Monday, January 18

1949: The first of a series of film shows to be given to various political wards by the Conservative party was presented at the Arkells Hall, Cricklade Road, Swindon. Mr F A Garrard will repeat his show every night this week covering every ward in the borough.

1959: Members of Swindon Writers' Circle met at the Arts Centre in Swindon to hear a talk by Phyllis Lester of Wanborough, a number of whose books have been cast and recorded by the BBC. She described her childhood and to what she attributed her success.

1979: Two Scottish pipers have been booked by Marlborough Lions Club to pipe in the haggis at their Burns Night celebrations. The Lions are having a Burns Night dance at Mildenhall Village Hall.

Tuesday, January 19

1949: It is expected that Swindon Town Council will give effect to a resolution, approved at this month's meeting to release certain items of news to the Press for publication before the council meets to approve or disapprove the recommendations from its committees.

1959: Five members of the Swindon Detachment of the Army Cadets Force, all aged 15, were out in the pouring rain making camp at Bincknoll. The boys were on an expedition as part of their test for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. They had to pretend to be escaped prisoners of war and make their way across the Downs, sleeping in a barn and making fires out of wet wood.

1979: Swindon people wanting to get into hospital are being hit by industrial action. Eight district hospitals are stopping routine admissions due to three unions preparing for their pay protest. Lightning selective action could extend beyond the 24-hour disruption.

Wednesday, January 20

1949: The dolls that delighted a world of childhoods, royal and simple, have come to Swindon. The public will be able to see them at William McIllroy Ltd where a Dolls of All Countries exhibition is being held by the Charter Club.

1959: Missing the last train home to Swindon on Christmas Eve, a Swindon youth, from Penhill, decided to sleep in the office of the Dorchester Brewery where he had been employed.

1979: Sgt Gerry Salt from Swindon is in Australia taking part in the annual exercise Long Look, an exchange between the British and the Australian armies. At home he is based in West Germany with the First Armoured Division Engineer Regiment. While in Australia he has been with the Australian Sappers of the General Field Engineers Regiment, based in Enossera, Brisbane.

Thursday, January 21

1949: Nearly 500 people attended the Majestic Ballroom, Swindon when an old time ball and waltz competition was held. There were 23 entrants dancing to music by the Arcadian Dance Orchestra.

1959: An RAF Comet bringing a 20-year-old mother-to-be, in an iron lung, all the way from Bombay, landed in Lyneham this morning. Dawn Varma was then taken by ambulance to Wroughton's RAF Hospital.

1979: An old folks party due to be held in Wootton Bassett has had to be postponed until spring, because of the industrial situation and the weather. A spokesman for the 65 Plus committee said the heating due to delays in oil deliver was a problem, obtaining food and the very cold weather were all responsible.

Friday, January 22

1949: Flying Officer Timothy McElhaw, son of Mr J McElhaw, of Belmont Crescent, Swindon was reported to be leaving Cyprus in an Italian liner. He was one of two British airmen held captive since their planes were shot down inside the Egyptian border.

1959: Cadet Flt Sgt A E Williams of the Pinehurst Detachment Flight 1244 Squadron, Swindon and District Air Training Corps, leaves for Cardington, Bedfordshire to become a members of the Regular Airforce. His final parade with comrades in the Flight ended with a presentation from Sqd Ld H R Oldland, giving him an electric shaver and mirror, from the other cadets.

1979: After winning the last race at Kempton, National Hunt Championship jockey, John Francome, rushed to Shrivenham to take up his Best Man duties at the wedding of former jockey, Richard Pitman, who is now an Evening Advertiser columnist and BBC TV commentator.

Saturday, January 23

1949: During the war the RAF gyro-magnetic bomb-sight was one of those gadgets of which the public knew little. It's secrets were guarded carefully but now, apparently, that secret may be known to all, as Swindon school boys in St Philips Road, Upper Stratton, were seen carrying parts of the famed bomb-sight, which helped the RAF in its bombing of Berlin. The Swindon boys found it on a dump.

1959: Work has begun on Swindon's new Park Grammar School, which is being built by John Laing and Sons Ltd at a cost of £191.279. The school will be in Marlowe Avenue for 510 pupils.

1979: Australian speedway star Phil Crump, chased by both Reading and Swindon Robins, has issued a very clear ultimatum to the British Promoters' Association: "It's got to be Swindon,'' he said in a telegram, "If not I will stay in Australia.''