Thursday, 17th May 1951 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Telecommunication Day and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Explore 55 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 drizzly with temperatures between 4°C and 12°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Taurus. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Thursday, 17th May in London, GB.
On 17th May 1951, London experienced drizzly conditions as the city continued its post-war recovery. The capital, situated in south-eastern England on the Thames, remained a centre of political and cultural significance despite the austerity measures that still defined the early 1950s. The weather on this day reflected the temperamental climate typical of late spring in southern Britain, with intermittent rain persisting throughout the region.
This date marks significant moments in history when considered across multiple centuries. In 1947, Coco Chanel, the legendary French fashion designer, completed negotiations on her perfume contract that would ultimately make her one of the world's wealthiest women through wartime profits from Chanel No. 5. Similarly, in 1974, the Ulster Volunteer Force carried out a series of car bombings in Dublin and Monaghan that killed 34 people and injured nearly 300 others, representing one of the deadliest attacks during the Troubles in Ireland.
For those born on this date, the zodiac sign is Taurus, characterising individuals within this astrological tradition. The moon phase on 17th May 1951 was a waning crescent, the lunar cycle approaching its new moon phase. These celestial and astrological markers, combined with meteorological data from this specific date and location, provide a comprehensive snapshot of the conditions that prevailed during this Thursday in May.
DayAtlas presents weather information for any given date alongside historical events, notable births and deaths for specific locations. The platform enables users to explore how conditions and significant moments intersected on particular days throughout history, offering detailed insights into the context of past dates.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 17th May 1951
Silence speaks louder than explanations ever could.
Fortune of the Day
17th May in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on May 17th blend Taurus dependability with Mercury's intellect into a compelling presence. They think practically, communicate articulately, and find beauty in simple things. Master Number 22 gifts them spiritual depth that transcends material concerns.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their greatest strength lies in transforming smart ideas into tangible reality. Steadfastness and intellectual sharpness are signature assets. However, stubbornness and perfectionist tendencies can stall relationships and projects if unchecked.
Love In relationships, these individuals are loyal, sensual, and emotionally profound. They value intellectual connection alongside physical attraction. Taking time to trust is natural; those who win their hearts receive unwavering devotion.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they excel in fields merging creativity with strategy: architecture, financial planning, craftsmanship. Financial security matters deeply, but not at any cost; they build sustainable wealth thoughtfully. Entrepreneurship suits their nature well.
Health Self-care is no luxury for these natives but a necessity. A balanced lifestyle with movement, nutritious eating, and relaxation keeps them centered. Stress relief through nature and creative hobbies proves essential.
That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Rabbit (Metal).
Fun Facts About 17th May
Name Days in Your Language: Pascal, Pascha, Pascual, Turner
Someone born on this day in 1951 would be 74 years old today — just 27,356 days into life, which is roughly 656,560 hours, 39,393,631 minutes, or 2,363,617,873 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 137. day of the year.
There are 228 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 20 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 17th May
- Michael Roberts, South African-English jockey (1954)
- Howard Hampton, Canadian lawyer and politician (1952)
- Simon Hughes, English lawyer and politician (1951)
- Howard Ashman, American playwright and composer (died 1991) (1950)
- Keith Bradley, Baron Bradley, English accountant and politician (1950)
- Janez Drnovšek, Slovenian economist and politician, 2nd President of Slovenia (died 2008) (1950)
- Alan Johnson, English politician, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (1950)
- Valeriya Novodvorskaya, Russian journalist and politician (died 2014) (1950)
- Bill Bruford, English drummer, songwriter, and producer (1949)
- Keith, American pop singer (1949)
Lives Remembered on 17th May
- Bud Anderson, American World War II flying ace (born 1922) (2024)
- Sid Going, New Zealand rugby union footballer (born 1943) (2024)
- Vangelis, Greek musician, composer (born 1943) (2022)
- Lucky Peterson, American blues singer, keyboardist and guitarist (born 1964) (2020)
- Herman Wouk, American author (born 1915) (2019)
- Todor Veselinović, Serbian football player and manager (born 1930) (2017)
- Lionel Pickens, American rapper (born 1983) (2015)
- Gerald Edelman, American biologist and immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1929) (2014)
- C. P. Krishnan Nair, Indian businessman, founded The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts (born 1922) (2014)
- Douangchay Phichit, Laotian politician (born 1944) (2014)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 17th May
- Birthday of the Raja (Perlis)
- Christian feast day: Giulia Salzano
- Christian feast day: Paschal Baylon
- Christian feast day: William Hobart Hare (Episcopal Church (USA))
- Christian feast day: Restituta
- Christian feast day: May 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Children's Day (Norway)
- Constitution Day (Nauru)
- Constitution Day (Norway)
- Feast of ‘Aẓamat (Baháʼí Faith, day shifts with March Equinox, see List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar)
- Galician Literature Day or Día das Letras Galegas (Galicia)
- International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
- Liberation Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Navy Day (Argentina)
- World Hypertension Day
- World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (International)
What Happened on 17th May?
- A military plane crash in northern Laos kills 17 people. (2014)
- Pamir Airways Flight 112 crashes in Afghanistan's Shakardara District, killing 44. (2010)
- Trains from North and South Korea cross the 38th Parallel in a test-run agreed by both governments. This is the first time that trains have crossed the Demilitarized Zone since 1953. (2007)
- The aircraft carrier USS Oriskany is sunk in the Gulf of Mexico as an artificial reef. (2006)
- The first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S. are performed in the state of Massachusetts. (2004)
- Arsenal and Galatasaray fans clash in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final riots in Copenhagen (2000)
- Troops of Laurent-Désiré Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. (1997)
- Shawn Nelson steals an M60 tank from the California Army National Guard Armory in San Diego and proceeds to go on a rampage. (1995)
- Malawi holds its first multi-party elections. (1994)
- Three days of popular protests against the government of Prime Minister of Thailand Suchinda Kraprayoon begin in Bangkok, leading to a military crackdown that results in 52 officially confirmed deaths, hundreds of injuries, many disappearances, and more than 3,500 arrests. (1992)