Monday, March 7 2016

1949: More than 2,000 railway workers from all parts of the British Railways Western Region, including some from Swindon, will compete in one of the largest music and drama festival in the world. Jon Pertwee will give a drama demonstration.

1959: The mayor of Swindon Alderman F J King, will be at Southampton docks to meet the 1st Battalion the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh) on its return from Cyprus. The regiment is to receive the freedom of the borough of Swindon.

1979: Several local bands are competing in the West of England Regional Championships as part of the National Brass Band Contest. They include the Aldbourne Band, conducted by D Keene and the Swindon Concert Band, conducted by C Bosanko. Swindon Youth compete in the Youth Championships.

Tuesday, March 8 2016

1949: After six years continuous work as a guard on British Railways including night duty and ambulance trains during the war, Rosa Pile from Poplar Avenue, Swindon, has carried her flag for the last time. Rosa was one of the 10 women who volunteered for the important work in Swindon during the war.

1959: The Palace Cinema at Gorse Hill in Swindon, may be sold and closed, it is revealed by the Rank Organisation, which intends to close about 80 cinemas all over the country during the next three weeks because of declining audiences.

1979: Swindon's motorists are to be the guinea pigs in the latest experiment drawn up by road boffins - the Cricklade Road Magic Maze. The town drivers will be white rats in the 'no right turn' safety scheme. All right turns at the three new mini roundabouts will be completely banned in an attempt to cut the 50 injury accidents a year on the stretch of road between the magic Roundabout and the Moonrakers.

Wednesday, March 9 2016

1949: In an effort to double the rather poor figure of two and a half tons of waste paper collected each month, Marlborough Rural Council will pay two shillings per hundred weight for each hundred weight taken to schools by children.

1959: George Snook, Swindon Salvation Army Band Master, was presented with a bible by Commissioner Hugh Muir, to mark his 25 years conductorship of the Salvation Army Band in the town.

1978: Penhill residents' group are to be given a former Army Cadet Force hall as a community centre. Thamesdown Council planning committee also agreed that a grant of £200 should be made to the community group for furnishings and repairs.

Thursday, March 10 2016

1949: For the first time in its history of more than 100 years Marlborough College will be visited by the King and Queen. The visitors are to be received by the Archbishop of Canterbury and a guard of honour under the command of Capt Mallinson, provided by sea, land and air cadets.

1959: The Earl of Cardigan was present at an old time dance hall at the Majestic Ballroom Swindon. The dance was in aid of the Wiltshire County Council Order of St John Ambulance Brigade. Dancing was to Billy Connor and his orchestra.

1979: A specialist car firm from Wroughton is getting into gear to take the motor racing world by storm. Dick Lovett have entered two high performance BMW cars in the Grand BMW County Championships. Also Peter Lovett, 29, will be racing in the world famous Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.

Friday, March 11 2016

The 50-seater military aircraft, The Handley Page Hastings, took off from Lyneham today for Malta, on the first stage of its 26,000-miles proving flight. The journey will take six weeks and the plane will be given exhaustive tests under tropical conditions.

1959: Forged £1 notes are in circulation in Swindon a local bank manager warned a meeting of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce. Mr B B Coates manager of the Wood Street branch of National Provincial Bank said the forged notes had no water mark and no silver line.

1979: Fundraising youngsters were on the ball at the County Ground when they were cheered on by Swindon Town soccer stars as they lapped the pitch raising money for mentally handicapped children. More than 200 children took part in front of the Town manager, Bobby Smith, and the players. The children raised more than £1,000.

Saturday, March 12 2016

1949: Swindon civic authorities has a progressive outlook as it is sponsoring the opening of the Swindon branch of the Family Planning Clinic. The Milton Road clinic will be open to all wishing advice on planning a family. Judith Orr is the interviewing secretary.

1959: Swindon Young Farmers Club won the Wiltshire final of the YFC Debating Contest at Shurnshold School in Melksham, winning with 53 points over Calne's 52. Harry Hitch was the Swindon captain. The winning team now go forward to the are finals.

1979: Swindon's mercy men are defying their national leaders and are keeping up their campaign of industrial action. The town's 28 ambulance men are still refusing to run out for any non urgent calls. They threw out the request for return to normal working at an emergency meeting.