Swindon

1951: Ernest Turk of Montagu Street in Swindon retired after nearly half a century at the Railway Works. He had spent most of his career in the boilermaking department, where he was made an inspector in 1937. His workmates presented him with a barometer as a parting gift, an bought a handbag for his wife.

1961: Walcot community worker John Moulton - a community hall in Penhill Drive would eventually be named after him - was asked to organise a trip for 60 people with disabilities who attended the Disabled People’s Centre in Maxwell Street. They wanted to tour the new housing developments in Swindon. He set about making the arrangements, which were to include tea at the Penhill Common Rooms.

1971: A group of Commonweal School fifth formers were taking part in a major operation to clear weeds, litter and dumped objects from a stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Pewsey. They patrolled the water a small launch with an engine attached to a paddle wheel they had made.

The world

1865: The Locomotives and Highway Act in Britain introduced a speed limit for road vehicles of 4mph in the country, 2mph in towns.

1948: The Labour government introduced the National Health Service.

1965: Opera star Maria Callas gave her last stage performance - in Tosca - at Covent Garden. She was 41.

1975: Arthur Ashe, an American tennis player, became the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles’ championship.

BIRTHDAYS Paul Smith, fashion designer, 71; Huey Lewis, rock singer, 67; Susannah Doyle, actress, 51; Gianfranco Zola, former footballer, 51; Nicola Stephenson, actress, 46; Shane Filan, pop singer (Westlife), 38; Amelie Mauresmo, retired tennis player, 38; Eva Green, actress, 37.