agreement, marking a watershed moment in the conflict known as the Troubles.
The historical record also documents the life of Patrick Francis Healy, who made significant contributions to American higher education. In 1874, Healy was inaugurated as president of Georgetown University, becoming the first African-American president of a predominantly white university in the United States, a landmark achievement in institutional leadership during the post-Civil War period.
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What the Weather Had in Store for London on 31st July 1970
Ripples teach what stillness cannot: movement matters.
Fortune of the Day
31st July in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on July 31st embody classic Leo pride with an extra dose of Mars-driven courage. They're passionate, bold, and naturally driven to transform their visions into reality. The Master Number 11 grants them spiritual depth that transcends surface ambition.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their greatest strength lies in blending charisma with decisive action—they inspire others and make bold moves. However, their ambition and impatience can trigger impulsive choices, and their need for recognition can occasionally feel overwhelming.
Love In relationships, these individuals are passionate and generous, yet seek partners who honor their intense energy. They thrive on admiration and mental stimulation, though learning to listen emotionally and resist dominance strengthens bonds.
Caree & Finance In professional settings, they flourish in leadership roles where they can drive projects and energize teams. Their Mars influence makes them excellent entrepreneurs, though financial discipline prevents impulsive investment mistakes.
Health These natives enjoy strong physical stamina but must channel their intense energy wisely. Regular exercise and mindfulness practices keep them emotionally balanced and vitally engaged.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Dog (Metal).
Fun Facts About 31st July
Name Days in Your Language: Ignacio, Inigo, Reed, Reid
Someone born on this day in 1970 would be 55 years old today — just 20,348 days into life, which is roughly 488,375 hours, 29,302,551 minutes, or 1,758,153,106 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 212. day of the year.
There are 153 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 31 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 31st July
- Nathan Brown, Australian rugby league player and coach (1973)
- Gus Frerotte, American football player and coach (1971)
- Ahmad Akbarpour, Iranian author and poet (1970)
- Ben Chaplin, English actor (1970)
- Andrzej Kobylański, Polish footballer and manager (1970)
- Giorgos Sigalas, Greek basketball player, coach, and sportscaster (1970)
- Antonio Conte, Italian footballer and manager (1969)
- Loren Dean, American actor (1969)
- Kenneth D. Schisler, American lawyer and politician (1969)
- Saeed-Al-Saffar, Emirati cricketer (1968)
Lives Remembered on 31st July
- Azumafuji Kin'ichi, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 40th Yokozuna (born 1921) (1973)
- Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian politician, 40th Prime Minister of Belgium, 1st President of the United Nations General Assembly (born 1899) (1972)
- Walter P. Carter, American soldier and activist (born 1923) (1971)
- Jack Pizzey, Australian politician, 29th Premier of Queensland (born 1911) (1968)
- Bud Powell, American pianist (born 1924) (1966)
- Jim Reeves, American singer-songwriter (born 1923) (1964)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 31st July
- Christian feast day: Abanoub
- Christian feast day: Germanus of Auxerre
- Christian feast day: Ignatius of Loyola
- Christian feast day: Neot
- Christian feast day: July 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Earliest day on which the Feast of Kamál (Perfection) can fall, while August 1 is the latest; observed on the first day of the eighth month of the Baháʼí calendar. (Baháʼí Faith)
- End of the Trinity term (sitting of the High Court of Justice of England)
- Lā Hae Hawaiʻi Day (Hawaii, United States), and its related observance: Sovereignty Restoration Day (Hawaiian sovereignty movement)
- Martyrdom Day of Shahid Udham Singh (Haryana and Punjab, India)
- Treasury Day (Poland)
- Warriors' Day (Malaysia)
What Happened on 31st July?
- A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723 crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts killing 89. (1973)
- The Troubles: In Operation Motorman, the British Army re-takes the urban no-go areas of Northern Ireland. It is the biggest British military operation since the Suez Crisis of 1956, and the biggest in Ireland since the Irish War of Independence. Later that day, nine civilians are killed by car bombs in the village of Claudy. (1972)
- Apollo program: the Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride in a lunar rover. (1971)
- Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy. (1970)
- The pleasure cruiser MV Darlwyne disappeared off the Cornwall coast with the loss of all 31 aboard. (1966)
- Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes. (1964)