Friday, 3rd May 1963 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Press Freedom Day. 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 drizzly with temperatures between 4°C and 12°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter 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 Friday, 3rd May in London, GB.
On Friday, 3rd May 1963, London experienced drizzly weather as the city moved through the last quarter moon phase under the influence of Taurus, a zodiac sign associated with stability and practicality. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is situated on the River Thames in south-east England and serves as a major global centre for finance, culture and politics. The city's influence on world affairs has remained considerable throughout modern history, evidenced by its role in documenting significant international events.
The date is marked by historical events spanning multiple continents and centuries. In 1945, the Cap Arcona, a German ocean liner, was sunk in the Bay of Lübeck whilst carrying thousands of concentration camp survivors, an attack by the Royal Air Force that demonstrated the final stages of the Second World War's humanitarian catastrophe. More recently, in 2007, three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, an incident that gained international attention and remains unsolved. These events, separated by decades, illustrate how a single date can encompass moments of profound historical significance and modern tragedy.
The historical record of 3rd May also includes the emergence of notable figures whose actions shaped their respective nations. Erich Honecker assumed the position of First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in 1971, a role that placed him at the helm of East Germany during crucial decades of the Cold War, fundamentally influencing the political landscape of post-war Europe. Such pivotal moments in governance and international relations underscore the importance of documenting historical anniversaries and their broader contexts. DayAtlas provides access to weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any date and location, offering users a comprehensive view of historical significance.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 3rd May 1963
Presence transforms ordinary moments into singular ones.
Fortune of the Day
3rd May in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality People born on May 3rd embody Taurus at its core: grounded, sensual, and remarkably patient. Venus rulership gifts them natural grace and a refined aesthetic sense. Numerology 8 amplifies their ambition and drive for success.
Strengths & Weaknesses These individuals possess admirable endurance and practical understanding of values. Their stubbornness and love of pleasure can lead to inflexibility or complacency. Balancing stability with adaptability remains their constant growth path.
Love May 3rd natives love deeply, loyally, and with keen sensuality. They seek partners who appreciate their physical nature and provide emotional stability. Trust and consistency form the foundation of their relationships.
Caree & Finance Professionally, these people emerge as reliable, ambitious individuals with talent for financial security. Their ability to plan long-term makes them excellent in stable, values-driven careers. Prosperity grows through patience and systematic building.
Health May 3rd-born thrive with regular movement and sensual activities like dancing or hiking. Their tendency to overindulge requires conscious restraint. Earth connection through nature strengthens both physical and emotional wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Rabbit (Water).
Fun Facts About 3rd May
Name Days in Your Language: Joletta, Trey, Troy, Viola, Violet, Violetta, Yolanda
Someone born on this day in 1963 would be 62 years old today — just 22,986 days into life, which is roughly 551,669 hours, 33,100,175 minutes, or 1,986,010,514 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 123. day of the year.
There are 242 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 18 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 3rd May
- Ignatius Aphrem II, Syrian patriarch (1965)
- Mark Cousins, Northern Irish director, writer, cinematographer (1965)
- John Jensen, Danish footballer and coach (1965)
- Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian businessman (1965)
- Sterling Campbell, American drummer and songwriter (1964)
- Ron Hextall, Canadian-American ice hockey player and manager (1964)
- Jeff Hornacek, American basketball player and coach (1963)
- Mona Siddiqui, Pakistani-Scottish journalist and academic (1963)
- Steve McClaren, English footballer and manager (1961)
- David Vitter, American lawyer and politician (1961)
Lives Remembered on 3rd May
- Dick Rutan, American military aviator and officer (born 1938) (2024)
- Lloyd Price, American R&B vocalist (born 1933) (2021)
- Victoria Barbă, Moldovan animated film director (born 1926) (2020)
- Dave Greenfield, English rock keyboardist (born 1949) (2020)
- Daliah Lavi, Israeli actress, singer and model (born 1942) (2017)
- Ian Deans, Canadian politician (born 1937) (2016)
- Jadranka Stojaković, Yugoslav singer-songwriter (born 1950) (2016)
- Revaz Chkheidze, Georgian director and screenwriter (born 1926) (2015)
- Danny Jones, Welsh rugby player (born 1986) (2015)
- Warren Smith, American golfer and coach (born 1915) (2015)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 3rd May
- Christian feast day: Abhai (Syriac Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Antonia and Alexander
- Christian feast day: Juvenal of Narni
- Christian feast day: Moura (Coptic Church)
- Christian feast day: Philip and James the Lesser
- Christian feast day: Pope Alexander I
- Christian feast day: Sarah the Martyr (Coptic Church)
- Christian feast day: The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland
- Christian feast day: Theodosius of Kiev (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: May 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Constitution Memorial Day (Japan)
- Constitution Day (Poland)
- Finding of the Holy Cross-related observances: Fiesta de las Cruces (Spain and Hispanic America)
- International Sun Day
- World Press Freedom Day
What Happened on 3rd May?
- Nine students and a security guard are killed in the Belgrade school shooting, the first attack of its kind in Serbia. (2023)
- Ethnic violence breaks out between the Meitei and the Kuki Zo people in the state of Manipur. (2023)
- Twenty-six people are killed and ninety-eight are injured after an elevated section of the Mexico City Metro collapses. (2021)
- Eighty-eight thousand people are evacuated from their homes in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada as a wildfire rips through the community, destroying approximately 2,400 homes and buildings. (2016)
- Two gunmen launch an attempted attack on an anti-Islam event in Garland, Texas, which was held in response to the Charlie Hebdo shooting. (2015)
- The three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappears in Praia da Luz, Portugal, starting "the most heavily reported missing-person case in modern history". (2007)
- Armavia Flight 967 crashes into the Black Sea near Sochi International Airport in Sochi, Russia, killing 113 people. (2006)
- The United States loses its seat on the U.N. Human Rights Commission for the first time since the commission was formed in 1947. (2001)
- The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet. (2000)
- The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City is devastated by an F5 tornado, killing forty-five people, injuring 665, and causing $1 billion in damage. The tornado is one of 66 from the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. This tornado also produces the highest wind speed ever recorded, measured at 484 ± 32 kilometres per hour (301 ± 20 mph). In meteorology, the term "May 3" is synonymous with the F5 tornado. (1999)